A Scanner Darkly is very singularly focused about the drug culture of the 1960s-70s. It succeeds greatly in its depiction and reflection on drug abuse and its consequences. The conversations feel eerily similar to those that real drug-addled minds have, and the situations seem plausible. It is for large swaths a ridiculous novel, but only because that is how drugged minds act. The growing separation of the shared characters Bob Arctor and Fred was excellently and subtly done. There was really no point where PKD declared the two characters more separated, they just slowly drifted apart. The POV changes were done sporadically and meshed together more as the novel went on. The ending was brilliant in its reflections and its plot. The only major flaw I would remark on is the science fiction itself. It takes a bit away from the story that is so inextricably tied to reality for the sake of technology that is mostly unnecessary for the story (although I did appreciate the Scramble Suits, so take this criticism as tempered). Generally, the story does feel a bit plain throughout as well, and prevents me from believing this story to be amazing, but it was still insightful.