Valis

227 pages

English language

Published Dec. 22, 1981 by Corgi.

ISBN:
978-0-552-11841-5
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OCLC Number:
16535495

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3 stars (4 reviews)

23 editions

Review of 'Valis' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Whilst elements of Dick's self has always broken through in to his novels, VALIS is the first novel where he writes himself in explicitly as a character. VALIS is based on Dick's own experiences in 1974, where he experienced a "religious experience" on meeting a young woman after being administered sodium pentothal.

The first half of the book explores the personal self, with Dick and his counter-part "Horselover Fat", experiencing a similar religious experience and then attempting to find meaning for his life, and the course of his actions. Through the book, Fat writes an "exgenesis", a diary of thoughts and ideas on the themes of origin, religion and philosophy. The book makes heavy references to Gnosticism, Buddhism, Plato, Aristotle, Jung and others. Take your time with the first half and persevere. In the modern age we have the benefit of Wikipedia - it helps to use it.

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