- Martian Time-Slip (1964)
- Dr. Bloodmoney, or How We Got Along After the Bomb (1965)
- Now Wait for Last Year (1966)
- Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said (1974)
- A Scanner Darkly (1977)
It's the second PKD collection after last year's Four Novels of the 1960s. Both were edited by Jonathan Lethem.
- The Man in the High Castle (1962)
- The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch (1965)
- Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (1968 )
- Ubik (1969)
Andreas
I was really happy to see him included in the Library of America.
Great to see him getting the classic treatment and recognition that he deserves.
And Jonathan Letham is a PKD scholar. Besides being a wonderful writer in his own right.
He knows it inside and out- even has a UBIK tattoo.
He was the perfect person to edit the project.
I'm friends with the producer for Scanner Darkly and Waking Life who contacted me five years ago about collaborating on a project with Jonahtan Letham and Hampton Fancher (the screenwriter of Bladerunner).
And we've been close since, and he has really given me a deeper appreciation of PKD in the time since.
Paul Pope is a PKD admirer too, and is fun to discuss with.
__________________
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I'd say that I'm saddened rather than bothered by the very concept of religion regardless of what it affects. Kind of the same way I'm saddened to see Twilight movies be blockbusters or Rob Liefeld books sell like crazy.
You know where I stand, with Dr. Bloodmoney. One of my favorite stories of all time, regardless of genre. PKD was a visionary who despite all the adaptations, influences, stealing has yet to get his true due as one of America's greatest writers of all time.
I've read Bloodmoney, Man in The High Castle, Electric Sheep and will most likely read Valis next, which was heavily referenced in this past season of LOST.
My favorite movie adaptation is easily Bladerunner, but Scanner is right there. On the Walking Life/Scanner note I hope Linklater returns again to this format.
David have you ever talked with Chuck P. about PKD? I'm curious to know if you did what his thoughts where because there is a certain amount of kinship in their writing.
Yeah, I did, actually.
The last time I had lunch with Chuck P., in part of the discussion, writers and their process came up, and I brought up PKD and he brought up F. Scott Fitzgerald.
We were discussing them and how they were relating to some things we were working on.
I didn't get the impression that Chuck was influenced by PKD. I brought up some of PKD's spiritual epiphanies that went into some of his later works.
PKD's description of the colored light that he saw etc.
Chuck mentioned that it sounded like some symptoms that accompanied siezures or a stroke, and I mentioned that others have theorized that as well.
In either case, it was a very real physical experience to PKD and influenced much of his later work. IE: The Exegesis.
__________________
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PKD is the master of misdirection. i love his stories so much. just when you think you ahve the story figured out, wham! he hist you with something totally different.
in my opinion his real strength is in the short stories.
i havent read everything by him but i am close.
i am watching scanner right now but i have to take a break as i am way too tired to try to keep up. but the bit with the bike is so awesomely hilarious.
I really enjoy the short stories too.
There are close to 150 short stories. They are all collected in a few volumes and I've been reading a lot of them in the last couple years.
Great for airplane reading.
Sometimes when I'm on the laptop communicating on the net it reminds me of the "Empathy box" in his story.
In any case, cool to see the PKD interest here.
I've been having some far out PKD synchronicities in the last couple of years.
__________________
davidmack.com & davidmackguide.com (updated daily with news)
My absolute favorite author. Scanner Darkly and Do Androids are beyond amazing. I'm currently working my way through some of his short stories. The Electric Ant (which Frank Miller's Hard Boiled is "based on" - essentially in log line alone) is one of my all time favorites. I severely ripped it and Paycheck off for a short story I wrote last year.
Why do I think he's great? It's really hard to put my finger on. On many levels, he's a bad writer. His dialogue is especially atrocious. But he writes passages that just make me smile in their brilliance, like the opening from the story Exhibit Piece:
Spoiler:
"Those are buttons," George Miller explained. "They are partly functional, partly ornamental. This is an archaic suit of the twentieth century. I wear it because of the nature of my employment."
He paid the robot, grabbed up his briefcase, and hurried along the ramp to the History Agency. The main building was already open for the day; robed men and women wandered everywhere. Miller entered a PRIVATE lift, squeezed between two immense controllers from the pre-Christian division, and in a moment was on his way to his own level, the Middle Twentieth Century.
"Gorning," he murmured, as Controller Fleming met him at the atomic engine exhibit.
"Gorning," Fleming responded brusquely. "Look here, Miller. Let's have this out once and for all. What if everyone dressed like you? The Government sets up strict rules for dress. Can't you forget your damn anachronisms once in a while? What in God's name is that thing in your hand? It looks like a squashed Jurassic lizard."
