I have no idea how to pronounce "Ubik", and that's the point because Ubik is nothing and everything - shaving aid, ersatz coffee, deodorant, some form of bread(?), and even salad dressing. The point is that there is no point or if there was a point, there is another point that is relevant to the first point without which there is no point.
Before there was Inception, a movie I deplore because of its intellectual dishonesty, there was Philip K Dick's deeply confounding Ubik. Ubik's plot unravels slowly and like classy female-friendly porn, highlights by hinting rather than revealing. The mark of good science fiction is making the readers think. Ubik does that exceedingly well without resorting to that old trope of an omniscient "architect" delivering a explanatory monologue. It is not a relaxing read, but a rewarding one if you pay close attention; definitely not stoned-in-goa-on-a-hammock material (Pick up a Nick Hornby for that)
You can try, but you won't beat the book. Ubik manages to stay a step ahead and place detour sign on every turn your brain makes to reach the solution. Why? Because Ubik is omnipotent and omniscient and comes in a can.
Set in the style of a Raymond Chandler piece with the lead character is endearingly named "Joe Chip" with a straight face, Ubik has a yo-yo'ing sense of humor ranging from simple puns to pitch black dark humor.
Hugely engaging and ultimately unsettling, this is science fiction perfected.
Rating - Many many moons
You can try, but you won't beat the book. Ubik manages to stay a step ahead and place detour sign on every turn your brain makes to reach the solution. Why? Because Ubik is omnipotent and omniscient and comes in a can.
Set in the style of a Raymond Chandler piece with the lead character is endearingly named "Joe Chip" with a straight face, Ubik has a yo-yo'ing sense of humor ranging from simple puns to pitch black dark humor.
Hugely engaging and ultimately unsettling, this is science fiction perfected.
Rating - Many many moons
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