What is your favorite Philip K Dick story?

[Moss Ryder]

3 stigmata & flow my tears.
As for short stories, thats tough. I do really like the one about the books bound in alien fur, can't remember the title though. There lies the Wub maybe?

 

[Nightmare]

I've only just started reading PKD, with The Collected Stories of Philip K. Dick - Vol. 5. I've read just 8 of the stories, but Connavar asked for my impressions, and this seemed like an appropriate thread. (I don't have Vol. 1, Conn, I borrowed this one from the library.) I checked out this collection as an intro to PKD, just to make sure I'd like him before jumping into one of his novels. Needless to say, I'll definitely be jumping in.

My favorite so far is Retreat Syndrome. Very interesting concept, and very well told, with plenty of twists for so few pages. I'm sure I'll add some favorites once I finish the collection.

These stories make me feel like I'm reading Twilight Zone episodes. In fact, someone with some creativity could make quite a good TV series out of his stories. As soon as a creative type gets hired for television, maybe it'll happen.

I do really like the one about the books bound in alien fur, can't remember the title though. There lies the Wub maybe?

It's called Not by Its Cover.

 

[Connavar]

I've only just started reading PKD, with The Collected Stories of Philip K. Dick - Vol. 5. I've read just 8 of the stories, but Connavar asked for my impressions, and this seemed like an appropriate thread. (I don't have Vol. 1, Conn, I borrowed this one from the library.) I checked out this collection as an intro to PKD, just to make sure I'd like him before jumping into one of his novels. Needless to say, I'll definitely be jumping in.

My favorite so far is Retreat Syndrome. Very interesting concept, and very well told, with plenty of twists for so few pages. I'm sure I'll add some favorites once I finish the collection.

These stories make me feel like I'm reading Twilight Zone episodes. In fact, someone with some creativity could make quite a good TV series out of his stories. As soon as a creative type gets hired for television, maybe it'll happen.


It's called Not by Its Cover.

Have you decided what to read next of PKD? It seems like you like him.

Just wait until you read his novels

 

[Nightmare]

The collection I read consisted of stories from 1964-1981, in the order they were written. It was interesting to notice how they became more bizarre and unhinged as time went on. I can't even imagine the state he must've been in when he wrote the one-paragraph The Story to End All Stories. As I got more and more into the groove of his writing style, I ended up enjoying these later stories over his earlier, more conventional (for PKD, anyway) stories. I was also able to grasp the message, metaphor, allegory, etc. behind them. Normally, those deeper aspects go right by me, so it was very fulfilling to get more out of a story than just the narrative, for a change.

Getting back to the OP's question, I think my new favorite is Holy Quarrel, about a computer that almost initiates a nuclear strike against northern California because of a bubblegum vendor. Lots of interesting moral and logical questions raised in that one. The Electric Ant reminded me that while solipsism may be a questionable philosophy, it's always great fun for the imagination. Strange Memories of Death wasn't even sci-fi, but I found it quietly haunting.

Have you decided what to read next of PKD? It seems like you like him.

Just wait until you read his novels

Yes, ol' Phil definitely has me hooked. Next, I'd like to read one of his novels from the late-'60s or later. His ideas are so fascinating, I can't wait to see what happens when he really expands on them. What I've read about A Maze of Death and The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch really has me intrigued. For that matter, PKD's life intrigues me, and I'd be very interested in a biography.

 

[Connavar]

Most of his best books are from the 60's so you cant go wrong there.

A Maze of Death (1970) was really bizzare,dark even for PKD. Its not his best of three novels i have read.

Now Wait For Last Year (1966) i think you would love, i think its the best written of the novels i have read of him. It had so many layers,great plotting,great characters. So many things happened. Its not as convential as his early stories so i think you would like it.

The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch is the next book of him to read for me, i bought it in friday.

Speaking about Bio i was reading by my brand new PKD short story collection called Selected Stories. I bought it for it had many of his famous short stories. In the intro the guy talking about PKD qouted PKD own words about his life in the 50's. It really got to me reading PKD say in the 50's when he was getting turned down by many publishers how he didnt have enough money survive. No money to pay the fine on his library books and he and his wife/girlfriend had to eat dog food. It really made sad. I gotta find a good Bio of him later. I of course know of his drug and mental problem cause of wiki but i like to know more.

