ByRichardBehrens&AllenB.Ruch

1.Prelude2.Youth3.Arrival4.Transmigration5.Legacy6.Conclusion7.Links8.Bibliography9.Novels/Stories/Multimedia10.Criticism11.Credits

PhilipKindredDick(19281982)Weareservedbyorganicghosts,hethought,who,speakingandwriting,passthroughthisournewenvironment.Watching,wise,physicalghostsfromthefulllifeworld,elementsofwhichhavebecomeforusinvadingbutagreeablesplintersofasubstancethatpulsateslikeaformerheart.Ubik (1970)

Realityisthatwhich,whenyoustopbelievinginit,doesntgoaway.VALIS(1979)

PRELUDE

PhilipK.Dickwasacomplexmanaboutwhommanythingscanbesaid.Immenselytalented,hewasarguablyageniusandyethewasdeeplytroubledallhislife.Pronetopsychosomaticdisorders,healsosufferedfromagoraphobia,depression,suicidaltendencies,andexhibitedviolentbehaviortoatleastoneofhiswives.Hewasareligiousvisionarywhosetheologywasarticulatedinhissciencefictionnovels,aGnosticthinkerwhodoubtedtherealityoftheworldaroundhim,aparanoidwhobelievedtheCIAwastappinghisphone,apilladdictwhowroteantidrugnovels,aliteraryphilosopherwhoreadJamesJoycewhilepumpingoutscifipotboilers,anawardwinninggenrenovelistwhoyearnedfortheaccoladesofthemainstreammarket,andaprofoundloverofwomenwhocouldntkeepamarriagetogether.PhilipK.Dickwasahusbandtofivewives,afatherofthreechildren,abrotherobsessedbythelossofhistwinsister,asonwhoblamedhismotherforherdaughtersdeath,andafatherfiguretocountlessaddictsandpettycriminalswhocrashedathisCaliforniahome.Tohisfriends,hewasawarmandgentleman,alwayslaughingandholdingeverythingtogether,andyetthoseclosesttohimrecognizedhimastheunhappiestmantheyhadevermet.

Butperhapsaboveall,PhilipK.DickwasanAmericanwriterofastonishinguniqueness,authorofmorethan30novelsandover100shortstories,mostofthemfallingunderthespaciousumbrellaofsciencefiction.Andwhileitstruethatmanyofhisnovelswerescifipotboilers,designedtoearnapaycheckbyexploitingallthetrappingsofthegenrespaceships,Martiancolonies,alienlifeforms,zapguns,androids,andsoontheystandoutasuniqueinthefieldbecauseoftheirdeeplypersonalnature,aswellasDicksliteraryapproachtosocial,philosophicalandreligiousissues.TodayPhilipK.Dicksnovelsarerecognizedforthisstartlingoriginality,andarewidelyacclaimedbyreaderswithmoreatasteforBorgesandCalvinothanspaceoperaandpulpfiction.

ButDickhadlittlepresentimentthathewouldonedayhavesuchanaudience.Workingwiththeassumptionthateachnovelwouldentertainaveryselectaudienceforafewbriefmonthsandthenfallgracefullyintooblivion,Dickwrotequickly,oftenrepeatinghimselfinboththemeandcharacter,neverpausingtoexplainsomeofthemoreoutrageousfuturisticfeaturesofhisimaginaryworlds(HowisitpossibletoturnanuclearwarheadintoanoracularchildsskullasinTheZapGun?),andoftensteppingoverthelineintoabsurdity(HowdoyouaccountforanintelligentGanymedeanslimemoldcalledLordRunningClamasinClansoftheAlphaneMoon?)Asaresult,manyofthenovelshavetheatmosphereofacrazedcomicbookanotherdisposablegenrethatrarelydrewattentionfromliterarycritics.Tofurtherincreasethedifficultyofhisbeingacceptedasadistinguishedliteraryvoice,almostallofhismainstreamnovelswentunpublishedinhislifetime,andhislastworksweredenseforaysintomysticism,oftenlackinghischaracteristichumor,andfrequentlylapsingintoesotericmusingsonGnostictheology.Betweenthespacedoutsurrealismofhispotboilersandtheobscurevisionofhisfinalworks,duringhislifetimePhilipK.Dickonlyfoundfameamidsttheranksofsciencefictionfansandthepsychedelicsubculture.

SoitsnothardtoimaginethatDickhimselfwouldbeshockedtofindthatinthetwodecadesafterhisdeathin1982,hispopularityhasonlyincreased.Mostofhisbooksarestillinprint,andallofhismainstreamnovelswhichhedespairedofgettingpublishedinhislifetimehavebeenmadeavailableinhardcovereditions.MajorHollywoodmovieshavebeenfilmedbasedonhisstoriesBladeRunner,TotalRecallandMinorityReportamongstothers.Andperhapsmostsignificantly,PhilipK.Dickhasemergedasnotjustacultfigureamongreadersofsciencefiction,buthasbeengainingacceptanceandrespectabilityamongseriousliterarycircles,whichacademicpostmodernismhasmademoreopentogenrefictionandsciencefictioninparticular.

ThereasonwhyPhilipK.Dicksbookshavenotonlyenduredbuthavegrownmorepopularliesintheirremarkablenature.Ofcourse,hisnovelsarecleverlywrittenandfuntoread(manyofthemoreoutrageousnovelsreadlikeaStarTrekscriptsubmittedbyKurtVonnegut).Butmoreimportantly,Dickathisbestoffersauniqueandwildlycreativeblendofsciencefiction,mysticism,religion,personalexperience,metaphysicsandpulpdrama.Hisworksarewritteninaclearlanguagewithabeguilingsenseofhonesty,andyetbeneaththeirdirectstyleandstandardscifitrappingsliesadeeperworldofintenseemotions,metaphysicalspeculation,andfrequentlyshockingideas.

Highlypersonalandoccasionallyquiteidiosyncratic,PhilipK.Dicksworkcannotbefullydecodedwithoutbiographyyetatthesametimehisworktranscendshisownpersonalityandhitsuponprofoundspiritual,religiousandpoliticaltruths.Behindallthespaceships,Martiancolonies,alienlifeforms,zapguns,andandroidsisawriterstrugglingtounderstandhimself,theworldaroundhim,andtheworldswithinusall.Hissciencefiction,mainstreamnovels,philosophicalessaysandGnosticdiariesformabodyofworkthatpromptedUrsulaK.LeGuintocallitsauthorourownhomegrownBorgesandyettomanypeopleheismerelytheguywhowrotethebookthatBladeRunnerisbasedon.Soletusbeginthedecodingprocess.

YOUTH

PhilipKindredDickwasborninChicagoonDecember16,1928alongwithatwinsisternamedJaneCharlotteDick.Thetwinsweresixweeksprematuretiny,fragilethings,theybarelysurvivedthedelivery.Indeed,Janediedalittlemorethanamonthafterbeingborn,andDickirrationallyblamedhimselfforherdeathformostofhislifeuntilhelearnedthatshediedofmalnutrition,afterwhichheshiftedtheblametohismother.Thesenseoflossandfeelingsofguiltthathesufferedasaresultofhissistersdeathwouldnotonlyinfluencehispsychologicaldevelopment,histroubledrelationships,andhispersonalspirituality,butwouldbecomeafundamentalthemeinallofhiscollectedfiction.Later,whenDickwouldbecomedeeplyinfluencedbyGnosticthought,thememoryofhissisterbecameinextricablylinkedtoSophia,thesister/brideofGodwhorepresentedWisdom,andinsometraditionsexperiencedexileintotheveryfabricofthematerialworld.HewouldlaterwriteinhisnovelVALIS(1981):

Thechanginginformationwhichweexperienceasworldisanunfoldingnarrative.Ittellsaboutthedeathofawoman.Thiswoman,whodiedlongago,wasoneoftheprimordialtwins.Shewashalfofthedivinesyzygy.Thepurposeofthenarrativeistherecollectionofherandherdeath.TheMinddoesnotwishtoforgether.ThustheratiocinationoftheBrainconsistsofapermanentrecordofherexistence,and,ifread,wouldbeunderstoodthatway.AlltheinformationprocessedbytheBrainexperiencedbyusasthearrangementandrearrangingofphysicalobjectsisanattemptatthispreservationofherstonesandrocksandsticksandamoebaearetracesofher.TherecordofherexistenceandpassingisorderedontothemeanestlevelofrealitybythesufferingMindwhichisnowalone.

Inthissaddemonstrationofhisobsessionwithhisdeadtwin,Dickalsocleverlyrevealsthemotiveandmethodsofhisownwritingprocess.Hissister,ortracesofher,willappearandreappearinhisworkuntiltheendofhislife.

Dicksparentsdivorcedwhenhewassix.Aftermovingaboutthecountryforawhilewithhismother,theysettleddowninBerkeley,California,wherehewouldgrowintoadulthood.Sufferingfromthedistancebetweenhimselfandhisphysicallyseparatedfatherandhisemotionallyremovedmother,Dicksadolescencewaspredictablytroubled.Twoproblemsespeciallyplaguedhim.Thefirstwasaswallowingdisordersoseriousitpreventedhimfromeatinginpublic.(Onewondersifitwasapsychosomaticmanifestationoftheguilthefeltoverhismalnourishedsister?)Thesecondwasaseverevertigothatgavehimthestrangesensethathewasdislocatedfromreallife.Heconfessedtoattackswherehedoubtedhisownexistenceandfeltthattheworldaroundhimwasathinfaadeoversomeunnameablereality.Itwasasensationhewouldlaterdevelopintotheidiosyncraticparanoiafoundinmuchofhiswriting.

Asateenager,PhilipK.Dickfirstdiscoveredsciencefictioninthetraditionalmannerofhisdaythroughpulpmagazines.Thoughscifiwasagenrethatwasenormouslypopular,itwaslookeduponwithsuspicionbyparentsandliterarycriticsalike,andDickhesitatedatfirsttofullyembraceit,displayinganuneasinesswiththegenrethatlastedhisentirelife.Hewasalreadygettinghisshortfictionandpoetrypublishedinlocaljournals,andalthoughheshowedmuchpromise,hisattacksofvertigoandnumerousphobiasplacedanincreasingstrainonhisacademiccareer.Atage15hegotajobworkingforHerbHollis,alocalBerkeleycharacter.Awouldbewriter,Hollissurroundedhimselfwithagroupofcreativelymindedpeople,enjoyingthestatusofanoffbeatfatherfigureofsorts.HeownedapairofstoresinBerkeleyspecializinginradios,televisionsandrecordedmusic.Hisshopsrepresentedthekindofsmall,respectablebusinessthatnurturedpersonalrelationshipswithitscustomers,andyoungPhilblossomedthere,workingasbothasalesmanandarepairman.Itwasajobhewouldholdformanyyears,andoutsideofhiscareerasawriter,itwastheonlylegitimatejobhewouldeverretain.Hisexperiencesappearandreappearallthroughouthiswork,inparticularMaryandtheGiant,TheBrokenBubbleofThisbeHolt,RadioFreeAlbemuthandDr.Bloodmoney.Inthesenovelsmanyofthecharactersarerecordstoreclerksorworkinradioortelevisionrepair.ThroughhiswritingDickcouldalsoexpresshisloveforhifirecordsandstereoequipment,andhisvastknowledgeofpopularandclassicalmusicfindsitswayintomanyofhisbooks.(HerbAsherspassionatedescriptionofMahlersSecondSymphonytoatrafficcopinTheDivineInvasionhaspromptedmorethanafewreaderstoseekoutarecording,andHorseloverFatsstrugglewithWagnersParsifalisessentialtothethemeofVALIS.)

Duringhisteenageyears,PhilsharedanapartmenthousewithacollectiveofartiststhatincludedthepoetRobertDuncan.Socializingwithseriouswritersforthefirsttimewasaninspirationtobothhiscreativityandartisticambition,andhereadomnivorously,absorbingalargequantityofliteraryculturefromGreekclassicstoJamesJoyce.Itwasanatmospherethatfosteredadesirebecomeaseriousnovelist.Hisearliestattemptatwritingnovelsproducedmainstreamcharacterstudies,unpublishedworkshintingatthefervidimaginationthatwastomatureintohislifeswork.

ItwaswiththesaleofseveralshortstoriestoAnthonyBoucher,theeditoroftheMagazineofFantasyandScienceFiction,thatPhilipK.Dickexplodedintohissciencefictionself,publishingover70shortstoriesbetween1952and1955.Perhapsmorethananyotherstyleofliterature,sciencefictionseemedtheperfectvehicletoexpressDicksinteriorlife,itsstoriesofparalleluniversesandshiftingrealitiesgivingformtohisanxietyattacksandhisstrange,telescopicsensationsofbeingremovedfromtheworld.Themesofdisjointedrealityandhallucinationrecurthroughouthiscareer,formingleitmotifsofparanoia,alienationanddisplacement.InTimeOutOfJoint,ayoungmanlivinginasmallCaliforniatowndiscoversthattheworldaroundhimisanillusion,andthatheisinactualityasubjectinamilitaryexperiment.ThemaincharactersofUbiklearnthattheyhavediedinanaccident,andthattherealitytheyinhabitisdisintegratingwiththedispersaloftheirlifeforces.InthecompanionnovelsRadioFreeAlbemuthandVALIS,themaincharactershavereasontobelievethattheireverydayreality(Berkeleyinthe1970s)isactuallytheAncientRomanEmpireduringthepersecutionoftheearlyChristians.(Asweshallsee,Dickhimselfcametosuspectthisostensiblyinsanenotionabouthimself.)Thesethemesarealsoevidentinhismasterwork,TheManInTheHighCastle,albeitinasomewhatinvertedform.SetinaparalleloccupiedAmericawhereGermanyandJapanhavewonWorldWarII,thenovelhintsatsomealternativerealitywheretheAxispowershavebeendefeatedbytheAllies.Thisnotion,whileacceptedbythecharactersassciencefiction,neverthelesscontainssomepervasivesenseoftruththatprofoundlyaffectstheirlives.

