The three stigmata of Palmer Eldritch
by Philip K. Dick · first published 1965
49% recommend49% neutral3% critical
Why HN recommends it
Drug-fueled, reality-bending sci-fi whose layered, shifting realities keep subverting the reader's perceptions; a strong entry point to Dick, and eerily prescient about virtual worlds and fake social ecosystems.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch is a 1965 science fiction novel by Philip K. Dick. It was nominated for the Nebula Award for Best Novel in 1965.[1] The novel takes place in 2016. Under United Nations authority, humankind has colonized every habitable planet and moon in the Solar System. Like many of Dick's novels, it utilizes an array of science fiction concepts, features several layers of reality and unreality and philosophical ideas. It is one of Dick's first works to explore religious themes.
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
Related books
2010–2026Flow my tears, the policeman said
Philip K. Dick
Recommended by 10 · mentioned by 2010 recommend · 20 mention10 recommend · 2010 recommend
2016–2022The faith of our fathers
Gibbons, James, 1834-1921
Recommended by 2 · mentioned by 32 recommend · 3 mention2 recommend · 32 recommend
2015–2025Now Wait for Last Year
Philip K. Dick
Recommended by 3 · mentioned by 83 recommend · 8 mention3 recommend · 83 recommend
2010–2025The Transmigration of Timothy Archer
Philip K. Dick, Joyce Bean, Carlos Peralta
Recommended by 4 · mentioned by 154 recommend · 15 mention4 recommend · 154 recommend
2011–2025Martian Time-Slip
Philip K. Dick
Recommended by 7 · mentioned by 127 recommend · 12 mention7 recommend · 127 recommend
2014–2026The Divine Invasion
Philip K. Dick
Recommended by 6 · mentioned by 106 recommend · 10 mention6 recommend · 106 recommend
2014–2025Galactic pot-healer
Philip K. Dick
Recommended by 5 · mentioned by 105 recommend · 10 mention5 recommend · 105 recommend
…you found it only "somewhat intriguing", I doubt you'll be any more pleased with anything else he wrote. That said, if you are interested in reading more by him, of his books I can recommend: - The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch - Martian Time-Slip - Galactic Pot Healer - Eye in the Sky - the middle part of Lies, Inc Some of his short stories: - Beyond Lies the Wub - Faith of Our Fathers
on “The Essential Philip K. Dick” ↗Two favorite books of mine I've seldom seen mentioned but I think are gems: The three stigmata of Palmer Eldritch and Time out of joint, both by Philip K. Dick. The first plays with several layers of reality along the book. One time I found myself re-reading some passages because there were so many layers it was…
on “Ask HN: What are your favorite sci-fi books?” ↗…fake social media ecosystems are created for each individual filled with the content they want to see and fake people commenting on it so they can argue with them about it. Everybody needs to read The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K Dick.
on “Sora: Creating video from text” ↗…in 2008. Really wish we had a /lit/ back then :( Edit: In case any newfriends are listening, I would also like to suggest the books of Philip K. Dick, including but not limited to A Scanner Darkly, Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch, Ubik, and the VALIS trilogy.
on “4chan became the home of the elite reader” ↗If you want the druggy, high-concept, ersatz-reality version go with Philip K. Dick - namely The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch, A Scanner Darkly, VALIS. If you want the intellectual take go with A Canticle for Leibowitz (Miller), Oryx and Crake (Atwood) or Solaris (Lem). If you want the 60s hard-science rooted societal outlook…
on “Book Review: There Is No Antimemetics Division” ↗The three stigmata of palmer eldritch
on “What are your favourite sci-fi books?” ↗Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch
on “Ask HN: Which book would you pick to re-read for the rest of your life?” ↗…because they've been made in to movies doesn't make the original book good, much less great. As far as PKD books go (which is quite far, as he is one of my favorite authors), I would recommend "Ubik", "The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch", and "Martian Time Slip". And of his short stories, I'd recommend "Beyond Lies the Wub" and "Woof". Gibson's "Neuromancer" is alright, but "Count Zero" is better. Avoid the rest of his work. "Brave…
on “Sci-Fi Novels You Should Read” ↗I've read a lot of PKD, though not everything. My top three picks would be: 1 - Ubik 2 - The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch 3 - Martian Time Slip Honorable mentions: 4 - A Maze of Death 5 - Divine Invasion (the 2nd of the VALIS trilogy) 6 - Eye in the Sky Of his short stories, I'd recommend "Beyond Lies the Wub"…
on “Philip K. Dick: A Visionary Among the Charlatans (1975)” ↗Dick also wrote mesmerizingly about Can-D and Chew-Z in "The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch". And of course there was Stelazine from "Faith of Our Fathers", which was actually an anti-hallucinogen. The 10 Greatest Mind-Altering Drugs and Drinks in Science Fiction : http://www.therobotsvoice.com/2009/04/the_10_greatest_mind-a...…
on “Soma, Spice and Substance D: A History of Drugs in Science Fiction” ↗…Dick's most effective "bad trip" novels and stories are: Faith of Our Fathers[1] Lies, Inc[2] (which takes a while to get rolling, but if you bear with it your patience will be rewarded). Ubik[3] The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch[4] If you enjoy these sorts of stories, give them a try. You won't be disappointed. [1] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faith_of_Our_Fathers_%28short_... [2] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lies,_Inc.…
on “Jean-Paul Sartre Had a Bad Mescaline Trip (2018)” ↗if we’re into this, Valis, The Divine Invasion, The Transmigration of Timothy Archer, A Maze Of Death, and The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch are all facets of the same diamomd. IMHO, The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch is by far the best PKD book.
on “How to Build a Universe That Doesn't Fall Apart Two Days Later, Philip K. Dick” ↗And if anyone wants to get into PKD, I highly recommend the following books: * Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? * Ubik * The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch * A Scanner Darkly * VALIS (but probably not until you've read some of his others, and also read a bit about his life, because it's pseudo-autobiographical) I just finished reading a biography of him…
on “The “baseline” scene in bladerunner 2049 was written by Ryan Gosling” ↗The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch. A mind-blowing masterpiece of virtual dystopia, unbelievably prescient.
on “Four Kinds of Dystopia” ↗…his bizarre mind-bending style, and also understand a bit of the context of Dick himself (since Valis is semi-autobiographical). My recommendations are Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, Ubik, The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch, and A Scanner Darkly. And then reading a bit about Dick's life -- in particular, his experience with the "pink light", and his belief in the real life instantiation of VALIS. After that, the book Valis…
on “Ask HN: Mind bending books to read and never be the same as before?” ↗