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My first experience with Mr. Dick, besides seeing adaptations of his movies of course, was one that made me want to come back for more. Nothing earth shattering stylistic-wise, but his concepts are so ingenious that five stars is justified. For example, the way he treats time travel as a form of regression, or unique perspective of a form of life after death.
I read a couple of short plot previews before I read the book, and they all failed. Perhaps this is because previewing the plot in a couple of paragraphs isn't possible or even desirable. As you read the book you feel like you figure out what the book is about but then the plot veers. The novel could be justifiably labeled as science fiction, dystopian, mystery, corporate-espionage, horror story that ruminates on the nature of death, the truth of reality, and dangers of capitalism. The novel is suspenseful, imaginative, and very funny.
I never considered myself a huge fan of literary science fiction. For instance, I was very underwhelmed by Dune and was never able to get past the first The Lord of the Rings. However, I may have to reevaluate my tastes because in the recent months I've really enjoyed this novel as well as Snow Crash.
Ubik is not going to change the way anybody thinks about the world. Dick's prose isn't as memorable as say Vonnegut's, but at the same time he is not a sloppy writer. I would say his style is very efficient, he touches on a wide array of topics and tells a multilayered story in 200 pages where other writers would waste space. I found Ubik highly entertaining and suspenseful story that makes you think.