He awoke—and wanted Mars.
"We Can Remember It for you Wholesale" is a short novel written by Philip K. Dick and published during April 1966 in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction. It showcased real and false memories along with reality being molded together. The book was notable for having been adapted into Total Recall twice. Or was it thrice?
Tropes:
- Demoted Memories: The protagonist's vivid fantasies of being a secret agent on Mars lead him to request that Fake Memories of same be implanted by a company that does this as a sort of virtual vacation. Except that the fantasy turns out to have been actual memories due to an incomplete mind wipe. Then the company tries layering over the now returned memories with an even more grandiose childhood fantasy he had about saving the world from alien invasion with compassion. Turns out that really happened too.
- Double Reverse Quadruple Agent: While the agent in question was completely unaware of his status, unraveling the layers of this drives the plot.
- Fake Memories: People can buy fake memories of vacations or exciting adventures as a cheaper alternative to real experiences. Problems arise when memories of being a spy turn out to be real for the protagonist... or were they?
- Going by the Matchbook: Rekall customers are also given items like ticket stubs and souvenirs that match the false memories they've bought, including in this case the requisite matchbooks from bars on Mars.
- Male Gaze: In every scene Shirley, the topless Rekall receptionist, appears in, the narrator describes how shapely her breasts are.
- Posthumous Character: The unnamed politician on Mars targeted for assassination by Quail has been dead before the story began.
- Reading Your Rights: An Interplan policeman tells Quail there's a bug in his head that's monitoring his thoughts. "So I have to warn you; anything you think may be held against you."
- Real After All: The aliens that promised Quail that they will spare earth as long as he lives? They turned out to actually exist.
- Sexy Secretary: Exaggerated with Shirley, the Rekall receptionist, who goes around casually topless, her well-endowed breasts covered only with Body Paint.
- Tempting Fate: An Interplan official sneers at Quail's narcissistic fantasy where he saved the world as a child. Turns out it's real.
