Review: A Scanner Darkly

A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It took me a long time to get around to finding and reading this book by Philip K. Dick. Now that I have done so, I am happy I got the chance. There's no doubt that it isn't easy to follow, and you have to be in your best frame of mind to get through it. Once you get through the introduction however, and understand the flow of the story, it becomes very enjoyable, and more interesting than you may initially imagine.
Is it predictable? In some ways yes, the story that plays out on the pages does at times follow a well worn path, but the battle that is taking place within Bob Arcter and his alter-ego Fred becomes more interesting as the story progresses.
When it comes to illicit and psychedelic drugs, this novel is most intriguing in that the author was renown for indulging himself. If you can set yourself to wade through the complex layers that Dick has written this in, then it is well worth the effort.

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