43 pages • 1 hour read
Philip K. DickA Scanner Darkly
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1977A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick, undercover narcotics agent Bob Arctor, who also goes by the alias Fred, is tasked with infiltrating a drug ring in a future Southern California. He becomes increasingly addicted to Substance D while surveilling his own housemates and attempting to uncover the source of the drug. The dual identity and surveillance causes his mental state to deteriorate, blurring his sense of self and reality, ultimately leading to his admission to a rehabilitation facility. The novel delves into themes of addiction, paranoia, and the impact of surveillance on identity. This book includes depictions of drug use and its severe mental health effects.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Philip K. Dick's A Scanner Darkly offers a bleak yet poignant exploration of identity, surveillance, and addiction, blending sci-fi with psychological depth. Critics praise its innovative narrative and emotional resonance but note its challenging prose and disjointed plot. Overall, it's a thought-provoking, if complex, read.
Who Should Read A Scanner Darkly?
A reader who enjoys A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick would likely appreciate thought-provoking, dystopian literature that interrogates reality, identity, and the impact of substance abuse. Comparable works include George Orwell’s 1984 and William Gibson’s Neuromancer, appealing to those with an interest in speculative fiction and psychological depth.