Book Review
Jul. 29th, 2004 05:16 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kenjariA Scanner Darkly
by. Philip K. Dick
This is definitely one of Dick's best novels, certainly one of his most emotionally resonant. Of the six books of his I've read so far, it is also the only one that is sad, tragic even. A Scanner Darkly is set in the near future (nominally 1994; the book was written in the 1970s) and concerns Fred/Bob Arctor. Fred is a narcotics agent who poses as dealer and user Bob Arctor in order to get closer to the source of Substance D, an addictive and mysterious drug. However, one of the effects of Substance D is to divide the user's brain and hence consciousness into two distinct and competing entities. Thus, Fred is not just posing as Bob, he also is Bob. As a consequence, he ends up being assigned to do surveillance on and investigate himself.
Fred/Bob's mental state allows Dick to beautifully explore his usual themes of identity, reality, and how we perceive and define them. The surveillance plot point also provides an exploration of the relationship between observer and observed. Fred/Bob is more or less aware of his dual state, but as Substance D begins to damage his brain, he becomes more confused and less in control of his identity.
A Scanner Darkly is also about drug addiction, and that's where the tragedy comes in. Fred/Bob ultimately suffers severe and likely irreversible brain damage that leaves him a mere husk of a person living in a drug rehabilitation facility. It's not a pretty fate. At the close of the book, Fred/Bob gets a hint of the horrific truth about Substance D and what's really going on. And therein lies the real tragedy. However, this book is not about conveying an anti-drug message, nor is it pro-drug. It is more of a compassionate observation about drug culture. Dick says as much in his poignant afterword.
As is usual with the work of Philip K. Dick, I am left with a lot to think about.
by. Philip K. Dick
This is definitely one of Dick's best novels, certainly one of his most emotionally resonant. Of the six books of his I've read so far, it is also the only one that is sad, tragic even. A Scanner Darkly is set in the near future (nominally 1994; the book was written in the 1970s) and concerns Fred/Bob Arctor. Fred is a narcotics agent who poses as dealer and user Bob Arctor in order to get closer to the source of Substance D, an addictive and mysterious drug. However, one of the effects of Substance D is to divide the user's brain and hence consciousness into two distinct and competing entities. Thus, Fred is not just posing as Bob, he also is Bob. As a consequence, he ends up being assigned to do surveillance on and investigate himself.
Fred/Bob's mental state allows Dick to beautifully explore his usual themes of identity, reality, and how we perceive and define them. The surveillance plot point also provides an exploration of the relationship between observer and observed. Fred/Bob is more or less aware of his dual state, but as Substance D begins to damage his brain, he becomes more confused and less in control of his identity.
A Scanner Darkly is also about drug addiction, and that's where the tragedy comes in. Fred/Bob ultimately suffers severe and likely irreversible brain damage that leaves him a mere husk of a person living in a drug rehabilitation facility. It's not a pretty fate. At the close of the book, Fred/Bob gets a hint of the horrific truth about Substance D and what's really going on. And therein lies the real tragedy. However, this book is not about conveying an anti-drug message, nor is it pro-drug. It is more of a compassionate observation about drug culture. Dick says as much in his poignant afterword.
As is usual with the work of Philip K. Dick, I am left with a lot to think about.
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Date: 2004-07-30 07:01 pm (UTC)