The Transmigration of Timothy Archer

Name: The Transmigration of Timothy Archer
Brand: Recorded Books
Availability: InStock
Rating: 3 (3 reviews)
Author: Philip K. Dick
ISBN: 9798894864846

Author: Philip K. Dick

Series: VALIS Trilogy

Narrator: Alyssa Bresnahan

Unabridged: 9 hr 42 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Recorded Books

Published: 09/16/2025

Categories: Fiction, Science Fiction

Synopsis

From Philip K. Dick, the Hugo Award–winning author of The Man in the High Castle and Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?—the basis for the film Blade Runner—comes The Transmigration of Timothy Archer, the conclusion of the VALIS trilogy, bringing the author’s search for the identity and nature of God to a close. The novel follows Bishop Timothy Archer as he travels to Israel, ostensibly to examine ancient scrolls bearing the words of Christ. But more importantly, this leads him to examine the decisions he made during his life and how they may have contributed to the suicides of his mistress and son. This introspective book is one of Dick’s most philosophical and literary, delving into the mysteries of religion and of faith itself. As one of Dick’s final works, it also provides unique insight into the mind of a genius, whose work was still in the process of maturing at the time of his death.

About Philip K. Dick

Over a writing career that spanned three decades, PHILIP K. DICK (1928–1982) published 36 science fiction novels and 121 short stories in which he explored the essence of what makes man human and the dangers of centralized power. Toward the end of his life, his work turned to deeply personal, metaphysical questions concerning the nature of God. Eleven novels and short stories have been adapted to film, notably Blade Runner (based on Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?), Total Recall, Minority Report, and A Scanner Darkly, as well as television's The Man in the High Castle. The recipient of critical acclaim and numerous awards throughout his career, including the Hugo and John W. Campbell awards, Dick was inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame in 2005, and between 2007 and 2009, the Library of America published a selection of his novels in three volumes. His work has been translated into more than twenty-five languages.

Reviews

Goodreads review by mark on September 14, 2022

"...the Old Testament gives us many instances of Yahweh addressing his people through the prophets. This fountain of revelation dried up, finally. God no longer speaks to man. It is called 'the long silence.' It has lasted two thousand years." "Jung speaks... of a per......more

Goodreads review by Bradley on July 16, 2017

This is a re-read for me and perhaps not exactly my favorite of his last and greatest sequence of linked novels that began with VALIS, but it is still profound and beautiful. Truly, it is a very good book, but it stands as both a major departure from PKD's normal fiction. That's to say, it's a novel......more

Goodreads review by David on September 18, 2024

[Read to the end for my PKD Round-Up: 10 Best and Honorable Mentions.] My 34th PKD novel. 3.5 overall. Not unlike the two novels that precede in PKD's final trilogy - 'VALIS' and 'The Divine Invasion' - 'The Transmigration of Timothy Archer' is ultimately a frustrating experience. All three contain el......more

Goodreads review by Stuart on November 26, 2015

The Transmigration of Timothy Archer: Explores madness, suicide, faith, the occult Originally posted at Fantasy Literature Philip K Dick’s Radio Free Albemuth (1985) and VALIS (1981) were strange but moving attempts to make sense of his bizarre religious experiences in 1974 when a hyper-rational alien......more

Goodreads review by Robert on January 31, 2011

Some notes upon finishing the book. This is NOT the third book in the "VALIS Trilogy". It is what the author says it is in What If Our World Is Their Heaven, a literary novel that took more out of him to write than four SF novels. He had something to get out about life in general, and his experience......more