Total Recall [Paperback]

Piers Anthony (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In 1966, the late Philip K. Dick published the novelette "We Can Remember It for You Wholesale." A movie based on the story will be released next year; this book is a novelization of the script and the original novel. The first half of the book follows the original plot closely, despite transforming the unremarkable protagonist Douglas Quail into a musclebound man of action. Frustrated with his life, Quail decides to purchase a memory of a two-week adventure on Mars because he can't afford the real thing. However, while under heavy sedation preparatory to the installation of the memory, Quail remembers that he actually was on Mars as an intelligence agent and killer. Now that he has recovered the memory which had been suppressed by his employers, his life is in jeopardy. Here the novel deviates from Dick's philosophical original, becoming a more pedestrian if exciting slam-bang chase thriller. Judged on its own terms, the book works and it's fun.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Douglas Quail's dreams are haunted by images of Mars--a place where he has never been--until his visit to a company that specializes in memory implants catapults him into a conspiracy that overturns the basic premise of his life. Based on the Philip K. Dick story, "We Can Remember It for You Wholesale," this sf adventure (to be released as a movie in 1990) by one of the genre's most prolific and respected authors features fast-paced action and vivid imagery. This belongs in sf collections.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 278 pages
• Publisher: Avon Books (May 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380708744
• ISBN-13: 978-0380708741
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,438,883 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Piers Anthony is one of the world's most popular fantasy authors, and a New York Times bestseller twenty-one times over. His Xanth novels have been read and loved by millions of readers around the world, and he daily receives hundreds of letters from his devoted fans.In addition to the Xanth series, Anthony is the author of many other best-selling works. Piers Anthony lives in Inverness, Florida.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Valuable read whether you liked the movie or not., January 22, 1999

By 

Michael Dawson (Michigan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Total Recall (Paperback)

This is an excellent book for those who saw the movie and thought "This idea had potential." The Piers Anthony version of this story is superior to both the movie and the screen play. This book gives insight into the mind of a alien race and what it might expect from a species that considers itself mature enough for space travel. Mr. Anthony puts a relatively new face on the oft used concept of colonialism extended to interplanetary colonization. We see that the downtrodden are not always forgotten. We are also given the opportunity to wrestle with the question, of what makes a person themselves; is it ones actions(past, present, or future) or is it ones thoughts and ideas (remembered and forgotten). While the "Total Recall" story is taken from a short story entitled, "We can remember it for you wholesale." Piers Anthony offers a fresh look at the timeless concepts.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Don't ignore the book just because of the movie..., July 27, 2004

By 

Brian H. (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Total Recall (Paperback)

The book by Anthony Pier is different from the movie, the first half is relatively the same, but the second half seems almost like a different thing. The ending, although the outcome is the same, is executed differently. The ending is actually explained with some intelligence too, and entire sub-plots are in the book.

The short story by Philip K. Dick, "We'll remember it for you wholesale" was the inspiration for this book.

A good entertaining read, although it's hard to read the book without imagining Arnold Schwarzeneggar's blazing Austrian accent speaking the dialogue.

3 1/2 mars...er....stars.

3.0 out of 5 stars Good story and an easy read, January 10, 2012

By 

Lincoln Rodman - See all my reviews

This review is from: Total Recall (Paperback)

The film "Total Recall" is actually one of the more thought-provoking films of the 1990s, one whose intelligence was largely ignored by the public because it starred Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The fact is, despite all its explosions, it is no less complex at its core than Vanilla Sky or Memento....

The Piers Anthony novel is well-written and quickly paced, but I got the impression that they commissioned Anthony to churn out a novelized version of the screenplay to coincide with the film's release. It's certainly a decent read, but if you didn't like the movie, you probably won't love the book.