American writer Philip K. Dick published his science fiction novel, The Game Players of Titan, in the year 1963. The book covers a story about a game administered by amorphous aliens who are the inhabitants of Titan, which is the largest satellite of Saturn.
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Author: Philip K. Dick
Genre: Science Fiction
Pages: 191
Good reads rating: 3.64 of 5
My Ratings: 7.8 of 10
Published: 1963
Publisher: Ace Books
Language: English
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The hero of The Game Players of Titan is Pete Garden. He is one of the few residents of a post-apocalyptic future, who own large bands of property in this depopulated place. All residents compete against each other in a board game known as Bluff. The contestants of the game risk their marriage, property and future status to be eligible game players. Pete, although a strong contestant, however, has a bipolar disorder which decreases his competence. The most interesting thing about this game is that it remains administered by silicon-based aliens who are amorphous and inhabitants of Titan.
These aliens received fame for their obsession with gambling. Since the human population experienced devastation because of the game’s global war, the fertility of humans became promoted by exogamy. Although aliens dominated the earth, they do not occupy it, and rather their relationship is of paternal nature. Another ability they carry is that they can perform telepathy and hence they can control the mind of humans.
As the game begins, Pete loses his favourite property of Berkeley and his wife Freya. The new owner of Berkeley has sold the property to a corrupt Bindman, Jerome Luckman. Pete misses his wife and, feels worried about his new partner.
Pat is in a relationship with Pete who is a telepath, and her husband named Allen displays a precognitive nature. Their daughter performs telekinesis. The family cannot play the game because they use their abilities to manage and win the contest. Pete finds out that his new wife, Carol, is pregnant with his child and breaks up with Pat. Carol’s pregnancy displays a rare event because most people became infertile who lives on the planet. Peter experiences many more adventures.
This science fiction novel presents a dystopian world where humans become dominated by aliens. The significant portion of the human population remains, infertile, and giving birth in this kind of environment is rare. The book receives my rating of 7.8 out of 10 because it holds, reader’s, interests until the end. Would I re-read this novel? No. Am I glad I read it? Yes.
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