About this title: Fred is an agent who is so far undercover, even his boss doesn't know his true identity. Because his job requires him to ingest drugs, he has developed a split personality named Bob who has a thriving career dealing an addictive substance which makes people uninterested in human contact.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Edition: First edition. First Vintage Book Edition
Binding: Trade paperback
Publisher: Vintage Books USA
Date Published: 1991
ISBN-13:9780679736653ISBN:0679736654
Description: New. No dust jacket as issued. Like new, never read condition. Square with tight binding, clean pages, no writing. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 288 p. Audience: General/trade. read more
Description: Pantheon, 2006. 189 pages. 1st printing / edition. Oblong hardcover, glossy illustrated covers. Profusely illustrated in color. Fine. New with slight shelf wear to the covers. No dustjacket, as issued. ISBN: 0375424024 Graphic novel, composed entirely of stills from the movie, written for the screen by the director, Richard Linklater, based on Dick's novel. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Pantheon Books
Date Published: 2006
ISBN-13:9780375424021ISBN:0375424024
Description: Good. **SHIPPED FROM UK** We believe you will be completely satisfied with our quick and reliable service. All orders are dispatched as swiftly as possible! Buy with confidence! read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Gollancz
Date Published: 2006
ISBN-13:9780575076815ISBN:057507681X
Description: Good. **SHIPPED FROM UK** We believe you will be completely satisfied with our quick and reliable service. All orders are dispatched as swiftly as possible! Buy with confidence! read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Gollancz
Date Published: 2006
ISBN-13:9780575078925ISBN:0575078928
Description: Fine. EXCELLENT CONDITION-READ ONCE CAREFULLY-TRUSTED DEVON (UK) BASED SELLER-IN STOCK-SENT WITHIN 1 WORKING DAY-AVAILABLE BY EMAIL FOR QUERIES-NO QUIBBLE REFUND IF NOT COMPLETELY SATISFIED- read more
Description: Pantheon, 2006. 189 pages. 1st printing / edition. Oblong hardcover, glossy illustrated covers. Profusely illustrated in color. New. Fine copy without dustjacket, as issued. ISBN: 0375424024 Graphic novel, composed entirely of stills from the movie, written for the screen by the director, Richard Linklater, based on Dick's novel. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Vintage Books USA
Date Published: 2006
ISBN-13:9781400096909ISBN:1400096901
Description: Good. **SHIPPED FROM UK** We believe you will be completely satisfied with our quick and reliable service. All orders are dispatched as swiftly as possible! Buy with confidence! read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Vintage
Date Published: 2006
ISBN-13:9781400096909ISBN:1400096901
Description: New. Brand New! Buy with confidence-your satisfaction is guaranteed at B-Logistics! Due to the large scale of our operation, we do not have access to the specific contents/condition of our items. Please note that Expedited shipping is not available at this time. read more
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Vintage Books
Date Published: 2006-05-23
ISBN-13:9781400096909ISBN:1400096901
Description: NEW. Softcover. From an inventory that is 100% brand-new, 100% direct from the publishers' distribution channel. We carry NO pre-owned, NO remaindered. We pack in CARDBOARD to ensure the pristine quality is maintained. (Bubble-wrap alone is NOT sufficient to protect from USPS equipment. ) Guaranteed brand-NEW, protected with CARDBOARD, your satisfaction is guaranteed. BKLUVID: 9781400096909. read more
Description: Good. Ships from the UK. Former Library book. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Your purchase also supports literacy charities. read more
"One of the least disappointing books I have read by anyone. I sadly have seen the movie before I read this, and I normally view the characters much differently, but I believe the movies tone goes very well with the book. The characters are very interesting and likable, and although I'm supposed to hate some, I'm happy this book didn't push that fact. Instead it kept you right on the central character, with your sympathy and fear for his outcome. The plot behind the plot is interesting in itself, but Dick creates such a colorful cast of characters and events that your focus is right where it needs to be (in as many directions as you wish). This book definitely has interested me in Phillip K.Dick (as well as the genre) and he is definitely someone who I am keeping an eye out for in book stores."
"Interesting sci-fi from Philip K. Dick, centering around a secret, undercover narc who is assigned to investigate...himself, or rather his alter ego as a drug dealer of Substance D, a designer drug that turns its users' minds gradually to mush. As the protagonist gets farther and farther into his own drug addiction, his mind effectively splits so that he no longer even comprehends the meta-reality that his two identities are one and the same person.
Dick's writing style I found a little dry and unaffecting, but he really does a good job of relating the main character's progressive paranoia and dysjunction with reality and schizoid personality, leaving us all to ask, "Who's more real: me or who I pretend for others is me?"
Makes me want to go back and rewatch the Richard Linklater film."
"And this is why I try to never, never, ever see films based on books before having read the book first! It didn't help much that the film was pretty bad (not awful... but oh so definitely not good), but without fail I kept imagining scenes from the movie WHILE reading the book. And I just hate already having an image planted in your head of what a scene is supposed to look like, as I feel it robs you of so much of the creative process. So much the better to construct it in your mind first! Sigh. I really do think that's why I only liked the book "ok". Either way -- lesson learned. I still think Philip K. Dick is an absolute genius and when you read the authors note at the end and find out that so many of the characters were based on people he knew -- thats pretty powerful. Unfortunately the whole book didn't pack that same punch for me."
"This book is funny and heartbreaking. The depiction of drug abuse and it's effects on people, and how people become shadows of themselves, vegetables, how they slip away from the world, and how they yearn for a time when they were all happier... man, it's like each funny moment is lines with sad yearning, and the meta knowledge that.. no, there is no way out.
I watched the movie first and loved it, and I love the book as well, I think the movie did a great job at translating the story into something else. The book is clearly deeply personal for PKD, his characters are sweet and strange and annoying and human, all of it together, and his hope for a better end beyond this life for them -and himself, I suppose- makes this even more bittersweet.
A wonderful read -though I audio-read this one and I thoroughly recommend the audiobook as well, the reader (Paul Giamatti, I think?) makes the experience really enjoyable with his paused, clear, deep voice, and he makes great voices for all the characters, imprinting each one with a different personality."
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