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A Scanner Darkly

By Philip K Dick
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick delves into the fractured reality of Bob Arctor, a drug addict and dealer deeply entangled with the mind-splitting substance known as Substance D. As Bob's two identities—himself and the undercover agent Fred—collide and conflict, the novel explores paranoia, identity, and the disintegration of the self within a dystopian future American society. Blending psychological thriller with dark social commentary, it offers a haunting glimpse into 1970s Californian counter-culture.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$5100

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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Ideal for readers who appreciate thought-provoking science fiction with a strong psychological and sociopolitical edge, especially those interested in dystopian narratives and explorations of identity and addiction.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Hugo Award-winner Philip K. Dick's semi-autobiographical science fiction novel of dystopia and drug addiction.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Winner of the British Science Fiction Association Award for Best Novel, Philip K. Dick's A Scanner Darkly is a semi-autobiographical novel of drug addiction set in a future American dystopia—and the basis for the Hugo Award finalist film starring Keanu Reeves, Winona Ryder, and Robert Downey, Jr.

A Scanner Darkly explores a descent into the deep fears of our 24-hour consumer society: the twilight of intellectual and emotional collapse. It is a fascinating portrait of 70s Californian counter-culture."—The Guardian

Bob Arctor is a junkie and a drug dealer, both using and selling the mind-altering Substance D. Fred is an undercover agent, tasked with bringing Bob down. It sounds like a standard case. The only problem is that Bob and Fred are the same person. Substance D doesn't just alter the mind, it splits it in two, and neither side knows what the other is doing or that it even exists. Now, both sides are growing increasingly paranoid as Bob tries to evade Fred while Fred tries to evade his suspicious bosses. In this dystopian future, friends can become enemies, good trips can turn terrifying, and cops and criminals are two sides of the same coin. Caustically funny and somberly contemplative, Dick fashions a psychological thriller that is as unnerving as it is enthralling.

"Dick is Thoreau plus the death of the American dream."—Roberto Bolaño

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780547572178

Publisher: Cengage Learning, Inc

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 18 October 2011

Country: United States

Imprint: Houghton Mifflin

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 20.0mm

Width: 132.0mm

Height: 201.0mm

Weight: 249g

Pages: 304

Collections

Fiction General Fiction Literary Fiction Philip K Dick Sci-Fi & Fantasy Science Fiction

About the Author

Over a writing career that spanned three decades, PHILIP K. DICK (1928-1982) published 36 science-fiction novels and 121 short stories in which he explored the essence of what makes man human and the dangers of centralized power. Toward the end of his life, his work turned to deeply personal, metaphysical questions concerning the nature of God. Eleven novels and short stories have been adapted to film, notably, Blade Runner (based on Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?), Total Recall, Minority Report, and A Scanner Darkly. The recipient of critical acclaim and numerous awards throughout his career, Dick was inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame in 2005, and in 2007 the Library of America published a selection of his novels in three volumes. His work has been translated into twenty-five languages.

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