What is it with Phillip K Dick? - Page 2

allinhi/ · 10-16-2011, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DixieGal

That is how I feel about Heinlein. I know that I should like his stuff, but I just do not. It is too "preachy" for my taste.

I feel his YA stuff was really his best and that after The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, he tried hard to pander to the changing social climate and gradually quit making telling a good story part of the wtiting process.

allinhi/ · 10-16-2011, 11:49 AM

I think part of Dicks appeal was some truly original ideas, not really his writing. He also had some great titles, which helps people recall his stuff. I remember one rather average effort Follow My Tears the Policeman Said, for example, and of course Do Andoids Dream of Electric Sheep.

JeremyR · 10-16-2011, 05:02 PM

The thing with Dick is that 1500 years ago, he likely would have been a prophet (in the religious sense) as opposed to a SF writer (or just writer). He was plagued by experiences (whether drug fueled, mental illness, or genuinely religious is obviously open to debate, but it's impossible to doubt that he actually had them), and incorporated them into his work.

His later stuff, like Valis, is pretty much overtly religious. But even his earlier works contain the same themes - the nature of reality and the world.

b0rsuk · 03-15-2012, 02:42 AM

I like Philip Dick a lot, mostly for his ideas. I also like his storytelling, it makes me laugh without trying. His characters and dialogues can be very funny and snappy and I can't put my finger on it.

I do think his short storries are generally much better than novels. My favorite compilation of short stories is "The Days of Perky Pat". It may be known under a different name, for example in my country "My, zdobywcy" because the pun can't be translated.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Day...8collection%29

Some of his short stories are fun because they're so retro. For example analog robots, no computers, no internet. It's like an alternate history and I can enjoy that !

Other short stories are still up to date, you can even say prescient (The Mold of Yancy). I particularly liked Explorers We. I like The Minority Report (inspired the movie, not the other way around). What The Dead Men Say is an abbreviated Ubik (although Ubik is one of his novels I like).

As for his novels, I disliked Man in the High Castle - I don't understand what the fuss is about. But I hearthily recommend A Scanner Darkly. It reads very well despite having few sci-fi elements (which are crucial to the plot, though). It has elements of autobiography and is in parts creepy/tragic/funny/scary. It reminds me of the movie Requiem For A Dream, except that I don't like the movie that much.

DrNefario · 03-15-2012, 12:55 PM

I agree about Man in the High Castle and A Scanner Darkly. I was underwhelmed by the former, and really liked the latter.

My other big favourite among the novels is Ubik, which seems to be the best of his reality-bending stories. If I had to pick one book to represent all of Dick's work, it would be Ubik.

twowheels · 03-15-2012, 02:40 PM

I'll chime in as a fan of PKD.

I was first introduced to his work about 15 years ago by a book of his short stories that a coworker lent me. I've since tried reading some of his novels, but it's his short stories that really get me. What I like about them is that almost all of them set up some sort of ethical dilemma that has no obvious solution, and then it leaves it there. He doesn't hand you a pat answer, he doesn't try to solve the dilemma for you, instead he leaves you thinking about what you would do and whether the actions of the characters was the best given the circumstances.

In other words, I spend more time thinking about the story than reading the story!

flipreads · 03-15-2012, 11:20 PM

Subjective taste. Not everyone has to like the same material.

But Dick has gained a level of fame and popularity, so a lot are more exposed to his work.

b0rsuk · 03-16-2012, 12:25 PM

What do you come to sci-fi for ? I greatly value ideas and the exploration of their consequences. Without trying new ground, a typical sci-fi book is just an adventure book in a different setting. If the fantastic elements can't be replaced with something else without breaking the plot, then I think it's a good use of science fiction.

I have similar expectations towards fantasy books. I try to avoid reading about the same things over and over. I'm baffled that The Fifth Ring has such a high average score on the popular website. I've found the book excruciatingly bland and just painful to read.

JGB · 03-18-2012, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kymmmm

I suppose they are a bit dated now and so is their writing style. 1950's, 60's?
A more ignorant and trusting age. Heinlein definitely had his 'Daddy' issues and it showed. I bet he was cranky that Hubbard actually got his religion off the ground whereas R.H's never got past the 'grok' disciples.

Kymmmm

Which is a crying shame IMO.

I think I would actually prefer that to Scientology for the most part, or at least it would make for more entertaining competition than the usual religious competition.

Actually considering the other thread, maybe that would be a great idea for a alt-history. Where it really did get off the ground in competition with Hubbards religion. I'd read it at any rate, knowing Heinlein or not it would still be an interesting read.

