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A Scanner Darkly

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A Scanner Darkly

By: Philip K. Dick
Narrated by: Paul Giamatti
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About this listen

Substance D - otherwise known as Death - is the most dangerous drug ever to find its way on to the black market. It destroys the links between the brain's two hemispheres, leading first to disorentation and then to complete and irreversible brain damage.

Bob Arctor, undercover narcotics agent, is trying to find a lead to the source of supply, but to pass as an addict he must become a user, and soon, without knowing what is happening to him, he is as dependent as any of the addicts he is monitoring.

Now a cult classic film starring Keanu Reeves and Robert Downey Jr. Read by Paul Giamatti.

©1977 Philip K. Dick (P)2006 Random House, Inc. Fantasy Fiction Mystery Private Investigators Science Fiction Detective Human Brain
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Such a haunting novel with predictably brilliant narration by Paul Giamatti. Would recommend to anyone who wants a slightly twistedperspective on the aftermath of the 60's counterculture.

Brilliant and harrowing

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My favourite Philip K. Dick novel to date - and the narration of Paul Giamatti is one of the best audible performances I have heard. All around a peerless listen.

All around phenomenal

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This book is a masterpiece about drug use. Very dark book. Kudos to Giamatti for his amazing voice acting.

Massive book

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An incredible recreation of Dick’s magnum opus. The narration brings it to life. Highly recommended!!

Wonderful

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An interesting-weird story by PKD.

I particularly enjoyed his nuanced descriptions of the behaviour of the many nefarious characters throughout the story. Definitely worth a listen.

Especially because Giamatti did an absolutely superb job narrating this story. Will definitely look for more of his audible work.

Crisp

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This is a dark and disturbing novel. The lives lived are shells filled with so much detritus, and the depiction of minds crumbling is made so much crueller by the precision of the depiction set against the inane lives.

Heartbreaking

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I can’t believe this was written before the meth epidemic. Substance D, the true villain of this story, is what meth is today- guaranteed death by way of madness 1st.

This is written by someone who has been there, there is no doubt about that.

Reading this book is like taking a one way trip into the mind of a strung out junkie wired & insane but trucking along anyway, embracing the delusion fully until it consumes you.

Buy it. Buy it now!

Death & madness

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The author's note in the last chapter really drives home the damage that is done to the addicted. So sad to lose this amazing author at the young age of 53.

An insightful view into the mind of the adict

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The narrator does an amazing job on voices to enact all emotions! The reference to The Fountainhead really was surprising but very delightfully done.

Wild Ride

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Definitely give this a go. Very hard to find another book like it. Excellent narration too.

Unbelievably good

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