A Scanner Darkly

By: Philip K. Dick

Narrated by: Paul Giamatti

Length: 9 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

Great characters but no real story

First, let me start by saying how good Paul Giamatti is as the narrator. Really top notch performance, as you might expect from such a great actor.

As to the story, I struggled with this one. I love Philip K Dick, but this isn’t one you might guess was written by him. The characters, and the dialog, we’ll all I can say is wow. They sound like fully flesh and bone people. I’m not familiar with the counter culture of the 60s but these guys seem to have teleported directly into the pages of this book from there.

But as great as it was listening to Paul Giamatti act out these wonderful characters, the story was so slow. I kept waiting for something to happen, and though the ‘plot’ does eventually resolve itself in the end, it’s a long wait.

One of a kind visionary!!

There is no voice quote like PKD’s. His dystopian vision seems to resonate all too true so many decades after his untimely death.

Alan A.

Not for the faint of heart.....

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.....

A Scanner revisited

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.

Paul Giamatti is outstanding

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

Awesome book!

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.

Engrossing

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

This is now my favorite book.

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.

wow

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

Engaging

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.