We Can Remember It for You Wholesale
Philip K. Dick · 1966 · Short Story
Introduced the concept of commercial memory implantation and the profound confusion it causes regarding one's true past and identity, directly influencing future works on false memories.
What it is
A man obsessed with a trip to Mars purchases implanted memories of the experience, only to discover that the memories might not be entirely artificial, leading to confusion about his true past and identity.
Craft in this work
↑Inherited from(2)
Explored the idea of consciousness transfer and implanted memories from an alien perspective, setting a precedent for altered personal histories.
Dealt with alien entities controlling human minds and memories, establishing a theme of external manipulation of the self.
↓Passed on to(2)
As a work by Philip K. Dick, it contributes to his ongoing exploration of subjective reality and unreliable memory, influencing his later novels.
The direct source material for the film 'Total Recall', providing its core premise of implanted memories and a manufactured past.