Dicksearlystoriesareconciseandsimple,writteninthepulpstyleof50ssciencefiction,buttheydiscloseaverycomplexpoliticalagendaandarevealavisionaryglimpseofthematurePhilipK.Dick.OneofthebetterexamplesisTheDefenders,whichDicklaterexpandedintohis1964novelThePenultimateTruth.Intheoriginalstory,mankindlivesundergroundwhilemachinesfightoverthecitiesoftheearth.Anaccidentaldiscoveryleadstoahumanexpeditiontunnelingtothesurface.Theretheyfindthattherobotstheyvedispatchedtofightthewarshavebeenlivingapeacefulexistence,workingtohealtheravagedplanetwhilekeepinghumansundergroundtopreventfurtherdestruction.Thisstoryisflavoredwiththeconcernfornuclearholocaustthathauntedmuchpostwarliterature,butitalsorevealsaverystrangevisionoftechnology.Intraditional50sscifi,robotsareusuallyvoidofhumanemotions,andthereforemorepronetowarfareandgenocidalmentality.ButDicksrobotsarestewardsoftheearth,distrustingtheirrationalhumannaturethatcreatedthewarinthefirstplace.Additionally,whilemuchgenrefictiontraditionallydelineatesclearlybetweenthegoodguysandbadguys,betweenheroesandvillains,herethehero/villiandichotomyisdeconstructed,castingaratherpessimisticlightonhumannature:theAmericanexpeditionthatreachesthesurfacemeetsasimilarRussianexpedition,andtherobotsareforcedtohaltbothsidesfromcontinuingtheirpsychoticmutualdestruction.TheDefendersalsocontainsanearlyappearanceoftheDickiantropeofbeliefinafalsereality:theundergroundhumansarefedfalsetelevisionbroadcastsofnuclearwar,createdbytherobotstodiscouragethemfromreturningtothesurface.

Withonlyadozenpublishedstoriestohiscredit,DicksignedupwiththeScottMeredithAgencyandbegantowriteforaliving.Hisrisewassosuddenthathehadashortstorycollectioninprintevenbeforehisfirstnovel,ahighlyunusualmoveforthepublishingindustry.Uponbecominganestablishedwriter,Dickrenewedhisattempttowritemainstreamfictionbutfailingtofindabuyer,heturnedtofulllengthsciencefictioninthehopesofearningmorethan$25perstory.WiththesupportofAceBookseditorDonaldA.Wollheim,Dickfinallybegantopublishnovels.Buthisambivalencetowardsthescifigenredistancedhimfromhisaccomplishments.WhenSolarLotteryappearedin1955,heseemeddepressinglyremovedfromit,embarrassedthathisfirstpublishednovelwasanAcePaperbackoriginal,andscifiontopofthat.Thissenseofdetachmentcontinuedoverthenextfewnovels,andherarelyadmittedtonewfriendsatthetimethathewroteworksofgenrefiction.DickoftenreferredtohimselfasafantasywriterintheveinofKurtVonnegut,whoduringthisdecadewrotePlayerPianoandSirensofTitanbothsciencefictioninspirit,butobviouslyconcernedwithuniversalsubjects.

Withafewsciencefictionnovelsunderhisbelt,mostnoticeablyTheWorldJonesMade(p.1956)andEyeInTheSky(p.1957),Dickdevotedthenextfewyearstoanotherstabatmainstreamfiction,finishingalmosttennovelsby1960.WiththeexceptionofConfessionsofaCrapArtist,whichwasntpublisheduntil1975,noneofthesenovelswenttoprintinhislifetime.ThebestofthisperiodwereMaryandtheGiant,TheBrokenBubbleofThisbeHoltandPutteringAboutInASmallLand.Theyareinmanywayssuperiortohisearlysciencefictionoutput.OftendrawingfromDickspersonalexperiences,theyportraytragicrelationshipsandfailedmarriagesamidstthebackdropof50sCalifornia,andarepopulatedbynumerousrecordstoreemployees,radiodejays,andconfusedBerkeleyyouths.Upontheirpublicationseveraldecadeslater,theyappearedastimemachines,sweepingthereaderbacktoalosttimeandplace,theworldoftheyoungPhilipK.Dick.Theyaretender,emotionallycomplexandveryhumanworks.

Afterthisfinalfailuretoestablishhimselfasamainstreamnovelist,DickreturnedtosciencefictiononceandforallwithTimeOutOfJoint(p.1959).Buthisstylehadchanged,profoundlyinfluencedbywhathedlearnedwritingnovelsaboutalostCalifornia.Whilethesubjectofthebookamandiscoversthatheispartofamilitaryexperiment,andthatthetownhelivesinisanhallucinationisnominallysciencefiction,hisvividportrayalofaSouthernCaliforniancommunityandhissuperblydrawncharacterspointtoadeeperliteraryaccomplishment.Thoughthebookwasinitiallypublicizedas anovelofmenace,itwassoonreprintedasanAcepaperbackwithagarishscificoversportingastronautsandhurtlingmoonrocks.Alas,theauthorhadfallenbackintothegravitationalorbitofhisnativegenre.

ARRIVAL

Dickswritinghadbeensteadilymaturingthroughoutthe1950s,andin1962hepublishedwhatmanycriticsconsidertobehismostimportantwork,TheManInTheHighCastle.ThestrongappealofthisnovellaynotjustinitsirresistiblealternateWWIImilieu,butinthevividlydrawncharacters,politicallysophisticatedthemesandauthoritativeknowledgeofGermancultureandJapaneseethics.Musingsaboutthenatureofgoodandevilinapoliticallyandculturallycorruptworldthreatenedbynucleardestruction,andtherealisticportraitofforeignoccupationanditseffectonAmericanculture,makeTheManInTheHighCastleoneofDicksmoststimulating,thoughtprovokingandcomplexworks.Atthecenterofthestoryliesafictionalnovel,abannedbookbearingthemysterioustitleTheGrasshopperLiesHeavy.Outlawedbythefascistgovernments,thebookdescribesaworldinwhichtheAlliedpowerswerevictorious,andisauthoredbyareclusivefiguresituatedinthelastfreeareasoftheformerUnitedStates(andwhobearsmorethanapassingresemblancetoPhilipK.Dickhimself.)Thesearchforthisauthordrivesmuchoftheplot,andhintsatsomemysticalrevelationthatpropelsthenovelintometafictionandplacesthebookfirmlyinthepostmoderntraditionofselfreflectivityandindeterminacy.UnlikeothersciencefictiontalesthatuseanalternateAxisdominatedrealityasabackgroundforvariouswhatif?plots,DicksoccupiedAmericanservesasamirrorforourownconceptionsaboutmorality,power,andsenseofidentity.Narrativeitselfisquestioned,withhistory,fictionandperceptionemergingasunstableyetrelatedelements.

TheManInTheHighCastleearnedPhilipK.DickthecovetedHugoAward,thehighesthonorwithinthesciencefictioncommunity.Itwasjusttheshotofadrenalineheneeded,andinthefollowingthreeyearshewroteoveradozennovelsinaburstofcreativeenergy.Althoughduringthisperiodhecertainlypennedafewunderachievedpotboilersthatmerelyrehashedoldthemes,noneofthemlackedthatuniqueDickianvoice,northestrangereligiousandphilosophicalmusingsonthenatureofrealityandtheconsensualillusionsbolsteredbyestablishedpowers.

Duringthisperiod,Dicksufferedapainfulfallingoutwithhissecondwife,Anne,whowashospitalizedandtreatedformentalillness.HepouredalotofthisangstintothebizarrelycomictaleClansoftheAlphaneMoon(p.1964),thenovelfeaturingtheaforementionedGanymedeanslimemold,LordRunningClam.AlthoughthestoryisapparentlyaboutawarbetweenEarthandlunarcolonists,thesubtextoftheworkisnothardtoread,andissaturatedbyhisillfatedmarriage,Annesmentaldecline,anddoubtsabouthisownsanity.(Thelunarcolonistsaretribesdescendedfrommentalpatients,witheachtriberepresentingaparticularformofmentalillnesssuchasparanoia,schizophrenia,etc.)ItisperhapsDicksmostwackedoutplot,andtheobvioustransformationofpersonaleventsintoasciencefictionconceitisbitterlyhystericalonecanjustheartheauthorhowlingwithlaughterandcryingwithrageasheturnshisownmessedupmarriageintoacomicbookspaceadventure.

Notallwasrehashedplotsandpersonalexorcismsservedupasoutlandishscifithrillers.ItwasduringthistimethatDickalsowrotetwoofhismiddleperiodmasterpieces:TheThreeStigmataofPalmerEldritch(p.1965)andUbik(p.1969).Twonovelsheavilyinspiredbythegrowingdrugculture,partoftheirgenesissprangfromDicksownpharmaceuticalexperimentsbeyondhisusualfondnessforamphetamines.InPalmerEldritch,povertizedMartiancolonistsbecomepreoccupiedwithPerkyPatLayouts,smallsetsrepresentingpenthouseapartmentsinhabitedbyaBarbieDolllikefigureandherKenlikemate.WhencombinedwiththeuseofanhallucinogenicdrugcalledCanD,thesesetscangivethecolonistswholiveinmiserablehovelstheillusionthatnotonlythattheyarelivinginPerkyPatsluxuriousapartment,butactuallyinhabitingherperfectbodyaswell.AcrisisissparkedwhenPalmerEldritch,amissingspaceadventurer,isrumoredtobereturningtoearthafterbeingstrandedonPluto.Hisnewhallucinogenicdrug,ChewZ,takestheformofamysticalrevelation,andthreatenstowipeCanDoffthemarket.ApsychicwareruptsthatamountstonolessthanabattleforhumanconsciousnessbetweenPalmerEldritchandthemanufacturersofCanD.

Thenoveliscomplexandsuitablyzany,leadingthereaderthroughamazeofpsychicmarketingmen,talkingsuitcasesthatactastherapists,psychedelicBarbiedollspossessedwiththeabilitytoinvadeconsciousness,imaginarydrugsthatchangerealityandidentity,andcommunalhallucinationswheremultiplepeoplemergeintoone.AtthetimeDickwrotethisnovel,hewasbecomingincreasinglyobsessedwithGnosticism,aninvolutedsubjectthatwouldeventuallydominatehislife.Basicallystated,Gnosticismteachesthatourworldexistsasanillusion,andcontendsthatitwascreatedbyalesserdeityknownastheDemiurge.VariousGnosticsectsdifferedintheirbeliefaboutthenatureofthisDemiurgeatbestitwasseenasGodonalowerlevelofconsciousnessatworstitwasseenasaSatanicforcemeanttodeceiveandenslavethehumanspirit.DicksGnosticismwascharacterizedbyafundamentalsplitbetweenthemundaneworldandthespiritualworld,wherethecourseofoneslifewasanobsessionaldesiretobridgethegapbetweenthetwo.InPalmerEldritch,hecreatedastrange,surrealcomicalvisionofGnosticbeliefswithallthetrappingsofsciencefiction.

LikewiseinUbik.Inthiscomicnovel,agroupofpeoplewitnesstheiremployer,LeoRunciter,getkilledinanaccident,andsubsequentlybelievethatheiscommunicatingtothemfrombeyondthegrave.Soon,theyareshockedtorealizethatitwastheywhohaveactuallydied,andRunciterisattemptingtoprolongtheirtiestotherealworldthroughtheuseofadrugcalledUbik.AsinmanyofDicksnovels,thereisamysticaldimensioneventothewildestsciencefictionconceit.Inthiscase,themoratoriumwherethenewlydepartedarekeptinordertoprolongtheirafterdeathexistenceisinspiredbytheBardoThodoloftheTibetanBookoftheDead,anancientBuddhisttextdescribingthejourneyofthesoulfromthedeceasedphysicalbodytothenextincarnation.AsRunciterguideshisdeademployeesthroughaweirdlandscapethatseemstobemovingbackwardsintime,theirlifeforcesgraduallybegintodiminish.OnlyRuncitersmysticalUbik,whichheintroducesintotheirhallucinationsintheformofspraypaintandsnakeoilunctions,cankeeptheirmindsandsoulsfromcompletelydissipatingintothevoid.

DickmodeledthecoreideasofseveralofhisbooksfromsourcesasarcaneastheTibetanBookoftheDeadandtheNagHammadicollectionofGnostictexts.Butratherthanmerelyminingsuchtextsforsuperficialstructuresorplotdevices,Dickengagesinadialoguewiththeirideas,andseekstoapplyothersystemsofinsighttoverymodernsituationsandanxieties.Thistirelessquestioningandsenseofspiritualstruggleelevatesmanyofhisnovelsabovetheircomicbookplotsandtraditionalsciencefictiontropes.LikeKurtVonnegut,whoseSlaughterhouseFivecombinedspacealiens,timetravel,andautobiographytosupportreflectionsuponthespiritualconditionofthehumanrace,Dicksbestnovelsescapethetrappingsofgenreandstandfirmlyinthewiderfieldofmodernliterature.DicksowncontributionbacktothesciencefictiongenrewasanunrelentinganalysisofthequestionWhatisReal?AlsocentraltohisliteraturewastheequallyimportantquestionofWhatIsHuman?Fromhisearlyshortstoriestohisfinalmasterpieces,heasksthesequestionsoverandoveragain,oftencomingupwithanswersasdeceptivelysimpleasWhatmakesushumanisourabilitytofeelempathyforotherlivingcreatures.

