We can build you

by Philip K. Dick

Paperback, 1994

Status

Available

Call number

813/.54 20

Genres

Science Fiction

All Topics

Fiction

Collection

English paperback sf

Publication

New York: Vintage Books, 1994. 246 p. ; 21 cm. 1st Vintage Books ed.

Description

Louis Rosen and his partners sell people--ingeniously designed, historically authentic simulacra of personages such as Edwin M. Stanton and Abraham Lincoln. The problem is that the only prospective buyer is a rapacious billionaire whose plans for the simulacra could land Louis in jail. Then there's the added complication that someone--or something--like Abraham Lincoln may not want to be sold. Is an electronic Lincoln any less alive than his creators? Is a machine that cares and suffers inferior to the woman Louis loves--a borderline psychopath who does neither? With irresistible momentum, intelligence, and wit, Philip K. Dick creates an arresting techno-thriller that suggests a marriage of Bladerunner and Barbarians at the Gate.

User reviews

LibraryThing member RandyStafford

A depressing Dick novel of a doomed, one-sided love affair that also had the usual Dick humor, realistic dialogue, and superb characterization. The book's only flaw was that it seemed to wander at times, but that was probably due to its emphasis not on plot (some of the problems seemed artificial,

easily solved, and there just to advance the plot) but on character.

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LibraryThing member scottcholstad

I've read nearly 40 books by Philip K Dick and have loved most. This book was only the second sci fi novel I couldn't finish, so that says something. I got halfway through and gave up. It's about two guys who own a company that makes electronic organs who decide to branch out and make robots of

Lincoln and other Civil War persons. One of them has a schizophrenic 18 year old daughter named Pris (remind you of anyone?) who's batshit crazy. She and Louis, the protagonist, develop a love/hate relationship, but aside from just how goofy the premise is and how woefully written it is, the thing I really hate is the dialogue. It's terrible! I love you. I despise you. Would you want to have sex with me? No, I don't think so. Let's have sex. No. OK. I'm in love with you even though I don't know you at all. Maybe this is more a reflection of Dick's private life and his affairs with women than anything else. It's just stupid though and entirely unbelievable. I was excited when I got the book because I had heard some good things about it, but I can't get past its weaknesses. It's a poorly written book. Not recommended.

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LibraryThing member PastorBob

It's worth noting that the Character of Pris in Ridley Scott's Blade Runner, down to the make up, actually comes from this book.

LibraryThing member jwhenderson

It was as good as a real Abe Lincoln...or as bad, if you looked at it that way. Going into simulacra production was not the obvious step for a firm hitherto devoted to the manufacture of electronic organs, but business was bad.

LibraryThing member TheCrow2

Despite it's hungarian title, this book is not about an android, simulacrum, impersonating Lincoln but much more a strange, sad love story. In the background there is everything makes a PKD book special. Great part of the population (allegedly) has mental illness, androids indistinguishable from

humans, paranoia is a normal part of life, etc. Not his best by far, but if you like PKD, you won't be disappointed.

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LibraryThing member DanielSTJ

This novel really wandered off of its course. It started with a premise and then went in a completely other direction. Dick's writing was original in this one, but this work seemed to suffer from a lack of intensity and purpose- especially nearing the latter half.

2 stars.

LibraryThing member rynk

Dick is up to his usual psych tricks: A robot Abe Lincoln, with more soul than its schizophrenic teen creator, appears as deus ex machina.

LibraryThing member rottweilersmile

This is kind of a delightful, oddball story

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