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43 pages 1 hour read

A Scanner Darkly

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1977

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Book Brief

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Philip K. Dick

A Scanner Darkly

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1977
Book Details
Pages

304

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

California • Near-future

Publication Year

1977

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

In A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick, undercover narcotics agent Bob Arctor, who also goes by the alias Fred, is tasked with infiltrating a drug ring in a future Southern California. He becomes increasingly addicted to Substance D while surveilling his own housemates and attempting to uncover the source of the drug. The dual identity and surveillance causes his mental state to deteriorate, blurring his sense of self and reality, ultimately leading to his admission to a rehabilitation facility. The novel delves into themes of addiction, paranoia, and the impact of surveillance on identity. This book includes depictions of drug use and its severe mental health effects.

Mysterious

Dark

Unnerving

Melancholic

Gritty

Reviews & Readership

4.2

107,959 ratings

75%

Loved it

19%

Mixed feelings

6%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Philip K. Dick's A Scanner Darkly offers a bleak yet poignant exploration of identity, surveillance, and addiction, blending sci-fi with psychological depth. Critics praise its innovative narrative and emotional resonance but note its challenging prose and disjointed plot. Overall, it's a thought-provoking, if complex, read.

Who should read this

Who Should Read A Scanner Darkly?

A reader who enjoys A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick would likely appreciate thought-provoking, dystopian literature that interrogates reality, identity, and the impact of substance abuse. Comparable works include George Orwell’s 1984 and William Gibson’s Neuromancer, appealing to those with an interest in speculative fiction and psychological depth.

4.2

107,959 ratings

75%

Loved it

19%

Mixed feelings

6%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

304

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

California • Near-future

Publication Year

1977

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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