"This is an alligator hide briefcase," Miller explained. "I carry my study spools in it. The briefcase was an authority symbol of the managerial class of the later twentieth century." He unzipped the briefcase. "Try to understand, Fleming. By accustoming myself to everyday objects of my research period I transform my relation from mere intellectual curiosity to genuine empathy. You have frequently noticed I pronounce certain words oddly. The accent is that of an American businessman of the Eisenhower administration. Dig me?"
"Eh?" Fleming muttered.
"Dig me was a twentieth-century expression." Miller laid out his study spools on his desk. "Was there anything you wanted? If not I'll begin today's work. I've uncovered fascinating evidence to indicate that although twentieth-century Americans laid their own floor tiles, they did not weave their own clothing. I wish to alter my exhibits on this matter."
Just the idea that a man wearing a suit would be perceived as a threat to society in the future the way those not would be considered one in his time.
I was really happy to see him included in the Library of America.
Great to see him getting the classic treatment and recognition that he deserves.
And Jonathan Letham is a PKD scholar. Besides being a wonderful writer in his own right.
He knows it inside and out- even has a UBIK tattoo.
He was the perfect person to edit the project.
I'm friends with the producer for Scanner Darkly and Waking Life who contacted me five years ago about collaborating on a project with Jonahtan Letham and Hampton Fancher (the screenwriter of Bladerunner).
And we've been close since, and he has really given me a deeper appreciation of PKD in the time since.
Paul Pope is a PKD admirer too, and is fun to discuss with.
Lethem seems like a really cool guy. I've had him on a list to get to for months and I'm just about ready. Which of his novels would you start with?
My absolute favorite author. Scanner Darkly and Do Androids are beyond amazing. I'm currently working my way through some of his short stories. The Electric Ant (which Frank Miller's Hard Boiled is "based on" - essentially in log line alone) is one of my all time favorites. I severely ripped it and Paycheck off for a short story I wrote last year.
Why do I think he's great? It's really hard to put my finger on. On many levels, he's a bad writer. His dialogue is especially atrocious. But he writes passages that just make me smile in their brilliance, like the opening from the story Exhibit Piece:
Spoiler:
"Those are buttons," George Miller explained. "They are partly functional, partly ornamental. This is an archaic suit of the twentieth century. I wear it because of the nature of my employment."
He paid the robot, grabbed up his briefcase, and hurried along the ramp to the History Agency. The main building was already open for the day; robed men and women wandered everywhere. Miller entered a PRIVATE lift, squeezed between two immense controllers from the pre-Christian division, and in a moment was on his way to his own level, the Middle Twentieth Century.
"Gorning," he murmured, as Controller Fleming met him at the atomic engine exhibit.
"Gorning," Fleming responded brusquely. "Look here, Miller. Let's have this out once and for all. What if everyone dressed like you? The Government sets up strict rules for dress. Can't you forget your damn anachronisms once in a while? What in God's name is that thing in your hand? It looks like a squashed Jurassic lizard."
"This is an alligator hide briefcase," Miller explained. "I carry my study spools in it. The briefcase was an authority symbol of the managerial class of the later twentieth century." He unzipped the briefcase. "Try to understand, Fleming. By accustoming myself to everyday objects of my research period I transform my relation from mere intellectual curiosity to genuine empathy. You have frequently noticed I pronounce certain words oddly. The accent is that of an American businessman of the Eisenhower administration. Dig me?"
"Eh?" Fleming muttered.
"Dig me was a twentieth-century expression." Miller laid out his study spools on his desk. "Was there anything you wanted? If not I'll begin today's work. I've uncovered fascinating evidence to indicate that although twentieth-century Americans laid their own floor tiles, they did not weave their own clothing. I wish to alter my exhibits on this matter."
Just the idea that a man wearing a suit would be perceived as a threat to society in the future the way those not would be considered one in his time.
I'm really glad you like Electric Ant. That is one of my favorites too.
I think the short stories of his are absolute gems.
__________________
davidmack.com & davidmackguide.com (updated daily with news)
I'm really glad you like Electric Ant. That is one of my favorites too.
I think the short stories of his are absolute gems.
I guarantee you Mike is quivering on the floor about this now. You were made to be his favorite creator, crafted by the atom by God himself to make Mike happy.
And you're not too shabby at blowing my mind either.
Last edited by Jonathan Callan; 07-25-2008 at 08:56 AM.
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