ThisconceptisbestexploredinDoAndroidsDreamOfElectricSheep?(p.1968),whichthankstoRidleyScotts1982filmBladeRunner,hasbecomeDicksmostwidelyreadnovel.Here,theandroidreplicantsaredistinguishablefromotherhumansonlythroughtheVoigtKampffscale,anempathytestwhichposesquestionslargelyconcerningthesufferingofanimals.WhenRickDeckard,aprofessionalandroidhunter,failstofeelanyempathyfortheartificialhumansthathetracksandkills,doubtsareraisedabouthisownhumanity.AndroidsalsoincludesthereligiousmovementMercerism(sadlyleftoutofthefilm),aGnosticflavoredcultthatalsoappearsinDicksshortstories.Mercerismcombinesdoubtsaboutreality(WilburMercer,whosepresenceisexperiencedintrancelikestatesbyhisfollowers,isrumoredtobeanactorinatelevisionstudio)withasubversiveforce,muchlikePalmerEldritch,theVALISsystem,andtheverbotennovelistofTheManInTheHighCastle.Thenovelraisesquestionsaboutidentity,memory,andmoralityquestionsthatarenoteasilydispatchedandremainhauntingthereaderlongafterthebookisfinished.

FromHighCastletoElectricSheep,the1960ssawthearrivalofPhilipK.DickasoneofthefewAmericansciencefictionwriterswhowastrulygrapplingwiththeconcernsandanxietiesofmodernityitself.

TRANSMIGRATION

Theearly1970swereatraumaticperiodforDick,withallthepersonalproblemsofthesixtiesfurthercomplicatedbyhisgrowingstatusasacultfigure.Histhirdwifehadlefthim,andhisNorthernCaliforniahomehadbecomeacrashpadandcommuneforjunkiesandrunaways.Hisfragilesanityfarednobetterthanhisrelationships,andhebecameburiedinhisownparanoia,hiringhitmentoprotecthisdrugaddictedfriendsandbecomingconvincedthattheFBIwaswatchinghiseverymove.Hebeganexperimentingwithavarietyofpills,andcontinuedpursuingastringofrelationshipswithneuroticorbrokenyoungwomen,manyofwhomheseemedtoidentifywithhisdeadsister.Eventually,therewasabreakinathishome.Hisfilingcabinetwasforcedopenandmanypapers,includingallhistaxrecordsandcancelledchecks,werestolen.

RumorsthatDickhimselforchestratedthebreakinarelegendary,spurredbythebasicplotsituationofhisbrilliantnovelAScannerDarkly(p.1977).Inthisconvolutedwork,aschizophrenicpoliceagentgoesdeepundercoverasadealerofanewandpowerfulhallucinogen,developinganaddictiontothedrugalongtheway.Sosuccessfulisheatforgingasecretidentity,heeventuallylandstheassignmenttobegininvestigatinghimself.TheresultingstoryisanightmarejourneythroughaworldoffracturedidentitiesandparanoiamademoresharplypoignantbyDicksclosingdedicationtofifteenfriendslostasdrugaddictsandacidcasualties.

WhetherornotDickhimselfwasbothvictimandperpetratorofthebreakin,hismentalstatewasbecomingincreasinglymoreunstable.Planningtoattendaninternationalscificonvention,hefledtoCanadawherehetriedtofraternizewiththesciencefictioncommunity,buthecouldntescapehisproblems.Afterasuicideattempt,hewasadmittedtoadrugrehabilitationcenter.

PhilipK.Dickhadhitbottom.

Butinaninstancethatcouldhavecomefromhisownfictionandindeed,wouldeventuallydominateitaverystrangeseriesofeventswouldsoonimmeasurablyreshapehislife,becomingtheidefixeofhislastdecadeandgivingbirthtohisbestandmostmaturework.

Intheearlymonthsof1974Dickexperiencedhallucinations,dreams,synchronicitiesandGnosticvisionsthathecollectivelyreferredtoas2374,shorthandforFebruary/March1974.DickwouldspendtherestofhislifeattemptingtounravelthemeaningoftheseeventsinathousandpagehandwrittenmanuscripthecametocalltheExegesis.Evenwhenhisfictionaloutputslowed,hecontinuedtoworkontheExegesiseverynight,analyzing,interpretingandsortingthrough2374aswellashispublishednovelsandshortstories.Besidesitsfunctionasmysticalexegesis,italsoservedasadailydiary,aprolongedselfanalysis,andadreamjournal.Veryrarelyinthehistoryofliteraturedowehavesuchanopenwindowintothemindofawriter,penetratinghisdeepestspiritualandpsychologicalspace.

Dickcametobelievethatanalienintelligence/technology(thatcouldquitepossiblyalsobeGod)wascommunicatingtohimthroughaninterfacehecalledtheVastActiveLivingIntelligenceSystem,orVALIS.Thissystemtooktheformofashipinouterspace,deliveringhighlyconcentrateddosesofinformationtohimthroughbeamsofpinklight.Dickhimselfdescribeditasaninvasionofhisconsciousnessbyatranscendentallyrationalmind.Healsocametobelievethatcoexistingwithinhimselfwasaplasmate.DickbelievedthathisplasmatewasanearlyChristian,who,thoughverymuchaliveintheFirstCentury,wassimultaneouslyinterpenetratedintoDicksbodyandmindspace.Likemanyoftheprotagonistsfromhisownnovels,Dickbelievedinthepossibilitythathewashallucinatinghiscurrentlife,andwasreallylivinginanotherplaceandtime,inthiscasetheRomanEmpire.(Thisistheoriginofthehauntedphrasefrequentlyfoundinhislaterwriting:TheEmpireNeverEnded.)Healsoexperiencedaseriesofvoicesthatfedhiminformation,tellinghimthingsthathecouldntpossiblyknowotherwise,includingajustintimemedicaldiagnosisofhisnewbornsonwhoselifewassavedbyanemergencyherniaoperation.

Dickwaswellawareofhowinsanethisallsounded,andhewroteendlesslyinhisExegesisaboutdifferentexplanations,andwhyhefinallycametobelieveintheveracityofhisspiritualexperiences.Oneproofofhissanitywashisclaimthatcrazypeopledontdoubttheirownsanity.Thosewhoknewhimatthetime,livinginSantaAnainamodestapartment,consideredhimeccentric,disheveled,personallyunhygienic,intense,gentle,arrogant,emotionallyhairtriggeredandreligiouslybizarre,butquitepossiblythemostbrilliantpersontheyknew,andcertainlynotadelusionalschizophrenic.Despitehisnumerouspsychologicalproblems,hisfriendsconsideredhimtobequitesane.

Fourastonishingnovelscameoutofthewholeexperience.RadioFreeAlbemuthwashisfirstattempttograpplewithVALISthroughfiction.Inthenovel,Dickbestowshisown2374experienceontoaBerkeleyrecordstoreemployeenamedNicholasBrady.Afterbeingexposedtothepinkbeamsofcompressedinformation,Bradyturnstohisfriendforadviceandhelp,asciencefictionnovelistnamedPhilipK.Dick.FollowingcluespassedtothembyVALIS,thetwobegintounravelaconspiracyhatchedbyapoliticiannamedFerrisFreemont,athinlyveiledRichardNixon.InanattempttoopposethepolicestateFreemontwishestoimposeuponthecountry,BradyandDickencodesecretmessagesintothelyricsofpopsongs.ThenoveliscoloredbythemanicandparanoidpoliticalatmosphereofCaliforniaduringtheNixonyears,andinmanywaysservesasanelaboratecountercultureresponsetoWatergate.Filledwithmysticalinterpretationsofrockmusic,schizophrenicdelusionsofalientechnology,andbitingpoliticalsatire,RadioFreeAlbemuthisDicksmostdaringwork,andoneofhismostautobiographical.However,whenhispublisherreturneditwithsuggestionsforarewrite,Dickmadetheodddecisiontoscrapitcompletelyandstartoveragain.

VALIS(1980)wastheresult,acompletereworkingofhis2374experience.TheprotagonistwhonowundergoesGnosticilluminationisHorseloverFat,aschizophrenictwinofscifiwriterPhilipK.Dick.(PhilipbeingGreekforHorseloverandDickbeingGermanforfat,orthick.)ThebasicthemesofAlbemuthareintact,butthemoodislessplayful,moresolemnlyimmersedinGnosticconsiderationsandtheologicaldebate.Althoughlesseasilymappedontohisexact2374experiencesthanAlbemuth,VALISisalsosharplyautobiographical,incorporatingDicksexperiencesinmentalclinics,hissuicideattempts,andthemostpersonalaspectsofhisspirituallife.

HisfictionwasdriftingmoreintothelabyrinthofChristianGnosticism,andwithTheDivineInvasion(1981),heattemptedtodrivetheideasbackintothesheathofsciencefiction,butwithamorerefinedvisionandliterarymasterythaneverbefore.Inthisbook,Godcauseshimselftoberebornintothewombofafemaleastronautbuttryingtosmuggleherchildbacktoahostileearth,sheiskilled.Mentallydamagedfromtheaccident,theyoungboyhastostruggletorememberthatheisGod,andhasbeenexiledfromearthfortwothousandyears.Bybefriendingalittlegirl,hemanagestorestorethespiritualbalanceoftheearththegirlisnonotherthantheGreekgoddessDiana,andnotsurprisingly,hisspiritualtwin.Despitethepresenceofsuchdivineprincipals,theprotagonistofthebookisreallyoneHerbArcher,acomfortablyDickiancharacterwithpassionateobsessionsforMahlerandFinnegansWake.Hisspiritualgrowthandreflectionsformtheheartofthework,oneofDicksmosthopeful.

Dicksfinalnovel,TheTransmigrationofTimothyArcher(p.1982),isathinlyveiledaccountofthelastyearsofEpiscopalianBishopJamesPike.ApersonalfriendofDicks,BishopPikebecamebrieflyfamousinthe60swhenheclaimedtobeinpsychiccontactwithhisdeadson.Onapersonalvoyagetotherootsofhisownchangingfaith,theBishopperishedduringanillpreparedhikingexpeditioninthedesertsoftheDeadSea.ThenovelgaveDickthechancetoreflectuponthepain,sadnessandreligiouspleasureofdeath,perhapsasaformoftherapyafteradecadeofwatchingseveralclosefriendsdie.

Iamterriblyfrightenedofdeath,hewritesinthis,hisfinalbook.Deathhasdestroyedme.ItisnotSriKhrisna,destroyerofallpeopleitisdeath,destroyerofmyfriends.Itsingledthemoutandlefteveryoneelseundisturbed.

Shortlyafterwritingtheselines,PhilipK.Dickdiedofcomplicationsbroughtaboutbyaseriesofstrokesin1982.HeneverlivedtoseethecompletionofBladeRunner,thefirstHollywoodmoviebasedononeofhisnovels.Theromanticlegendattachedtohisdeathisthatitwasbroughtaboutasalogicalendingtohisspiritualquest,justasJimPike,hisfriend,diedinthedesertsearchingfortheoriginsofChristianity.Itismorelikelythathisdeathwasthelogicalendingtohisyearsofphysicalandemotionalselfabuse.

LEGACY:LITERATURE,FILMandMUSIC

PhilipK.Dickstartedasapulpsciencefictionwriterwithaspirationstoseriousmainstreamnovels.Whatheeventuallyachievedwasaunifiedbodyofworkinwhichallthegenresthathemasteredmergedintoaliteraryportraitofthespirituallifeofitsauthor.Despitethetragedyofhisphobias,depressions,addictions,failedmarriagesandearlydeath,hemanagedtocreateaconsistentandvisionarylegacythathascarriedhisnameandhisworkintothenewcentury.

TheinfluenceofPhilipK.Dickoncontemporarycultureiswidespread.Onthemostobviouslevel,therearecountlessprojectsdrawingdirectinspirationfromhisworks.WhilethemostfamousoftheseisundoubtedlyRidleyScottsseminalfilmBladeRunner,theresalsothePhilipK.Dickawardforsciencefiction,TodMachoverselectronicoperaVALIS,andnumerousfictionalhomagessetinDickianworlds,suchasMichaelBishopsPhilipK.DickisDead,AlasorDavidBischoffsPhilipK.DickHigh.Butonamoreprofoundlevel,PhilipK.Dickswritinghasvirtuallyinscribeditsownliteraryniche,acombinationofstylistictropesandrecurringthemesoccupyingthespacebetweengenresciencefictionandthepostmodernliteratureofthetechnologicalsublime.LikeKafka,Borges,orPynchon,PhilipK.Dickisanauthorwhosenamehascometodescribeasubtlebutpervasivesetofliterarynotions.WhereonceDickwasdubbedahomegrownBorges,nowHarukiMurakami(WindUpBirdChronicle)islabeledaJapanesePhilipK.Dickwithasenseofhumor(Newsday),andJonathanLethemsGun,WithOccasionalMusiciscalledahighoctaneblendofRaymondChandlerandPhilipK.Dick(BostonReview).

MurakamiandLethemarejusttwoofanewgenerationofnontraditionalsciencefictionwriterstohavedrawninspirationfromDicksuseofsimulatedrealities,hisprobingexplorationsofidentityandmemory,andhisquestionsontheethicaluseandmoralimplicationsoftechnology.Asprogressincomputerpowerandartificialintelligenceadvancesatanexponentialrate,wehavebecomemoreconcernedwithmanufacturedrealitiesandtheirrelationshiptohumanconsciousness.TheentirecyberpunkmovementanditsmanyoffshootsalsooweDickadebt,withwriterslikeWilliamGibson(Neuromancer)andNealStephenson(SnowCrash)exploringthesethemeswithincreasinglevelsofcomplexity.

