Valis Book Reference

[D-Roc]

Anyone notice the Valis reference - the book Locke gives Ben to read? I thought it was very interesting..especially given that this is a book by Phillip K D ick, commonly considered as one of the best Sci-fi authors of our time.

Here's the wikipedia entry on the book (doesn't do the relevance justice, I feel):

The main character in VALIS is Horselover Fat, an author surrogate. "Horselover" is English for the Greek word philippos (Φίλιππος), meaning "lover of horses" (from philo "brotherly or comradely love" and hippos "horse"); "Fat" is English for the German word "****".
Even though the book is written in the first-person-autobiographical, for most of the book **** treats himself and Fat as two separate characters; he describes conversations and arguments with Fat, and harshly if sympathetically criticizes his opinions and writings. The major subject of these dialogues is spirituality, as ****/Fat is/are ostensibly obsessed with several religions and philosophies, including Christianity, Taoism, Gnosticism and even Jungian psychoanalysis, in the search for a cure for what he believes is simultaneously a personal and a cosmic wound. Near the end of the book the messianic figure, incarnated by the child Sophia (a name associated with Wisdom in many Gnostic texts), cures him (temporarily), and the narrator describes his surprise that Horselover Fat has suddenly disappeared from his side.

I found both Locke's "You should read it again, you might have missed something" and Ben's response very interesting.

[E Pluribus Unum]

Oh my days! How did I miss that! lol I didn't realize it was Valis...!

Perhaps the great Phil K's greatest work! Some things that I remember:

- Horselover (the protagonist) and Phillip are both one and the same. (Ben/Jacob/Locke references?)

- Valis is a 'God-like'/Satellite entity, which controls reality. That, among other things, predicts the Horselover's son's impending death. Horselover takes his son to the doctors - he has shown no symptoms - and low and behold his son has an inguinal hernia. (This was actually based on, according to the author, a true life experience that he had...In fact the book is apparently based strongly on Phil's experiences) - The comparison with Ben's situation, as well as the obvious fate-altering/hand of God similarity, are of specific note.

- In Valis there is also a huge amount of 'time' references. At one point, Horselover, believes he exists in 2 time periods at the same time (ancient Rome and California in the twentieth century). After he begins to talk ancient Latin (? Apparently, this also happened to the author in real-life), Horselover believes the two universes are transcending over each other. And that what he sees is a facade. He is not time traveling, note. These two periods of time are merely running at the same time. This is referred to as the Black Iron Prison ("Everyone who had ever lived was literally surrounded by the iron walls of the prison; they were all inside it and none of them knew it.")

- There is also a Messiah, Sophia - a 2 year old child. Who is thought to be an incarnation of Valis; thousands of years old. Promises salvations.

I would advise anyone who likes science-fiction, wants a challenge and to be blown away to read this book. It is certainly one of my favorites. And it will get you thinking, no doubt...

[Lauren [is Lost]]

Originally Posted by D-Roc

I found both Locke's "You should read it again, you might have missed something" and Ben's response very interesting.

That made me giggle because that's what we all do with Lost and i think the writers know that!

[D-Roc]

Originally Posted by E Pluribus Unum

Oh my days! How did I miss that! lol I didn't realize it was Valis...!

Perhaps the great Phil K's greatest work! Some things that I remember:

- Horselover (the protagonist) and Phillip are both one and the same. (Ben/Jacob/Locke references?)

- Valis is a 'God-like'/Satellite entity, which controls reality. That, among other things, predicts the Horselover's son's impending death. Horselover takes his son to the doctors - he has shown no symptoms - and low and behold his son has an inguinal hernia. (This was actually based on, according to the author, a true life experience that he had...In fact the book is apparently based strongly on Phil's experiences) - The comparison with Ben's situation, as well as the obvious fate-altering/hand of God similarity, are of specific note.

- In Valis there is also a huge amount of 'time' references. At one point, Horselover, believes he exists in 2 time periods at the same time (ancient Rome and California in the twentieth century). After he begins to talk ancient Latin (? Apparently, this also happened to the author in real-life), Horselover believes the two universes are transcending over each other. And that what he sees is a facade. He is not time traveling, note. These two periods of time are merely running at the same time. This is referred to as the Black Iron Prison ("Everyone who had ever lived was literally surrounded by the iron walls of the prison; they were all inside it and none of them knew it.")

- There is also a Messiah, Sophia - a 2 year old child. Who is thought to be an incarnation of Valis; thousands of years old. Promises salvations.

I would advise anyone who likes science-fiction, wants a challenge and to be blown away to read this book. It is certainly one of my favorites. And it will get you thinking, no doubt...

Yes, excellent stuff and all extremely relevant - well, I can certainly see 'why' they decided to reference this book. Not only does it deserve a good hat-tip, but so many strands from the book are 'possible' within the show of Lost.

This and you post above has got me thinking - is it possible that Locke, Ben and co are existing in TWO Universes ("one is light, the other is dark")? Ben seems able to predict most things, and Locke seems to either be up or down (no middle ground) - are these small indications of the Lost characters (or rather, the island) being the demarcation line between dual existence? *I haven't used the best examples there I know, but I will try to think up some better ones later, perhaps.*

Some random yet related thoughts:

Is there something..some entity which is planted thoughts or information (signs?) into our characters consciousness? Ben said that God cannot see the island, perhaps it is more to do with his perception that God cannot see the island - has Ben replaced "God" with and entity which manifests (unlocks) perceptions according to it's own needs ("magic box"?). Locke suggested that Ben re-read Valis, in case he missed something the first time round - is this a metaphor for this being Ben's 2nd life? His 2nd "memory"?

In short..do we have a "VALIS" in LOST?

If so, does it explain the need to do that we are "supposed" and "Not supposed" to do? (for example) By calling the boat, did Jack disobey the reality which was pre-recorded and set before him, thus creating a paradox of reality and unreality, a combination of which now runs through their futures..indeed, their flash-forwards..




Images Courtesy: Philip K. **** - VALIS