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Steve Joyce asked this question about Radio Free Albemuth:
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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Radio Free Albemuth
by Philip K. Dick
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