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Baba's Reviews > A Scanner Darkly
A Scanner Darkly
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Baba's review
bookshelves: sfmasterworks, dystopia-it-all-went-cray-cray
Apr 06, 2020
bookshelves: sfmasterworks, dystopia-it-all-went-cray-cray
Read 2 times. Last read May 9, 2020 to May 19, 2020.
2020 view
SF Masterworks 20: A dystopian world where one half of society spends nearly all their time acquiring and using drugs, especially Substance D, the most toxic, addictive and lethal(!) drug ever. Deep undercover police 'Fred' whose identity is secret even from the police, is startled to find that the next person he has to investigate is his own undercover self!
In a world where there are countless undercover officers, paid narcs and multitudes on the verge of Substance D derangement or death, can 'Fred' keep his head straight and find out whose after him? A delightful dystopia written deep in counter culture era, can you dig it? Dick's first hand experience with the said culture, is there for all to see, with the beautiful, but inane conversations of the stoned; and behind it all he creates a suspense ridden thriller. This is some fine work by the master! 8 out of 12. Dick dedicated this book to 15 of his friends whose lives were negatively impacted by what began as recreational drug use.
2010 view
“Everything in life is just for a while.”
Philip K. Dick, A Scanner Darkly
The most lethal and toxic drug to ever hit the streets of L.A. - Substance D leads to irreversible brain damage! Deep undercover agent, Bob Arctor is after the supply chain.. but when you get to close to the fire!
Like a number of PKD works, the scene setting is great, the characterisations a bit soulless and most of all I struggle to get engaged with the story. Overall with PKD I sometimes feel his legacy and gravitas outweigh his actual output! 5 out of 12.
2020 read; 2010 read
SF Masterworks 20: A dystopian world where one half of society spends nearly all their time acquiring and using drugs, especially Substance D, the most toxic, addictive and lethal(!) drug ever. Deep undercover police 'Fred' whose identity is secret even from the police, is startled to find that the next person he has to investigate is his own undercover self!
In a world where there are countless undercover officers, paid narcs and multitudes on the verge of Substance D derangement or death, can 'Fred' keep his head straight and find out whose after him? A delightful dystopia written deep in counter culture era, can you dig it? Dick's first hand experience with the said culture, is there for all to see, with the beautiful, but inane conversations of the stoned; and behind it all he creates a suspense ridden thriller. This is some fine work by the master! 8 out of 12. Dick dedicated this book to 15 of his friends whose lives were negatively impacted by what began as recreational drug use.
2010 view
“Everything in life is just for a while.”
Philip K. Dick, A Scanner Darkly
The most lethal and toxic drug to ever hit the streets of L.A. - Substance D leads to irreversible brain damage! Deep undercover agent, Bob Arctor is after the supply chain.. but when you get to close to the fire!
Like a number of PKD works, the scene setting is great, the characterisations a bit soulless and most of all I struggle to get engaged with the story. Overall with PKD I sometimes feel his legacy and gravitas outweigh his actual output! 5 out of 12.
2020 read; 2010 read
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Reading Progress
March 3, 2010
–
Started Reading
May 7, 2010
–
Finished Reading
April 6, 2020
– Shelved
May 9, 2020
–
Started Reading
May 19, 2020
– Shelved as:
sfmasterworks
May 19, 2020
– Shelved as:
dystopia-it-all-went-cray-cray
May 19, 2020
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-2 of 2 (2 new)
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P.B.
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Jun 27, 2023 03:38AM
Excellent review, Baba. I like the extreme covertness of the investigative officer. Dystopian books are many times filled with wild imagination. But that is their true charm. And this one stems from the author's personal and negative experience, so it must be even more wild. I agree, drugs are bad.
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P.B. wrote: "Excellent review, Baba. I like the extreme covertness of the investigative officer. Dystopian books are many times filled with wild imagination. But that is their true charm. And this one stems from the author's personal and negative experience, so it must be even more wild. I agree, drugs are bad."Thought provoking points thank you PB :)