 

[clovis-man]

Just to get back (again) to the original question, my favorite is Valis because it almost seems to be autobiographical. And to drift away into alternate media again, I should point out that an opera, IIRC written by Tod Machover, was made of it.

Jim

 

[gully_foyle]

I've been chewing on this question for a while. I think my fave would be We Can Build You, but I'm not sure why. I like the fact that its a precursor to the whole simulacra world he builds up. I like the fact that it has a very 70s feel about it. The character of Louis Rosen is very human and very disfunctional. The character of Pris reminds me of someone I knew with bipolar disorder. Also, Pris as portrayed in this book is similar to the Pris of Bladerunner (the movie), both in appearance and mannerisms. Get a copy if you can.

 

[Thadlerian]

I like the way Dick makes several of his titles sound like ordinary commercial enterprises, while at the same time they reveal the unusual Science Fiction concepts behind. We Can Build You, We Can Remember It For You Wholesale, Lies inc., and probably others as well.

 

[Connavar]

I like the way Dick makes several of his titles sound like ordinary commercial enterprises, while at the same time they reveal the unusual Science Fiction concepts behind. We Can Build You, We Can Remember It For You Wholesale, Lies inc., and probably others as well.

I read it Remember it For You Wholesale last night. Pretty classic PKD theme and the end was so surprising to me.


Have you read it ?

 

[gully_foyle]

Were there any elements of Total Recall in it, or rather, did Total Recall have any elements of We Can Remember It For You Wholesale?

 

[Connavar]

Yeah Total Recal had some elements from it but it changed alot to typical SF action movie.


Minority Report did the short story of the same alot more justice. Biggest change being Anderton age really.

 

[D_Davis]

My favorite - Three Stigmata...

My least favorite - Maze of Death

 

[Connavar]

My favorite - Three Stigmata...

My least favorite - Maze of Death

Have you read Now Wait For Last Year ?

Heh Stigmata is the only PKD i have right now that i havent read yet.

Good to see its good enough to be another PKD fans favorit story.

 

[D_Davis]

Have you read Now Wait For Last Year ?

Heh Stigmata is the only PKD i have right now that i havent read yet.

Good to see its good enough to be another PKD fans favorit story.

Now Wait... is one of the few I haven't read yet. I think there are 10 novels left to be read on my PKD shelf.

I've read mix things about it, do you think it is good?

 

[Connavar]

Now Wait... is one of the few I haven't read yet. I think there are 10 novels left to be read on my PKD shelf.

I've read mix things about it, do you think it is good?

I think its alot better written and smarter than his classic Do Andriods dream who is my second favorite after Now Wait.

The best story of his i read so far short story or a novel.

I think you will enjoy it. Full of great characters,interesting themes.

 

[D_Davis]

I think its alot better written and smarter than his classic Do Andriods dream who is my second favorite after Now Wait.

The best story of his i read so far short story or a novel.

I think you will enjoy it. Full of great characters,interesting themes.

Alright, I'll check it out. The last Dick I read was Clans of the Alphane Moon, and it is pretty good. Not great, but a solid B-level entry.

 

[Connavar]

Alright, I'll check it out. The last Dick I read was Clans of the Alphane Moon, and it is pretty good. Not great, but a solid B-level entry.

Solid B-level PKD i would take over many other authors best work


Have you read many of his short stories?

I think he works atleast as good in short story format.

 

[D_Davis]

Solid B-level PKD i would take over many other authors best work


Have you read many of his short stories?

I think he works atleast as good in short story format.

I say the same thing, a lot.

I have not read a ton of short stories. Maybe, 2 volumes worth? I don't get on with his short fiction as much, although I do plan on reading it all.

 

[Connavar]

I say the same thing, a lot.

I have not read a ton of short stories. Maybe, 2 volumes worth? I don't get on with his short fiction as much, although I do plan on reading it all.

Im wondering which short stories you read liked,disliked etc

I have a thread for his short stories



I have a great short story collection Selected Stories of Philip K Dick, have 20-30 stories that i take out every night before sleep.

 

[jojajihisc]

Favorite - Maze of Death

Least Favorite - Man in the High Castle