Humpty Dumpty in Oakland

Infobox Book
name = Humpty Dumpty in Oakland
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption = Dust-jacket from the first edition
author = Philip K. Dick
illustrator =
cover_artist =
country = United Kingdom
language = English
series =
genre = Novel
publisher = Gollancz
release_date = 1986
english_release_date =
media_type = Print (Hardback)
pages = 199 pp
isbn = ISBN 0-575-03875-6
preceded_by =
followed_by =

"Humpty Dumpty in Oakland" is a realist, non- science fiction novel authored by Philip K. Dick. Originally completed in 1960, but rejected by prior publishers, this work was posthumously published by Gollancz in the United Kingdom in 1986.

Plot summary

During the early sixties, Jim Fergessen decides to sell his Oakland-based garage business, which annoys his business tenant, used car salesman Al Miller, who rents a lot from Fergessen to sell his vehicles. Chris Harmon, an entrepreneur, advises Fergessen to invest in a new garage located in Marin Country Gardens, which Jim visits. On his way back to Oakland, Jim has a minor heart attack. Miller is convinced that Harmon is corrupt, and tries to blackmail him about his alleged sale of pornagraphic recordings. At the same time, Al starts a job with Harmon, which he initially believed was selling classical music, but then discovered was related to barbershop music sheets. He disrupts the final contract signing between Fergessen and Harmon, playing on the former's paranoia, and the entrepreneur never gets his chance to close the deal, as Jim dies that night.

Al's used car lot is vandalised, his wife Julie is made redundant from her job, and they run off, while Lydia, Jim's widow, discovers that her late husband's deal with Harmon was not as corrupt as Al pretended. Al is temporarily arrested after Lydia threatens to sue him for fraud, Julie leaves him, and Al starts a new relationship with his real estate vendor, Mrs. Lane.

References

*cite web
last = Brown
first = Charles N.
authorlink = Charles N. Brown
coauthors = William G. Contento
title = The Locus Index to Science Fiction (1984-1998)
work =
publisher =
date =
url = http://www.locusmag.com/index/b136.htm#A1817.63
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-01-14
*Andrew Butler: The Pocket Essential Philip K.Dick: Harpenden: Pocket Essentials: 2007: ISBN 1904048923