Found it interesting that they showed the book VALIS again. I cannot think of another time that they have shown a book twice, especially that obviously. Maybe I am biased because I think it is one of the best books ever, but I wonder.

We were told Ben read it, Locke said he might get something new out of it.

And then is Ben like Horselover Fat, or is he the beam...

Phillip K Dick's book VALIS has now made its second appearance on the show and I can only assume the reference to one of the greatest science fiction writers ever is a coincidence or a mere prop.

For those unaware of this novel here's a short review that I'm sure many PKD fans would love to add lots to:

"The first of Dick's three final novels (the others are Divine Invasion and The Transmigration of Timothy Archer). Known as science fiction only for lack of a better category, "Valis" takes place in our world and may even be semi-autobiographical. It is a fool's search for God, who turns out to be a virus, a joke, and a mental hologram transmitted from an orbiting satellite.
The proponent of the novel, Horselover Fat, is thrust into a theological quest when he receives communion in a burst of pink laser light. From the cancer ward of a bay area hospital to the ranch of a fraudulent charismatic religious figure who turns out to have a direct com link with God, Dick leads us down the twisted paths of Gnostic belief, mixed with his own bizarre and compelling philosophy. Truly an eye opening look at the nature of consciousness and divinity."


In it's first appearance on Egg, Locke gives it to Ben and tells him something to the effect of "You should re-read it...etc..." Perhaps someone can find the exact quote.

In the The Other Woman, we simply see Ben sitting and reading it.

In VALIS the main character is on a mind-twisting, inward quest for God ,and thinks he finds it in a small child, who in fact turns out to be a hologram, beamed from an satelite in space. Now, the writers may just be throwing us a red herring, but I'm curious about this subtle feature. Kinda explains how people are just appearing and disappearing though.

That said, I haven't read the novel in about 10 years, so perhaps someone who is more familiar with it can see more obvious clues.

The Island may be considered another manifestation of Valis, in some sense...