A scanner darkly

English language

Published Feb. 20, 1977

ISBN:
978-0-385-01613-1
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4 stars (5 reviews)

A Scanner Darkly is a science fiction novel by American writer Philip K. Dick, published in 1977. The semi-autobiographical story is set in a dystopian Orange County, California, in the then-future of June 1994, and includes an extensive portrayal of drug culture and drug use (both recreational and abusive). The novel is one of Dick's best-known works and served as the basis for a 2006 film of the same name, directed by Richard Linklater.

9 editions

Review of 'A Scanner Darkly' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

This book is so open to pastiche. Chicks, straights, narks and like that could all do one. So I won't bother; there are a bunch of them on Goodreads already.

PKD here writes a Requiem for a Dream decades before that film came out, showing from a convincing internal viewpoint what the disintegration of a mind through drug abuse might be like. Initially amusing, the continuous sequence of ridiculous conversations and bonkers, apparently incomprehensible events soon palls as the plot seems to go nowhere. But stick around! The back half goes typically PKD crazy as it becomes clear to the reader (but not to our hapless protagonist, despite his growing paranoia) that there are machinations afoot. The last quarter then turns both tragic and startling as one discovers what is really going on. This abrupt turn away from the humourous heightens the tragedy (Romeo and Juliet, anyone?) and results in …

Review of 'A Scanner Darkly' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

The Novel follows the last days of Bob Arctor working as an undercover narcotics agent. As an undercover agent, Bob has been taking the currently popular drug "Substance D" and has become an ever deepening addict. The story follows Bob as his mind slowly deteriorates and begins to seperate the personalities of Bob the user, and Fred the narcotics agent.

The novel is like the lucid side of diving down the rabbit hole, as the story progresses first we see Bob torn apart and then finally we see the role of those around him and the bigger game he has been recruited to play. Bob is not a willing volunteer in this game, despite being a willing user of Substance d, he is being unknowingly guided down the path he takes.

Now I need to go and wash these aphids off.

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5 stars