Ubik

Philip K. Dick's novel Ubik, set in 1992, features psychic phenomena and an agency that employs "antitalent" psychics to locate and neutralize others with telepathic abilities. The story follows Joe Chip who recruits Pat Conley, a woman who can alter past events. After Runciter is killed on a mission protecting a lunar project, his team flees but reality unravels - objects change form back in time, people rapidly age and die of spontaneous decay (except those frozen). They receive cryptic messages from what appears to be Runciter's consciousness via various products called Ubik as they search for answers about their fate amidst accelerating reality collapse. It becomes unclear if they are dead or alive; if Runciter survived; or if Pat secretly works against them for rival talent-hunter Hollis. Ultimately, Dick subverts expectations by implying none of these explanations fully capture the truth behind this surreal scenario where time loses meaning and causality breaks down under forces beyond human comprehension.