Essay Questions

Why is Glen Runciter looking for workers with the ability to negate the powers of telepaths? Is he genuine in his pursuit of anti-telepaths?

Glen Runciter is looking for employees with strong anti-telepath abilities to work for his agency. Many companies are hiring services from his agency to help them get rid of psychics from their corporations. Psychics are believed to be destructive. To negate their powers, chief executives of several companies are looking for people with strong anti-telepath abilities. Glen Runciter wants to enrich himself and has formed an anti-psychics agency to offer anti-telepath services to other companies. Runciter is genuine in his pursuit of anti-psychics because he can benefit from them.

Discuss how the theme of betrayal is used in the book?

In Ubik, Philip K Dick shows that betrayal leads to consequences and jeopardizes every mission. Pat Conley pretends to be the right person, and Glen Runciter hires her. Runciter trusts her and includes her in a group of anti-telepaths going to lunar. After landing on lunar, Conley betrays her counterparts. She blows up Runciter. Later, it is discovered that Ray Hollis sent her to kill Runciter and his group of anti-psychics. The act itself is a betrayal because Runciter had already trusted her. The mission to get rid of psychics on Luna is not accomplished due to this betrayal.

Discuss the relationship between Joe Chip and Pat Conley. Is it worthy to trust a stranger?

The affair between Joe Chip and Pat Conley can be described as a one-sided relationship. Their relationship lacks balance and reasonable mutuality. Joe Chip is genuine in their relationship, but Pat is not. The two even pose as a husband and a wife. Eventually, Pat reveals that her mission was to kill the people with stronger anti-telepathy abilities hired by Runciter Associates. It is not worthy to trust a stranger because he or she can be an enemy in disguise. People need to build trust for some moment before trusting one another.