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mcguffin's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
stevedavejordan's review against another edition
3.0
Pretty good--though Dick's best form will always be short stories.
This books puts you in the minds of drug addicts, which means paranoia, scattered and recursive thinking, and no meaningful friendships.
A drug addict is usually pretty boring IMHO, but the classic Dick "what is real here?" questions keep things interesting.
To wit, from the main character:
“Any given man sees only a tiny portion of the total truth, and very often, in fact almost perpetually, he deliberately deceives himself about that little precious fragment as well. A portion of him turns against him and acts like another person, defeating him from inside. A man inside a man. Which is no man at all.”
Which is a good summary Dick's major concern: we might get a fragment of the truth, but that fragment might be a lie or a delusion as well. So how do we really know anything?
This books puts you in the minds of drug addicts, which means paranoia, scattered and recursive thinking, and no meaningful friendships.
A drug addict is usually pretty boring IMHO, but the classic Dick "what is real here?" questions keep things interesting.
To wit, from the main character:
“Any given man sees only a tiny portion of the total truth, and very often, in fact almost perpetually, he deliberately deceives himself about that little precious fragment as well. A portion of him turns against him and acts like another person, defeating him from inside. A man inside a man. Which is no man at all.”
Which is a good summary Dick's major concern: we might get a fragment of the truth, but that fragment might be a lie or a delusion as well. So how do we really know anything?
freelyne's review against another edition
4.0
an absolute ride and a half. reminds me of vonnegut but less absurd and more brutal- theres a wholly complete vision, and sometimes i get put off by racism/sexism but then sometimes theres a line thats so raw that it stops me in my tracks. i honestly was going to give this two stars until i got to the ending and the authors note, and i think id put it at 3.5 now. i think id like to read this again with a copy i can write in.
sierramcg's review against another edition
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The most boring and interesting book
marbles09's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bradderz's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
andymascola's review against another edition
4.0
In a futuristic California, a narcotics officer leads a double life as an addict living in a house with other users. The longer he’s addicted, the more his personality splits. Part Big Lebowski, part One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Funny and sad. I liked it.