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Ubik
Group Reads Discussions 2013
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"Ubik" First Impressions *No Spoilers*
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I'd love to join in this read, but lack of time (too much spectroscopy!). I have already read this, and loved it, but it really does deserve a reread. I would definitely agree with the existential horror story, but the humour counterbalances it. It reminds me of those stressfull evocative fever dreams you get, that have a weird internal rule system that is slightly shifted from reality. The ones where you can't put the cat in the suitcase because the elephant is in the way, but if you do not the Pope will be mad because your luggage will delay his flight.
Agree with Brendon on all accounts. Very dream-like, and packed with social comedy, especially early in the book. The comedic elements cannot be overstated. In fact the parts I always remember fondest in the book are early on, and are definitely digs on our market-based economy, as well as the absurdities of fashion.This is as much a psychedelic social romp as it is an "existential horror story" and it probably helps to keep the zeitgeist of the late 1960s in mind as you read this.
Top 100? Wow. No pressure, right? My strategy will be to go into it with reduced expectations.I've read a couple of Dick's works in the past and have enjoyed them (even enjoyed the movie versions) but have always been bothered by his treatment of female characters. I will be curious if this continues or breaks that trend. I have been impressed with his ideas, so wanted to try this one since it was highly rated.
Have reserved from the library, will be arriving in the middle of the month. Looking forward to it as he is a favourite author
My very first thoughts - like 2 pages in?'Oh dear'
Might be the shortest of my currently reading but will take some time for me to finish. I think the whole time-warp to the 60:ies looking 'forward' into the 90:ies will take some getting used to.
I read this early this year. I liked the start, but was kind of disappointed by the end. Curious to see what folks think this month.
i think this is my favourite PKD because of the end.. i thought it was great
He has such a strong narrative voice. Sometimes I wonder how much is PKD and how much is his art.
Rob wrote: "I read this early this year. I liked the start, but was kind of disappointed by the end. Curious to see what folks think this month."probably because its one of my fav books but the names Joe Chip and Glen Runciter are always easy to recall when i think back to this book.
These advertisements at the beginning of each chapter are hilarious:(Chapter 3): Instant Ubik has all the fresh flavor of just-brewed drip coffee. Your husband will say, "Christ, Sally, I used to think your coffee was only so-so. But now, wow!" Safe when taken as directed.
Besides Dick's narrative voice, his future vision seems strong, too. I read The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch earlier this year and this whole world feels so similar to me. Which is funny, because it had some important differences, it's just it all has a similar futuristic vibe; plus, Dick does love him some telepaths and precogs!
The advertisements were pretty great. Everything is better with Ubik!
It's hard for me to read PKD without being a little jealous -- the guy had so many really interesting ideas that he can afford to toss off a handful of them as red herrings at various points throughout a book. (I agree w/Rob his endings don't always, or usually, live up to the ideas and possibilities -- but the ride's sure a lot of fun).I was worried I might find this one a little too dark for my current mood, but I thought the pacing and the comic tone kept it an enjoyable read throughout.
Also, I really want to see artist sketches of all the crazy outfits described ...
Hillary wrote: "Also, I really want to see artist sketches of all the crazy outfits described ..."Amen! Those are great!
I had seen movie adaptions of his books before, but this is the first time I've actually PKD. I foresee a lot more of his books going onto my "Read" shelf in the near future. I agree with the earlier posts about the social commentary, humor, and pacing; all were well done. And the outfits, oh, those outfits. I wish I had more time to get some of my friends to read this so we could dress as some of the characters for Halloween.
Just getting started in the book. Telepathy is a common theme of PKD.
I just read the first two chapters and I am just not sure what to think about it first. Although I think this depart from my recent historical fiction binge may be why I wasn't ready. Still, I am interested to see where this trip takes me.
this books reminds me of his other book Eye in the Sky which was a great read until the ending. I think this is why i prefer Ubik a lot more.
I found the first few chapters hard to get into, but it quickly became a lot more interesting. I sped through the book in about 24 hours.
I just finished it yesterday, but my first impressions were so-so. I was trying to figure out what's so great about PKD, especially since it was so hard to figure out what was going on... However i am very glad I stuck with it, and I answered my own questions about what is so great about Dick.I think I got truly hooked when I met Joe Chip, and then shortly after, Pat Conley. My mind ran amok with the possibilities that her talent presented.
I'm about 1/3 of way through the book. So far it seems pretty standard PKD fare. I do agree with Jeanette, it took some time to get my mind into the nineties being the future. I'd say by the third chapter I was at cruising speed and getting hooked.
Mmmnm. I'm about half way through Ubik and I have mixed feelings about it so far. In terms of the writing it seems to swither between extremes, from stilted explanatory dialogue to inspired passages of description - it feels like it was banged out quite quickly. I like the ads, but it's been done so much now that I feel they're not as funny as they should be and for reasons I can't quite put my finger on, the fashion descriptions really get my back up. I was initially interested by the talents/anti-talents angle, and wondering what troubles Pat was going to throw up, but...getting into spoiler territory. Now, just over half way in, I feel the book is just starting to come together for me in terms of where it's going and what it's trying to do and it feels like it might transform into something tremendous at any moment...I hope it gets there - must do if it's top 100!
