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Swan_X1 t1_j9cax2e wrote

Hello. I read an interesting fact about this book, and to be precise, about the process of writing it. You know, there is such a thing - I Ching, or Book of Changes. So, so with the help of a coin toss, you can supposedly determine the probability of an event, this is something like a prophet or an oracle. This is also mentioned in the book.

And so... the author wrote "The Man in the High Castle" using this book of changes. Should heroes go one way or another? Should the heroes of the book meet or not? Should the hero of the book fall in love with a woman or not? And everything in that spirit was decided by a blind chance, a coin toss.

When I found out this, it opened my eyes to some plot twists, partly explained the ending of the book, and in general it became clear why the plot behaves like a yacht in a storm.

I do not pretend that this is not really the case, but what the author loved... let's just say experimenting with various mind-expanding substances... it might have been just like him.

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rourobouros OP t1_j9cc86z wrote

I wonder if being familiar with I Ching might change my appreciation of the book. I know what it is, and assuming his depiction is accurate I learned something more, but maybe a better background would give more insight into what the characters were doing.

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alien_ghost t1_j9dl5ox wrote

Like Tarot, the I Ching has a lot to offer, and little of it has to do with telling the future. It's more about looking into the unconscious/subconscious. Just thought I would add that in case you decide to go down that route.
I would highly recommend the Tao Te Ching and I Ching to anyone.

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Swan_X1 t1_j9dn5ot wrote

I understand. But just imagine that, for example, Shakespeare is like, "Hmm... Will Romeo fall in love with Juliet? Well, I'll leave everything to chance!" A little strange, as for me.

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rourobouros OP t1_j9dnkoz wrote

What you’re doing here is refusing to suspend your disbelief.

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