In 2203 anyone can become the ruler of the solar system. There are no elections, no interviews, no prerequisites whatsoever - it all comes down to the random turns of a giant wheel. But when a new Quizmaster takes over, the old one still keeps some rights, namely the right to hire an unending stream of assassins to attempt to kill the new leader.
In the wake of the most recent change in leadership, employees of the former ruler scurry to find an assassin who can get past telepathic guards. But when one employee switches sides, troubling facts about the lottery system come to light, and it just might not be possible for anyone to win.
©2012 Philip K. Dick (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.
"a little too disjointed for me"
some PKD seems a little slap dash and for me this is one. there are several good ideas but i didn't feel they were coherently worked out and i was left feeling like there were 2 or 3 short stories jammed together and not completed satisfactorily. And the overall structure of the future society needed fleshing out for me, bits and pieces floated about, and in the end i had no clear vision of it, which tends to negate the plot line as such. there are several nice moments, but still can't recommend it when you can get Policeman, Androids, Valis and Scanner as well as High Castle instead. Still I will continue on with PKD.