VALIS
Philip K. Dick
11 people recommended it in 7 threads, 2015–2024.
What people on Hacker News said
Read Philip K Dick, specifically his Valis "trilogy": combine drugs, God's 2nd coming, it's marketing campaign competing against junk food, time travel, and God changing it's multiple minds mind way through.
The way the story was told became very surreal. It's an experience unlike any other that I've had while reading fiction.
I adore Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, but for Philip K Dick at his most mind-bending, I’d instead go for Valis
That book works best when you've already been exposed to his bizarre mind-bending style, and also understand a bit of the context of Dick himself (since Valis is semi-autobiographical).
Dick likely suffered from some sort of undiagnosed mental illness. But having the discussion end there sort of discounts the core themes of his books -- mainly, the recognition of the paper-thin nature of reality, and the impossible task of ever knowing with a certainty the true state of things.
It explores the nature of reality through the lens of mental illness / madness.
Where it comes up
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- Ask HN: What's the "best" book you've ever read? 2024 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Which book/essay changed your life? 2021 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What are the best Sci-Fi books you've ever read? 2018 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What is the most mind blowing book you've ever read? 2015 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Which book are you reading these days? 2015 · 1 recommendation