Interesting discussion about this at Genre X book club. The people that didn't care for it conceded that this was one of the first alternate history books written and that was why it won awards back in the sixties. It's like old sci-fi movies from back then--we make fun of them now because of how un-sophisticated they are. This book wasn't sophisticated enough for my fellow book club members. 
 I really enjoyed it. I thought this was because I was amused by the idiosyncratic characters; and I especially like the (only) main female character Julianna. She was a bad ass (and kind of crazy). But, now I'm wondering, did I like it because of how I could make fun of it? While reading it, I thought PKD was making cultural/societal statements through the bordering-on-satirical situations, and I thought I was appreciating his humor, and the interesting plot and premise, and what he's saying about humanity. I respect this book. But was I finding humor where I wasn't supposed to? 
 To be continued...