Valis Paperback - 2011
by Philip K. Dick
The first book in Philip K. Dick's final trilogy (followed by The Divine Invasion and The Transmigration of Timothy Archer), VALIS encapsulates many of the themes that Dick was obsessed with over the course of his career. A disorienting and bleakly funny novel, VALIS (which stands for Vast Active Living Intelligence System) is about a schizophrenic man named Horselover Fat (who just might also be known as Philip Dick); the hidden mysteries of Gnostic Christianity; and reality as revealed through a pink laser. VALIS is a theological detective story, in which God is both a missing person and the perpetrator of the ultimate crime. Taking place in the same universe as Dick's soon-to-be-published Exegesis, VALIS is a dense novel, but one that is absolutely essential to understanding the author's off-kilter worldview. Much like Dick himself, the reader is left wondering what is real, what is fiction, and what the price is for divine inspiration.
Summary
“Dick is one of the ten best American writers of the twentieth century, which is saying a lot. Dick was a kind of Kafka steeped in LSD and rage.”—Roberto Bolaño
What is VALIS? This question is at the heart of Philip K. Dick’s ground-breaking novel, and the first book in his defining trilogy. When a beam of pink light begins giving a schizophrenic man named Horselover Fat (who just might also be known as Philip K. Dick) visions of an alternate Earth where the Roman Empire still reigns, he must decide whether he is crazy, or whether a godlike entity is showing him the true nature of the world.
VALIS is essential reading for any true Philip K. Dick fan, a novel that Roberto Bolaño called “more disturbing than any novel by [Carson] McCullers.” By the end, like Dick himself, you will be left wondering what is real, what is fiction, and just what the price is for divine inspiration.
Reader reviews for Valis
Write a review for this book
Important Terms and Guidelines
- Please focus on the book’s content and context. Also, add any personal comments as to how you enjoyed the book. Substantiate your likes and dislikes. You may make comparisons to other books.
- Reviews must be at least 140 characters in length.
- Please do not reveal critical plot elements.
- This is not a help line. Contact customer support if you need help.
Your review must not include:
- Obscenities, discriminatory language, or other insulting language not suitable for public domain
- Advertisements, “spam” content, or references to other products, offers or websites.
- Email addresses, URLs, phone numbers, physical addresses or other contact information.
- Overly critical comments about other reviews or reviewers
- Time-sensitive material (i.e. promotional tours, seminars, lectures, etc.)
- Availability, price, or alternative ordering/shipping information
From the publisher
From the rear cover
What is VALIS? This question is at the heart of Philip K. Dick s ground-breaking novel, and the first book in his defining trilogy. When a beam of pink light begins giving a schizophrenic man named Horselover Fat (who just might also be known as Philip K. Dick) visions of an alternate Earth where the Roman Empire still reigns, he must decide whether he is crazy, or whether a godlike entity is showing him the true nature of the world.VALIS is essential reading for any true Philip K. Dick fan, a novel that Roberto Bolano called more disturbing than any novel by [Carson] McCullers. By the end, like Dick himself, you will be left wondering what is real, what is fiction, and just what the price is for divine inspiration.
Over a career that spanned three decades, Philip K. Dick (1928 1982) wrote 121 short stories and 45 novels, establishing himself as one of the most visionary authors of the twentieth century. His work is included in the Library of America and has been translated into more than twenty-five languages. Eleven works have been adapted to film, including Blade Runner (based on Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?), Total Recall, Minority Report, and A Scanner Darkly.
"
Details
- Title Valis
- Author Philip K. Dick
- Binding Paperback
- Edition Reissue
- Pages 288
- Volumes 1
- Language ENG
- Publisher Mariner Books Classics, Boston
- Publication date 2011-10-18
- ISBN 9780547572413 / 0547572417
- Weight 0.5 lbs (0.23 kg)
- Dimensions 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.8 in (20.07 x 13.21 x 2.03 cm)
-
Themes
- Sex & Gender: Feminine
- Library of Congress subjects Science fiction, Science fiction, American
- Library of Congress Catalogue Number 2011016049
- Dewey Decimal Code FIC
Media reviews
Citations
- Chronicle of Higher Education, 12/16/2011, Page 14
About the author
More Copies for Sale
VALIS
by DICK,P
- Used
- fair
- Paperback
- Condition
- Fair
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780547572413 / 0547572417
- Quantity available
- 1
- Seller
- Item price
-
A$15.18A$8.24 Delivery to USA
Show details
VALIS
by Philip K. Dick
- Used
- Good
- Condition
- Good
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780547572413 / 0547572417
- Quantity available
- 1
- Seller
- Item price
-
A$17.73A$6.14 Delivery to USA
Show details
Valis
by Dick, Philip K,
- New
- Condition
- New
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780547572413 / 0547572417
- Quantity available
- 3
- Seller
- Item price
-
A$18.04A$5.77 Delivery to USA
Show details
Valis
by Dick, Philip K,
- Used
- Condition
- New
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780547572413 / 0547572417
- Quantity available
- 3
- Seller
- Item price
-
A$18.04A$5.77 Delivery to USA
Show details
VALIS (Valis Trilogy)
by Dick, Philip K.
- New
- Condition
- New
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780547572413 / 0547572417
- Quantity available
- 120
- Seller
- Item price
-
A$18.52A$5.77 Delivery to USA
Show details
VALIS (Valis Trilogy)
by Dick, Philip K
- New
- Paperback
- Condition
- New
- Edition
- Reissue
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780547572413 / 0547572417
- Quantity available
- 6
- Seller
- Item price
-
A$25.37Free Delivery to USA
Show details
VALIS (Valis Trilogy)
by Dick, Philip K
- Used
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used
- Edition
- Reissue
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780547572413 / 0547572417
- Quantity available
- 1
- Seller
- Item price
-
A$26.36Free Delivery to USA
Show details
Valis - Valis vol. 1
by Philip K. Dick
- Used
- Paperback
- Condition
- New
- Edition
- Later Printing
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780547572413 / 0547572417
- Quantity available
- 1
- Seller
- Item price
-
A$27.46A$7.95 Delivery to USA
Show details
VALIS
by DICK,P
- New
- Paperback
- Condition
- New
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780547572413 / 0547572417
- Quantity available
- 1
- Seller
- Item price
-
A$27.46A$8.24 Delivery to USA
Show details
Valis
by Dick, Philip K. (Author)
- New
- Paperback
- Condition
- New
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780547572413 / 0547572417
- Quantity available
- 1
- Seller
- Item price
-
A$31.08A$8.66 Delivery to USA