Dicksideashavetakenrootoutsideofliteratureaswell,andinonecasehaveproducedafilmeverybitasinfluentialastheworkofDickhimself.WhileRidleyScottsBladeRunnerdepartssignificantlyfromthe1968novelDoAndroidsDreamofElectricSheep?,itiswidelyconsideredamasterpieceinitsownright,andhasenduredoverthedecadesasacriticallyacclaimedwatershedinsciencefictioncinema.(Thefactthatitsdevelopedafanaticalcultfollowingnodoubthelpsitslongevity.)Copiedbycountlessothersciencefictionmovies,BladeRunnersfuturenoirlookandfeel,useofetherealmusic,andstunninginnercitysetdesignhavecometoserveasvirtualtemplatesforthecinematicdepictionofearthsdystopianfuture.

AnotherpopularfilmbasedonDicksworkisPaulVerhoevensTotalRecall,basedontheshortstoryWeCanRememberItForYouWholesaleandstarringArnoldSchwarzenegger.AlthoughTotalRecallsharesmoreincommonwiththebiggungenreperfectedbytheAustrianbodybuilderturnedactor,itsanxiousuniverseoframpantparanoia,treacherousrelationships,andconfusedidentitiesispure,unadulteratedPhilipK.Dick.

Mostrecently,StevenSpielberghasgivenusMinorityReport,basedontheDickstoryofthesamename.Althoughitsfocusonfilmnoirplotconventionsand(admittedlyveryimpressive)actionsequencesremovesitfromthemorecerebralrealmoftheoriginalstory,itisstillaremarkableachievement.Setinaseeminglybenignpolicestatewhereonesidentityisconstantlytracked,Spielbergsvisionofthefutureisbothbeautifulandterrifying,paintedinsaturatedcolorsandasbreathlesslymodernasBladeRunnerisrundownandseedy.Still,oneimmediatelyrecognizestheDickianhallmarksofparanoiaandmistrustandinsomeways,SpielbergsmoresubtleandinsidiousdepictionsofapolicestatewheresubmissivecitizensarescannedbyrobotspidersandtheinvasivebarrageofadvertisingisrelentlesslypersonalizedsitsevenmoreuneasilythanthecorporatehegemoniesofBladeRunnerortheovertfascismofTotalRecall.WhileselectingTomCruiseastheleadcontinuesthetrendofcastingactionheroesasDickianprotagonists,CruiseisstillarecognizableDickiancharacter,directinghiscomputertothesoundofSchubertanddevelopinganaddictionofasensoryenhancingdrugcalledClarity.Still,despiteitsmanyachievements,MinorityReportfailstoregisteronthesamedepthasthemorepoeticBladeRunner.Byskirtingsomeofthemoreheadyissuesraisedbyitsownplot,MinorityReportnevertranscendsitsgenre,andtheSpielbergianoptimismofitsconclusionstrikesafalsenote.

AfewofthemoreminorfilmsthathavebeenbasedonPhilipK.DicksworkincludeScreamerswithPeterWeller,andthesomewhatlimpbutwatchableImposter.MoresignificantarethespateoffilmsthatmarkedlyincorporateDickianthemes,ifnotdrawingdirectinspirationfromhisactualstoriesTheMatrixbeingthemostimportant,withitsartificiallycreatedrealityandultrahipcharactersanaturalevolutionofPhilipK.DickthroughWilliamGibson.InasimilarveinwefindthecriminallyunderratedfilmnoirfantasyDarkCity,thetrulyawfulTheThirteenthFloor,DavidCronenbergsdeliciousbraintwistereXistenZ,andVanillaSky,whichapproachesthelevelofashamelessDickripoff.InTheWakingLife,RichardLinklatersrambling,animatedconversationaboutmetaphysics,PhilipK.Dickisinvokedatlengthtoprovidecontextforadisintigratingsenseofreality.ButperhapsthemostDickianofallisPeterWeirsTheTrumanShow,inwhichJimCarreystarsasTruman,amanwhograduallydiscoversthathisentireworldisamassiveset,filledwithactors,scheduledevents,andfakeweather.ThefactthatDicksTimeOutofJointwasnotmentionedinthefilmscreditsseemstoborderonplagiarism,nomatterhowwellmadeandentertainingthemovie!

Oneofthemostpopulartelevisionshowsof1990shasalsodrawninspirationfromhisbooks.TheXFileshasmatchedDicksbrillianceinportrayingpoliticalparanoia,extraterrestrialconspiracies,andhallucinatedrealitiescreatedbydrugsandmindcontrol.AgentFoxMulderoftheFBIhasevenbeenobsessedwithfindinghissister,whodisappeareddecadesbeforeinapossiblealienabduction.ThelossofthesisteriswhatexplainsMuldersfanaticalobsessionsandsinglemindeddrivetouncovertheshiftingrealitiesinwhichheisentangled.ThespiritofmorethanafewepisodescanbemappedtoaDicknovelorshortstory.

CONCLUSION

Onaspirituallevel,Dicksnovelsarejustasrelevanttodayastheywerewhentheywerepublished.Theyportraythesingularindividualattemptingtopeelbacklayersofconsciousnesstocatchglimpsesandarriveatsomeunderstandingofthetranspersonalnatureofhumanity.Whenconfrontedbythedehumanizationthatoccursthroughadependencyonmachinesandinthefaceofdisintegratingrealities,Dickscharactersoftenturntoreligiousthought,primarilyGnostic,tonavigatetheirwaythroughthetreacherousoceansofself.ThisishowDickhimselflivedhislife,aswitnessedbyhishugeExegesis,inwhichhemeticulouslypsychoanalyzedhimself,hisnovelsandhisdreams,andtriedtointerpretthefragmentsofrealitypresentedtohimbyVALISastheythreadedtheirwaythroughhishauntedlife.

InhisbookTheAgeOfSpiritualMachines,RayKurtzweilhasexposedapossiblefuturethatisbothshockingaswellasexhilarating,andbearsanuneasyresemblancetotheworldofDicksnovels.AccordingtoKurtzweil,ourownmachinesareforcingusdeeperintotheproblemofdefiningwhatmakesushuman.Wewillneedtoredefineourhumanity,defendourchallengedspirituality,andtrytoreshapeourmoralcentersashumanbeingstograpplewithoursubserviencetothedigitallifeformsthatweourselvescreatetoserveus.Inafutureworldofquantumcomputing,humanmindsmirroredincomputermemory,machineswritingpoetry,anddigitalchipswiththerawpowerofabillionhumanbrains,wemayallbefacedwiththemoraldilemmasofRickDeckard,antiheroofDoAndroidsDreamOfElectricSheep?

ThelifeworkofPhilipK.Dickmaytakeonmorephilosophicalandartisticimportanceasweenterthisnewworldofcyberneticsandartificialintelligence.Hisultimateanswerofempathytothequestionofwhatmakesushumansoundslesslikeascifiplotdevice,andmorelikeawellconsideredlifelineasweexploretheunchartedspaceofourevolvingtechnologies.Inallways,thewritingofPhilipK.Dickstandsamongthemostvisionaryandcreativebodiesofworkinpostwarfiction.

RichardBehrens&AllenB.Ruch31March2003

MoreonPhilipK.DickLibyrinth

NovelsAnannotatedlistofPhilipK.Dicksnovels.

StoriesAlistofPhilipK.Dicksshortstorycollections.

MultimediaAlistoffilms,music,andfictionalhomagesinspiredbyPhilipK.Dickandhiswriting.

CriticismAlistofcriticismandbiography.

BibliographyAPKDbibliography.

SelectedOffsiteResources

PhilipKDickfans.comAmassiveandcomprehensivesiteaboutPhilipK.Dick.AnobviouslaboroflovebysitecreatorJasonKoornick,hereyoucanfindnovelsummaries,audiointerviews,coverart,weblinks,movieupdates,articles,essaysandbulletinboardstokeepintouchwithotherfans.NotmerelythebestPKDsite,simplyoneofthebestauthorsitesontheWeb.

PhilipK.DickOfficialSiteAlovelyhomepagemaintainedbyDicksestate,thisofficalsitecontainssomeexclusivecontentletters,writings,andexcerptsfromhisExegesis.

VintageBooksVintageBooks,aRandomHouseimprint,currentlyhasthebulkofDicksSFnovelsinprint.

TheP.K.DickBookshelfThissiteholdsalargecollectionofcoverscans.

ThePhilipK.DickAwardsThePKDAwardswerestartedbyscifiwriterThomasDischtohonordistinguishedsciencefictionbookpublishedintheUnitedStatesaspaperbackoriginals.

TheSecondComingofPhilipK.DickAnarticleonDickandHollywood,fromtheDecember2003issueofWired.

TheGnosticArchiveThisGnosticresourcearchivesanessayaboutPhilipK.DickandGnosticismbyPaulRydeen.

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CreditsRichardBehrensisastaffwriterandassistanteditorforTheModernWord.HeisanativeNewYorkerwhosefiction,poetryandfilmcriticismhasappearedinParabola,BlueLightRedLight,ForbiddenLines,ChakraandBogusReview.HehasalsobeenpublishedinsuchonlinepublicationsasInterText,PlanetMagazine,DarkPlanet,AphelionandRoadofShadows.RichardlivesindenialinNewJerseywithhisthreecatsLeopold,StephenandMollyandhisimpossiblylargebookcollectionwhichkeepsfollowinghimwhereverhegoes.

AllenB.RuchisEditorialDirectorforTheModernWord.WhileRichardconsidershimhisownpersonalApeofThoth,readytobecastofflikeoffalnowthattheworkisdone,AllenwishestoremindRichardthathisPinkBeamGeneratorisnearlycompleted,andnothingisstoppinghimfromdownloadingthecompleteNancyDrewlibraryintoRichardsmindatanytime.AllenisauthorandeditorofnumerousLibyrinthsites.

RomeoA.Esparrago,Jr.,whocreatedalltheillustrationsonthissite,isa2000yearoldGnosticzealotwhowastranslatedintothisworldonehotAugustnightonabeamoflightthatwasreportedlyanoffmauveincolor.(Thoughseveralwitnessesclaimthebeamwasstrugglingvaliantlytoachievepinkness.)HeclaimsnottobethatRomeo,butthisishotlycontestedbybothRichardBehrensmother,Juliet,andRomeospetdog,Shakespeare.Romeolikesdrawingplasticsoldiers,andyoumayreadmoreabouthimathishomepage,RomeDome.

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ByRichardBehrens&AllenB.Ruch

1.Prelude2.Youth3.Arrival4.Transmigration5.Legacy6.Conclusion7.Links8.Bibliography9.Novels/Stories/Multimedia10.Criticism11.Credits

PhilipKindredDick(19281982)Weareservedbyorganicghosts,hethought,who,speakingandwriting,passthroughthisournewenvironment.Watching,wise,physicalghostsfromthefulllifeworld,elementsofwhichhavebecomeforusinvadingbutagreeablesplintersofasubstancethatpulsateslikeaformerheart.Ubik (1970)

Realityisthatwhich,whenyoustopbelievinginit,doesntgoaway.VALIS(1979)

PRELUDE

PhilipK.Dickwasacomplexmanaboutwhommanythingscanbesaid.Immenselytalented,hewasarguablyageniusandyethewasdeeplytroubledallhislife.Pronetopsychosomaticdisorders,healsosufferedfromagoraphobia,depression,suicidaltendencies,andexhibitedviolentbehaviortoatleastoneofhiswives.Hewasareligiousvisionarywhosetheologywasarticulatedinhissciencefictionnovels,aGnosticthinkerwhodoubtedtherealityoftheworldaroundhim,aparanoidwhobelievedtheCIAwastappinghisphone,apilladdictwhowroteantidrugnovels,aliteraryphilosopherwhoreadJamesJoycewhilepumpingoutscifipotboilers,anawardwinninggenrenovelistwhoyearnedfortheaccoladesofthemainstreammarket,andaprofoundloverofwomenwhocouldntkeepamarriagetogether.PhilipK.Dickwasahusbandtofivewives,afatherofthreechildren,abrotherobsessedbythelossofhistwinsister,asonwhoblamedhismotherforherdaughtersdeath,andafatherfiguretocountlessaddictsandpettycriminalswhocrashedathisCaliforniahome.Tohisfriends,hewasawarmandgentleman,alwayslaughingandholdingeverythingtogether,andyetthoseclosesttohimrecognizedhimastheunhappiestmantheyhadevermet.

Butperhapsaboveall,PhilipK.DickwasanAmericanwriterofastonishinguniqueness,authorofmorethan30novelsandover100shortstories,mostofthemfallingunderthespaciousumbrellaofsciencefiction.Andwhileitstruethatmanyofhisnovelswerescifipotboilers,designedtoearnapaycheckbyexploitingallthetrappingsofthegenrespaceships,Martiancolonies,alienlifeforms,zapguns,androids,andsoontheystandoutasuniqueinthefieldbecauseoftheirdeeplypersonalnature,aswellasDicksliteraryapproachtosocial,philosophicalandreligiousissues.TodayPhilipK.Dicksnovelsarerecognizedforthisstartlingoriginality,andarewidelyacclaimedbyreaderswithmoreatasteforBorgesandCalvinothanspaceoperaandpulpfiction.

ButDickhadlittlepresentimentthathewouldonedayhavesuchanaudience.Workingwiththeassumptionthateachnovelwouldentertainaveryselectaudienceforafewbriefmonthsandthenfallgracefullyintooblivion,Dickwrotequickly,oftenrepeatinghimselfinboththemeandcharacter,neverpausingtoexplainsomeofthemoreoutrageousfuturisticfeaturesofhisimaginaryworlds(HowisitpossibletoturnanuclearwarheadintoanoracularchildsskullasinTheZapGun?),andoftensteppingoverthelineintoabsurdity(HowdoyouaccountforanintelligentGanymedeanslimemoldcalledLordRunningClamasinClansoftheAlphaneMoon?)Asaresult,manyofthenovelshavetheatmosphereofacrazedcomicbookanotherdisposablegenrethatrarelydrewattentionfromliterarycritics.Tofurtherincreasethedifficultyofhisbeingacceptedasadistinguishedliteraryvoice,almostallofhismainstreamnovelswentunpublishedinhislifetime,andhislastworksweredenseforaysintomysticism,oftenlackinghischaracteristichumor,andfrequentlylapsingintoesotericmusingsonGnostictheology.Betweenthespacedoutsurrealismofhispotboilersandtheobscurevisionofhisfinalworks,duringhislifetimePhilipK.Dickonlyfoundfameamidsttheranksofsciencefictionfansandthepsychedelicsubculture.

