Vulcan's hammer

by Philip K. Dick

Paperback, 1960

Status

Available

Call number

813.54

Publication

New York : Ace Books, c1960.

Description

Confronted by a dangerous movement of religious fanatics and challenges to its authorities, the Vulcan 3, an objective, unbiased, and hyperrational computer that dictates policy for all citizens--an omnipotent technological wonder that evolved out of chaos and war--could prove to be human civilization's worst nightmare.

User reviews

LibraryThing member harroldsheep
even though written in 1960, ideas and themes decades before their time. one of PKD's more "accessible" reads.
LibraryThing member jefware
A cyber thriller long before anybody realized there would be such a thing. It's a basic computer-takes-over-the-world scenario, but things get a bit complicated for all of the players.
LibraryThing member jwhenderson
Objective, unbiased and hyperrational, the Vulcan 3 should have been the perfect ruler. The omnipotent computer dictates policy that is in the best interests of all citizens—or at least, that is the idea. But when the machine, whose rule evolved out of chaos and war, begins to lose control of the
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"Healer" movement of religious fanatics and the mysterious force behing their rebellion, all Hell breaks loose.
Written in 1960, Philip K. Dick's paranoid novel imagines a totalitarian state in which hammer-headed robots terrorize citizens and freedom is an absurd joke. William Barrios, the morally conflicted hero, may be the only person who can prevent the battle for control from destroying the world—if, that is, he can decide which side he's on.
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LibraryThing member IsotropicJoseph
Here’s the great sci-fi formula of the 60s: Humanity builds a big computer to prevent war; i.e. humans build a computer to protect themselves from themselves. Computer makes unauthorized but allowed “enhancements” to itself. Computer decides that humanity’s very existence is a threat to
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humanity and its own circuitry. The computer takes steps to eradicate large sections of the human population. Climax ensues and story ends in one of three ways: The luddites win and computers are totally destroyed or the computers win and a sequel is planned.

It would be really easy to say that Philip K. Dick adheres to this formula in his 1960 slim novel [book: Vulcan's Hammer: A Novel], except the surprises twisting the plot around are so fine and exquisite that one quickly realized Dick didn’t follow the formula, he invented it.

Seemingly forgotten by modern readers, this near perfect story examines the dichotomy of free will vs. social order against the backdrop of a crumbling government caught in a quagmire of red tape, infighting, and bottlenecks. Through the eyes of an upper level paper pusher (the director of North America), his boss, and a family of rebels the reader watches as two computers fight for dominance as they attempt to follow the now contradictory directives given to them: Keep humanity and themselves safe.

Forty-seven years old now, the story is contradictorily quaint and up-to-date. Like most 60s sci-fi writers, Dick failed to catch the miniaturization phenomena (his generations of computers get substantially larger), but he does predict the passing of punch cards (thank goodness). And he catches onto a timeless struggle in humanity’s understanding of morality. For instance, his motley crew of protagonist struggle to come to terms with government officials who side with a computer even as that computer is busy mowing down as many people as possible. These government officials cling to the hope of their party line like so many Ba’ath party members during the invasion of Iraq. Voices call for their punishment. But then, in a moment of beautiful grace, Dick reminds the reader that “this is all they know.” He calls for us to recognize the humanity of the people we so desperately want to vilify.

As far as the end of the great equation is concerned, Dick moves beyond the expected outcomes and reaches a conclusion that allows for free will, governments and machines. While that sounds simple and pat, he manages to keep the philosophical ideals that play off each other throughout the story from compromising. It’s as unsettling and as well conceptualized as the story’s initial premise.
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LibraryThing member brakketh
Great story about the challenges that may come about from working with artificial intelligence in government.
LibraryThing member DanielSTJ
Paranoia, machines, science fiction, and action. The novel is stacked with all of these. While this is not Dick at his finest, he still manages to weave a cloak of himself around the novel and permeate into the reader's consciousness. This is well worth the read.

Language

Original language

English

Original publication date

1960

Physical description

139 p.; 16.3 cm

Local notes

Omslag: Ed Emshwiller
Omslaget viser en mand omgivet af flyvende robotter med hammerhoveder
Indskannet omslag - N650U - 150 dpi
Forsidebilledet er ikke krediteret men isfdb.org hjalp.
Double Novel Book fra Ace D-457
Indbundet sammen med John Brunner: The Skynappers
Kig eventuelt i denne gruppe:
https://www.librarything.com/ngroups/552/Ace-Doubles

Other editions

Similar in this library

Pages

139

Rating

(115 ratings; 3.3)

DDC/MDS

813.54
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