Our Friends from Frolix 8
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Our Friends From Frolix 8 is a 1970 science fiction novel by Philip K. Dick.
[edit] Synopsis
In the 22nd Century, the Earth is ruled by the "New Men", humans with superhuman mental abilities, who share power with "Unusuals" that possess psionic abilities, such as telepathy, telekinesis and precognition. To fight them, Thors Provoni has gone deep into space to find help. He is returning with a sentient protoplasmic alien being, a "Friend from Frolix 8", (known as Morgo Rahn Wilc) to fight for the "Old Men" (non-telepathic humanity, also incapable of enhanced cognitive abilities).
Against this background, Nick Appleton (an Old Man) and Willis Gram (a New Man) are political rivals. Initially compliant to the "New Men"/"Unusual" regime, Appleton's son Bobby fails a Civil Service examination which is deliberately geared toward failing "Old Man" applicants. At the same time, Terran authorities are holding "Under Man" activist Cordon imprisoned, preparing for his execution.
Appleton becomes politicised, and falls for Charlotte ("Charly") Boyer, a sixteen year old subversive, involved with alcoholic Denny (and in this future, alcohol prohibition has apparently returned as a social policy). After the authorities discover that Appleton has become 'subversive,' they attempt to apprehend him and Charly, whom Willis Gram is also obsessed with.
Meanwhile, Thors Provoni's craft has eluded Terran fleet defences and is rapidly nearing Earth, leading to paranoid fears from the erstwhile governing elite about the possibility of violent alien invasion. In the event, Provoni does land, but Morgo Rahn Wilc protects him from an assassination attempt. Pavoni is actually a "New Man" himself, and with the assistance of his alien companion, he strips all New Men and Unusuals of their psionic and advanced cognitive abilities, rendering them intellectually disabled and only capable of childlike cognition.
[edit] Trivia
- The love interest character of Charley, a young woman with long dark hair, often appears (with different names) in Dick novels and may be a tribute of sorts to a young woman Dick met in real life.
- There is a reference to Friedrich Nietzsche's theory of God is dead, in which Nick states that they found God's body floating near Alpha in 2019.
- Kleo Appleton is named for Philip K.Dick's first wife.
- In its use of psionic abilities as a major plot element, this work is similar to Ubik.