SoitsnothardtoimaginethatDickhimselfwouldbeshockedtofindthatinthetwodecadesafterhisdeathin1982,hispopularityhasonlyincreased.Mostofhisbooksarestillinprint,andallofhismainstreamnovelswhichhedespairedofgettingpublishedinhislifetimehavebeenmadeavailableinhardcovereditions.MajorHollywoodmovieshavebeenfilmedbasedonhisstoriesBladeRunner,TotalRecallandMinorityReportamongstothers.Andperhapsmostsignificantly,PhilipK.Dickhasemergedasnotjustacultfigureamongreadersofsciencefiction,buthasbeengainingacceptanceandrespectabilityamongseriousliterarycircles,whichacademicpostmodernismhasmademoreopentogenrefictionandsciencefictioninparticular.

ThereasonwhyPhilipK.Dicksbookshavenotonlyenduredbuthavegrownmorepopularliesintheirremarkablenature.Ofcourse,hisnovelsarecleverlywrittenandfuntoread(manyofthemoreoutrageousnovelsreadlikeaStarTrekscriptsubmittedbyKurtVonnegut).Butmoreimportantly,Dickathisbestoffersauniqueandwildlycreativeblendofsciencefiction,mysticism,religion,personalexperience,metaphysicsandpulpdrama.Hisworksarewritteninaclearlanguagewithabeguilingsenseofhonesty,andyetbeneaththeirdirectstyleandstandardscifitrappingsliesadeeperworldofintenseemotions,metaphysicalspeculation,andfrequentlyshockingideas.

Highlypersonalandoccasionallyquiteidiosyncratic,PhilipK.Dicksworkcannotbefullydecodedwithoutbiographyyetatthesametimehisworktranscendshisownpersonalityandhitsuponprofoundspiritual,religiousandpoliticaltruths.Behindallthespaceships,Martiancolonies,alienlifeforms,zapguns,andandroidsisawriterstrugglingtounderstandhimself,theworldaroundhim,andtheworldswithinusall.Hissciencefiction,mainstreamnovels,philosophicalessaysandGnosticdiariesformabodyofworkthatpromptedUrsulaK.LeGuintocallitsauthorourownhomegrownBorgesandyettomanypeopleheismerelytheguywhowrotethebookthatBladeRunnerisbasedon.Soletusbeginthedecodingprocess.

YOUTH

PhilipKindredDickwasborninChicagoonDecember16,1928alongwithatwinsisternamedJaneCharlotteDick.Thetwinsweresixweeksprematuretiny,fragilethings,theybarelysurvivedthedelivery.Indeed,Janediedalittlemorethanamonthafterbeingborn,andDickirrationallyblamedhimselfforherdeathformostofhislifeuntilhelearnedthatshediedofmalnutrition,afterwhichheshiftedtheblametohismother.Thesenseoflossandfeelingsofguiltthathesufferedasaresultofhissistersdeathwouldnotonlyinfluencehispsychologicaldevelopment,histroubledrelationships,andhispersonalspirituality,butwouldbecomeafundamentalthemeinallofhiscollectedfiction.Later,whenDickwouldbecomedeeplyinfluencedbyGnosticthought,thememoryofhissisterbecameinextricablylinkedtoSophia,thesister/brideofGodwhorepresentedWisdom,andinsometraditionsexperiencedexileintotheveryfabricofthematerialworld.HewouldlaterwriteinhisnovelVALIS(1981):

Thechanginginformationwhichweexperienceasworldisanunfoldingnarrative.Ittellsaboutthedeathofawoman.Thiswoman,whodiedlongago,wasoneoftheprimordialtwins.Shewashalfofthedivinesyzygy.Thepurposeofthenarrativeistherecollectionofherandherdeath.TheMinddoesnotwishtoforgether.ThustheratiocinationoftheBrainconsistsofapermanentrecordofherexistence,and,ifread,wouldbeunderstoodthatway.AlltheinformationprocessedbytheBrainexperiencedbyusasthearrangementandrearrangingofphysicalobjectsisanattemptatthispreservationofherstonesandrocksandsticksandamoebaearetracesofher.TherecordofherexistenceandpassingisorderedontothemeanestlevelofrealitybythesufferingMindwhichisnowalone.

Inthissaddemonstrationofhisobsessionwithhisdeadtwin,Dickalsocleverlyrevealsthemotiveandmethodsofhisownwritingprocess.Hissister,ortracesofher,willappearandreappearinhisworkuntiltheendofhislife.

Dicksparentsdivorcedwhenhewassix.Aftermovingaboutthecountryforawhilewithhismother,theysettleddowninBerkeley,California,wherehewouldgrowintoadulthood.Sufferingfromthedistancebetweenhimselfandhisphysicallyseparatedfatherandhisemotionallyremovedmother,Dicksadolescencewaspredictablytroubled.Twoproblemsespeciallyplaguedhim.Thefirstwasaswallowingdisordersoseriousitpreventedhimfromeatinginpublic.(Onewondersifitwasapsychosomaticmanifestationoftheguilthefeltoverhismalnourishedsister?)Thesecondwasaseverevertigothatgavehimthestrangesensethathewasdislocatedfromreallife.Heconfessedtoattackswherehedoubtedhisownexistenceandfeltthattheworldaroundhimwasathinfaadeoversomeunnameablereality.Itwasasensationhewouldlaterdevelopintotheidiosyncraticparanoiafoundinmuchofhiswriting.

Asateenager,PhilipK.Dickfirstdiscoveredsciencefictioninthetraditionalmannerofhisdaythroughpulpmagazines.Thoughscifiwasagenrethatwasenormouslypopular,itwaslookeduponwithsuspicionbyparentsandliterarycriticsalike,andDickhesitatedatfirsttofullyembraceit,displayinganuneasinesswiththegenrethatlastedhisentirelife.Hewasalreadygettinghisshortfictionandpoetrypublishedinlocaljournals,andalthoughheshowedmuchpromise,hisattacksofvertigoandnumerousphobiasplacedanincreasingstrainonhisacademiccareer.Atage15hegotajobworkingforHerbHollis,alocalBerkeleycharacter.Awouldbewriter,Hollissurroundedhimselfwithagroupofcreativelymindedpeople,enjoyingthestatusofanoffbeatfatherfigureofsorts.HeownedapairofstoresinBerkeleyspecializinginradios,televisionsandrecordedmusic.Hisshopsrepresentedthekindofsmall,respectablebusinessthatnurturedpersonalrelationshipswithitscustomers,andyoungPhilblossomedthere,workingasbothasalesmanandarepairman.Itwasajobhewouldholdformanyyears,andoutsideofhiscareerasawriter,itwastheonlylegitimatejobhewouldeverretain.Hisexperiencesappearandreappearallthroughouthiswork,inparticularMaryandtheGiant,TheBrokenBubbleofThisbeHolt,RadioFreeAlbemuthandDr.Bloodmoney.Inthesenovelsmanyofthecharactersarerecordstoreclerksorworkinradioortelevisionrepair.ThroughhiswritingDickcouldalsoexpresshisloveforhifirecordsandstereoequipment,andhisvastknowledgeofpopularandclassicalmusicfindsitswayintomanyofhisbooks.(HerbAsherspassionatedescriptionofMahlersSecondSymphonytoatrafficcopinTheDivineInvasionhaspromptedmorethanafewreaderstoseekoutarecording,andHorseloverFatsstrugglewithWagnersParsifalisessentialtothethemeofVALIS.)

Duringhisteenageyears,PhilsharedanapartmenthousewithacollectiveofartiststhatincludedthepoetRobertDuncan.Socializingwithseriouswritersforthefirsttimewasaninspirationtobothhiscreativityandartisticambition,andhereadomnivorously,absorbingalargequantityofliteraryculturefromGreekclassicstoJamesJoyce.Itwasanatmospherethatfosteredadesirebecomeaseriousnovelist.Hisearliestattemptatwritingnovelsproducedmainstreamcharacterstudies,unpublishedworkshintingatthefervidimaginationthatwastomatureintohislifeswork.

ItwaswiththesaleofseveralshortstoriestoAnthonyBoucher,theeditoroftheMagazineofFantasyandScienceFiction,thatPhilipK.Dickexplodedintohissciencefictionself,publishingover70shortstoriesbetween1952and1955.Perhapsmorethananyotherstyleofliterature,sciencefictionseemedtheperfectvehicletoexpressDicksinteriorlife,itsstoriesofparalleluniversesandshiftingrealitiesgivingformtohisanxietyattacksandhisstrange,telescopicsensationsofbeingremovedfromtheworld.Themesofdisjointedrealityandhallucinationrecurthroughouthiscareer,formingleitmotifsofparanoia,alienationanddisplacement.InTimeOutOfJoint,ayoungmanlivinginasmallCaliforniatowndiscoversthattheworldaroundhimisanillusion,andthatheisinactualityasubjectinamilitaryexperiment.ThemaincharactersofUbiklearnthattheyhavediedinanaccident,andthattherealitytheyinhabitisdisintegratingwiththedispersaloftheirlifeforces.InthecompanionnovelsRadioFreeAlbemuthandVALIS,themaincharactershavereasontobelievethattheireverydayreality(Berkeleyinthe1970s)isactuallytheAncientRomanEmpireduringthepersecutionoftheearlyChristians.(Asweshallsee,Dickhimselfcametosuspectthisostensiblyinsanenotionabouthimself.)Thesethemesarealsoevidentinhismasterwork,TheManInTheHighCastle,albeitinasomewhatinvertedform.SetinaparalleloccupiedAmericawhereGermanyandJapanhavewonWorldWarII,thenovelhintsatsomealternativerealitywheretheAxispowershavebeendefeatedbytheAllies.Thisnotion,whileacceptedbythecharactersassciencefiction,neverthelesscontainssomepervasivesenseoftruththatprofoundlyaffectstheirlives.

Dicksearlystoriesareconciseandsimple,writteninthepulpstyleof50ssciencefiction,buttheydiscloseaverycomplexpoliticalagendaandarevealavisionaryglimpseofthematurePhilipK.Dick.OneofthebetterexamplesisTheDefenders,whichDicklaterexpandedintohis1964novelThePenultimateTruth.Intheoriginalstory,mankindlivesundergroundwhilemachinesfightoverthecitiesoftheearth.Anaccidentaldiscoveryleadstoahumanexpeditiontunnelingtothesurface.Theretheyfindthattherobotstheyvedispatchedtofightthewarshavebeenlivingapeacefulexistence,workingtohealtheravagedplanetwhilekeepinghumansundergroundtopreventfurtherdestruction.Thisstoryisflavoredwiththeconcernfornuclearholocaustthathauntedmuchpostwarliterature,butitalsorevealsaverystrangevisionoftechnology.Intraditional50sscifi,robotsareusuallyvoidofhumanemotions,andthereforemorepronetowarfareandgenocidalmentality.ButDicksrobotsarestewardsoftheearth,distrustingtheirrationalhumannaturethatcreatedthewarinthefirstplace.Additionally,whilemuchgenrefictiontraditionallydelineatesclearlybetweenthegoodguysandbadguys,betweenheroesandvillains,herethehero/villiandichotomyisdeconstructed,castingaratherpessimisticlightonhumannature:theAmericanexpeditionthatreachesthesurfacemeetsasimilarRussianexpedition,andtherobotsareforcedtohaltbothsidesfromcontinuingtheirpsychoticmutualdestruction.TheDefendersalsocontainsanearlyappearanceoftheDickiantropeofbeliefinafalsereality:theundergroundhumansarefedfalsetelevisionbroadcastsofnuclearwar,createdbytherobotstodiscouragethemfromreturningtothesurface.

Withonlyadozenpublishedstoriestohiscredit,DicksignedupwiththeScottMeredithAgencyandbegantowriteforaliving.Hisrisewassosuddenthathehadashortstorycollectioninprintevenbeforehisfirstnovel,ahighlyunusualmoveforthepublishingindustry.Uponbecominganestablishedwriter,Dickrenewedhisattempttowritemainstreamfictionbutfailingtofindabuyer,heturnedtofulllengthsciencefictioninthehopesofearningmorethan$25perstory.WiththesupportofAceBookseditorDonaldA.Wollheim,Dickfinallybegantopublishnovels.Buthisambivalencetowardsthescifigenredistancedhimfromhisaccomplishments.WhenSolarLotteryappearedin1955,heseemeddepressinglyremovedfromit,embarrassedthathisfirstpublishednovelwasanAcePaperbackoriginal,andscifiontopofthat.Thissenseofdetachmentcontinuedoverthenextfewnovels,andherarelyadmittedtonewfriendsatthetimethathewroteworksofgenrefiction.DickoftenreferredtohimselfasafantasywriterintheveinofKurtVonnegut,whoduringthisdecadewrotePlayerPianoandSirensofTitanbothsciencefictioninspirit,butobviouslyconcernedwithuniversalsubjects.

