The Dice Man - George CockCroft

BossArky

I finished The Dice Man yesterday.

Having heard about it for years I had looked forward to reading it. The idea of a bored guy using a dice to decide what he will do each day kind of appeals to the restless mind. Unfortunately I was mildly dissapointed. The story zipped along rapidly enough, but I found the last 200 pages or so go a bit flat.

I'd give it a 5/10.

Anyone else?

doonothing

I really enjoyed it, I read it about 5 years ago though, so I'm a little rusty on the details...
Yeah, I agree it does drag towards the end, great start to the book though! "I don't think anyone ever effectively handled his [Freud's] penis"
I'd say it's worth more than a 5/10, worth a read but it's not going to change your life,despite what the cover says!

Anyone ever read the sequel?

cue

I thought it was pretty good, but nowhere near as good as his "Adventures of Wim".

Zaph

Read it about two years ago. Interesting idea, but over-long and boring as hell to read. The book just dragged along, but I persevered as I thought it might get better. 5/10 is generous, I'd give it 3/10.

Krusty_Clown

I really enjoyed it. You have to remember that it was written in 1971. Were someone to write a book now about dice theory, it would probably run a little differently..

BossArky

haha, doonothing - yes some classic quotes in there.

I don't plan on reading the sequel. Didn't even know there was one tbh.

Earthhorse

It is, as others have pointed out, a brilliant premise but a dissapointing book. It starts well. The first fifty or so pages are gripping. Then it slips into a repitition it could do without. He basically uses the dice to almost exclusively decide to have sex. He doesn't really have any good ideas when it comes to listing things to do, with the exception of the

breakout

.

There's some good writing in there but the book could have been chopped in half and it would have been just as good.

BossArky

Actually I thought one of his better ideas for dice decisions was making the 6 lists, each with 6 people.

Earthhorse

It's been so long since I read it that I don't remember that one! That's not the one where he's at the party and he has six different roles to play because I found that part insufferably boring.

Also confused by your thread title by the way; the pseudonym, Luke Rhinehart, has become synonymous with the book!

BossArky

haha, yes! When posting the title I took a few seconds to decide if I would credit the author as Luke or George.

No, I was referring to the 6 lists he makes when choosing who to murder. The six personalities at the cocktail party was funny though - a deaf mute being the best.

monkey9

Read it last year. Was really interested in the plot, sounded like a great idea. Bought the book along with the sequel, but was so disappointed. It really dragged on, was very boring. 5/6 would be a correct rating. Haven't bothered reading the sequel