A Scanner Darkly

A Scanner Darkly is a 1977 Science-Fiction novel written by Blade Runner creator Philip K. Dick. The story follows Bob Arctor, a man addicted to a narcotic known as Substance D, and Fred, a narcotics agent closing in on him. What neither of them are aware of, however, is that they're both the same person.

Why It Rocks

 * 1) Excellent depiction of the effect that drugs have on the human body. Even though Substance D is a fake drug, it does a great job showing how the irreversible brain damage it causes and how Arctor is constantly confused. It even randomly translates his lines into German and then into English at times to make it even more confusing and really gets you into his mind.
 * 2) The final sentence above may seem like a spoiler, but the book reveals this information very early on, though the suspense comes from what will happen to the both of them at any given point, how people in their respective groups can be plotting against them, and how they sometimes make choices that go against their character because of the randomly switching personalities.
 * 3) The writing style really takes you into the mind of the characters, how they're constantly depressed and disturbed by non-existent phenomena, like thinking insects are crawling all over them, as a result of the drug.
 * 4) Also introduces the idea of how law enforcement becomes much more invasive to the population in an attempt to bust drug abusers, literally putting secret cameras in their houses. On the flip side, they keep their own identities secret from each other for protection by means of a "scramble suit" which disguises them perfectly.
 * 5) Plenty of very interesting plot twists that help the story in a great way and actually make sense when you go back and think about it, and the story allows itself these twists by going off of the very beginning twists and subverting the expectations of those who think it spoiled itself. Some characters aren't who they say they are, for better or worse, and secrets are revealed.
 * 6) The book isn't too long, and can be finished pretty quickly despite all the vivid detail in it.
 * 7) An excellent twist at the very end, one that shows how people and organizations are often not as they say, and showing how difficult it really is to get over addiction when it's in a lot of places.
 * 8) The story was inspired by how Philip K. Dick himself got addicted to drugs when he opened his house as a bed and breakfast after his second wife left him and how it effected him greatly. He even makes a tribute to many of the addicts who used the bed and breakfast, all of whom are either dead or suffering permanent organ or psychological damage.

Bad Qualities

 * 1) Philip K. Dick's writing style might not be to everyone's taste, as it's intentionally confusing at several points, which some may not like.
 * 2) A sort of cliffhanger ending. That word is used a bit loosely as it's made clear there will not be a sequel, but there are some unanswered questions nonetheless.