Total Recall

Philip K. Dick

Jun 2012 · Sold by HarperCollins

About this eBook

The inspiration for the film Total Recall, starring Colin Farrell and Kate Beckinsale, and directed by Len Wiseman. This ebook-only edition of Philip K. Dick’s classic short story tells the story of Douglas Quail, an unfulfilled bureaucrat who dreams of visiting Mars, but can't afford the trip. Luckily, there is Rekal Incorporated, a company that lets everyday stiffs believe they’ve been on incredible adventures. The only problem is that when technicians attempt a memory implant of a spy mission to Mars, they find that real memories of just such a trip are already in Quail's brain. Suddenly, Quail is running for his life from government agents, but his memories might make him more of a liability than he is worth. Originally published as "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale."

Ratings and reviews

To clarify: this is the original short story (not a novel) which, though first published under a different name, inspired the first Total Recall. There's less action but more profundity than in either version of the film. It bears only a passing resemblance to the movie and the ending is very different. It's always good practice to read the original first and you can finish this one during your lunch break. (And, word to the wise; it's under a buck on Kindle!)

AKA: We Can Remember It For You Wholesale. A good little short story. The movies include much more and really just use this as the beginning. It's the old story of lying: include as much truth as possible and keep the lie as simple as possible in order to get away with it. There is also the fact that surprises abound. The eBook was formatted well with no obvious errors.

To clarify, this is the original short story (not a novel) which, though first published under a different name, inspired the classic Total Recall movie. It bears little resemblance to either version of the film, having less action but more profundity. In this case, reading the original first can be accomplished on your lunch break, so go for it! (And, word to the wise; it's under a dollar on Kindle!)

About the author

Over a writing career that spanned three decades, PHILIP K. DICK (1928–1982) published 36 science fiction novels and 121 short stories in which he explored the essence of what makes man human and the dangers of centralized power. Toward the end of his life, his work turned to deeply personal, metaphysical questions concerning the nature of God. Eleven novels and short stories have been adapted to film, notably Blade Runner (based on Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?), Total Recall, Minority Report, and A Scanner Darkly, as well as television's The Man in the High Castle. The recipient of critical acclaim and numerous awards throughout his career, including the Hugo and John W. Campbell awards, Dick was inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame in 2005, and between 2007 and 2009, the Library of America published a selection of his novels in three volumes. His work has been translated into more than twenty-five languages.