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Total Recall
Previously published as 'We Can Remember It For You Wholesale', Volume 5 of the Collected Philip K. Dick Short Stories
395 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2012
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284 people want to read
About the author
Philip K. Dick
2,006 books22.5k followersPhilip Kindred Dick was a prolific American science fiction author whose work has had a lasting impact on literature, cinema, and popular culture. Known for his imaginative narratives and profound philosophical themes, Dick explored the nature of reality, the boundaries of human identity, and the impact of technology and authoritarianism on society. His stories often blurred the line between the real and the artificial, challenging readers to question their perceptions and beliefs.
Raised in California, Dick began writing professionally in the early 1950s, publishing short stories in various science fiction magazines. He quickly developed a distinctive voice within the genre, marked by a fusion of science fiction concepts with deep existential and psychological inquiry. Over his career, he authored 44 novels and more than 100 short stories, many of which have become classics in the field.
Recurring themes in Dick's work include alternate realities, simulations, corporate and government control, mental illness, and the nature of consciousness. His protagonists are frequently everyday individuals—often paranoid, uncertain, or troubled—caught in surreal and often dangerous circumstances that force them to question their environment and themselves. Works such as Ubik, The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch, and A Scanner Darkly reflect his fascination with perception and altered states of consciousness, often drawing from his own experiences with mental health struggles and drug use.
One of Dick’s most influential novels is Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, which served as the basis for Ridley Scott’s iconic film Blade Runner. The novel deals with the distinction between humans and artificial beings and asks profound questions about empathy, identity, and what it means to be alive. Other adaptations of his work include Total Recall, Minority Report, A Scanner Darkly, and The Man in the High Castle, each reflecting key elements of his storytelling—uncertain realities, oppressive systems, and the search for truth. These adaptations have introduced his complex ideas to audiences well beyond the traditional readership of science fiction.
In the 1970s, Dick underwent a series of visionary and mystical experiences that had a significant influence on his later writings. He described receiving profound knowledge from an external, possibly divine, source and documented these events extensively in what became known as The Exegesis, a massive and often fragmented journal. These experiences inspired his later novels, most notably the VALIS trilogy, which mixes autobiography, theology, and metaphysics in a narrative that defies conventional structure and genre boundaries.
Throughout his life, Dick faced financial instability, health issues, and periods of personal turmoil, yet he remained a dedicated and relentless writer. Despite limited commercial success during his lifetime, his reputation grew steadily, and he came to be regarded as one of the most original voices in speculative fiction. His work has been celebrated for its ability to fuse philosophical depth with gripping storytelling and has influenced not only science fiction writers but also philosophers, filmmakers, and futurists.
Dick’s legacy continues to thrive in both literary and cinematic spheres. The themes he explored remain urgently relevant in the modern world, particularly as technology increasingly intersects with human identity and governance. The Philip K. Dick Award, named in his honor, is presented annually to distinguished works of science fiction published in paperback original form in the United States. His writings have also inspired television series, academic studies, and countless homages across media.
Through his vivid imagination and unflinching inquiry into the nature of existence, Philip K. Dick redefined what science fiction could achieve. His work continues to challenge and inspire, offering timeless insights into the human condition a
Raised in California, Dick began writing professionally in the early 1950s, publishing short stories in various science fiction magazines. He quickly developed a distinctive voice within the genre, marked by a fusion of science fiction concepts with deep existential and psychological inquiry. Over his career, he authored 44 novels and more than 100 short stories, many of which have become classics in the field.
Recurring themes in Dick's work include alternate realities, simulations, corporate and government control, mental illness, and the nature of consciousness. His protagonists are frequently everyday individuals—often paranoid, uncertain, or troubled—caught in surreal and often dangerous circumstances that force them to question their environment and themselves. Works such as Ubik, The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch, and A Scanner Darkly reflect his fascination with perception and altered states of consciousness, often drawing from his own experiences with mental health struggles and drug use.
