The Man Who Japed

Written by Philip K. Dick

Narrated by Luke Daniels

Following a devastating nuclear war, the Moral Reclamation government took over the world and forced its citizens to live by strictly puritanical rules—no premarital sex, drunkenness, or displaying of neon signs—all of which are reinforced through a constant barrage of messaging to the public. The chief purveyor of these messages is Alan Purcell, next in line to become head of the propaganda bureau. But there is just one problem: a statue of the government's founder has been vandalized and the head is hidden in Purcell's closet. In this buttoned-up society, maybe all a revolution needs is one really great prank . . .

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Release date: Jun 26, 2012
• ISBN: 9781455881604

Philip K. Dick

Over a writing career that spanned three decades, PHILIP K. DICK (1928–1982) published 36 science fiction novels and 121 short stories in which he explored the essence of what makes man human and the dangers of centralized power. Toward the end of his life, his work turned to deeply personal, metaphysical questions concerning the nature of God. Eleven novels and short stories have been adapted to film, notably Blade Runner (based on Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?), Total Recall, Minority Report, and A Scanner Darkly, as well as television's The Man in the High Castle. The recipient of critical acclaim and numerous awards throughout his career, including the Hugo and John W. Campbell awards, Dick was inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame in 2005, and between 2007 and 2009, the Library of America published a selection of his novels in three volumes. His work has been translated into more than twenty-five languages.

Reviews for The Man Who Japed

[kale.dyer · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A novella length story about how a sense of humour can become criminal in a society that ruthlessly enforces codified morality.

[danielstj · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This was a typical Philip K. Dick novel. It was one of his earlier works, which sets itself adequately, while maybe not as proficiently as some of his later works. The plot here wanders a little, like a lesser Dick novel does, but it still manages to push on through, sufficiently, to its destination. I felt this to be a little bit typical and expected of a Dick novel, although there were some parts in the first third that were unexpected and novel. Overall, still a book for Philip K. Dick enthusiasts, but the regular Sci-Fi reader might not find this one up to par.3 stars.

[brakketh-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A novella length story about how a sense of humour can become criminal in a society that ruthlessly enforces codified morality.