A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick

(discussed July 12, 2001)

On a ten-point scale (1=bad, 10=good), the people who read the book gave the following ratings: 8, 8, 8, 8, 9, 9, 10
Average: 8.6

This book was "sponsored" by Peter Kuchera. Beth Gallman moderated the discussion, sending this message on Wednesday July 11, 2001 (the day before the meeting):

Dear Raja,

My request as group leader for this book is to have everyone bring their most meaningful passage from the text. I think this is a well written book with lots of powerful parts. could you send this message to everyone? Many thanks, Beth

Ignacio Viglizzo sent the following message to the group on Sunday July 8, 2001:

You can hear Philip himself reading from the book (pages 186-188) at: http://philipkdick.com/audio/scanner.ram

and the following extensive message and set of links on Wednesday (the eve of the meeting):

Hi! Here's some material about A Scanner Darkly I'd like to share before our discussion tomorrow.

The title of the book is a reference to the following quote of the Bible, a letter from St. Paul to the Corinthians:

1 Corinthians 13:12

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.

Dick elaborates on this on pages 212 and ff.

An excellent page on Philip K Dick is http://philipkdick.com where you can find Dick reading an excerpt from the novel (pp. 186-188), which reveals a sense of humor not all that apparent in just reading the book.

Some reviews of the book I found on the Internet:

Other covers of the book:

Yet more reviews:

On a recent film on PKD:

A collection of yet more links:

Ignacio