The Jungle (Barnes & Noble Classics Series) (Barnes & Noble Classics) by Upton Sinclair
Upton Sinclair's dramatic and deeply moving story exposed the brutal conditions in the Chicago stockyards at the turn of the …
Some of the stories in this collection are very good; many, underwhelming. Regardless, it is interesting to see Dick mature as a writer, refining concepts and themes over the course of years while improving his dialogue and getting rid of other weaknesses in his prose. The sensibilities displayed—the appreciation for humanity, the questioning of pre-established order, the subjectivity of reality, among others—are well-elaborated and presented in a way that naturally invite critical examination. Even in the earlier stories, the ones most closest to sci-fi pulp, there is a degree of intentionality that makes it clear that Dick was aspiring to do something beyond simply entertaining and trying to say something with his works. While I think that his longer-form works are better, overall, these shorts and novelettes are worth checking out for those who like his other works.
