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There is an odd feeling reading the first book of any author who later becomes respected, usually for their later work rather than what got past their first editor and out into the world.

Case in point is Philip Dick’s ‘Solar Lottery’. In this reality, you don’t have a democratic vote into governmental office but get selected by lottery. The book was written in 1955 so the best comparison to today is instead of winning so many million pounds or dollars, you become the ruler or Quizmaster of the world instead. You get rich as a bonus. Nice work if you can get it.

The only drawback is a secondary Assassination Game where rivals can employ an assassin to murder the Quizmaster to allow him to take his place. With the current Quizmaster, Leon Cartwright, holding onto his office a previous Quizmaster, Reese Verrick is determined to see him dead. He also has a unique plan to defy the telepaths protecting Cartwright. Disillusioned Ted Bentley suddenly finds himself in the middle of this struggle and has to question where his own loyalties lie.

There’s no denying Dick’s developing genius here for intrigue with a touch of satire as well as demonstrating an SF solution to a problem. If I have to be overtly critical, I wish there was more to see of this reality to see how other jobs were affected by this lottery system. I mean, there must have been many instances where people got jobs that they were obviously not qualified to do.

It’s a shame this wasn’t explored, especially amongst the secondary characters. Still, that wasn’t the point of the story. It was really to see how the Quizmaster could stay in power even if it wasn’t made clear what decisions he really made for world government.

Undoubtedly, if you’re a Philip Dick fan then you’ll be buying this book. If you’re a more general SF fan, then it should be worth picking up to see an SF master in development over 58 years ago.

GF Willmetts