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A Maze of Death  By  cover art

A Maze of Death

By: Philip K. Dick
Narrated by: Benjamin L. Darcie
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Publisher's summary

Delmak-O is a dangerous planet. Though there are only 14 citizens, no one can trust anyone else and death can strike at any moment. The planet is vast and largely unexplored, populated mostly by gelatinous cube-shaped beings that give cryptic advice in the form of anagrams. Deities can be spoken to directly via a series of prayer amplifiers and transmitters, but they may not be happy about it. And the mysterious building in the distance draws all the colonists to it, but when they get there each sees a different motto on the front. The mystery of this structure and the secrets contained within drive this mind-bending novel.

©1970 Philip K. Dick (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

What listeners say about A Maze of Death

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

JJ Abrams YOU are a book thief.

The beginning of Dick's later God novels, but still predating his 2-3-74 pink beam episode and his later VALIS Trilogy (Gnostic Trilogy [God Trilogy]), 'A Maze of Death' is a philosophical SF novel that explores the nature of God, religion, and the way we as both individuals and a society try to deal with the various levels of reality and the inevitability of death.

Reading this, it was hard not to see huge chunks of this novel that were cribbed by LOST (good tv borrows, great tv steals). The marooned crew, experiments, theological mash-ups, insanity, dream-like fugues, paranoia, etc., all float around in the same dreamy, frenzied universe as LOST. JJ Abrams you are a book thief.

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27 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Lots of Mind Blowing Ideas - All in One Book

Any additional comments?

The problem with MUCH of Philip K. Dick's stories is the fact that, although he manages to come up with some truly original, fascinating premises for each, they never seem to have a satisfying ending.

I have mixed feelings toward how he chose to end this novel - but - the overall experience while listening to it was SO fantastic that I HAD TO give it a full 5 stars. Philip K. Dick is pretty well known for coming up with some REALLY weird ideas for each of his stories, but out of all that I know of his work, THIS book takes the cake in complete insanity.

Some of the ideas and imagery from within this book as so utterly original and mind-blowing, I would really enjoy actually giving this book a second listen.

Considering that this book is selling on Audible for less than ten bucks, I would say that it would be a shame if you didn't pick this one up. Great overall listen.

8.97 / 10.00

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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WELCOME TO DELMAK-O!

Welcome to planet Delmak-O where danger and confusion lurk
behind every corner and reality is constantly shifting out from under you! Science Fiction Grand Master Philip K. Dick guides you on a surreal trip down the rabbit hole as 14 eccentric characters find themselves the sole colonists assigned to a fledgling outpost on Delmak-O, a strange and hostile planet inhabited by mechanical bugs, gelatinous tenches that answer questions based on the I Ching, and a sinister building which appears different to everyone who approaches. Offbeat god-figures manifest at various times to help and advise to the settlers. Death stalks the colonists as one by one they are killed off by each other or mysterious unknown forces. By way of a forward to the book, PKD acknowledges that this work found inspiration in LSD experiments and his interest in Eastern religion. This is an enjoyable listen for those who appreciate science fiction which explores metaphysical and surreal themes. The narrator does a good job with the various voices, male and female alike.

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5 people found this helpful

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Very nice

This is my third time through the book. I’ve read it once and this is my second time to listen to it.

This book is better than I remembered it being. It stands up to multiple reading/listening. I recommend it.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent book!

Great story from Philip Dick. The characters are interesting, the plot entrancing and the mythology behind it is great, comparable to great works, like Vance’s Dying Earth.
Highly recommend it, finished it in two days.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Dreamlike sci-fi

Dreamy trippy Scifi goodness. I love PKD and this was a good one. I’m still loving the aftertaste

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Another good PKD story

I didn't really know what to expect from this, but I really enjoyed it. It's both science fiction and dystopian fiction involving ordinary people trying to make a life away from Earth.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
  • rp
  • 12-06-22

Textbook Dick

Not the strongest PK Dick work, but all the familiar and wonderful themes and structures are there.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

I'm not sure I got the maze.

I enjoy Dick's stories a lot, and the twists at the end are usually the kind that make you gasp and tell your friends. But this story left me lacking. The deaths started fairly quickly but lacked reason or motivation. Even at the end when all is explained it left me lacking as to real motive. The reading/performance was done well despite the total number of characters. I hope other listeners get a better sense of the theme beneath the theme that I seemed to have missed.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Another great PKD mindbender

This is another great PKD mindbender. It’s a little short but PKD generally strayed from the especially long-form stuff.

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