Philip K Dick discussion

I'm currently reading it; I figured since he won the Hugo for this it's sort of a foundational part of his work. I'm not as scintillated yet as I was by some of his others, but it's still a pretty interesting read, and maybe as I go deeper it'll grip me more. I'm only about half way through.

It's definitely worth reading, but rather atypical of his work and not the best introduction to his oeuvre.

Okay, thanks Simon. I was thinking it seemed different than the rest of them.

The best introduction to PKD in my book, for the record, is either "Ubik" or "Flow my Tears the Policeman Said".

Simon wrote: "The best introduction to PKD in my book, for the record, is either "Ubik" or "Flow my Tears the Policeman Said"."

I have to agree. 2 of his best, both award winners, they are better written than some of his earlier works that were forced to be written/published in a fast timeframe in order to get paycheck. The two combined seem to hit almost all of his common themes (except if memory is correct there are no android/clone/simulacra/robot in either one as many of his works do)

The best work to recommend to a reader you are familiar with of course depends on what you know of their tastes/personality. I can see Electric Sheep, 3 Stigmata, or Scanner Darkly good first reads as well.

Okay, Ubik will probably have to be next on my list. I'm close to finished with The Man In The High Castle.

I've read 20 PKD books, roughly.. I'd put Ubik as a second tier work by him. Something on the same level of quality as Now Wait for Last Year or Clans of the Alphane Moon.. Really good, but not his best work. The one I always try to push people towards is The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch. Dr. Bloodmoney is really fascinating if you are curious to try something that isn't immediately recognizable by name like Ubik is. I'm not sure why people always recommend that one, I think it's the title that draws people.

I finished The Man In The High Castle. Fairly interesting. I suppose that among the leading interpretations (spoiler alert) is the idea that somehow most of what was presented to the reader was not reality. I say this because the woman says to the writer: 'Your book is real.' Something like that. Anyhow, on to The Children Of Men now, then I'll do some other PKD book, maybe Ubik.

Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away.