Review of Nick and the Glimmung by Philip K. Dick

Surprisingly absorbing children’s fiction from grandmaster of social s-f from the pulp era.

Nick is a kid with a cat. Earth is a planet that banned cats. So the family has to move to Ploughman’s Planet, where aliens like wubs, werjes, father-things, and printers, among other species, all waging war against the notorious Glimmung, who rules the planet through fear.
You might recognize some of these creatures from Dick’s stories and other novels where they were mentioned in passing. “Beyond Lies the Wub,” or Galactic Pot-Healer would be good examples indicating that Dick conceived a universe all his own, before he went off the deep end (as the general consensus goes (see VALIS trilogy.)) Nonetheless, Dick’s storytelling is smooth and his humor is prevalent. He tosses out entertaining twists like yesterday’s broccoli. Nick is a determined protagonist, and his parents are irresponsible and way too indulgent to his whims. Not once do they put a foot down or raise their vocal cadence in his direction. He loves his cat and wants to keep him, so they uproot their lives and travel light years to ensure that Horace can be provided an ample home. That home turns out to present fresh dangers of a wacky, alien variety.
Dick’s lighthearted works are not nonsensical like some children’s fiction or pulp s-f, they are charged with deep themes and resounding emotive power. You will remember this readable journey and it sits easily alongside Dick’s unparalleled masterpieces, like a nice dessert. I appreciate Subterranean Press for resuscitating it from out-of-printed-ness.