One of Dick’s most influential novels is Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, which served as the basis for Ridley Scott’s iconic film Blade Runner. The novel deals with the distinction between humans and artificial beings and asks profound questions about empathy, identity, and what it means to be alive. Other adaptations of his work include Total Recall, Minority Report, A Scanner Darkly, and The Man in the High Castle, each reflecting key elements of his storytelling—uncertain realities, oppressive systems, and the search for truth. These adaptations have introduced his complex ideas to audiences well beyond the traditional readership of science fiction.
In the 1970s, Dick underwent a series of visionary and mystical experiences that had a significant influence on his later writings. He described receiving profound knowledge from an external, possibly divine, source and documented these events extensively in what became known as The Exegesis, a massive and often fragmented journal. These experiences inspired his later novels, most notably the VALIS trilogy, which mixes autobiography, theology, and metaphysics in a narrative that defies conventional structure and genre boundaries.
Throughout his life, Dick faced financial instability, health issues, and periods of personal turmoil, yet he remained a dedicated and relentless writer. Despite limited commercial success during his lifetime, his reputation grew steadily, and he came to be regarded as one of the most original voices in speculative fiction. His work has been celebrated for its ability to fuse philosophical depth with gripping storytelling and has influenced not only science fiction writers but also philosophers, filmmakers, and futurists.
Dick’s legacy continues to thrive in both literary and cinematic spheres. The themes he explored remain urgently relevant in the modern world, particularly as technology increasingly intersects with human identity and governance. The Philip K. Dick Award, named in his honor, is presented annually to distinguished works of science fiction published in paperback original form in the United States. His writings have also inspired television series, academic studies, and countless homages across media.
Through his vivid imagination and unflinching inquiry into the nature of existence, Philip K. Dick redefined what science fiction could achieve. His work continues to challenge and inspire, offering timeless insights into the human condition a
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
September 3, 2013
I read this in preparation of watching the film remake, and the reality is that only two or three scenes of either movie could be taken from this story's pages. However, the fact that these thirty-or-so pages could inspire not one, but two sprawling science-fiction movies says a lot for Philip K. Dick's imagination, even if the movies did miss the mark at points. But, that goes without say, as Dick has also had Blade Runner, Minority Report and A Scanner Darkly adapted from his works. Back to the story, there is not too much that can be said without spoiling anything, although I will say that working two twists into such a short work was quite impressive. Also, despite both movies featuring a scene with a three-breasted woman, the short story is strangely silent in this area.
April 28, 2013
Total Recall, like many of Philip K. Dick’s works, is sci-fi heavy and thought provoking. It takes place sometime in the future The movie, which is both inspired and named after this book, Total Recall, is surprisingly more intricate and complex than the book.
WHY:
I chose this book because of its author, Philip K. Dick, who had written other books that I had enjoyed, notably Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
Another reason why I chose this book is because I had seen the movie and later learned it was based off of a book.
PLOT:
[BE WARNED!]
[Spoilers may lie ahead (skip to movie if you wish to not see them)]
The story’s protagonist Douglas Quail had always thought he had a strong desire to travel to Mars and trudge through its valleys. His job as a clerk, however, would prevent him from ever being able to actually travel to the planet. His wife, Kirsten, barely tolerates her husband’s silly dream of traveling and always appears cross towards Douglas. Douglas decides he’s going to experience going on Mars before he dies, whether it be him taking a ship and actually traveling through the planet, or him taking a simulation of some sorts to make him believe he’s been on the planet. Being that the simulation is more reasonable for him, Douglas goes to Rekall, a place that specializes in simulating anyone’s fantasies. The simulation, however does not work out as planned and Douglas learns too much about himself.
MOVIE:
The movie, which was ~2 hours, drifted very far from the story of this book. While the book the movie takes place in a post-war world, in Britain and Australia with events that took place throughout. Unfortunately, being influenced by the movie changes the perspective on the book greatly, and I’d recommend that you read the book first, then watch the movie, if you haven't done so already.
THOUGHTS:
Total Recall was short and sweet and I enjoyed it greatly. It’s an interesting piece and is only ~30 pages, so I’d recommend to anyone looking for a quick read to check out Total Recall.
