Type a new keyword(s) and press Enter to search

Valis, by Philip K. Dick

 

However, we do know this of the setting: Fat lives in California in the early 1970's. Aside from that, there is very, very little on the lines of setting.
             Again, this story relies little on the plot. Fat is constantly discoursing about his theological and physical discoveries. However, it isn't to further the plot. It is done to present the belief structure of Fat and Dick (who may be one in the same). It is an odd situation, to read a novel where the plot is almost trivial for much of the story. Nonetheless, this is a book review, and plot is an important part of a book review. So, this book is the story of Horselover Fat. In the beginning, he experiences the suicide of a friend, and Fat believes that this is what triggers the mental breakdown that takes place throughout the whole book, "Horselover Fat's nervous breakdown began the day he got the phonecall from Gloria asking if he had any Nembutals" (Dick 9).
             Early on in the story, Fat sees God. Well, it was more of a transaction of information then a sighting, an exchange. Fat had "got" God in the form of a pink laser. Through this laser, God had revealed many of the mysteries of the universe to Fat, "God, he told us, had fired a beam of pink light directly at him, at his head, his eyes; Fat had been temporarily blinded and his head ached for days . He lived for that light, that one particular color" (Dick 20). After this experience, he (Fat, not God) developed an odd "addiction" to God, "After he had encountered god, Fat developed a love for him which was not normal. It was not what is usually meant in saying that someone "loves God." With Fat it was an actual hunger" (Dick 20).
             For the remainder of the book, Fat desperately tries to unravel the mystery of what had happened to him. He keeps a journal, which he calls his exegesis. In this, he records his thoughts on what the universe and God are really about. His exegesis is the main focus in his life throughout the book, and much of Valis is excerpts and thoughts taken from it.


Essays Related to Valis, by Philip K. Dick