A Scanner Darkly Graphic Novel — Dick/Linklater 2006

📖 First edition hardcover of A Scanner Darkly: A Graphic Novel, published by Pantheon Books in July 2006. The volume reproduces Richard Linklater’s rotoscoped film adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s 1977 novel, composed entirely of stills from the movie starring Keanu Reeves, Robert Downey Jr., Woody Harrelson, and Winona Ryder, with additional text by Harvey Pekar.

Quick Facts

• Title: A Scanner Darkly: A Graphic Novel
• Author: Philip K. Dick (novel); Richard Linklater (screenplay & direction)
• Publisher: Pantheon Books, New York (Random House)
• Edition: First Edition, full number line 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
• Date: July 2006; printed in Great Britain
• ISBN: 0-375-42402-4 (978-0-375-42402-1)
• Original price: $23.95, printed on rear board
• Binding: Hardcover, pictorial boards, issued without dust jacket as designed
• Condition: Very Good+ / Near Fine (VG+/NF)

The Story

A Scanner Darkly is Dick’s most personal novel — a fictionalized account of his own immersion in 1970s drug culture, which he described as “everything I actually saw.” Bob Arctor lives a double life: by day a dealer and user of the lethally addictive Substance D, by night an undercover narcotics agent who tails his own household through holo-scanner surveillance. As the drug splits his identity into two combative entities — Bob and “Fred” — he begins chasing himself without knowing it.

The Film

Richard Linklater’s 2006 adaptation was shot digitally with a live-action cast, then animated frame by frame using interpolated rotoscoping, giving the finished film its distinctive eerily lifelike look. The film had a limited release on July 7, 2006 through Warner Independent Pictures, screened at the Cannes Film Festival that year, and was a finalist for the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation.

About This Book

Pantheon’s graphic novel edition translates the film to the page: every spread is built from stills of the rotoscoped movie, preserving its saturated color palette and uncanny realism. The landscape format matches the cinematic framing, and underground comix legend Harvey Pekar contributes additional text throughout. Book design by Laura Dumm and Gary Dumm; cover art (c) 2006 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

Condition Report

• Overall Grade: Very Good+ / Near Fine (VG+/NF)
• Cover & Spine: Crisp pictorial paper-covered boards with high gloss and deep color saturation; negligible rubbing to spine tips and corners.
• Dust Jacket: None, as issued — this edition was designed without one.
• Text Block & Pages: Pristine, bright white, clean pages with full-color cinematic illustrations; no markings or foxing.
• Binding: Square, tight, and unread; strong hinges with crisp original deep blue endpapers.

Edition points verified on the copyright page: “First Edition,” complete number line 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1, (c) 2006 Pantheon Books, a division of Random House, Inc., ISBN 0-375-42402-4.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this really a first edition? Yes. The copyright page states “First Edition” with the full number line 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1, dated July 2006.

Why is there no dust jacket? This hardcover was issued in pictorial boards without a dust jacket by design — its absence is as-published, not damage.

Is this the same content as the movie? The book is composed entirely of stills from Linklater’s rotoscoped film, so it follows the film’s version of Dick’s story rather than the 1977 novel text directly.

See accompanying images for full condition details. Will ship promptly, carefully packaged.

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