I just recently read this book, which is probably PKD's first book
dating from before he got into science fiction at all. It was written
before 1951 but didn't get printed until 60 years later.

It takes place in a company town in China in 1949 as the company shuts down
and leaves in the face of the incoming communist forces. The company employees head out, leaving two men and one woman in place to manage the handover to the PLA. All of these people have serious hangups and issues
with sexual repression.

The environment... it's not very much like China and the forces coming
in aren't much like communists. It's all very abstract and very PKD
and you could imagine a tire regroover right there.

I can't recommend the book for itself, but I can recommend the book a lot
as a view into a proto-PKD in the days when he was trying to write
straight romantic fiction. Every page has a glimpse into what he's
going to be someday. Set your mood organ to enlightened.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.16
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Scott Dorsey <kludge@panix.com> wrote:

I just recently read this book, which is probably PKD's first book
dating from before he got into science fiction at all. It was written
before 1951 but didn't get printed until 60 years later.

It takes place in a company town in China in 1949 as the company shuts down and leaves in the face of the incoming communist forces. The company employees head out, leaving two men and one woman in place to manage the handover to the PLA. All of these people have serious hangups and issues with sexual repression.

The environment... it's not very much like China and the forces coming
in aren't much like communists. It's all very abstract and very PKD
and you could imagine a tire regroover right there.

I can't recommend the book for itself, but I can recommend the book a lot
as a view into a proto-PKD in the days when he was trying to write
straight romantic fiction. Every page has a glimpse into what he's
going to be someday. Set your mood organ to enlightened.

SIGMUND FREUD AND THE JEWISH MYSTICAL TRADITION by David Bakan is my
current audiobook. Bakan peppers his book with about two dozen forms of
the infinitive "repress." Bakan spells out how Freud's very own
repressed thoughts inform Freud's psychoanalytical theory.
Your PKD post piqued my psychoanalytical curiosity about repression.
My sample of reviewers mostly agree with your take on GATHER YOURSELVES TOGETHER. One such reviewer wrote a comprehensive essay on the story.
[1]
When you say, "sexual repression" do you intend to use it
subjectively? Because the comprehensive review leaves me with the
impression that neither Barbara, nor Verne, nor Carl's mind sexually
repress thoughts.
An example of what you mean would be most helpful. Thank you.

Note.

[1] <https://tinyurl.com/4rejw7uf>

Postscript:

Beezlebub Bibi's big beautiful brownie, Trump Terrific, is far from my
favorite president. Nonetheless, the White House UFC spectacular
spectacle on Sunday succeeded in a manner similar to Andrew Jackson's
first inaugural reception.

Danke,

--
Don.......My cat's )\._.,--....,'``. https://crcomp.net/reviews.php telltale tall tail /, _.. \ _\ (`._ ,. veritas liberabit vos
tells tall tales.. `._.-(,_..'--(,_..'`-.;.' Make 1984 fiction again.


--- PyGate Linux v1.5.17
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Tue, 16 Jun 2026 17:10:13 -0000 (UTC), Don <g@crcomp.net> wrote:

When you say, "sexual repression" do you intend to use it
subjectively? Because the comprehensive review leaves me with the
impression that neither Barbara, nor Verne, nor Carl's mind sexually
repress thoughts.

Normally, when the phrase "sexual repression" is used, it doesn't mean
people repress thoughts in a fashion that is sexual; if it is thoughts
that are being repressed, then it would be the thoughts themselves
that are sexual.

John Savard

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.17
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Verily, in article <6a32d974.8093640@news.eternal-september.org>, did quadibloc@invalid.com deliver unto us this message:

On Tue, 16 Jun 2026 17:10:13 -0000 (UTC), Don <g@crcomp.net> wrote:

When you say, "sexual repression" do you intend to use it
subjectively? Because the comprehensive review leaves me with the >impression that neither Barbara, nor Verne, nor Carl's mind sexually >repress thoughts.

Normally, when the phrase "sexual repression" is used, it doesn't mean
people repress thoughts in a fashion that is sexual; if it is thoughts
that are being repressed, then it would be the thoughts themselves
that are sexual.

We need the other adverbial form here. They repress their thoughts
sexwise.


--
The True Melissa - Canal Winchester - Ohio
United States of America - North America - Earth
Solar System - Milky Way - Local Group
Virgo Cluster - Laniakea Supercluster - Cosmos

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.17
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

The True Melissa <thetruemelissa@gmail.com> wrote:

Verily, in article <6a32d974.8093640@news.eternal-september.org>, did quadibloc@invalid.com deliver unto us this message:

On Tue, 16 Jun 2026 17:10:13 -0000 (UTC), Don <g@crcomp.net> wrote:

When you say, "sexual repression" do you intend to use it
subjectively? Because the comprehensive review leaves me with the
impression that neither Barbara, nor Verne, nor Carl's mind sexually
repress thoughts.

Normally, when the phrase "sexual repression" is used, it doesn't mean
people repress thoughts in a fashion that is sexual; if it is thoughts
that are being repressed, then it would be the thoughts themselves
that are sexual.

We need the other adverbial form here. They repress their thoughts
sexwise.

Thank you guys for noting how my order of words was wrong. With words in correct order, my sentence reads:

Because the comprehensive review leaves me with the
impression that neither Barbara, nor Verne, nor
Carl's mind repress sexual thoughts.

Barbara and Verne come across as horndogs in Fake Geek Boy's review.
It's hard to imagine that either of them repress sexual thoughts.
Carl seems more interested in intellectual pursuits than sex.
Some people are built that way:

Man is distinguished, not only by his reason but
also by this singular passion from other animals...
which is a lust of the mind, that by a perseverance
of delight in the continual and indefatigable
generation of knowledge, exceeds the short vehemence
of any carnal pleasure. - Hobbes

Postscript:

Search engines and AI again prove their worthlessness. The above quote
by Hobbes was located using old fashioned brain power. There's nothing
on Earth equivalent to the human mind.

--
Don.......My cat's )\._.,--....,'``. veritas _|_ telltale tall tail /, _.. \ _\ (`._ ,. liberabit |
tells tall tales.. `._.-(,_..'--(,_..'`-.;.' vos |



--- PyGate Linux v1.5.17
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)