35 pages 1 hour read

Philip K. Dick

Ubik

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1969

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Chapters 4-7

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 4 Summary

Back in his office in New York, Runciter meets with a woman named Miss Wirt. Miss Wirt claims that telepaths have infiltrated the top-secret operations of her employer, and she needs Runciter to send in inertials immediately. Runciter secretly orders one of his own telepaths to read Miss Wirt to find out more about who she is and whom she represents. “Miss Wirt represents Stan Mick. She is his confidential assistant,” the telepath tells Runciter (40). She also says that Mick’s top-secret operation is on Luna—the moon—and involves some kind of near-light speed interstellar drive system. Realizing that this could be a big paycheck, Runciter quotes Miss Wirt an estimate of the cost of sending in 40 inertials, a substantial amount. Miss Wirt says that her employer assures her they will only need 11 inertials.

Chapter 5 Summary

Runciter and Ashwood muse over Pat, the new inertial, and her ability to seemingly travel back in time. Joe, who is working on the special project to Luna, gathers the 11 inertials into Runciter’s office. They introduce Pat to the team and ask her to show them what she can do. She immediately changes the present, so that Runciter is “before a ship window on Fifth Avenue, a rare coin shop” (53).

Related Titles

By Philip K. Dick

Study Guide

logo

A Scanner Darkly

Philip K. Dick

A Scanner Darkly

Philip K. Dick

STUDY + TEACHING GUIDE

logo

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep

Philip K. Dick

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep

Philip K. Dick

Plot Summary

logo

I Hope I Shall Arrive Soon

Philip K. Dick

I Hope I Shall Arrive Soon

Philip K. Dick

Study Guide

logo

The Eyes Have It

Philip K. Dick

The Eyes Have It

Philip K. Dick

Study Guide

logo

The Man In The High Castle

Philip K. Dick

The Man In The High Castle

Philip K. Dick

Study Guide

logo

The Minority Report

Philip K. Dick

The Minority Report

Philip K. Dick

Plot Summary

logo

The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch

Philip K. Dick

The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch

Philip K. Dick

Study Guide

logo

We Can Remember It for You Wholesale

Philip K. Dick

We Can Remember It for You Wholesale

Philip K. Dick