Ubik (S.F. MASTERWORKS) [Paperback]

Fortunately, Minority Report touches upon many of the major themes within Ubik, espcially the industry grown out of Pre-cognition and Psionic ability. It is therefore timely to read this now, and hopefully this will spur on others to take an interest in this most fascinating of authors.

Ubik touches upon many of Dick's core themes (a true Auteur): psychic ability (and its power), faith and religion, regression and postmodernity, death, insanity, drugs, experience etc. etc. However, it truly excels as a narrative, and I completely disagree with those critics who merely saw the characters within this book.

Some points within in are beyond imagination, and will simply blow your mind. The vertigo within this surpasses any other SF I have read. Added to this is some excellent characterisation and social commentary (for example, Runciter vs. Joe Chip, both attempting to save the company, but both representing the dichotomies within capitalism), and some crazy philosophy.

Anyway, before I drool too much, and contemplate starting it again, I shall leave you with my strongest urges to read this book! Forget the rubbish about "well, its not technologically accurate", because that is to lose the point with Dick; unlike other SF writes (most notably Asimov, who likes to portray a history of the future), Dick merely expresses possible worlds (very dark and crazy worlds). Yes, themes do exist, such as 'papes and hovercars and vidphones, but ignore this and concetrate on Dick's stiringly accurate imagination. Sit back and realise that the future is now, in the most unbelievable way imaginable.

In contrast we have a better written and very readable 'Ubik'. 'Ubik' has similar themes and visions of a future to place them against. Once again a disparate band are thrown together and , as one by one they are eliminated , struggle to make sense of their changing world and the circumstances they find themselves in. Of course reality is not what it seems , but in the end they , with some intercession ,strive struggle and endure. Maybe.

Philip K.Dick was praised and feted for 'The Man in the High Castle' and 'The Martian Time-slip' and these are fine and dandy. Several of his ideas have been 'translated' into films such as 'Blade Runner' and others. However I feel that , after 'A Scanner Darkly' and 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep' 'Ubik' is one of his better works focused on one of his more interesting writing themes.

RECCOMMENDATION Try 3 of them , they are short and read ( the first time ) quite quickly - 'Ubik' first then 'Do Andriods dream of Electric Sheep and finally 'A scanner darkly'. Then go away and read everthing else he ever wrote.

Later books by the author decline into navel gazing introspective and personal vision stuff which is not , unless you have the same vision , easy to read or get much from. If you have started with one of those , give him one more go read 'Ubik'.

Above all, Ubik is very very accessible. It's not cluttered with the messed-up amphetamine-fuelled oddness of his later novels, and there's less techno babble than usual. Even if you're not into science fiction, it's well worth a look if only to show you that just because a novel is set in the future, doesn't mean it has to be full of ridiculous overblown theatrics and weird aliens.