Cropped Will Cardini artwork

February 17th, 2009

UBIK by PKD

Filed under: SF Reviews — Tags: — William Cardini @ 1:01 am

Ubik Front Cover

I recently read the last nine tenths of UBIK by Philip K. Dick while laying in bed hungover, which only amplified the creepiness of its decaying, solipsistic world.

Ubik Back Cover

One thing I had never noticed before is how strange the clothing of future-1992 is. With so many things going on, its an easy thing to miss, but lets look at some passages:

“Beside [the chopper] stood a beetle-like individual wearing a Continental outfit: tweed toga, loafers, crimson sash and a purple airplane-propelled beanie.”
From Chapter Seven, Paragraph 52.

“… in gay pinstripe clown-style pajamas, Joe Chip hazily seated himself …”
From Chapter Three, Paragraph One.

Al Hammond was wearing “green felt knickers, gray golf socks, badger-hide open-midriff blouse and imitation patent-leather pumps…”
From Chapter Eight, Paragraph 43.

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