Maybe I'll cross post that over there actually.

elijah · 03-18-2012, 08:32 AM

I find reading is like listening to music. You have to be in the right kind of mood to read some types of novels and novels by certain people. Some of his books are really good, some are flops. But that's the same with most surely?

Greg Anos · 03-18-2012, 09:45 AM

Why is PKD so popular? I've read around a half dozen or so of his books, including Man in the High Castle, UBIK, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, and The Crack in Space.

Well, they have really great titles. And they are all exercises in paranoia. Hidden worlds, hidden universes, things you can't see, controlling your life.

This makes them popular in Hollywood, where everything is illusion (that's what they do, for your entertainment), and most of the decision-making goes on where the people on the receiving end of it can't see it. It's a worldview they can really understand.

But it's not my cup of tea.

Rob Lister · 03-18-2012, 10:08 AM

PKD: A perfect example of a great mind in desperate need of a great editor. His writing sucks but the imagination behind it [just] makes up for it.

Is there any doubt that "do androids dream" is far inferior to "blade runner"? I know it is an apple/orange comparison in that one is a book and the other a movie [loosely] based on that book, but it does go to show what a good writer can do with a PKD inspiration.

calibrated · 03-22-2012, 11:26 AM

I don't get the obsession with Philip K. Dick at all--I even walked out of Blade Runner during its first run in theaters--but I have a friend who is completely obsessed with him, and who in fact does a nice business online specializing in PKD collectibles, first editions and such. Different strokes for different folks.

b0rsuk · 03-23-2012, 02:53 AM

PKD doesn't have much to do with Blade Runner. It's loosely based on the book, but you don't miss much by not reading it.

I highly value creativity and imagination and PKD doesn't disappoint. For some reason his prose feels very similar to Wells (although Wells probably has better style). If creativity is not why you're reading fantasy/SF, if you're just looking for an adventure book in a funky setting, I can't blame you for not liking PKD. And by the way, the bulk of his creations are short stories. As far as I know many of his novels are simply his short stories made longer when he was finally able to do that.

b0rsuk · 03-23-2012, 02:53 AM

PKD doesn't have much to do with Blade Runner. It's loosely based on the book, but you don't miss much by not reading it.

I highly value creativity and imagination and PKD doesn't disappoint. For some reason his prose feels very similar to Wells (although Wells probably has better style). If creativity is not why you're reading fantasy/SF, if you just look for adventure books in funky settings, I can't blame you for not liking PKD. And by the way, the bulk of his creations are short stories. As far as I know many of his novels are simply his short stories made longer when he was finally able to do that.

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10-16-2011, 11:49 AM	#17
allinhi/ Connoisseur Posts: 54 Karma: 52080 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: nook color	I think part of Dicks appeal was some truly original ideas, not really his writing. He also had some great titles, which helps people recall his stuff. I remember one rather average effort Follow My Tears the Policeman Said, for example, and of course Do Andoids Dream of Electric Sheep.

10-16-2011, 05:02 PM	#18
JeremyR Guru Posts: 973 Karma: 2458402 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: St. Louis Device: Kindle Keyboard, Nook HD+	The thing with Dick is that 1500 years ago, he likely would have been a prophet (in the religious sense) as opposed to a SF writer (or just writer). He was plagued by experiences (whether drug fueled, mental illness, or genuinely religious is obviously open to debate, but it's impossible to doubt that he actually had them), and incorporated them into his work. His later stuff, like Valis, is pretty much overtly religious. But even his earlier works contain the same themes - the nature of reality and the world.

03-15-2012, 02:42 AM	#19
b0rsuk meles meles Posts: 109 Karma: 163588 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Persepolis Device: Pocketbook InkPad 3	I like Philip Dick a lot, mostly for his ideas. I also like his storytelling, it makes me laugh without trying. His characters and dialogues can be very funny and snappy and I can't put my finger on it. I do think his short storries are generally much better than novels. My favorite compilation of short stories is "The Days of Perky Pat". It may be known under a different name, for example in my country "My, zdobywcy" because the pun can't be translated. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Day...8collection%29 Some of his short stories are fun because they're so retro. For example analog robots, no computers, no internet. It's like an alternate history and I can enjoy that ! Other short stories are still up to date, you can even say prescient (The Mold of Yancy). I particularly liked Explorers We. I like The Minority Report (inspired the movie, not the other way around). What The Dead Men Say is an abbreviated Ubik (although Ubik is one of his novels I like). As for his novels, I disliked Man in the High Castle - I don't understand what the fuss is about. But I hearthily recommend A Scanner Darkly. It reads very well despite having few sci-fi elements (which are crucial to the plot, though). It has elements of autobiography and is in parts creepy/tragic/funny/scary. It reminds me of the movie Requiem For A Dream, except that I don't like the movie that much.

