Philip K Dick; Sci-Fi Genius
For as long as I can remember, I have loved science-fiction in all its forms. Books, TV-shows and movies. I love the fantastical elements of it, I love that it is an escape from my normal life into worlds where anything is possible. I can lose myself in science-fiction novels all day long if I let it happen.
Recently, I have been enjoying the works of Philip K Dick, who has to be one of the greatest Sci-Fi writers of all time. Whilst I do not rate him as high as Frank Herbert, author of the brilliant ’Dune’ novels, he is, nevertheless, one of the best. The first book I read by him was ’Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?’
Set in a futuristic Los Angeles dystopia, that novel would become the basis for the movie ’Bladerunner’ directed by Ridley Scott. I actually read the book after I had seen the movie, such was its impact on me. The movie, which I believe to be one of the greatest ever made, would set the blueprint for all science fiction movies that followed it because of its unique look.
’A Scanner Darkly’ was the next novel penned by Dick that I read and it was just as good as ’Do Androids…’ The dark underworld of drug dealing and drug addiction was being tackled by Dick in this book and it had some truly thought provoking moments. It is Dick’s attention to detail and his ability to ask so many questions of his readers that makes his novels so enthralling. He makes you see both sides of every story and makes you re-think what you may have already thought to be right and wrong.
His short stories are also brilliant works of fiction and continue to provide thought provoking moments. The fact that several of his novels and short stories have been made into films shows just how much the world loves and respects his work and his ability to write. Here’s to Philip K Dick, one of the greatest.
On a completely different topic I am trying to think of something for my best friend as a gift. When I was having a chat with her the other week she said that she would like a new pair of running shoes. Anyone know of a reliable place to get them?
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