I also felt it was fairly uneven and wasn't sure what kind of tone or plot he was trying to achieve for the first half. But that actually made me think he must have put a lot of work into it, plus all the slogans, yes, not all are equally funny but surely it took some time to come up with so many examples!I just can't agree with you on the fashion - I'm trying to decide which of these combos to wear first!!
Has there been a movie made of this book? The costuming reminds me a little of the fashions of the Capitol folk in Hunger Games.Right away I was surprised by PKD's modernity... I thought it would feel more dated. I haven't read much of PDK, and I'm glad this is my chosen experience.
Janice George(JG) wrote: "Has there been a movie made of this book? The costuming reminds me a little of the fashions of the Capitol folk in Hunger Games.Right away I was surprised by PKD's modernity... I thought it woul..."
I have some ideas for movies that are related to this book, but they seem like spoilers so I am waiting for the spoilers thread.
I'm two thirds of the way through and I'm really enjoying it. It's got some crazy weird concepts and ideas, but its thoroughly engaging. Everytime I think I'm starting to understand what is going on it changes.It's strange reading the book knowing that its on the list of 100 best English language novels. I'd be curious to read an explanation of why its on the list. The book seems to have a lot of thematic layers to it, so I'm sure there is a lot I'm not picking up on. I'm hoping we can dig into a lot of it in the spoilers thread. Of course I may pick up on more of the themes later in the book as well.
Janice George(JG) wrote: "Has there been a movie made of this book?"Not yet but there have been attempts to make one. Michael Gondry was supposedly working on the latest attempt.
I'm half way through and enjoying the ride. I already loved the middle high german start citing the Carmina Burana:"ich sih die heide in gruoner varwe stan!
dar suln wir alle gahen,
die sumerzit enphahen!
des tanzes ich beginnen sol, wil ez iv niht versmahen!"
PKD quotes the same text in Deus Irae
PKD quotes other texts as well, like Shakespear's Richard III or "De die lucii" in chapter 7 ("Dies irae, dies illa..."). The last one, I had to learn by heart in high school Latin :) We don't know if the author was Beda Venerabilis or Thomas Celano. It was (before Vatican II) traditionally sung before the Holy Gospel in the Catholic Mass.
Maybe you want to hear it as a Gregorian Chant?
All of the ads about Ubik let me wonder what Ubik really is - coffee, beer, car, ... :)
And the ads remember me of those massive ad walls in the movie "Blade Runner" (which is based on PKD's
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?).
After spending almost 2 weeks getting like 70 pages into Embassytown, I decided to put it down for awhile and give Ubik a shot for now. I'm glad I did. I was not hooked on the first chapter but as soon as Joe and Pat entered the story I started really chewing through it. The cheesy Ubik ads remind of the hilarious ones in the original Robocop movie. I'd only read Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Dick before this so I'm a little surprised by its light nature.
Ah, Robocop! What a great example, I'd forgotten about those.
I just finished Chapter 2. Mind is blown thus far.
Really enjoying its strangeness so far. The mouth-watering descriptions about Pat are kind of annoying, though. Definitely written by a dude, and that's cool and all. But it's kind of like when you're talking to some guy about something interesting, and then he starts going off on some tangent about women he finds hot, as though you are really interested in hearing about it. Awkward.
Diana wrote: "Really enjoying its strangeness so far. The mouth-watering descriptions about Pat are kind of annoying, though. Definitely written by a dude, and that's cool and all. But it's kind of like when ..."Great analogy! Dick even analyzes these descriptions in one scene: "for no logical reason the perception of this unrelated, meaningless sense-datum registered in his mind," basically admitting that his ruminations bear no relevance to the plot and are just there to titillate like-minded readers.
Michael wrote: "...basically admitting that his ruminations bear no relevance to the plot and are just their to titillate like-minded readers."Hah! How did I know? I haven't read that part yet, but it's true- at least he acknowledges it. Men.
I'm enjoying the book, though.
My copy will be at the library next week, almost too late to join in...
getting ready to do the read of this one or re-read for some people. This book was slated for May 15th to start
enjoying this so far: it's definitely a book of it's time; written for male audiences with all the focus on the hot women. I liked the needing coins for everything bit
I like how he throws you in the middle of a foreign place and does not care if you understand or not. If you are a survivor, you will get it. :)
The thing with PDK is, he was a writer who didn't want to create worlds so much as invite readers into his head. And he wasn't very inclined to offer a welcome tour, lol.
SciFi and Fantasy Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
Deus Irae (other topics)Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (other topics)
Eye in the Sky (other topics)
The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch (other topics)
Ubik (other topics)
What are your first impressions? Is it easy to get into? Were you hooked after a few pages? Do you like the protagonist? World building? Style? Humour? Give us your first thoughts!