Questions About Radio Free Albemuth

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Answered Questions (1)

OK. I really enjoyed RFA but thoroughly disliked VALIS...I read it long ago and hated it so much so that I have vowed never to read it again. (I believe that VALIS is the only PKD novel for which I have ever had a negative reaction.) Anyway, my question is this: - are the two that dissimilar? If so, how so? ...or ... - have my tastes changed that much (obviously, feel free to speculate here)?

Love of Hopeless Causes If memory serves, they are all related to Phil's magic moment when he sees the fish pendant. "Valis" is the best synthesis. "Albemuth" is the closest …moreIf memory serves, they are all related to Phil's magic moment when he sees the fish pendant. "Valis" is the best synthesis. "Albemuth" is the closest to Phil's real life experience. "The Divine Invasion," is the easiest to read, and "Exegesis" is too far out for most.

The tone, plot, and POV are different. Yet they all attempt to make sense of the same week in Phil's existence. Valis is louder and trippier than Albemuth. Albemuth has the more adult (and Christian) perspective.

"The Shifting Realities of PKD," explains the forgetful god and the artifact and that makes the whole show run. This is also explained in "Exegesis" as well as the BIP theory or Black Iron Prison Planets. So if you liked "Albemuth" try "Divine Invasion." What a weird answer to type, but I believe this is all accurate.(less)

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Unanswered Questions (3)

PKD wrote this book before he wrote the Valis Trilogy books. Is it better to read RFA before the trilogy? or after the trilogy? Thanks for your help?

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Toward the end of the story when the character 'Phil' says that he's working on a new novel that might be his best yet, he's referring to Sheep, right? I just assumed that was it, but just wanted to make sure, not that it matters much, but I kind of found it interesting that he didn't name it like he did with the few others that were mentioned.

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Quick Question. I'm aware this book was written BEFORE the VALIS "trilogy" but was published AFTER it was released and actually has something to do with the whole "exegesis" experience he had which inspired these books... I've read Valis, but not the other 2 of the trilogy. My Q is, should I read the rest of the trilogy before I read this book? Or does it really even matter at all? No spoilers please.

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