Ubik by Philip K. Dick | 1969 | Mariner Books | Paperback $ 18.99
Glen Runciter runs a lucrative business — deploying his teams of anti-psychics to corporate clients who want privacy and security from psychic spies. But when he and his top team are ambushed by a rival, he is gravely injured and placed in “half-life,” a dreamlike state of suspended animation. Soon, though, the surviving members of the team begin experiencing some strange phenomena, such as Runciter’s face appearing on coins and the world seeming to move backward in time. As consumables deteriorate and technology gets ever more primitive, the group needs to find out what is causing the shifts and what a mysterious product called Ubik has to do with it all.
I’m acquainted with a couple of people who absolutely rave about the works of Philip K. Dick, and both of them seem to think that the best of his works is Ubik. I had no choice but to put it on my to-read list.
This book is a trip. “Ubik” itself is a bit of a mystery to start with; each chapter begins with a retro-style advertisement for some random product by that name, which keeps the reader guessing up until its true nature is… well, not precisely revealed, but heavily hinted at. The story is inventive — really unlike anything else I’ve ever read. I don’t think I can say much else without spoilers, TBH.
Overall, though, I don’t get the hype. Ubik was interesting, but essentially put-downable; I was happy to have it during my lunch breaks, but I wasn’t staying up late reading it in bed or anything. The writing style reminded me a bit of Isaac Asimov and Ray Bradbury, both sci-fi giants in their own right, but also authors whose works didn’t live up to my overly high expectations based on the near-ubiquitous rave reviews.
I think I would ultimately recommend this book to major sci-fi fans and readers who are looking for a fast-paced but still highly philosophical mindfuck of a story.
Links:
- ‘The Essential Philip K. Dick’ article at the New York Times
- ‘Philip K. Dick: The Writer Who Witnessed the Future’ article at the BBC
- ‘Facts About Philip K. Dick’ article at Mental Floss
Publication information: Dick, Philip K. Ubik. Boston, MA: Mariner Books, 2012. Print.
Source: Personal library.
Disclaimer: I am not compensated, monetarily or otherwise, for reviews of books or other products.
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