The Dice Man
Encyclopedia
The Dice Man is a novel published in 1971 by George Cockcroft
under the pen name
Luke Rhinehart and tells the story of a psychiatrist
who begins making life decisions based on the casting of dice
. Cockcroft wrote the book based on his own experiences of using dice to make decisions while studying psychology. The novel is noted for its subversivity, anti-psychiatry
sentiments and for reflecting moods of the early 1970s. Due to its subversive nature and chapters concerned with controversial issues such as rape
, murder
and sexual experimentation, it was banned in several countries. Upon its initial publication, the cover bore the confident subheader, "Few novels can change your life. This one will" and quickly became a modern cult classic
.
The book went through a number of republishings - in the United States
it acquired the even more confident subheader "This book will change your life", in spite of its being a highly edited version of the original. It was initially less successful than in the United Kingdom
and Scandinavia
.
The themes of the book are continued in two other novels, The Search for the Dice Man
and Adventures of Wim
and a companion title, The Book of the Die.
, rape, murder, "dice parties", breakouts by psychiatric patients, and various corporate and governmental machines being put into a spin. There is also a description of the cult
that starts to develop around the man, and the psychological research he initiates, such as the "Fuck
without Fear for Fun and Profit" program.
George Cockcroft
George Cockcroft is an author who writes under the pen name Luke Rhinehart.-Biography:George Cockcroft was born in the United States, son of an engineer and a civil servant. He got his BA at Cornell University, and his MA at Columbia University. Subsequently he got a PhD in psychology, also at...
under the pen name
Pen name
A pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a pseudonym adopted by an author. A pen name may be used to make the author's name more distinctive, to disguise his or her gender, to distance an author from some or all of his or her works, to protect the author from retribution for his or her...
Luke Rhinehart and tells the story of a psychiatrist
Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. All psychiatrists are trained in diagnostic evaluation and in psychotherapy...
who begins making life decisions based on the casting of dice
Dice
A die is a small throwable object with multiple resting positions, used for generating random numbers...
. Cockcroft wrote the book based on his own experiences of using dice to make decisions while studying psychology. The novel is noted for its subversivity, anti-psychiatry
Anti-psychiatry
Anti-psychiatry is a configuration of groups and theoretical constructs that emerged in the 1960s, and questioned the fundamental assumptions and practices of psychiatry, such as its claim that it achieves universal, scientific objectivity. Its igniting influences were Michel Foucault, R.D. Laing,...
sentiments and for reflecting moods of the early 1970s. Due to its subversive nature and chapters concerned with controversial issues such as rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
, murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
and sexual experimentation, it was banned in several countries. Upon its initial publication, the cover bore the confident subheader, "Few novels can change your life. This one will" and quickly became a modern cult classic
Cult Classic
Cult Classic is a Blue Öyster Cult studio recording released in 1994, containing remakes of many of the band's previous hits.-Track listing:# " The Reaper" - 5:05# "E.T.I...
.
The book went through a number of republishings - in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
it acquired the even more confident subheader "This book will change your life", in spite of its being a highly edited version of the original. It was initially less successful than in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
.
The themes of the book are continued in two other novels, The Search for the Dice Man
The Search for the Dice Man
The Search for the Dice Man was written by George Cockcroft under the pen name Luke Rhinehart. It is the official sequel to The Dice Man, and was published in 1993....
and Adventures of Wim
Adventures of Wim
Adventures of Wim or Whim is a book by George Cockcroft, written under the pen name Luke Rhinehart. It was published in 1986, and was sold as "The sequel, well almost, to The Dice Man". This version is no longer in print...
and a companion title, The Book of the Die.
Plot summary
The book tells the story of a psychiatrist named Luke Rhinehart who, feeling bored and unfulfilled in life, starts making decisions about what to do based on a roll of a dice. Along the way, there is sexSex
In biology, sex is a process of combining and mixing genetic traits, often resulting in the specialization of organisms into a male or female variety . Sexual reproduction involves combining specialized cells to form offspring that inherit traits from both parents...
, rape, murder, "dice parties", breakouts by psychiatric patients, and various corporate and governmental machines being put into a spin. There is also a description of the cult
Cult
The word cult in current popular usage usually refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre. The word originally denoted a system of ritual practices...
that starts to develop around the man, and the psychological research he initiates, such as the "Fuck
Fuck
"Fuck" is an English word that is generally considered obscene which, in its most literal meaning, refers to the act of sexual intercourse. By extension it may be used to negatively characterize anything that can be dismissed, disdained, defiled, or destroyed."Fuck" can be used as a verb, adverb,...
without Fear for Fun and Profit" program.
Publishing history
- ISBN 0-900735-00-7 - September 9, 1971
- ISBN 0-246-11058-9 - July, 1978
- ISBN 0-586-03765-9 - April 13, 1989
- ISBN 0-87951-864-2 - July, 1998
- ISBN 0-00-651390-5 - December 15, 1999
- ISBN 0-00-716121-2 - April 7, 2003