A Scanner Darkly Audiobook By Philip K. Dick cover art

A Scanner Darkly

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A Scanner Darkly

By: Philip K. Dick
Narrated by: Paul Giamatti
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About this listen

Bob Arctor is a dealer of the lethally addictive drug Substance D. Fred is the police agent assigned to tail and eventually bust him. To do so, Fred takes on the identity of a drug dealer named Bob Arctor. And since Substance D, which Arctor takes in massive doses, gradually splits the user's brain into two distinct, combative entities, Fred doesn't realize he is narcing on himself.

Caustically funny, eerily accurate in its depiction of junkies, scam artists, and the walking brain-dead, Philip K. Dick's industrial-grade stress test of identity is as unnerving as it is enthralling.

©1977 Philip K. Dick (P)2006 Random House, Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.
Fantasy Fiction Science Fiction Suspenseful Thought-Provoking Funny
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Featured Article: The Most Stellar Sci-Fi Authors of All Time


Science fiction is a genre as diverse as you can imagine. There are stories that take place in deep space, often depicting teams exploring or running away from something; stories that focus on life at the most cellular level, such as a pandemic tale; and stories that take place in times that feel similar to our own. Depicting themes of existentialism, philosophy, hubris, and personal and historical trauma, sci-fi has a cadre of topics and moods.

Thought-provoking Themes • Compelling Characters • Dark Humor • Philosophical Depth • Masterful Performance
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A deep introspective of a brilliant writer. Dick causes confusion, induces humor and grips you with truth. Paul Giamatti does an admirable job, but I get the feeling he didn't read the book before performing it. Although some of the characters sound the same, he still does a worthwhile job. Dick though, hit everything right on the spot, take out the bell bottom references and this easily could be present day. But, the book can be so strange at times, that I really don't know who to recommend it to. So, as the title states, it is very dark. At times it can almost satire like too. I guess it's a dark, trippy, mystery satire.....

Not for the faint of heart.....

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I have been a PK Dick fan for years. I was not disappointed by this audio book. The subject matter was a little depressing at first, due to the subject matter, but the story is compelling enough to overcome this.
The reader kind of sounds like Mr.VanDriessen (Beavis and Butthead's teacher), especially when he reads as Jim Barris.
I recommend this book but I can't understand the 2 credit hit on my account.

A Scanner revisited

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Paul Giamatti creates the entire world of this novel and brings the characters alive. Entertaining a d intelligent.

Paul Giamatti is outstanding

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I absolutely loved this book, but I don't know if it is everyone's cup of tea. It is certainly strange and mind bending. There were many scenes where I laughed out loud, but other scenes where I felt a little bit disturbed. Cleverly written by Philip K Dick, and read brilliantly by Paul Giamatti.

Awesome book!

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Well done - this is one I would listen to again. Good story and performed well

Engrossing

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The perfect performance of Paul Giamatti mixed with the truth of untruth that Dick weaves through out the whole novel made this the best book I have ever enjoyed. This book was amazing I finished it than immediately began it again.

This is now my favorite book.

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what a trip man. yea! let me tell ya. its far out. i can dig it.

i aim to watch the movie next. to see how it compares

wow

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Very inventive, as one would expect from Philip K. Dick. Lots of dark humor is included. This guy was definitely ahead of his time. Brilliantly narrated.

Engaging

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Paul Giamatti brings this Philip K. Dick classic to life. The characters are distinct and fully realized under Giamatti's vocalization. I easily slipped into the story and the warped, paranoid and dual world Dick created, Giamatti enhances that voice and provides access to the action not to mention the subtext of this dystopian tale. I flew through the recording and would heartily recommend it to any Philip K. Dick fan. I hope to find more Giamatti narrations on Audible in the future. He does more than justice to this book.

Scanner Darkly Illuminated

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No book has encapsulated so many aspects of the war on drugs. a beautiful twisted world is lightened.

Beautiful

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