Valis - Philip K. Dick Book Review

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Review Summary
This late (1980) novel mixes autobiography and science fiction, drug trips and theologic speculation, into a bewildering brew. Horselover Fat, troubled by the suicide deaths of several women friends and his own suicidal tendencies, argues religion with various friends, including the narrator ("Philip K. Dick"), until all of them catch a cheap science fiction movie called "Valis" that suggests an ancient, greater civilization placed a satellite in orbit to control and guide human destiny. Eventually they meet Linda and Eric Lampton, a couple of saintly aliens who claim to have traveled from Albemuth to present Earth with a new Savior, their daughter Sophia. David Loftus, Resident Scholar
In Philip K Dick's 1980 novel, Valis, the main character, Horselover Fat, is living in early 1970s California when a beam of pink light zaps him in the forehead. The beam transmits bizzare theological knowledge to Fat. Believing he has been contacted by God, Fat goes on an inner and outer journey to understand what has happend to him. Has Fat simply gone nuts due to the suicide of a friend and too many drugs, or will he find the savior for whom he seeks? Though driven to attempt suicide in a spectacular manner (without success), it seems nothing can deter Fat (Philip K Dick?) in his quest for spiritual transcendance. Scott David Mclemore, Resident Scholar
VALIS is a semi-autobiographical account of PKD's religious experiences. It depicts himself as the main character and his split personality Horselover Fat. Fat searches for God after his religious experience in the book and finds him or something like him in a cheesy sci-fi movie named Valis that is more then it seems. Contains a large amount of theological and philosophical discussion, mostly dialog, little action, but awesome book. Trent Dick, Resident Scholar

Detailed literary breakdown of Valis

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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 50%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 30%

Tone of book - cynical or dry-wit
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story
Inner Struggle Yes
Plotlet: - search for identity/new understanding
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Religious overtones? Yes

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - writer
Age: - 40's-50's
Has magical/special powers? Yes
Magical/mental powers of main character: - can see into the future
Eccentric: Yes - obsessed - mentally ill - emotionally unstable
How sensitive is this character? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - druggie/wino disease

Main Adversary
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor

Setting
Earth setting: - 20th century
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog

Most similar books to Valis
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Endymion by Dan Simmons

Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).

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