Martian time-slip (SF master series)

Philip K Dick

ISBN 10: 0450029786 / ISBN 13: 9780450029783

Published by New English Library, 1976

About this Item

Pages somewhat aged .Carefully wrapped on a protective acetate cover to prevent further damage.

Seller Inventory # 15501

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Martian time-slip (SF master series)
• Publisher: New English Library
• Publication Date: 1976
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0450029786
• ISBN 13: 9780450029783
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: First Edition.
• Condition: Good
• Dust Jacket Condition: very Good
• Weight: 16 ounces
• Seller catalogs:
  • first editions

About this title

Synopsis

Martian Time-Slip is a novel about a colony on Mars. It also includes themes of mental illness, temporal physics & the dangers of centralized authority. It expands the novella All We Marsmen, published in the August, October & December '63 issues of Worlds of Tomorrow. Manfred Steiner is like Tim in the '54 story A World of Talent published in Galaxy Science Fiction.
Events occur several years after colonies are established. Many colonies identify with states--the USA & Israel's are largest--but are under ultimate UN control. The UN seeks to establish self-sufficiency because of fears of nuclear war.
Rare, water is tightly controlled. Most homes are built near canals. Arnie Kott, Water Worker’s Union head, is perhaps the most politically powerful individual. Mars’ native population is a dark humanoid called Bleekmen. They live as simple hunters & gatherers maintaining ancient religious beliefs. Colonists see them as primitive.
The characters are often connected unawares, a Dick trademark. Jack Bohlen's neighbors are the Steiners. Norbert Steiner is a dealer in local craft goods & Earth foods, smuggled because the UN forbids food imports to force self-sufficiency. Manfred, his autistic son, resides at the anomalous children's home, Camp Ben-Gurion, soon to be closed. Another resident is the son of Anne Esterhazy & her ex-husband, union boss Kott. They've a cordial businesslike relationship, Anne dealing with the day to day issues of the children at Camp B-G while Kott sees its existence as discouraging new colonists, impeding his vision of a new Mars. Otto Zitte is Norbert Steiner's mechanic who attempts to take over the business after Steiner's suicide. Zitte, acting as his own traveling salesman, seduces Sylvia Bohlen, Jack's wife, while Jack is having an affair with Doreen Anderton, Kott's mistress. Isolated from humans, Manfred connects with the Bleekmen, especially Heliogabalus, Kott's cook. He achieves his salvation thru the Bleekmen, with Jack's unwitting help.

Cover Illustration: Bruce Pennington