Ubik

Circa 1992… enter the story of Ubik by Philip Dick, a sci-fi fantasy where technology plays a role in this magical story where having a can of “Ubik” might just save your life from the “half-life” and beyond. Glen Runciter has a company that hires people with the ability to block certain psychic powers to provide privacy by request, what a nice company to run when others are trying to know all about you and your life desires!  Runciter is assisted in his company by his wife Ella, who is now in “half-life” by the help of a company who keeps people in that state.  Runciter’s company is hired by Stanton Mick, a rich mogul, to keep his company (located on the moon) safe from others who are desiring to get the company’s secrets.  Runciter assembles 11 agents to help with the task, but not all are on Runciter’s side.  While on the moon a bomb explodes, which was set by the evil enemy Hollis, and Runciter is rushed back to earth to be placed in “half-life.”  This is where it gets really complicated and strange things start happening to the other characters.  We get into time traveling and going back into the 1930s and find a mysterious product, Ubik, which allegedly gives a person the ability to fight off the illness that is killing the group of 11.  Is Runciter really dying?  Is he dead?  How does his wife Ella fit into it after she fights off her “half life” existence and the evil spirit “Jorry,” who enters the spirits in “half-life?” This is a complicated plot with a few spins that cause one to pause for a second to ask, is this for real?  And don’t forget the “commercial moments” for Ubik at the beginning of each chapter.  I’d say for those who enjoy the sci-fi fantasy stories, you’ll like it.  Not my favorite as this one was a bit more far-fetched and complicated with all of the telepathy, travel to the moon, and going back to 1939… a bit much…  I’ll take a pass on this one.