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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

Substance D - otherwise known as Death - is the most dangerous drug ever to find its way on to the black market. It destroys the links between the brain's two hemispheres, leading first to disorentation and then to complete and irreversible brain damage.

Bob Arctor, undercover narcotics agent, is trying to find a lead to the source of supply, but to pass as an addict he must become a user, and soon, without knowing what is happening to him, he is as dependent as any of the addicts he is monitoring.

Now a cult classic film starring Keanu Reeves and Robert Downey Jr. Read by Paul Giamatti.

©1977 Philip K. Dick (P)2006 Random House, Inc. Fantasy Fiction Mystery Private Investigators Science Fiction Detective Emotionally Gripping Human Brain

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All stars
Most relevant  
Thoroughly enjoyed this, a true classic. Dark, deep, funny and thought provoking. Enjoy the trip!

Don't do drugs people

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there is an importance to having an tether to reality, without this being a spoiler....

some wise words for us all

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I have a copy of the film which I have watched numerous times, getting more out of the film every time I watched it.

Finally, finding the story on Audible, I was able to understand the film more completely and, finding out that PKD had been an addict, writing this story from the “inside”, so as to speak, is what makes the film and the original story resonate so deeply with me, having been involved personally with the hippie drug culture in the 60s and 70s.

Stunning …. A must for anyone who lived during the first hippie trip

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Really loved this story but what really shone thru was the quality and skill of the narrator. They really knew the source material so well and every character felt lived in and understood. Bravo!

What a great narrator

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It took me a little while to get into the flow of this book - but then I found it highly compelling. I’d recommend it - well worth a read/ listen.

The narration is excellent, which probably helped.

Highly recommended…

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Recommend to anyone interested in drug culture or goodjddksksjdjdjdjd dndn djdj djdjd djdh djdj djdj

Amazing

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Brilliant book, brilliant man, doesn't get the respect he deserves as an author. Well read and brought to life by the performance, this book is more relevant than ever.

Q

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My first P K Dick book and pleasantly surprised. Didn’t know what to expect as one of my favourite films is taken from a book of his but enjoyable I felt for the the central character and definitely won’t be my last book of his.

Good story

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A wild ride with many twists and turns, sometimes hard to follow but worth it.

A wild ride

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I have read or listened to most of PKD's major works but this one really stood out for me. I had avoided it for a long time because it is set in an almost modern society and I wanted to experience his more 'off-world' works.

The subject matter is dark but there are moments of humour in scenes such as the number of bicycle gears and the inability of a group of stoned friends to work it out.

The book is very well read from soft passages requiring feeling through to the annoying voice of Barris.

I found the last chapter quite moving. It brings you down to earth with a bit of a thud and I admire PKD for including this very personal and open epilogue. It keeps your mind thinking for quite some time after the book has finished.

I would advise you not to pass up on this book because of the subject matter it deals with; which is not everyone's cup of tea. It has a lot of the classic features of a PKD book but this also has a lot of the author invested within. It is this last feature that for me makes this more than just a work of fiction.

A great book and performance

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