Even readÂers not parÂticÂuÂlarÂly well versed in sciÂence ficÂtion know Philip K. Dick as the author of the stoÂries that would become such cinÂeÂmatÂic visions of a trouÂbled future as Blade RunÂner, Total Recall, MinorÂiÂty Report, and A ScanÂner DarkÂly. DickÂ’s fans know him betÂter through his 44 novÂels, 121 short stoÂries, and othÂer writÂings not quite catÂeÂgoÂrizÂable as one thing or the othÂer. All came as the prodÂucts of a creÂativeÂly hyperÂacÂtive mind, and one subÂject to more than its fair share of disÂturÂbances from amphetÂaÂmines, halÂluÂcinoÂgens, unconÂvenÂtionÂal beliefs, and what those who write about DickÂ’s work tend to call paraÂnoia (either jusÂtiÂfied or unjusÂtiÂfied, dependÂing on whom you ask). But Dick, who passed in 1982, chanÂneled this conÂstant churn of visions, theÂoÂries, conÂvicÂtions, and fears into books like The Man in the High CasÂtle, Do Androids Dream of ElecÂtric Sheep?, Ubik, and VALIS, some of the most unusuÂal works of litÂerÂaÂture ever to carÂry the label of sciÂence ficÂtion — works that, indeed, tranÂscend the whole genre.
But what must it have felt like to live with the guy? The PenulÂtiÂmate Truth About Philip K. Dick (named after his 1964 novÂel of humanÂiÂty tricked into livÂing in underÂground warÂrens) seeks out the writer’s friends, colÂleagues, colÂlabÂoÂraÂtors, stepÂdaughÂter, therÂaÂpist, and wives (three of them, anyÂway), assemÂbling a porÂtrait of the man who could creÂate so many texÂtuÂal worlds at once so off-kilÂter and so tapped into our real worÂries and obsesÂsions. Each of these interÂvieÂwees regards difÂferÂentÂly DickÂ’s dedÂiÂcaÂtion to the purÂsuits of both litÂerÂary achieveÂment and psyÂchoÂnauÂtiÂcal advenÂture, his comÂpliÂcatÂed conÂcepÂtion of the true nature of realÂiÂty, his at times unpreÂdictable behavÂior, and his penÂchant for encounÂters with the divine. DirecÂtor Emeliano Larre and writer PatriÂcio VegÂa’s 2007 docÂuÂmenÂtary reveals one of the most fasÂciÂnatÂing perÂsonÂalÂiÂties in late 20th-cenÂtuÂry letÂters, though, as any proÂfesÂsor of litÂerÂaÂture will tell you, we ultiÂmateÂly have to return to the work itself. ForÂtuÂnateÂly, DickÂ’s perÂsonÂalÂiÂty ensured that we have a great deal of it, all of it unsetÂtling but greatÂly enterÂtainÂing. ReadÂers takÂen note. You can DownÂload 14 Great Sci-Fi StoÂries by Philip K. Dick as Free Audio Books and Free eBooks.
RelatÂed ConÂtent:
ColÂin MarÂshall hosts and proÂduces NoteÂbook on Cities and CulÂture and writes essays on litÂerÂaÂture, film, cities, Asia, and aesÂthetÂics. He’s at work on a book about Los AngeÂles, A Los AngeÂles Primer. FolÂlow him on TwitÂter at @colinmarshall.
ExquisÂite docÂuÂmenÂtary!!!!! As an astrologer/numerologist/symbolist, I have come to underÂstand that there are defÂiÂniteÂly perÂsonÂal, indiÂvidÂual astroÂlogÂiÂcal aspects and tranÂsits to one’s perÂsonÂal birth aspects (planÂeÂtary aspects) which opens the door to varÂiÂous mysÂtiÂcal expeÂriÂences and insights which canÂnot be relayed by word, it can only be expeÂriÂenced. This is the founÂdaÂtion of HinÂdu symÂbolÂism, BudÂdhism, Zen, the ancient spirÂiÂtuÂal traÂdiÂtions that pracÂtice astrolÂoÂgy and each pracÂtiÂtionÂer will have their own indiÂvidÂual expeÂriÂences. One who has expeÂriÂences much of what P.K. Dick expeÂriÂenced was glimpses of these mysÂtiÂcal expeÂriÂences. Because they canÂnot be explained, they can only be expeÂriÂenced, the comÂmon indiÂvidÂual can in no way underÂstand, withÂout studyÂing astrolÂoÂgy, numerolÂoÂgy, and such ancient spirÂiÂtuÂal sciÂences which conÂnect one with the mysÂtiÂcism of the ancients and some of the conÂtemÂpoÂrary indiÂvidÂuÂals who have expeÂriÂenced such proÂfound spirÂiÂtuÂal dimenÂsions.