a weird far-out trip.....

short plot description: set in a near futture california we follow the story mostly from the perspective of Agent Fred, a law enforcement officer working in narcotics. When we meet him he is working undercover under the name "Bob Arctor", living in his house with some drug addicts and trying to break into the ranks of "Substance D"-dealers. Somewhere along the way he himself has become addicted and is having trouble distinguishing between his two identities and what's real and what are delusions. Things get even more confused for Fred/Bob when his superior (who doesn't know his second identity) assigns him to spy on himself.....

my thoughts: very intense and personal novel by PKD. In this books he explores themes of drug use and abuse, the construction of reality and the relationship between police-criminal (amongst others). Told from the inside of the characters it felt like one long rambling stream-of-consciousness narrative.
All in all a very moving tale with some great plot twists.

my advice: not exactly light reading this book is for you if you like some social commentary along with your well-told narrative.