Total Recall
written by Piers Anthony, Philip K. Dick
https://www.ink2quill.com/

“Total Recall” is a sci-fi novel written by Piers Anthony and taken from a novelette by the late and great Philip K. Dick. The name of the novelette is called “We Can Remember It For You Wholesale”. It has influenced many good scifi stories on TV with two large scale film productions a 1990 film with Arnold Schwarzenegger and a 1012 film with Colin Farrell. The older film version is dated but better. I highly recommend the film. The book is a very good read with interesting ideas and a great storyline.

“Total Recall” takes place in the future and is the story of Douglas Quaid, a man frustrated with his life who decides to purchase the memory of a more exciting life.  He wants one with action and beautiful women where the fate of humanity hangs in the balance. He wants purpose and excitement in his life. That is to say, humanity living on Mars. He wants to be the kind of hero that harkens back to the days of knights and chivalry where he battles foes to save humanity and gets the woman. Although he does get the adventure he paid for he´s in way over his head and because the technology is so effective neither Douglas or the reader can tell the difference between the implanted memory or reality.

It is important to mention that this book is the novelization of the script for the film but it is very good. The book is almost identical to the movies and they all have the same ending. At the end of the story we really don´t know if it was all real or an implanted memory. We don´t know if Douglas Quaid was stuck in the memory implant or is living in reality. You can argue about this and I have, but the fact is we never know and that is the point of the story.

The story seems to warn against the dangers of having memories not earned and living a life outside of reality. It also suggests that buying something of such value, like memories, instead of creating them yourself isn´t as simple as it seems at first glance. Your life could get much more complicated.

This is a good read and I highly recommend reading some Philip K. Dick too. He´s written so many good stories.

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