"A Scanner Darkly" vs. "Through a Scanner Darkly"

Cafe Society
1

I’m having trouble finding this information anywhere online. Even Wikipedia has failed me.

I am convinced that the original title of the book by Philip K. Dick was “Through a Scanner Darkly”. When I heard the title of the movie, I assumed they had changed it for whatever crazy publicity purposes those people think up. But then I saw a copy of the book which was also entitled “A Scanner Darkly”, and the Wikipedia article makes no mention of a title change.

So. Am I misremembering? Or was the title changed at some point?

2

I am thinking that you are misremembering. I have been a Dick fan for ages, and have always known it as A Scanner Darkly.

3

I’d second this. Although I have had some photocopies come through a scanner darkly.

4

But Do They Live in Vain?

5

I’ll bet your memory is mixing it up with the Stone’s hits compilation Through the Past, Darkly

6

At least I’m not alone: this person and this person and [rul="Book Reviews, Bestselling Books & Publishing Business News | Publishers Weekly"this person seem confused, too.

7

I think the title comes from a phrase “through a lens, darkly”. I’ve seen it in a few places, but I don’t know how common it ever was.

8

Here ya go:

“through a glass, darkly”

Sailboat

9

The original phrase is “through a glass, darkly” from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians (ch 13 v12), King James Version:

“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”

10

I always assumed that the title was a reference to a Bible verse:

“Now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face.” (I Cor. 13:12)

11

It comes from Saint Paul “Now we see through a glass, darkly.”

12

If everyone says Paul I change mine to Lou Reed.

13

I’d like to note for the record (and those who didn’t click on it) that my citation is a reference to the Apostle Paul quote in terms of cultural literacy.

:slight_smile:

Sailboat

14

It’s not too common, but something tells me it’s due for an upswing in popularity.

Just to save time, let’s get some in-jokes out of the way: “It’s from Rio by Duran Duran in a 1920’s-style Opal dog burning1”

15

Did the apostle Paul ever visit Rio? For 20 minutes? Carrying a first-century AD-style death ray?

16

Only when cranched. :wink:

17

Hi! Oh, Paul!

18

Through a Glass Darkly was also an Oscar-winning film by Ingmar Bergman with Max von Sydow, so maybe the OP had heard of that movie title before.

19

Just to confirm that the first paperback printing in December 1977 is indeed ‘A Scanner Darkly’.

20

When come back, bring Paul.