03-15-2012, 12:55 PM	#20
DrNefario Wizard Posts: 2,203 Karma: 12029046 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: UK Device: Kindle, Kobo Touch, Nook SimpleTouch	I agree about Man in the High Castle and A Scanner Darkly. I was underwhelmed by the former, and really liked the latter. My other big favourite among the novels is Ubik, which seems to be the best of his reality-bending stories. If I had to pick one book to represent all of Dick's work, it would be Ubik.

03-15-2012, 02:40 PM	#21
twowheels Wizard Posts: 1,854 Karma: 13432974 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Kobo Clara HD, iPad Pro 10", iPhone 15 Pro, Boox Note Max	I'll chime in as a fan of PKD. I was first introduced to his work about 15 years ago by a book of his short stories that a coworker lent me. I've since tried reading some of his novels, but it's his short stories that really get me. What I like about them is that almost all of them set up some sort of ethical dilemma that has no obvious solution, and then it leaves it there. He doesn't hand you a pat answer, he doesn't try to solve the dilemma for you, instead he leaves you thinking about what you would do and whether the actions of the characters was the best given the circumstances. In other words, I spend more time thinking about the story than reading the story!

03-15-2012, 11:20 PM	#22
flipreads Connoisseur Posts: 99 Karma: 433632 Join Date: Dec 2011 Device: iPad	Subjective taste. Not everyone has to like the same material. But Dick has gained a level of fame and popularity, so a lot are more exposed to his work.

03-16-2012, 12:25 PM	#23
b0rsuk meles meles Posts: 109 Karma: 163588 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Persepolis Device: Pocketbook InkPad 3	What do you come to sci-fi for ? I greatly value ideas and the exploration of their consequences. Without trying new ground, a typical sci-fi book is just an adventure book in a different setting. If the fantastic elements can't be replaced with something else without breaking the plot, then I think it's a good use of science fiction. I have similar expectations towards fantasy books. I try to avoid reading about the same things over and over. I'm baffled that The Fifth Ring has such a high average score on the popular website. I've found the book excruciatingly bland and just painful to read.

03-18-2012, 08:32 AM	#25
elijah Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2012 Device: kindle	I find reading is like listening to music. You have to be in the right kind of mood to read some types of novels and novels by certain people. Some of his books are really good, some are flops. But that's the same with most surely?

03-18-2012, 09:45 AM	#26
Greg Anos Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,528 Karma: 37057604 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Pocketbook	Why is PKD so popular? I've read around a half dozen or so of his books, including Man in the High Castle, UBIK, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, and The Crack in Space. Well, they have really great titles. And they are all exercises in paranoia. Hidden worlds, hidden universes, things you can't see, controlling your life. This makes them popular in Hollywood, where everything is illusion (that's what they do, for your entertainment), and most of the decision-making goes on where the people on the receiving end of it can't see it. It's a worldview they can really understand. But it's not my cup of tea.

03-18-2012, 10:08 AM	#27
Rob Lister Fanatic Posts: 532 Karma: 3293888 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Virginia Device: Nook Simple Touch	PKD: A perfect example of a great mind in desperate need of a great editor. His writing sucks but the imagination behind it [just] makes up for it. Is there any doubt that "do androids dream" is far inferior to "blade runner"? I know it is an apple/orange comparison in that one is a book and the other a movie [loosely] based on that book, but it does go to show what a good writer can do with a PKD inspiration.

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03-22-2012, 11:26 AM	#28
calibrated Zealot Posts: 132 Karma: 179412 Join Date: Dec 2011 Device: Kindle 1, Kindle 3, Kindle Fire w/Aldiko	I don't get the obsession with Philip K. Dick at all--I even walked out of Blade Runner during its first run in theaters--but I have a friend who is completely obsessed with him, and who in fact does a nice business online specializing in PKD collectibles, first editions and such. Different strokes for different folks.

03-23-2012, 02:53 AM	#29
b0rsuk meles meles Posts: 109 Karma: 163588 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Persepolis Device: Pocketbook InkPad 3	PKD doesn't have much to do with Blade Runner. It's loosely based on the book, but you don't miss much by not reading it. I highly value creativity and imagination and PKD doesn't disappoint. For some reason his prose feels very similar to Wells (although Wells probably has better style). If creativity is not why you're reading fantasy/SF, if you're just looking for an adventure book in a funky setting, I can't blame you for not liking PKD. And by the way, the bulk of his creations are short stories. As far as I know many of his novels are simply his short stories made longer when he was finally able to do that.