Withafewsciencefictionnovelsunderhisbelt,mostnoticeablyTheWorldJonesMade(p.1956)andEyeInTheSky(p.1957),Dickdevotedthenextfewyearstoanotherstabatmainstreamfiction,finishingalmosttennovelsby1960.WiththeexceptionofConfessionsofaCrapArtist,whichwasntpublisheduntil1975,noneofthesenovelswenttoprintinhislifetime.ThebestofthisperiodwereMaryandtheGiant,TheBrokenBubbleofThisbeHoltandPutteringAboutInASmallLand.Theyareinmanywayssuperiortohisearlysciencefictionoutput.OftendrawingfromDickspersonalexperiences,theyportraytragicrelationshipsandfailedmarriagesamidstthebackdropof50sCalifornia,andarepopulatedbynumerousrecordstoreemployees,radiodejays,andconfusedBerkeleyyouths.Upontheirpublicationseveraldecadeslater,theyappearedastimemachines,sweepingthereaderbacktoalosttimeandplace,theworldoftheyoungPhilipK.Dick.Theyaretender,emotionallycomplexandveryhumanworks.

Afterthisfinalfailuretoestablishhimselfasamainstreamnovelist,DickreturnedtosciencefictiononceandforallwithTimeOutOfJoint(p.1959).Buthisstylehadchanged,profoundlyinfluencedbywhathedlearnedwritingnovelsaboutalostCalifornia.Whilethesubjectofthebookamandiscoversthatheispartofamilitaryexperiment,andthatthetownhelivesinisanhallucinationisnominallysciencefiction,hisvividportrayalofaSouthernCaliforniancommunityandhissuperblydrawncharacterspointtoadeeperliteraryaccomplishment.Thoughthebookwasinitiallypublicizedas anovelofmenace,itwassoonreprintedasanAcepaperbackwithagarishscificoversportingastronautsandhurtlingmoonrocks.Alas,theauthorhadfallenbackintothegravitationalorbitofhisnativegenre.

ARRIVAL

Dickswritinghadbeensteadilymaturingthroughoutthe1950s,andin1962hepublishedwhatmanycriticsconsidertobehismostimportantwork,TheManInTheHighCastle.ThestrongappealofthisnovellaynotjustinitsirresistiblealternateWWIImilieu,butinthevividlydrawncharacters,politicallysophisticatedthemesandauthoritativeknowledgeofGermancultureandJapaneseethics.Musingsaboutthenatureofgoodandevilinapoliticallyandculturallycorruptworldthreatenedbynucleardestruction,andtherealisticportraitofforeignoccupationanditseffectonAmericanculture,makeTheManInTheHighCastleoneofDicksmoststimulating,thoughtprovokingandcomplexworks.Atthecenterofthestoryliesafictionalnovel,abannedbookbearingthemysterioustitleTheGrasshopperLiesHeavy.Outlawedbythefascistgovernments,thebookdescribesaworldinwhichtheAlliedpowerswerevictorious,andisauthoredbyareclusivefiguresituatedinthelastfreeareasoftheformerUnitedStates(andwhobearsmorethanapassingresemblancetoPhilipK.Dickhimself.)Thesearchforthisauthordrivesmuchoftheplot,andhintsatsomemysticalrevelationthatpropelsthenovelintometafictionandplacesthebookfirmlyinthepostmoderntraditionofselfreflectivityandindeterminacy.UnlikeothersciencefictiontalesthatuseanalternateAxisdominatedrealityasabackgroundforvariouswhatif?plots,DicksoccupiedAmericanservesasamirrorforourownconceptionsaboutmorality,power,andsenseofidentity.Narrativeitselfisquestioned,withhistory,fictionandperceptionemergingasunstableyetrelatedelements.

TheManInTheHighCastleearnedPhilipK.DickthecovetedHugoAward,thehighesthonorwithinthesciencefictioncommunity.Itwasjusttheshotofadrenalineheneeded,andinthefollowingthreeyearshewroteoveradozennovelsinaburstofcreativeenergy.Althoughduringthisperiodhecertainlypennedafewunderachievedpotboilersthatmerelyrehashedoldthemes,noneofthemlackedthatuniqueDickianvoice,northestrangereligiousandphilosophicalmusingsonthenatureofrealityandtheconsensualillusionsbolsteredbyestablishedpowers.

Duringthisperiod,Dicksufferedapainfulfallingoutwithhissecondwife,Anne,whowashospitalizedandtreatedformentalillness.HepouredalotofthisangstintothebizarrelycomictaleClansoftheAlphaneMoon(p.1964),thenovelfeaturingtheaforementionedGanymedeanslimemold,LordRunningClam.AlthoughthestoryisapparentlyaboutawarbetweenEarthandlunarcolonists,thesubtextoftheworkisnothardtoread,andissaturatedbyhisillfatedmarriage,Annesmentaldecline,anddoubtsabouthisownsanity.(Thelunarcolonistsaretribesdescendedfrommentalpatients,witheachtriberepresentingaparticularformofmentalillnesssuchasparanoia,schizophrenia,etc.)ItisperhapsDicksmostwackedoutplot,andtheobvioustransformationofpersonaleventsintoasciencefictionconceitisbitterlyhystericalonecanjustheartheauthorhowlingwithlaughterandcryingwithrageasheturnshisownmessedupmarriageintoacomicbookspaceadventure.

Notallwasrehashedplotsandpersonalexorcismsservedupasoutlandishscifithrillers.ItwasduringthistimethatDickalsowrotetwoofhismiddleperiodmasterpieces:TheThreeStigmataofPalmerEldritch(p.1965)andUbik(p.1969).Twonovelsheavilyinspiredbythegrowingdrugculture,partoftheirgenesissprangfromDicksownpharmaceuticalexperimentsbeyondhisusualfondnessforamphetamines.InPalmerEldritch,povertizedMartiancolonistsbecomepreoccupiedwithPerkyPatLayouts,smallsetsrepresentingpenthouseapartmentsinhabitedbyaBarbieDolllikefigureandherKenlikemate.WhencombinedwiththeuseofanhallucinogenicdrugcalledCanD,thesesetscangivethecolonistswholiveinmiserablehovelstheillusionthatnotonlythattheyarelivinginPerkyPatsluxuriousapartment,butactuallyinhabitingherperfectbodyaswell.AcrisisissparkedwhenPalmerEldritch,amissingspaceadventurer,isrumoredtobereturningtoearthafterbeingstrandedonPluto.Hisnewhallucinogenicdrug,ChewZ,takestheformofamysticalrevelation,andthreatenstowipeCanDoffthemarket.ApsychicwareruptsthatamountstonolessthanabattleforhumanconsciousnessbetweenPalmerEldritchandthemanufacturersofCanD.

Thenoveliscomplexandsuitablyzany,leadingthereaderthroughamazeofpsychicmarketingmen,talkingsuitcasesthatactastherapists,psychedelicBarbiedollspossessedwiththeabilitytoinvadeconsciousness,imaginarydrugsthatchangerealityandidentity,andcommunalhallucinationswheremultiplepeoplemergeintoone.AtthetimeDickwrotethisnovel,hewasbecomingincreasinglyobsessedwithGnosticism,aninvolutedsubjectthatwouldeventuallydominatehislife.Basicallystated,Gnosticismteachesthatourworldexistsasanillusion,andcontendsthatitwascreatedbyalesserdeityknownastheDemiurge.VariousGnosticsectsdifferedintheirbeliefaboutthenatureofthisDemiurgeatbestitwasseenasGodonalowerlevelofconsciousnessatworstitwasseenasaSatanicforcemeanttodeceiveandenslavethehumanspirit.DicksGnosticismwascharacterizedbyafundamentalsplitbetweenthemundaneworldandthespiritualworld,wherethecourseofoneslifewasanobsessionaldesiretobridgethegapbetweenthetwo.InPalmerEldritch,hecreatedastrange,surrealcomicalvisionofGnosticbeliefswithallthetrappingsofsciencefiction.

LikewiseinUbik.Inthiscomicnovel,agroupofpeoplewitnesstheiremployer,LeoRunciter,getkilledinanaccident,andsubsequentlybelievethatheiscommunicatingtothemfrombeyondthegrave.Soon,theyareshockedtorealizethatitwastheywhohaveactuallydied,andRunciterisattemptingtoprolongtheirtiestotherealworldthroughtheuseofadrugcalledUbik.AsinmanyofDicksnovels,thereisamysticaldimensioneventothewildestsciencefictionconceit.Inthiscase,themoratoriumwherethenewlydepartedarekeptinordertoprolongtheirafterdeathexistenceisinspiredbytheBardoThodoloftheTibetanBookoftheDead,anancientBuddhisttextdescribingthejourneyofthesoulfromthedeceasedphysicalbodytothenextincarnation.AsRunciterguideshisdeademployeesthroughaweirdlandscapethatseemstobemovingbackwardsintime,theirlifeforcesgraduallybegintodiminish.OnlyRuncitersmysticalUbik,whichheintroducesintotheirhallucinationsintheformofspraypaintandsnakeoilunctions,cankeeptheirmindsandsoulsfromcompletelydissipatingintothevoid.

DickmodeledthecoreideasofseveralofhisbooksfromsourcesasarcaneastheTibetanBookoftheDeadandtheNagHammadicollectionofGnostictexts.Butratherthanmerelyminingsuchtextsforsuperficialstructuresorplotdevices,Dickengagesinadialoguewiththeirideas,andseekstoapplyothersystemsofinsighttoverymodernsituationsandanxieties.Thistirelessquestioningandsenseofspiritualstruggleelevatesmanyofhisnovelsabovetheircomicbookplotsandtraditionalsciencefictiontropes.LikeKurtVonnegut,whoseSlaughterhouseFivecombinedspacealiens,timetravel,andautobiographytosupportreflectionsuponthespiritualconditionofthehumanrace,Dicksbestnovelsescapethetrappingsofgenreandstandfirmlyinthewiderfieldofmodernliterature.DicksowncontributionbacktothesciencefictiongenrewasanunrelentinganalysisofthequestionWhatisReal?AlsocentraltohisliteraturewastheequallyimportantquestionofWhatIsHuman?Fromhisearlyshortstoriestohisfinalmasterpieces,heasksthesequestionsoverandoveragain,oftencomingupwithanswersasdeceptivelysimpleasWhatmakesushumanisourabilitytofeelempathyforotherlivingcreatures.

ThisconceptisbestexploredinDoAndroidsDreamOfElectricSheep?(p.1968),whichthankstoRidleyScotts1982filmBladeRunner,hasbecomeDicksmostwidelyreadnovel.Here,theandroidreplicantsaredistinguishablefromotherhumansonlythroughtheVoigtKampffscale,anempathytestwhichposesquestionslargelyconcerningthesufferingofanimals.WhenRickDeckard,aprofessionalandroidhunter,failstofeelanyempathyfortheartificialhumansthathetracksandkills,doubtsareraisedabouthisownhumanity.AndroidsalsoincludesthereligiousmovementMercerism(sadlyleftoutofthefilm),aGnosticflavoredcultthatalsoappearsinDicksshortstories.Mercerismcombinesdoubtsaboutreality(WilburMercer,whosepresenceisexperiencedintrancelikestatesbyhisfollowers,isrumoredtobeanactorinatelevisionstudio)withasubversiveforce,muchlikePalmerEldritch,theVALISsystem,andtheverbotennovelistofTheManInTheHighCastle.Thenovelraisesquestionsaboutidentity,memory,andmoralityquestionsthatarenoteasilydispatchedandremainhauntingthereaderlongafterthebookisfinished.

FromHighCastletoElectricSheep,the1960ssawthearrivalofPhilipK.DickasoneofthefewAmericansciencefictionwriterswhowastrulygrapplingwiththeconcernsandanxietiesofmodernityitself.

TRANSMIGRATION

Theearly1970swereatraumaticperiodforDick,withallthepersonalproblemsofthesixtiesfurthercomplicatedbyhisgrowingstatusasacultfigure.Histhirdwifehadlefthim,andhisNorthernCaliforniahomehadbecomeacrashpadandcommuneforjunkiesandrunaways.Hisfragilesanityfarednobetterthanhisrelationships,andhebecameburiedinhisownparanoia,hiringhitmentoprotecthisdrugaddictedfriendsandbecomingconvincedthattheFBIwaswatchinghiseverymove.Hebeganexperimentingwithavarietyofpills,andcontinuedpursuingastringofrelationshipswithneuroticorbrokenyoungwomen,manyofwhomheseemedtoidentifywithhisdeadsister.Eventually,therewasabreakinathishome.Hisfilingcabinetwasforcedopenandmanypapers,includingallhistaxrecordsandcancelledchecks,werestolen.

RumorsthatDickhimselforchestratedthebreakinarelegendary,spurredbythebasicplotsituationofhisbrilliantnovelAScannerDarkly(p.1977).Inthisconvolutedwork,aschizophrenicpoliceagentgoesdeepundercoverasadealerofanewandpowerfulhallucinogen,developinganaddictiontothedrugalongtheway.Sosuccessfulisheatforgingasecretidentity,heeventuallylandstheassignmenttobegininvestigatinghimself.TheresultingstoryisanightmarejourneythroughaworldoffracturedidentitiesandparanoiamademoresharplypoignantbyDicksclosingdedicationtofifteenfriendslostasdrugaddictsandacidcasualties.

WhetherornotDickhimselfwasbothvictimandperpetratorofthebreakin,hismentalstatewasbecomingincreasinglymoreunstable.Planningtoattendaninternationalscificonvention,hefledtoCanadawherehetriedtofraternizewiththesciencefictioncommunity,buthecouldntescapehisproblems.Afterasuicideattempt,hewasadmittedtoadrugrehabilitationcenter.

PhilipK.Dickhadhitbottom.

Butinaninstancethatcouldhavecomefromhisownfictionandindeed,wouldeventuallydominateitaverystrangeseriesofeventswouldsoonimmeasurablyreshapehislife,becomingtheidefixeofhislastdecadeandgivingbirthtohisbestandmostmaturework.