December 24, 2012
A Reality Course
“Total Recall” or “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale,” a short story by Philip K. Dick, challenges you to separate the story-true from the story-false. Douglas Quail wants to go to Mars; his wife thinks he’s obsessed; since he’s a clerk with no plausible way to go, he settles for a simulated trip, which can be embedded in his memory—or so the story begins. It develops into something quite different. The fantastic and the story-real merge. Why does the author go to these lengths, creating layers of the real and unreal within the story, and what is the effect? It seems the author wants to deal with questions about freedom and authority in a world of his own creation, I suppose to get a better handle on it. I think the effect is that a deeper impression, in this case of tyranny, stamps itself on the psyche, both on the conscious and the unconscious.
“Total Recall” or “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale,” a short story by Philip K. Dick, challenges you to separate the story-true from the story-false. Douglas Quail wants to go to Mars; his wife thinks he’s obsessed; since he’s a clerk with no plausible way to go, he settles for a simulated trip, which can be embedded in his memory—or so the story begins. It develops into something quite different. The fantastic and the story-real merge. Why does the author go to these lengths, creating layers of the real and unreal within the story, and what is the effect? It seems the author wants to deal with questions about freedom and authority in a world of his own creation, I suppose to get a better handle on it. I think the effect is that a deeper impression, in this case of tyranny, stamps itself on the psyche, both on the conscious and the unconscious.
July 16, 2017
I read this collection of short stories mostly because I wanted to read "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale", which is the story that the film Total Recall (both versions) was based on. Well I read it and thought it was an entertaining story, but I noted that the author didn't really seem to like women in the story. They were depicted almost wholly in negative terms - shrews, nags, etc.
So I continued to read the stories because I hate to not finish something but the damage had been done. In each story I read, the idea that the author didn't really like women resurfaced time and time again. I then read "The Pre-Persons" and not only did the author not like women, he loathed them with a hatred and misogyny I have rarely seen in the pages of a fiction book. That was me almost done with the book, but I struggled through the rest of the stories, and there were one or two towards the end which managed not to be filled with spite and bile, but it was tough going at times.
I read the notes at the end of the book - in it the author said about the Pre-Persons "In this I incurred the absolute hate of Joanna Russ who wrote me the nastiest letter I've ever received; at one point she said she usually offered to beat up people (she didn't use the word "people") who expressed opinions such as this". All I can say is, good for you Joanna, though I suspect it had more to do with the abortion elements of the story than with the woman-hating parts. It seems that the author was surprised by the level of vitriol directed at him because of this story.
Now, I have a issue with my feelings about this, in that the author is such a well-respected one, but if his attitude towards women runs throughout his writings I am going to have a tough time reading anything else by him. It's not the first time I've run across an author who I try to read but I seem to bounce off rather than push through the less enlightened parts of the work to find the meat beneath. It's like an invisible force field that I cannot penetrate, though I can see what it is that makes the author so attractive to many. It may be that I can get past this, but I can't see myself seeking out more of his works if I have the same reaction to him.
So I continued to read the stories because I hate to not finish something but the damage had been done. In each story I read, the idea that the author didn't really like women resurfaced time and time again. I then read "The Pre-Persons" and not only did the author not like women, he loathed them with a hatred and misogyny I have rarely seen in the pages of a fiction book. That was me almost done with the book, but I struggled through the rest of the stories, and there were one or two towards the end which managed not to be filled with spite and bile, but it was tough going at times.
I read the notes at the end of the book - in it the author said about the Pre-Persons "In this I incurred the absolute hate of Joanna Russ who wrote me the nastiest letter I've ever received; at one point she said she usually offered to beat up people (she didn't use the word "people") who expressed opinions such as this". All I can say is, good for you Joanna, though I suspect it had more to do with the abortion elements of the story than with the woman-hating parts. It seems that the author was surprised by the level of vitriol directed at him because of this story.
Now, I have a issue with my feelings about this, in that the author is such a well-respected one, but if his attitude towards women runs throughout his writings I am going to have a tough time reading anything else by him. It's not the first time I've run across an author who I try to read but I seem to bounce off rather than push through the less enlightened parts of the work to find the meat beneath. It's like an invisible force field that I cannot penetrate, though I can see what it is that makes the author so attractive to many. It may be that I can get past this, but I can't see myself seeking out more of his works if I have the same reaction to him.
