Another buy today from the wonderful Minster bookshop.

What an odd story. Which is saying something I guess, given that this is Philip K Dick. But after being frustrated by Valis, I am back on firmer ground as this feels like a proper story. Although with a bit of a disappointing solution somehow, rather like those murder mysteries that are so great to read until the last section when they explain it all away, and you're just left there sitting, oh, how dull. I wouldn't say the explanation here is dull, only a bit... I don't know, almost randomly thrown in.

But then this is a story that starts out as very, very normal and things start getting strange. Ragle Gumm lives with his sister and family in 1950s America. He doesn't have a traditional job, but makes his money entering (and winning) a daily competition in a newspaper guessing where the little green man will next appear. The neighbours often come over to eat or play cards. Then the random, odd little strange things happen. Ragle's brother-in-law goes in to a dark room and goes to pull the light cord. Except there's never been a light cord. Then the son goes playing in a ruined part of town and comes back with an old telephone catalogue and magazines he found. And in one of the magazines there is an article about a film actress, Marilyn Monroe, of whom no one has ever heard...

Ok, so these are the little signs that something isn't quite right. Seemingly this world is manufactured. Could it all be for Ragle's benefit? But why would anyone go to such lengths for one person? I'm not going to throw any spoilers in here. It gets a bit random and strange, and then, as I say, it's all explained and seems a bit... odd.