Books2Movies Club discussion

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We Can Remember It for You Wholesale, or shorter film-version name, Total Recall, is Philip K. Dick's short story famous for its intertwining of real and false memories with the reality itself. It is really quick read, but leaves quite an impression, of course if you like such a mesh of science fiction and psychology.

Before there was Kindle, Nook and any other kind of e-books, story was published (aside of an issue of The Magazine of FSF where it appeared for the first time) in a couple of short story collections. I have read it in The Philip K. Dick Reader, but it can be said for certain it is inside Human Is?: A Philip K. Dick Reader, Volume V of Golancz's The Collected Stories of Philip K. Dick, as well as in a Citadel republication of Volume II of The Collected Stories of Philip K. Dick. Because of the movie that went out that year, 1990, that publisher decided to republish the same short stories collection with only one slight change – they just replaced Second Variety with the above mentioned story, adding the former into another volume. Confused? Well, I was – be careful which edition or publisher you choose when purchasing (or renting).

Telling about what the story is exactly, would definitely spoil it. I'll rather hear your thoughts about it and about film adaptations loosely based upon it, first being Verhoeven's whirlwind of weird, sometimes really gruesome special effects and story twists, Total Recall (1990). The second one is coming to our cinemas this August/September, also called Total Recall, and I suspect it is more a remake of the previously mentioned film, than an adaptation of the story itself. Good actors here as well, and, as director is Len Wiseman (Underworld franchise), I dare say fancier than the first ones. Er... That's quite obvious from the pics below, I guess ;)

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So, feel free to post whatever you think of them - compare the movie(s) with the story, scorn or praise as much as you like :)

We Can Remember It for You Wholesale is really awesome short story - read it before but anyway read it again, even twice before playing the movie - story twists were hilarious, especially the ending. I truly recommend you to read it, it would take merely ten minutes or less of your time. I think it is a perfect example of Philip K. Dick's greatness. Not many authors had such delightful ideas and managed to develop them into so convincing stories.

Now, Total Recall from 1990 is inspired by the above mentioned story - it uses the same premise, expanding it convincingly into two-hours long movie. The story twist(s) are different naturally, but the surprise elements are just the same. In my opinion, movie is brilliant. Although the costume design is so terribly 80-ish and the special effects (better said make-up and prosthetics) a bit freakish, the story and dialogues are intelligent and very entertaining. Arnie was... well, Arnie, always the same, but here very likable and with the sense of humour on spot. Sharon Stone was irresistibly beautiful, in my opinion never so much as in this movie. The look of Mars was also breathtaking.

Now I really wonder how would look like this remake :)

I just finished reading this short story, having not seen either movie version, and I greatly enjoyed it. Wish it would have been longer though!

In fact, I'd enjoy reading a whole book that included tales on the main character's different exploits.

Regardless, this was my first reading of anything by the author and it definitely won't be my last. Looking forward to viewing the movies now as well.

I can see why they made a movie of this book. I was definitely left wanting more!
First story I've read from Philip K. Dick and I'm delightfully impressed.
Encouraged by this I think I'm going to venture into Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? The novel that Blade Runner was loosely based on.

I have only read a few of Dick's novels/short stories but I've yet to be disappointed. I was impressed with the movie's, (1990) expanded story involving mutants and their oppression. If you're looking for a chuckle search out Arnold's DVD commentary on YouTube.

LOL just checked the commentary, quite literal :D
well, at least we see he is still very fond of the movie :)

Sechine wrote: "Encouraged by this I think I'm going to venture into Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? The novel that Blade Runner was loosely based on...."

Maybe we will all together soon - it is suggested for the next read ;)

In the time of writing, I failed to notice that there was one series made in 1999, Total Recall 2070 that was inspired by this Philip K. Dick's short story as well as with the movies Total Recall (1990) and Blade Runner (1982). Some claim it took inspiration from Isaac Asimov as well. Well, that might be said for almost every science fiction movie and series ;)

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Maybe it would be interesting to see it too.

I saw a version with Arnold Schwarzenegger twice. I'm not a particular fan of this kind of science fiction mie but it was on TV and I did not have anything better to do.
Scariest moment in the movie for me was (view spoiler)[when a man unbuttoned his shirt and reveals the person??? (or something like that) on his stomach. (hide spoiler)]

I'll read the book because it is short ;) but I think I will not watch the new version of the movie.

Dina wrote: "Scariest moment..."

Oh yes, that part freaks me out too, every time :D

Now when you mentioned the new version, well, I've seen it few days ago, and was so...disappointed. I even do not know how to express that specifically.
Visually it was very attractive. The storyline was completely different from the original, which was good by itself, but unfortunately was too shallow. If it was a stand-alone sf action movie, it would be OK, I wouldn't care less for plot points, but as I was aware what it was - a remake and a story adaptation as well - I consider it bad, because it completely missed the point of the original story and movie. And I so wanted it to be worth watching :/

By the way, I forgot to mention before - there is also a novelization of Verhoeven's movie, Total Recall, written by Piers Anthony. Just a bit of trivia, not really interested in reading it ;)

"two weeks"
ugh

Just finished this one. I like it the least so far of Philip K. Dick's works, but considering how much I love the other ones, that's hardly a slight on it. I guess I just didn't really get the ending: (view spoiler)[the memory just didn't take again so now they have to kill him? Or they are going to leave him alone? Maybe I've been reading too much lately and the blatantly obvious is escaping me, lol (hide spoiler)]

Alana wrote: "Just finished this one. I like it the least so far of Philip K. Dick's works, but considering how much I love the other ones, that's hardly a slight on it."

Last year I read The Philip K. Dick Reader, so when I tried to compare his stories, found the task impossible. They were all too different and unique, and just like you said, in the end it was all matter of impression that each story left.
Regarding the ending of this particular story...(view spoiler)[I thought it was clearly written that McClane and Rekal Corp decided to leave him alone - maybe it wasn't so clear, can't really remember now - because they figured out that what they thought was his fantasy, actually might have had happened, so they didn't dare nor to continue with the procedure nor to kill him. This, fantasy or not on Quail's part, is left ambiguous, because Rekal in its services usually provides items for remembrance too (but would they have a record of that in their database?), so they couldn't really know for certain what was true and what was just a dream. I liked that ambiguousness, found that very amusing :) (hide spoiler)] However, I've read the story a couple of times in the past. I probably didn't figure it out myself first time! Maybe I am wrong now too. Maybe with PKD there are actually no wrong answers :)

From what I recall,Snickers..; ) I enjoyed the movie.I like Colin Farrell as an actor so I will be sure to check out the new one.

Zeljka wrote: "Alana wrote: "Just finished this one. I like it the least so far of Philip K. Dick's works, but considering how much I love the other ones, that's hardly a slight on it."

Last year I read The Phil..."

Ah, actually that did help. (view spoiler)[I didn't realize the second memory was also supposed to be one that had actually happened. I thought they just had an issue rewriting what had already been rewritten a couple of times. Yes, I like the ambiguousness as well, although sometimes it makes the story harder to follow (hide spoiler)]

Will have to move on to actually watch the movie now.