A Scanner Darkly

By: Philip K. Dick

Narrated by: Paul Giamatti

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.

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.

Scanner Darkly Illuminated

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.

Beautiful

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