September 24, 2012
Too short
June 7, 2017
An anthology of Philip K Dick stories of varying quality.
February 5, 2025
This a view or the Future as is was in the Past. Interesting as such, but there is more to these very short stories than dated science-fiction. Dick uses this as a way to explore and question normality, morality, guilt, religion and much more.
The stories differ a lot but all are interesting one way or another. There is wild imagination at work here, together with hope (a little) and despair (often).
I would recommend reading only a few at a time, in order to keep them fresh and new.
The stories differ a lot but all are interesting one way or another. There is wild imagination at work here, together with hope (a little) and despair (often).
I would recommend reading only a few at a time, in order to keep them fresh and new.
Read
October 12, 2023Aww
June 26, 2015
I read this book because I wanted to read We can remember it for you wholesale. It was interesting to read that particular short story but I think they've actually improved the story in the film(s) with its expansion and the added ambiguity of what's dream and what's not.
The other stories included are for the most part quite interesting, although I find them very similar in tone, themes, premise and characters. Many of them are about the definition of reality, the dangers of insterstellar travel and the "1984" theme is often there, being a slave under the state and exposing conspiracies. The protagonist men are almost always downtrodden underachieving anti-heroes who have had enough, 99 percent of the women are very beautiful femme-fatales who behave irrationally. Dick's writing is a bit Jules Verne-like in that sense. Often it's hard to decipher the meaning of the stories, so it was nice that this edition had explanations for at least a majority of them.
I would give the collection a three out of five if it wasn't for the very perplexing anti-abortion propaganda janked in between the SF-stories. It was very disgusting to read and Dick shoots himself in the foot with it since the absurdity of it defeats its purpose. Something like that would just never happen and is a false representation of abortion laws today. I think women should be able to judge what happens with their own bodies, and a single-cellular organism just can not be considered a human being. Also the circular illogical reasoning which the characters in the story follow (a desire to kill the people performing the "abortions") in the name of saving lives, obviously makes no sense. Regardless what you think about abortion, that kind of story has no place in a collection like this. It baffles me why it's there at all. It leaves a sour taste in the mouth in an otherwise nice summary of Dick's short stories.
The other stories included are for the most part quite interesting, although I find them very similar in tone, themes, premise and characters. Many of them are about the definition of reality, the dangers of insterstellar travel and the "1984" theme is often there, being a slave under the state and exposing conspiracies. The protagonist men are almost always downtrodden underachieving anti-heroes who have had enough, 99 percent of the women are very beautiful femme-fatales who behave irrationally. Dick's writing is a bit Jules Verne-like in that sense. Often it's hard to decipher the meaning of the stories, so it was nice that this edition had explanations for at least a majority of them.
I would give the collection a three out of five if it wasn't for the very perplexing anti-abortion propaganda janked in between the SF-stories. It was very disgusting to read and Dick shoots himself in the foot with it since the absurdity of it defeats its purpose. Something like that would just never happen and is a false representation of abortion laws today. I think women should be able to judge what happens with their own bodies, and a single-cellular organism just can not be considered a human being. Also the circular illogical reasoning which the characters in the story follow (a desire to kill the people performing the "abortions") in the name of saving lives, obviously makes no sense. Regardless what you think about abortion, that kind of story has no place in a collection like this. It baffles me why it's there at all. It leaves a sour taste in the mouth in an otherwise nice summary of Dick's short stories.
March 24, 2015
Het onderliggende thema in bijna alle verhalen in deze bundel is dat de hoofdpersoon plotseling ontdekt dat datgene wat hij zo lang hij zich kan herinneren voor de werkelijkheid gehouden heeft, een illusie is. Alleen vergevorderde paranoiapatiënten denken in werkelijkheid zo, maar verhalen krijgen hierdoor een bijzondere nachtmerrieachtige sfeer.
Het is wel moeilijk sciencefictionverhalen uit de jaren zestig nog helemaal serieus te nemen, omdat de technologische en maatschappelijke ontwikkeling zo'n andere richting is opgegaan dan zij voorspellen. De figuren in deze verhalen reizen met gemak heen en weer naar Mars en beschikken over telepathische communicatiemogelijkheden, maar ze steken om de tien regels een sigaret op, en als ze een brief moeten tikken gaan ze op zoek naar carbonpapier.
