About the book
Winner of the British Science Fiction Association Award for Best Novel, Philip K. Dick's A Scanner Darkly is a semi-autobiographical novel of drug addiction set in a future American dystopia — and the basis for the Hugo Award finalist film starring Keanu Reeves, Winona Ryder, and Robert Downey, Jr.
\"A Scanner Darkly is about a descent into the deep fears of our 24-hour consumer society: the twilight of intellectual and emotional collapse...A fascinating portrait of 70s Californian counter-culture.\"—The Guardian
Bob Arctor is a junkie and a drug dealer, both using and selling the mind-altering Substance D. Fred is an undercover agent, tasked with bringing Bob down. It sounds like a standard case. The only problem is that Bob and Fred are the same person. Substance D doesn’t just alter the mind, it splits it in two, and neither side knows what the other is doing or that it even exists. Now, both sides are growing increasingly paranoid as Bob tries to evade Fred while Fred tries to evade his suspicious bosses. In this dystopian future, friends can become enemies, good trips can turn terrifying, and cops and criminals are two sides of the same coin. Caustically funny and somberly contemplative, Dick fashions a psychological thriller that is as unnerving as it is enthralling.
\"Dick is Thoreau plus the death of the American dream.\"—Roberto Bolaño
Editions of Scanner Darkly
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780547572178
- EBook
- ISBN 9780547601311
Read an Excerpt
Winner of the British Science Fiction Association Award for Best Novel, Philip K. Dick's A Scanner Darkly is a semi-autobiographical novel of drug addiction set in a future American dystopia — and the basis for the Hugo Award finalist film starring Keanu Reeves, Winona Ryder, and Robert Downey, Jr.
\"A Scanner Darkly is about a descent into the deep fears of our 24-hour consumer society: the twilight of intellectual and emotional collapse...A fascinating portrait of 70s Californian counter-culture.\"—The Guardian
Bob Arctor is a junkie and a drug dealer, both using and selling the mind-altering Substance D. Fred is an undercover agent, tasked with bringing Bob down. It sounds like a standard case. The only problem is that Bob and Fred are the same person. Substance D doesn’t just alter the mind, it splits it in two, and neither side knows what the other is doing or that it even exists. Now, both sides are growing increasingly paranoid as Bob tries to evade Fred while Fred tries to evade his suspicious bosses. In this dystopian future, friends can become enemies, good trips can turn terrifying, and cops and criminals are two sides of the same coin. Caustically funny and somberly contemplative, Dick fashions a psychological thriller that is as unnerving as it is enthralling.
\"Dick is Thoreau plus the death of the American dream.\"—Roberto Bolaño
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Scanner Darkly about?
Winner of the British Science Fiction Association Award for Best Novel, Philip K. Dick's A Scanner Darkly is a semi-autobiographical novel of drug addiction set in a future American dystopia — and the basis for the Hugo Award finalist film starring Keanu Reeves, Winona Ryder, and Robert Downey, Jr.
\"A Scanner Darkly is about a descent into the deep fears of our 24-hour consumer society: the twilight of intellectual and emotional collapse...A fascinating portrait of 70s Californian counter-culture.\"—The Guardian
Bob Arctor is a junkie and a drug dealer, both using and selling the mind-altering Substance D. Fred is an undercover agent, tasked with bringing Bob down. It sounds like a standard case. The only problem is that Bob and Fred are the same person. Substance D doesn’t just alter the mind, it splits it in two, and neither side knows what the other is doing or that it even exists. Now, both sides are growing increasingly paranoid as Bob tries to evade Fred while Fred tries to evade his suspicious bosses. In this dystopian future, friends can become enemies, good trips can turn terrifying, and cops and criminals are two sides of the same coin. Caustically funny and somberly contemplative, Dick fashions a psychological thriller that is as unnerving as it is enthralling.
\"Dick is Thoreau plus the death of the American dream.\"—Roberto Bolaño
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Scanner Darkly?
Fiction > Humorous fiction > Satirical fiction and parodies
Where can I read a sample of Scanner Darkly?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780547572178
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Scanner Darkly?
Philip K. Dick
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Scanner Darkly is available as paperback(ISBN 9780547572178) and ebook(ISBN 9780547601311)
Where can I buy Scanner Darkly online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Scanner Darkly from below
Where can I buy Scanner Darkly?