Intheearlymonthsof1974Dickexperiencedhallucinations,dreams,synchronicitiesandGnosticvisionsthathecollectivelyreferredtoas2374,shorthandforFebruary/March1974.DickwouldspendtherestofhislifeattemptingtounravelthemeaningoftheseeventsinathousandpagehandwrittenmanuscripthecametocalltheExegesis.Evenwhenhisfictionaloutputslowed,hecontinuedtoworkontheExegesiseverynight,analyzing,interpretingandsortingthrough2374aswellashispublishednovelsandshortstories.Besidesitsfunctionasmysticalexegesis,italsoservedasadailydiary,aprolongedselfanalysis,andadreamjournal.Veryrarelyinthehistoryofliteraturedowehavesuchanopenwindowintothemindofawriter,penetratinghisdeepestspiritualandpsychologicalspace.

Dickcametobelievethatanalienintelligence/technology(thatcouldquitepossiblyalsobeGod)wascommunicatingtohimthroughaninterfacehecalledtheVastActiveLivingIntelligenceSystem,orVALIS.Thissystemtooktheformofashipinouterspace,deliveringhighlyconcentrateddosesofinformationtohimthroughbeamsofpinklight.Dickhimselfdescribeditasaninvasionofhisconsciousnessbyatranscendentallyrationalmind.Healsocametobelievethatcoexistingwithinhimselfwasaplasmate.DickbelievedthathisplasmatewasanearlyChristian,who,thoughverymuchaliveintheFirstCentury,wassimultaneouslyinterpenetratedintoDicksbodyandmindspace.Likemanyoftheprotagonistsfromhisownnovels,Dickbelievedinthepossibilitythathewashallucinatinghiscurrentlife,andwasreallylivinginanotherplaceandtime,inthiscasetheRomanEmpire.(Thisistheoriginofthehauntedphrasefrequentlyfoundinhislaterwriting:TheEmpireNeverEnded.)Healsoexperiencedaseriesofvoicesthatfedhiminformation,tellinghimthingsthathecouldntpossiblyknowotherwise,includingajustintimemedicaldiagnosisofhisnewbornsonwhoselifewassavedbyanemergencyherniaoperation.

Dickwaswellawareofhowinsanethisallsounded,andhewroteendlesslyinhisExegesisaboutdifferentexplanations,andwhyhefinallycametobelieveintheveracityofhisspiritualexperiences.Oneproofofhissanitywashisclaimthatcrazypeopledontdoubttheirownsanity.Thosewhoknewhimatthetime,livinginSantaAnainamodestapartment,consideredhimeccentric,disheveled,personallyunhygienic,intense,gentle,arrogant,emotionallyhairtriggeredandreligiouslybizarre,butquitepossiblythemostbrilliantpersontheyknew,andcertainlynotadelusionalschizophrenic.Despitehisnumerouspsychologicalproblems,hisfriendsconsideredhimtobequitesane.

Fourastonishingnovelscameoutofthewholeexperience.RadioFreeAlbemuthwashisfirstattempttograpplewithVALISthroughfiction.Inthenovel,Dickbestowshisown2374experienceontoaBerkeleyrecordstoreemployeenamedNicholasBrady.Afterbeingexposedtothepinkbeamsofcompressedinformation,Bradyturnstohisfriendforadviceandhelp,asciencefictionnovelistnamedPhilipK.Dick.FollowingcluespassedtothembyVALIS,thetwobegintounravelaconspiracyhatchedbyapoliticiannamedFerrisFreemont,athinlyveiledRichardNixon.InanattempttoopposethepolicestateFreemontwishestoimposeuponthecountry,BradyandDickencodesecretmessagesintothelyricsofpopsongs.ThenoveliscoloredbythemanicandparanoidpoliticalatmosphereofCaliforniaduringtheNixonyears,andinmanywaysservesasanelaboratecountercultureresponsetoWatergate.Filledwithmysticalinterpretationsofrockmusic,schizophrenicdelusionsofalientechnology,andbitingpoliticalsatire,RadioFreeAlbemuthisDicksmostdaringwork,andoneofhismostautobiographical.However,whenhispublisherreturneditwithsuggestionsforarewrite,Dickmadetheodddecisiontoscrapitcompletelyandstartoveragain.

VALIS(1980)wastheresult,acompletereworkingofhis2374experience.TheprotagonistwhonowundergoesGnosticilluminationisHorseloverFat,aschizophrenictwinofscifiwriterPhilipK.Dick.(PhilipbeingGreekforHorseloverandDickbeingGermanforfat,orthick.)ThebasicthemesofAlbemuthareintact,butthemoodislessplayful,moresolemnlyimmersedinGnosticconsiderationsandtheologicaldebate.Althoughlesseasilymappedontohisexact2374experiencesthanAlbemuth,VALISisalsosharplyautobiographical,incorporatingDicksexperiencesinmentalclinics,hissuicideattempts,andthemostpersonalaspectsofhisspirituallife.

HisfictionwasdriftingmoreintothelabyrinthofChristianGnosticism,andwithTheDivineInvasion(1981),heattemptedtodrivetheideasbackintothesheathofsciencefiction,butwithamorerefinedvisionandliterarymasterythaneverbefore.Inthisbook,Godcauseshimselftoberebornintothewombofafemaleastronautbuttryingtosmuggleherchildbacktoahostileearth,sheiskilled.Mentallydamagedfromtheaccident,theyoungboyhastostruggletorememberthatheisGod,andhasbeenexiledfromearthfortwothousandyears.Bybefriendingalittlegirl,hemanagestorestorethespiritualbalanceoftheearththegirlisnonotherthantheGreekgoddessDiana,andnotsurprisingly,hisspiritualtwin.Despitethepresenceofsuchdivineprincipals,theprotagonistofthebookisreallyoneHerbArcher,acomfortablyDickiancharacterwithpassionateobsessionsforMahlerandFinnegansWake.Hisspiritualgrowthandreflectionsformtheheartofthework,oneofDicksmosthopeful.

Dicksfinalnovel,TheTransmigrationofTimothyArcher(p.1982),isathinlyveiledaccountofthelastyearsofEpiscopalianBishopJamesPike.ApersonalfriendofDicks,BishopPikebecamebrieflyfamousinthe60swhenheclaimedtobeinpsychiccontactwithhisdeadson.Onapersonalvoyagetotherootsofhisownchangingfaith,theBishopperishedduringanillpreparedhikingexpeditioninthedesertsoftheDeadSea.ThenovelgaveDickthechancetoreflectuponthepain,sadnessandreligiouspleasureofdeath,perhapsasaformoftherapyafteradecadeofwatchingseveralclosefriendsdie.

Iamterriblyfrightenedofdeath,hewritesinthis,hisfinalbook.Deathhasdestroyedme.ItisnotSriKhrisna,destroyerofallpeopleitisdeath,destroyerofmyfriends.Itsingledthemoutandlefteveryoneelseundisturbed.

Shortlyafterwritingtheselines,PhilipK.Dickdiedofcomplicationsbroughtaboutbyaseriesofstrokesin1982.HeneverlivedtoseethecompletionofBladeRunner,thefirstHollywoodmoviebasedononeofhisnovels.Theromanticlegendattachedtohisdeathisthatitwasbroughtaboutasalogicalendingtohisspiritualquest,justasJimPike,hisfriend,diedinthedesertsearchingfortheoriginsofChristianity.Itismorelikelythathisdeathwasthelogicalendingtohisyearsofphysicalandemotionalselfabuse.

LEGACY:LITERATURE,FILMandMUSIC

PhilipK.Dickstartedasapulpsciencefictionwriterwithaspirationstoseriousmainstreamnovels.Whatheeventuallyachievedwasaunifiedbodyofworkinwhichallthegenresthathemasteredmergedintoaliteraryportraitofthespirituallifeofitsauthor.Despitethetragedyofhisphobias,depressions,addictions,failedmarriagesandearlydeath,hemanagedtocreateaconsistentandvisionarylegacythathascarriedhisnameandhisworkintothenewcentury.

TheinfluenceofPhilipK.Dickoncontemporarycultureiswidespread.Onthemostobviouslevel,therearecountlessprojectsdrawingdirectinspirationfromhisworks.WhilethemostfamousoftheseisundoubtedlyRidleyScottsseminalfilmBladeRunner,theresalsothePhilipK.Dickawardforsciencefiction,TodMachoverselectronicoperaVALIS,andnumerousfictionalhomagessetinDickianworlds,suchasMichaelBishopsPhilipK.DickisDead,AlasorDavidBischoffsPhilipK.DickHigh.Butonamoreprofoundlevel,PhilipK.Dickswritinghasvirtuallyinscribeditsownliteraryniche,acombinationofstylistictropesandrecurringthemesoccupyingthespacebetweengenresciencefictionandthepostmodernliteratureofthetechnologicalsublime.LikeKafka,Borges,orPynchon,PhilipK.Dickisanauthorwhosenamehascometodescribeasubtlebutpervasivesetofliterarynotions.WhereonceDickwasdubbedahomegrownBorges,nowHarukiMurakami(WindUpBirdChronicle)islabeledaJapanesePhilipK.Dickwithasenseofhumor(Newsday),andJonathanLethemsGun,WithOccasionalMusiciscalledahighoctaneblendofRaymondChandlerandPhilipK.Dick(BostonReview).

MurakamiandLethemarejusttwoofanewgenerationofnontraditionalsciencefictionwriterstohavedrawninspirationfromDicksuseofsimulatedrealities,hisprobingexplorationsofidentityandmemory,andhisquestionsontheethicaluseandmoralimplicationsoftechnology.Asprogressincomputerpowerandartificialintelligenceadvancesatanexponentialrate,wehavebecomemoreconcernedwithmanufacturedrealitiesandtheirrelationshiptohumanconsciousness.TheentirecyberpunkmovementanditsmanyoffshootsalsooweDickadebt,withwriterslikeWilliamGibson(Neuromancer)andNealStephenson(SnowCrash)exploringthesethemeswithincreasinglevelsofcomplexity.

Dicksideashavetakenrootoutsideofliteratureaswell,andinonecasehaveproducedafilmeverybitasinfluentialastheworkofDickhimself.WhileRidleyScottsBladeRunnerdepartssignificantlyfromthe1968novelDoAndroidsDreamofElectricSheep?,itiswidelyconsideredamasterpieceinitsownright,andhasenduredoverthedecadesasacriticallyacclaimedwatershedinsciencefictioncinema.(Thefactthatitsdevelopedafanaticalcultfollowingnodoubthelpsitslongevity.)Copiedbycountlessothersciencefictionmovies,BladeRunnersfuturenoirlookandfeel,useofetherealmusic,andstunninginnercitysetdesignhavecometoserveasvirtualtemplatesforthecinematicdepictionofearthsdystopianfuture.

AnotherpopularfilmbasedonDicksworkisPaulVerhoevensTotalRecall,basedontheshortstoryWeCanRememberItForYouWholesaleandstarringArnoldSchwarzenegger.AlthoughTotalRecallsharesmoreincommonwiththebiggungenreperfectedbytheAustrianbodybuilderturnedactor,itsanxiousuniverseoframpantparanoia,treacherousrelationships,andconfusedidentitiesispure,unadulteratedPhilipK.Dick.

Mostrecently,StevenSpielberghasgivenusMinorityReport,basedontheDickstoryofthesamename.Althoughitsfocusonfilmnoirplotconventionsand(admittedlyveryimpressive)actionsequencesremovesitfromthemorecerebralrealmoftheoriginalstory,itisstillaremarkableachievement.Setinaseeminglybenignpolicestatewhereonesidentityisconstantlytracked,Spielbergsvisionofthefutureisbothbeautifulandterrifying,paintedinsaturatedcolorsandasbreathlesslymodernasBladeRunnerisrundownandseedy.Still,oneimmediatelyrecognizestheDickianhallmarksofparanoiaandmistrustandinsomeways,SpielbergsmoresubtleandinsidiousdepictionsofapolicestatewheresubmissivecitizensarescannedbyrobotspidersandtheinvasivebarrageofadvertisingisrelentlesslypersonalizedsitsevenmoreuneasilythanthecorporatehegemoniesofBladeRunnerortheovertfascismofTotalRecall.WhileselectingTomCruiseastheleadcontinuesthetrendofcastingactionheroesasDickianprotagonists,CruiseisstillarecognizableDickiancharacter,directinghiscomputertothesoundofSchubertanddevelopinganaddictionofasensoryenhancingdrugcalledClarity.Still,despiteitsmanyachievements,MinorityReportfailstoregisteronthesamedepthasthemorepoeticBladeRunner.Byskirtingsomeofthemoreheadyissuesraisedbyitsownplot,MinorityReportnevertranscendsitsgenre,andtheSpielbergianoptimismofitsconclusionstrikesafalsenote.

AfewofthemoreminorfilmsthathavebeenbasedonPhilipK.DicksworkincludeScreamerswithPeterWeller,andthesomewhatlimpbutwatchableImposter.MoresignificantarethespateoffilmsthatmarkedlyincorporateDickianthemes,ifnotdrawingdirectinspirationfromhisactualstoriesTheMatrixbeingthemostimportant,withitsartificiallycreatedrealityandultrahipcharactersanaturalevolutionofPhilipK.DickthroughWilliamGibson.InasimilarveinwefindthecriminallyunderratedfilmnoirfantasyDarkCity,thetrulyawfulTheThirteenthFloor,DavidCronenbergsdeliciousbraintwistereXistenZ,andVanillaSky,whichapproachesthelevelofashamelessDickripoff.InTheWakingLife,RichardLinklatersrambling,animatedconversationaboutmetaphysics,PhilipK.Dickisinvokedatlengthtoprovidecontextforadisintigratingsenseofreality.ButperhapsthemostDickianofallisPeterWeirsTheTrumanShow,inwhichJimCarreystarsasTruman,amanwhograduallydiscoversthathisentireworldisamassiveset,filledwithactors,scheduledevents,andfakeweather.ThefactthatDicksTimeOutofJointwasnotmentionedinthefilmscreditsseemstoborderonplagiarism,nomatterhowwellmadeandentertainingthemovie!