Het is wel moeilijk sciencefictionverhalen uit de jaren zestig nog helemaal serieus te nemen, omdat de technologische en maatschappelijke ontwikkeling zo'n andere richting is opgegaan dan zij voorspellen. De figuren in deze verhalen reizen met gemak heen en weer naar Mars en beschikken over telepathische communicatiemogelijkheden, maar ze steken om de tien regels een sigaret op, en als ze een brief moeten tikken gaan ze op zoek naar carbonpapier.
January 2, 2015
I hadn't read a lot of PKD's work before picking up this collection, but obviously I liked what I had read enough to work my way through this tome story by story. Yeah, some of the stories required more "work"--more careful attention sometimes, sometimes more patience to set aside some knee-jerk emotional reactions to some themes or actions--but my efforts were always rewarded, even if sometimes the stories didn't conclude quite to my...need for stories to have some sort of closure. Perhaps that's why these future-speculating stories are so resonant: Our lives so often lack full closure. Sometimes the best we can do is accept the unresolved state of something--our own emotions, relationships, searches and seekings--while learning what we can from the experiences and then move on.
July 19, 2015
Originally titled "We can remember it for you wholesale" this short story was later adapted into the Schwarzenegger, film Total Recall and later remade with Colin Farrell. This is the case of a very loose adaptation. The filmmakers have taken a part of the story and greatly expanded on it. They were more interested in playing with the general theme of memory that Dick raises in the story rather than just presenting the story. The filmmakers have made a wise choice here. While Dick raises some thought provoking ideas he doesn't really run very far with them. Perhaps he was constrained by length (Dick was constrained by length HAHA!), but he doesn't really explore these thoughts and instead races towards a tidy and goofy conclusion.
April 9, 2019
I’ve never been a huge fan of short stories, but I was curious to have a look at a master of them, and see which of the two Total Recalls was accurate.
Neither in honesty, but Retreat Syndrome, Remember You wholesale and a Game of Unchance stood out for me. I was toying while a short of my own and Arrive Soon and Alien Mind show what a rich fusion of concepts Dick Possessed.
Other stories did little for me as a reader, but as a viewer I appreciate the adaptability of his concepts to the big screen (seemingly everything is based on his works). They were a more enjoyable read than I expected and I’ll look into his other works in the future as it’s hard to be unimpressed with the guy behind the concept of Bladerunner. And....
Neither in honesty, but Retreat Syndrome, Remember You wholesale and a Game of Unchance stood out for me. I was toying while a short of my own and Arrive Soon and Alien Mind show what a rich fusion of concepts Dick Possessed.
Other stories did little for me as a reader, but as a viewer I appreciate the adaptability of his concepts to the big screen (seemingly everything is based on his works). They were a more enjoyable read than I expected and I’ll look into his other works in the future as it’s hard to be unimpressed with the guy behind the concept of Bladerunner. And....
February 4, 2013
A collection of short stories, first published together as "We can remember it for you wholesale" in 1987, and reprinted with a new cover (but printed with the same manky old plates) in 2012 to correspond with the film that butchered the title story.
The stories covered are the most coherent of the authors short stories, before drugs took him totally off into lala world. The title story is ruined for me by the controversy over whether it was an implanted memory or real, when the proper “Governator” Total Recall film was made.
Isn't it weird that most reviewers fail to mention the other 385 pages ? Its like they're only reviewing the fillum....
The stories covered are the most coherent of the authors short stories, before drugs took him totally off into lala world. The title story is ruined for me by the controversy over whether it was an implanted memory or real, when the proper “Governator” Total Recall film was made.
Isn't it weird that most reviewers fail to mention the other 385 pages ? Its like they're only reviewing the fillum....
January 9, 2013
That book is a good books that contains some short storys that are great are others that are good but not more. Thta why i only give it four stars, some of them really deserve a five stars, but other deserve more like a three point five or a four stars. But anyway for my first read of this author, i find it very interesting for the amateur of scifi and some of the story are of must read for them like minority report and the one that serve to make the total recall movie, both two good movie by the way. So maybe not the best short story book, but still a good one that deserve to be read!
