Una Mirada a la Oscuridad

by Philip K. Dick

Hardcover, 208 pages

Spanish language

Published Oct. 8, 2002 by Ediciones Minotauro.

ISBN:: 9788445074060

(79 reviews)

A Scanner Darkly is a science fiction novel by American writer Philip K. Dick, published in 1977. The semi-autobiographical story is set in a dystopian Orange County, California, in the then-future of June 1994, and includes an extensive portrayal of drug culture and drug use (both recreational and abusive). The novel is one of Dick's best-known works and served as the basis for a 2006 film of the same name, directed by Richard Linklater

24 editions

indutny reviewed A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick

What does the scanner see

5 stars

Content warning Contains some information on the plot and some thoughts about it.

On a surface layer "Scanner Darkly" is about the police state through the eyes of a paranoid junkie. Suspicion mixed up with delusion, true and broken friendship, and heavy drug use. However, further into the book and beneath the surface lies the question of a relationship between the god (if any) and man. Building upon St. Paul's "for now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." Philip K. Dick seems to ask a question: if we do see the god darkly through the glass, does the god see us the same way? If there's no way to know whether you see only the worst in people, could it help to look into morally (and perhaps visually) inverted mirror? Watching his friends and himself Bob Arctor asks that, and wonders if it is someone's obligation to "at least mark their sad comings and goings" "so they’ll be remembered." The answer to this is certainly not present in the book, but sometimes a good question is much better to have and for that I'd recommend reading "Scanner Darkly".

decadent_and_depraved reviewed A scanner darkly by Philip K. Dick

Review of 'A scanner darkly' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

I have read a few books written by and about druggies and drugs, think William S. Burroughs and Irvine Welsh, and I have largely enjoyed them even when I did not believe them to be good works. The thing with A Scanner Darkly is that I found the writing neither authentic nor original and the story quite mediocre. Yet, I do not honestly dislike it, and although I would not say I enjoyed it in the sense that it is a book written by a druggie about druggies, there is a certain other atmosphere to it that makes it work - as much as I can say that it works. I would also note that I do not believe one really gets anything extra out of this book as compared to the movie based on it, and I would recommend the movie over the book.

Allen reviewed A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick

Review of 'A Scanner Darkly' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Awesome book. I love the way Philip K. Dick deals with the themes of identity and self.

loppear reviewed A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick

Review of 'A Scanner Darkly' on Goodreads

4 stars

The bored tedium of drugs and work, the paranoia and destruction of drug use and drug wars. Glad to see how closely the movie followed, the grim humor at losing your mind.

gimley reviewed A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick

Review of 'A Scanner Darkly' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

Evidently, P.K. Dick had a bad time on drugs. Or else he wants us to think he did. Or else the drugs made him think he did by destroying his good memories of his drug experiences. As a writer, he could have written them down so he'd remember but that could be used as evidence against him. Though he could claim it was fiction.
And so on. . .

Realgnomidad reviewed A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick

Review of 'A Scanner Darkly' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Dick explores the confusion and intransigent apathy of drug culture in an imagined future that seems close enough. His style of blending concurrent realities makes for an engaged read that keeps you on your toes.

Luka /bookwyrm/ reviewed A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick

Review of 'A Scanner Darkly' on 'GoodReads'

5 stars

Last few chapters are actually shockingly painful. This feels like a pretty well written novel about drug misuse. Also very helpful is author's afterword.

A. Rivera reviewed A scanner darkly by Philip K. Dick

Review of 'A scanner darkly' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

In the interest of disclosure, I have to say that I have not read the original novel or seen the film yet. However, I still liked this one. I also borrowed it from my local public library branch.

See my note on it in my blog here:

[http://gypsylibrarian.blogspot.com/2007/06/short-booknotes-on-graphic-novels-14.html]

nicknicknicknick reviewed A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick

Review of 'A Scanner Darkly' on Goodreads

3 stars

''As silly as this is, he thought, it's frightening. Something is being done to me and by a mere thing, here in my own house. Before my very eyes.
Within something's very eyes; within the sight of some thing. Which, unlike dark-eyed Donna, does not ever blink. What does a scanner see? he asked himself. I mean, really see? Into the head? Down into the heart? Does a passive infrared scanner like they used to use or a cube-type holo-scanner like they use these days, the latest thing, see into me#into us#clearly or darkly? I hope it does, he thought, see clearly, because I can't any longer these days see into myself. I see only murk. Murk outside; murk inside. I hope, for everyone's sake, the scanners do better. Because, he thought, if the scanner sees only darkly, the way I myself do, then we are cursed, cursed again …