#10509 The Broken Bubble. Philip K. Dick.
Philip K. Dick

The Broken Bubble

The Broken Bubble is one of Philip K. Dick's early mainstream novels. Originally penned in 1956 with the longer title "The Broken Bubble of Thisbe Holt," it was rejected for publication, along with Dick's other non-science fiction works. Eventually, it was published posthumously in 1988 under a shortened title in hardcover by Ultramarine as a special limited edition and Arbor House as a trade edition.

Hardcover. First Edition, First Printing. Octavo, cloth and boards. New York: Arbor House / William Morrow, 1988. ISBN: 1557100128. #10509.
Fine in fine dust jacket.

Additional Details
Published in 1988, The Broken Bubble is an early mainstream novel by renowned American science fiction author Philip K. Dick. Written around 1956 under the original title The Broken Bubble of Thisbe Holt, this work offers a captivating glimpse into the lives of two couples in mid-1950s California, each facing pivotal lessons about life.

Jim Briskin, a classical music DJ, remains deeply connected to his ex-wife Patricia Gray despite their divorce due to his sterility. Enter Art and Rachael, a teenage married couple with their own complications, who become entwined with Jim and Patricia in a complex partner swap.

Pat's passionate but tumultuous relationship with the dysfunctional Art takes a disturbing turn, leading to an abusive incident. Meanwhile, Jim and Rachael forge a connection that leads to a drastic decision: Rachael proposes leaving Art and escaping to Mexico with Jim, where they'd raise her child together. Ultimately, a sense of maturity prevails, and the original partnerships are resumed.

While the book's original title centers around Miss Thisbe Holt, a minor character, who performs a memorable and unusual act involving a clear plastic ball at an optometrists convention, the revised title underscores the theme of irreversible life-altering events for the main characters. In this exploration of relationships and change, Philip K. Dick delves into the complexities of human connections, highlighting the intricacies of emotions and the choices that shape our paths.