Oneofthemostpopulartelevisionshowsof1990shasalsodrawninspirationfromhisbooks.TheXFileshasmatchedDicksbrillianceinportrayingpoliticalparanoia,extraterrestrialconspiracies,andhallucinatedrealitiescreatedbydrugsandmindcontrol.AgentFoxMulderoftheFBIhasevenbeenobsessedwithfindinghissister,whodisappeareddecadesbeforeinapossiblealienabduction.ThelossofthesisteriswhatexplainsMuldersfanaticalobsessionsandsinglemindeddrivetouncovertheshiftingrealitiesinwhichheisentangled.ThespiritofmorethanafewepisodescanbemappedtoaDicknovelorshortstory.

CONCLUSION

Onaspirituallevel,Dicksnovelsarejustasrelevanttodayastheywerewhentheywerepublished.Theyportraythesingularindividualattemptingtopeelbacklayersofconsciousnesstocatchglimpsesandarriveatsomeunderstandingofthetranspersonalnatureofhumanity.Whenconfrontedbythedehumanizationthatoccursthroughadependencyonmachinesandinthefaceofdisintegratingrealities,Dickscharactersoftenturntoreligiousthought,primarilyGnostic,tonavigatetheirwaythroughthetreacherousoceansofself.ThisishowDickhimselflivedhislife,aswitnessedbyhishugeExegesis,inwhichhemeticulouslypsychoanalyzedhimself,hisnovelsandhisdreams,andtriedtointerpretthefragmentsofrealitypresentedtohimbyVALISastheythreadedtheirwaythroughhishauntedlife.

InhisbookTheAgeOfSpiritualMachines,RayKurtzweilhasexposedapossiblefuturethatisbothshockingaswellasexhilarating,andbearsanuneasyresemblancetotheworldofDicksnovels.AccordingtoKurtzweil,ourownmachinesareforcingusdeeperintotheproblemofdefiningwhatmakesushuman.Wewillneedtoredefineourhumanity,defendourchallengedspirituality,andtrytoreshapeourmoralcentersashumanbeingstograpplewithoursubserviencetothedigitallifeformsthatweourselvescreatetoserveus.Inafutureworldofquantumcomputing,humanmindsmirroredincomputermemory,machineswritingpoetry,anddigitalchipswiththerawpowerofabillionhumanbrains,wemayallbefacedwiththemoraldilemmasofRickDeckard,antiheroofDoAndroidsDreamOfElectricSheep?

ThelifeworkofPhilipK.Dickmaytakeonmorephilosophicalandartisticimportanceasweenterthisnewworldofcyberneticsandartificialintelligence.Hisultimateanswerofempathytothequestionofwhatmakesushumansoundslesslikeascifiplotdevice,andmorelikeawellconsideredlifelineasweexploretheunchartedspaceofourevolvingtechnologies.Inallways,thewritingofPhilipK.Dickstandsamongthemostvisionaryandcreativebodiesofworkinpostwarfiction.

RichardBehrens&AllenB.Ruch31March2003

MoreonPhilipK.DickLibyrinth

NovelsAnannotatedlistofPhilipK.Dicksnovels.

StoriesAlistofPhilipK.Dicksshortstorycollections.

MultimediaAlistoffilms,music,andfictionalhomagesinspiredbyPhilipK.Dickandhiswriting.

CriticismAlistofcriticismandbiography.

BibliographyAPKDbibliography.

SelectedOffsiteResources

PhilipKDickfans.comAmassiveandcomprehensivesiteaboutPhilipK.Dick.AnobviouslaboroflovebysitecreatorJasonKoornick,hereyoucanfindnovelsummaries,audiointerviews,coverart,weblinks,movieupdates,articles,essaysandbulletinboardstokeepintouchwithotherfans.NotmerelythebestPKDsite,simplyoneofthebestauthorsitesontheWeb.

PhilipK.DickOfficialSiteAlovelyhomepagemaintainedbyDicksestate,thisofficalsitecontainssomeexclusivecontentletters,writings,andexcerptsfromhisExegesis.

VintageBooksVintageBooks,aRandomHouseimprint,currentlyhasthebulkofDicksSFnovelsinprint.

TheP.K.DickBookshelfThissiteholdsalargecollectionofcoverscans.

ThePhilipK.DickAwardsThePKDAwardswerestartedbyscifiwriterThomasDischtohonordistinguishedsciencefictionbookpublishedintheUnitedStatesaspaperbackoriginals.

TheSecondComingofPhilipK.DickAnarticleonDickandHollywood,fromtheDecember2003issueofWired.

TheGnosticArchiveThisGnosticresourcearchivesanessayaboutPhilipK.DickandGnosticismbyPaulRydeen.

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CreditsRichardBehrensisastaffwriterandassistanteditorforTheModernWord.HeisanativeNewYorkerwhosefiction,poetryandfilmcriticismhasappearedinParabola,BlueLightRedLight,ForbiddenLines,ChakraandBogusReview.HehasalsobeenpublishedinsuchonlinepublicationsasInterText,PlanetMagazine,DarkPlanet,AphelionandRoadofShadows.RichardlivesindenialinNewJerseywithhisthreecatsLeopold,StephenandMollyandhisimpossiblylargebookcollectionwhichkeepsfollowinghimwhereverhegoes.

AllenB.RuchisEditorialDirectorforTheModernWord.WhileRichardconsidershimhisownpersonalApeofThoth,readytobecastofflikeoffalnowthattheworkisdone,AllenwishestoremindRichardthathisPinkBeamGeneratorisnearlycompleted,andnothingisstoppinghimfromdownloadingthecompleteNancyDrewlibraryintoRichardsmindatanytime.AllenisauthorandeditorofnumerousLibyrinthsites.

RomeoA.Esparrago,Jr.,whocreatedalltheillustrationsonthissite,isa2000yearoldGnosticzealotwhowastranslatedintothisworldonehotAugustnightonabeamoflightthatwasreportedlyanoffmauveincolor.(Thoughseveralwitnessesclaimthebeamwasstrugglingvaliantlytoachievepinkness.)HeclaimsnottobethatRomeo,butthisishotlycontestedbybothRichardBehrensmother,Juliet,andRomeospetdog,Shakespeare.Romeolikesdrawingplasticsoldiers,andyoumayreadmoreabouthimathishomepage,RomeDome.

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ByRichardBehrens&AllenB.Ruch

1.Prelude2.Youth3.Arrival4.Transmigration5.Legacy6.Conclusion7.Links8.Bibliography9.Novels/Stories/Multimedia10.Criticism11.Credits

PhilipKindredDick(19281982)Weareservedbyorganicghosts,hethought,who,speakingandwriting,passthroughthisournewenvironment.Watching,wise,physicalghostsfromthefulllifeworld,elementsofwhichhavebecomeforusinvadingbutagreeablesplintersofasubstancethatpulsateslikeaformerheart.Ubik (1970)

Realityisthatwhich,whenyoustopbelievinginit,doesntgoaway.VALIS(1979)

PRELUDE

PhilipK.Dickwasacomplexmanaboutwhommanythingscanbesaid.Immenselytalented,hewasarguablyageniusandyethewasdeeplytroubledallhislife.Pronetopsychosomaticdisorders,healsosufferedfromagoraphobia,depression,suicidaltendencies,andexhibitedviolentbehaviortoatleastoneofhiswives.Hewasareligiousvisionarywhosetheologywasarticulatedinhissciencefictionnovels,aGnosticthinkerwhodoubtedtherealityoftheworldaroundhim,aparanoidwhobelievedtheCIAwastappinghisphone,apilladdictwhowroteantidrugnovels,aliteraryphilosopherwhoreadJamesJoycewhilepumpingoutscifipotboilers,anawardwinninggenrenovelistwhoyearnedfortheaccoladesofthemainstreammarket,andaprofoundloverofwomenwhocouldntkeepamarriagetogether.PhilipK.Dickwasahusbandtofivewives,afatherofthreechildren,abrotherobsessedbythelossofhistwinsister,asonwhoblamedhismotherforherdaughtersdeath,andafatherfiguretocountlessaddictsandpettycriminalswhocrashedathisCaliforniahome.Tohisfriends,hewasawarmandgentleman,alwayslaughingandholdingeverythingtogether,andyetthoseclosesttohimrecognizedhimastheunhappiestmantheyhadevermet.

Butperhapsaboveall,PhilipK.DickwasanAmericanwriterofastonishinguniqueness,authorofmorethan30novelsandover100shortstories,mostofthemfallingunderthespaciousumbrellaofsciencefiction.Andwhileitstruethatmanyofhisnovelswerescifipotboilers,designedtoearnapaycheckbyexploitingallthetrappingsofthegenrespaceships,Martiancolonies,alienlifeforms,zapguns,androids,andsoontheystandoutasuniqueinthefieldbecauseoftheirdeeplypersonalnature,aswellasDicksliteraryapproachtosocial,philosophicalandreligiousissues.TodayPhilipK.Dicksnovelsarerecognizedforthisstartlingoriginality,andarewidelyacclaimedbyreaderswithmoreatasteforBorgesandCalvinothanspaceoperaandpulpfiction.

ButDickhadlittlepresentimentthathewouldonedayhavesuchanaudience.Workingwiththeassumptionthateachnovelwouldentertainaveryselectaudienceforafewbriefmonthsandthenfallgracefullyintooblivion,Dickwrotequickly,oftenrepeatinghimselfinboththemeandcharacter,neverpausingtoexplainsomeofthemoreoutrageousfuturisticfeaturesofhisimaginaryworlds(HowisitpossibletoturnanuclearwarheadintoanoracularchildsskullasinTheZapGun?),andoftensteppingoverthelineintoabsurdity(HowdoyouaccountforanintelligentGanymedeanslimemoldcalledLordRunningClamasinClansoftheAlphaneMoon?)Asaresult,manyofthenovelshavetheatmosphereofacrazedcomicbookanotherdisposablegenrethatrarelydrewattentionfromliterarycritics.Tofurtherincreasethedifficultyofhisbeingacceptedasadistinguishedliteraryvoice,almostallofhismainstreamnovelswentunpublishedinhislifetime,andhislastworksweredenseforaysintomysticism,oftenlackinghischaracteristichumor,andfrequentlylapsingintoesotericmusingsonGnostictheology.Betweenthespacedoutsurrealismofhispotboilersandtheobscurevisionofhisfinalworks,duringhislifetimePhilipK.Dickonlyfoundfameamidsttheranksofsciencefictionfansandthepsychedelicsubculture.

SoitsnothardtoimaginethatDickhimselfwouldbeshockedtofindthatinthetwodecadesafterhisdeathin1982,hispopularityhasonlyincreased.Mostofhisbooksarestillinprint,andallofhismainstreamnovelswhichhedespairedofgettingpublishedinhislifetimehavebeenmadeavailableinhardcovereditions.MajorHollywoodmovieshavebeenfilmedbasedonhisstoriesBladeRunner,TotalRecallandMinorityReportamongstothers.Andperhapsmostsignificantly,PhilipK.Dickhasemergedasnotjustacultfigureamongreadersofsciencefiction,buthasbeengainingacceptanceandrespectabilityamongseriousliterarycircles,whichacademicpostmodernismhasmademoreopentogenrefictionandsciencefictioninparticular.

ThereasonwhyPhilipK.Dicksbookshavenotonlyenduredbuthavegrownmorepopularliesintheirremarkablenature.Ofcourse,hisnovelsarecleverlywrittenandfuntoread(manyofthemoreoutrageousnovelsreadlikeaStarTrekscriptsubmittedbyKurtVonnegut).Butmoreimportantly,Dickathisbestoffersauniqueandwildlycreativeblendofsciencefiction,mysticism,religion,personalexperience,metaphysicsandpulpdrama.Hisworksarewritteninaclearlanguagewithabeguilingsenseofhonesty,andyetbeneaththeirdirectstyleandstandardscifitrappingsliesadeeperworldofintenseemotions,metaphysicalspeculation,andfrequentlyshockingideas.

Highlypersonalandoccasionallyquiteidiosyncratic,PhilipK.Dicksworkcannotbefullydecodedwithoutbiographyyetatthesametimehisworktranscendshisownpersonalityandhitsuponprofoundspiritual,religiousandpoliticaltruths.Behindallthespaceships,Martiancolonies,alienlifeforms,zapguns,andandroidsisawriterstrugglingtounderstandhimself,theworldaroundhim,andtheworldswithinusall.Hissciencefiction,mainstreamnovels,philosophicalessaysandGnosticdiariesformabodyofworkthatpromptedUrsulaK.LeGuintocallitsauthorourownhomegrownBorgesandyettomanypeopleheismerelytheguywhowrotethebookthatBladeRunnerisbasedon.Soletusbeginthedecodingprocess.

YOUTH

PhilipKindredDickwasborninChicagoonDecember16,1928alongwithatwinsisternamedJaneCharlotteDick.Thetwinsweresixweeksprematuretiny,fragilethings,theybarelysurvivedthedelivery.Indeed,Janediedalittlemorethanamonthafterbeingborn,andDickirrationallyblamedhimselfforherdeathformostofhislifeuntilhelearnedthatshediedofmalnutrition,afterwhichheshiftedtheblametohismother.Thesenseoflossandfeelingsofguiltthathesufferedasaresultofhissistersdeathwouldn