A Scanner Darkly is an audiobook by Philip K. Dick, narrated by Paul Giamatti. The unabridged Audible edition runs 9 hrs 12 mins.
Publisher’s Summary
Bob Arctor is a dealer of the lethally addictive drug Substance D. Fred is the police agent assigned to tail and eventually bust him. To do so, Fred takes on the identity of a drug dealer named Bob Arctor. And since Substance D–which Arctor takes in massive doses–gradually splits the user’s brain into two distinct, combative entities, Fred doesn’t realize he is narcing on himself.
Caustically funny, eerily accurate in its depiction of junkies, scam artists, and the walking brain-dead, Philip K. Dick’s industrial-grade stress test of identity is as unnerving as it is enthralling.
Audiobook Details
- Narrated by: Paul Giamatti
- Length: 9 hrs 12 mins
- Publisher: Random House Audio
- Release year: 2006
- Audible category: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense / Thriller & Suspense / Psychological
Listener Ratings
A Scanner Darkly holds an average listener rating of 4.4/5 from 3571 Audible ratings.
On Audible, ratings for this title break down into narration performance and story separately:
- Performance (narration): 4.7/5
- Story: 4.4/5
- 5-star ratings: 63% of all ratings
What Audible Listeners Are Saying
4/5 stars — “Not for the faint of heart…..”
A deep introspective of a brilliant writer. Dick causes confusion, induces humor and grips you with truth. Paul Giamatti does an admirable job, but I get the feeling he didn’t read the book before performing it. Although some of the characters sound the same, he still does a worthwhile job. Dick though, hit everything right on the spot, take out the bell bottom references and this easily could be present day. But, the book can be so strange at times, that I really don’t know who to recommend it to. So, as the title states, it is very dark. At times it can almost satire like too. I guess it’s a dark, trippy, mystery satire…..— Daniel R. Hall, Audible listener
4/5 stars — “A Scanner revisited”
I have been a PK Dick fan for years. I was not disappointed by this audio book. The subject matter was a little depressing at first, due to the subject matter, but the story is compelling enough to overcome this.
The reader kind of sounds like Mr.VanDriessen (Beavis and Butthead’s teacher), especially when he reads as Jim Barris.
I recommend this book but I can’t understand the 2 credit hit on my account.
— T. Pangburn, Audible listener
4/5 stars — “Paul Giamatti is outstanding”
Paul Giamatti creates the entire world of this novel and brings the characters alive. Entertaining a d intelligent.— Jeff Lacy, Audible listener
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