A Scanner Darkly

Super Short Summary

In A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick, undercover narcotics agent Bob Arctor, who also goes by the alias Fred, is tasked with infiltrating a drug ring in a future Southern California. He becomes increasingly addicted to Substance D while surveilling his own housemates and attempting to uncover the source of the drug. The dual identity and surveillance causes his mental state to deteriorate, blurring his sense of self and reality, ultimately leading to his admission to a rehabilitation facility. The novel delves into themes of addiction, paranoia, and the impact of surveillance on identity. This book includes depictions of drug use and its severe mental health effects.