November 20, 2012
An interesting story, but a short one even by short story standards. If you've seen the movie, this is much less action oriented, but the plot - while interesting - there's not much time to develop it nor the world. So I wish a little more time had been spent on it, making it a novelette or something. I can't really say much else without getting into spoilers...
Overall good writing. I liked it a little bit better before the aliens thing.
Overall good writing. I liked it a little bit better before the aliens thing.
December 19, 2013
OK, but the stories got a bit samey after a while. The visions of the future style of story always falls flat when the real future turns out quite different - Dick's future was basically the sixties, but with added aliens robits and time travel. Everyone smokes, and the computers still need punch cards and tape. The most bothersome thimg for was the portrayal of women - sadistic harpies every one.
October 13, 2014
Tom Disch's introduction captures it all perfectly: PKD's prose and characterisation are workmanlike and at best competent, but he has a lot of really incredible ideas that make the stories in this collection and his work in general worth reading. Even the silly ones about pinball machines and catfood.
Sadly, his lack of wide readership during his life or even now make him very much science fiction's Velvet Underground.
Sadly, his lack of wide readership during his life or even now make him very much science fiction's Velvet Underground.
July 12, 2012
I haven't read this zinc I was like 16 years old and devouring everything Sci-fi. It stands up extremely well, and I honestly enjoyed it more than the first time. I live the way Dick makes you question reality... How his world is so paranoid you can't even trust yourself! Just a superb summer read and deserving a place on my bookshelf forever.
April 25, 2016
I'd say 3.75 is more accurate, but I did like it. Entertaining and short.
February 13, 2013
It was an alright book. The style of writing was a bit annoying at times. Almost basic sentence structures when it came to conversations.. he said, "hello" and she replied.. etc etc..
Despite this, Some really great stories that are very funny and some are dead serious.
Good book to read when you have 10 minutes to spare and have time to read one short story.
Despite this, Some really great stories that are very funny and some are dead serious.
Good book to read when you have 10 minutes to spare and have time to read one short story.
September 7, 2013
A good mixture of short story's. Both an excellent introduction to Phillip k. Dick and some brilliant further reading for people who already love him. Some story's are a bit hit and miss but that's to be expected.
Covers many of the themes he tries to convey in his longer and more famous novels, some of the short stories certainly give plenty to think about.
Covers many of the themes he tries to convey in his longer and more famous novels, some of the short stories certainly give plenty to think about.
April 29, 2015
a short story that inspired (2) Hollywood Blockbuster films - 30 pages of nuance and intrigue wrapped up in expert science fiction. I loved both films and loved the short story. Docking it one star because I can never get used to how abruptly it ends - but maybe that's why I keep coming back to it at least once a decade. Recommended.
March 5, 2019
There is no other science fiction author like Philip K. Dick. What he does with your concept of reality within the confines of a story is just amazing. In this collection of short stories the best known is the one that has been made into a film, very loosely based on the ideas sketched out in Dick's original, but the others are just as mind bending.
March 24, 2013
Termine rápido el relato. Muy interesante, muy entretenido y el final por alguna razón que aún no alcanzo a comprender (lo cual creo que es la fuente misma de la situación) me dio miedo, al terminar de leer sentí que un repentino miedo llenaba mi conciencia.
June 10, 2013
Wasn't really for me over all. There are stories that I did enjoy & several had interesting ideas but by & large the stories aren't a particularly compelling read. There's also noticeable traces of misogyny in some of Dicks writing.
January 27, 2019
This is a short story, not a book. It made me laugh. I read it today because we watched the 2012 movie version last night. The movies both go a bit farther afield from the short story, but that’s okay.
It was a fun read. Nothing big.
It was a fun read. Nothing big.
September 10, 2012
This is a amazing author
September 11, 2012
Mind-bending. What is he recalling for real vs what has been manufactured? Layers upon layers.
September 12, 2012
A very good showcase of oneof the greats. Stick it in your bag or leave it near the loo. Includes the story "We can remember it for you wholesale", on which Total Recall is based.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews