The Dynamics of Coexistence
Abstract
In Philip K. Dick’s thought-provoking short story We Can Remember It for You Wholesale , the boundaries between reality and fantasy are explored through the lens of memory and desire. The protagonist, Douglas Quail, has an extravagant dream of traveling to Mars, a dream that is out of reach. To fulfill this yearning, Quail turns to Rekal Inc., a company that specializes in implanting memories. Rekal’s technology allows individuals to “remember” experiences they have never actually lived, thereby adopting an impossible past as their own.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Utopian
Dystopian
and Speculative Fiction
Memory
History
Trauma
Identity
Literary and Philosophical Studies
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Routledge eBooks
- Pages
- 1–15
- Publication date
- 24 February 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Book chapter