New Undiscovered Philip Dick work?

[Jjk]

I have heard that the manuscript of a newly discovered Philip Dick story is going to be auctioned at Sotheby’s on December 2nd. Has anyone heard anything about this? Thanks.

J

 

[Vince W]

Perhaps you could call Sotheby's and ask.

 

[pkdfan]

Nothing on their website.

 

[Vince W]

The problem is that in order to see exactly what is going on sale you have to purchase a catalogue. Hardly worth the money for a rumour.

 

[pkdfan]

Let's find out, ey.

 

[pkdfan]

I called them up. Catalogues free online 2 weeks before but she can't check right now. I'll be back in 2 weeks.

 

[Vertigo]

To be honest I wouldn't get too excited either way. Dick wrote some truly excellent stories - some of the best in the genre in my opinion - but he also wrote some truly truly dreadful ones. So if someone has found a manuscript that Dick didn't think was worth passing to a publisher then there is probably a very good reason for that!

 

[pkdfan]

I've got a nice collection of first edition PKD's so it will sit along side them nicely anyway....but I sadly agree. Some shocking stories. Too much acid I think.

 

[Vertigo]

And everything else! But yes I agree and on top of a personality that was possibly not too stable in the first place! Maybe a classic case of the fine line between madness and genius?

 

[Darkday]

The catalog is up now. The detailed description of the lot can be found here.

8 typed letters signed (mostly "Phil") totalling in 24 pages [...] together with 14 page undated autobiographical essay and over 30 pages of addtional various material [...]

Additional material includes a typescript synopsis of an unwritten novel titled Wink-Out! and a draft of the short story, "The Day Mr. Computer Fell Out Of Its Tree" written during the summer of 1977 and later published in The Collected Stories (1987).

 

[Vince W]

Very interesting stuff, but hardly Earth shaking. Nice if you're a fan and have the money though.

 

[BAYLOR]

Given how prolific he was , not a surprise

 

[pkdfan]

You can't really put much of an estimate on that...but the man in the high castle with the great big tear at the top of the spine and the price clipped in the next listing estimated at $2-3000 is well over estimating that. Half it, again and again and maybe.