Philip K Dick I Where to Start?

Apologies for the bad acting at the beginning haha.

The main Philip K. Dick books I recommended were:

-Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
-Ubik
-The Man in the High Castle
-A Scanner Darkly

You can find me elsewhere at:

[craigwarner]

I don't know how anyone can not want to read a book because of the cover. And people are really missing out on not reading PKD. You're preaching to the choir on this one to me. I've been reading and listening to audiobooks by Philip K Dick for at least 20 years and probably more likely 25. And the only 2 books I couldn't get into of his were The Man In The High Castle and The Transmigration Of Timothy Archer. My favourites are Clans Of The Alphane Moon and Flow My Tears The Policeman Said and A Scanner Darkly.And I can't quite remember the title of another one but it's about a disabled kid working in an electronics shop at the beginning. But those are just what I can remember off the top of my head. But I know for a fact if I actually spent a couple minutes thinking and looking up I could probably list about 15 that are my favourites. He's an absolute master of weird and engrossing. So sad he never really lived long enough to see the praise and love his books now receive (from those who know). But yes he certainly needs to be pushed more and I mean his books and audiobooks not the film's or adaptations. At one point I was reading so much PKD that I honestly used to dream his worlds as my own reality or my own reality with some of his quirks working through it. He's probably 1 or 2 on my favourite authors list. Terry Pratchett is interchangeable with him but for obviously different reasons but both as masterful as each other but in different ways.

[SNLS]

The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch. Read it.

[louisdelgado]

Philip K Dick change my life I love all his writing specially when he takes me to another world

[jx]

To anyone new to Philip K Dick- I gotta say: I totally agree with the recommendations here. HOWEVER, I know sometimes its really hard to motive yourself to read a new book, or you might not ¨get¨ PKD. In that case, start with his short stories- esp ¨We can remember it for you wholesale¨ or ¨The preserving machine¨ (only 9 pages long but super powerful)

Most of his short stories are online as free pdfs. Theyre really tripped out but still easy to follow and would make a great newcomers introduction.

I felt the need to say this because he is an incredible writer who I feel everyone ought to give a chance to- even if you dont have the motivation to read a whole book rn lol

PS- If you like his work, do what I did and go buy some afterwards to support their publication

[inhumanhyena]

I love Phillip K Dick, he's why I write fiction and a constant reservoir of inspiration. I started with probably is most difficult novel, Valis and it remains a favorite of mine. Also Do Androids Dream of Electric Sleep, making my way to Ubik now.

[Chromexus]

I had a brutal childhood and escaped into Science Fiction.First Dick I read was "Eye In The Sky" - I read it in about 1961 when I was 9. IT has most of the themes he later developed, interestingly enough. SO I read things like Martian TIme-slip when it was serialized as "All WE Marsmen" in the sci-fi mag "Worlds of Tomorrow" and eagerly awaited each new release. OF course, I joined the sci-fi book club and .. lo and behold.. here was a non serialization that became a hardcover release. I was 13 when I first read "The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch". It changed me. I began to be an advocate for him ( Heinlein was the big kahuna back then) and pressed his novels to whomever showed an interest. It was rather odd to me when, in the 90s scholarly articles and critical assessments were beginning to document my own reading experiences. But really as time as gone on, his rep has only grown and deservedly so. Thanks for the video.

[expressoric]

Philip K. Dick was a genius. That doesn't mean he didn't have limitations, like any author, but I can't say better than that about anybody. He has been accepted by the Library of America. This doesn't mean he has to be liked by everybody, but that he should have been read by a wider audience, as have J.G.Ballard, Brian Aldiss, Kurt Vonnegut, Ursula LeGuin and Ray Bradbury. Despite this, many people, including those who have read within the science fiction genre, haven't heard of him. I would assume this means he's still something special waiting to be discovered, and isn't public property, but has a balanced readership. Of course, the gaps that still exist, means there's still grey areas. It's not that simple.

AS an anecdote to the pulp abstract in his writing, there's an excellent example I think, in "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep". There, Isodore and the android girl[spoilers!], discuss their love of old pulp science fiction magazines, but the weird irony of this is of course, that they and the plot of the novel, is that they and the places they are living in, are the very same as what they're talking about! He's being very matter of fact about the fictional reality they live in, that like ourselves, it is to them, totally concrete and believeable.

It's part of his brilliance, that only he could I think, have done it with such panache, and got away with it.

[TheWRYYYYYYY]

Since you mentioned Thomas Pynchon, I have to say he's probably the number one author I'd recommend if someone were looking to read something similar to Dick's works. Gravity's Rainbow is definitely something any Philip K. Dick fan should try.

[CravingBooks]

Absolutely top-notch. I love how passionate you are about Philip K. Dick, and I want nothing more than to forget everything I'm currently reading, sit my butt down, and crack open Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep.
Brilliant, Jakob!

[andrebernardo]

3:41 - said Jakob with a sudden dry tone of voice. Jakob was proud of his collection of Philip K Dick's books; rightly so.

[shadowstealer]

Bit late to your site, but had to comment. I - as you say - found PKD in 1976, purely by accident. Blew my 13 year old mind and proceeded to read 30 novels ... and was laughed at at school by people who judged the books on the completely unrelated covers which were even LESS to do with the contents in the pages than they are now. Nice to hear you enthuse about the door scene, I LOVED that !Your recommendations are spot on too.

[rocknroy]

Truly enjoyable video. Thanks. I worked in a bookstore but I didn't have as much fun as you have. I learned a few things: Books are heavy. I know what will sell. Anyone can write a book. People LOVE books about the breed they own. People like to buy books on how to do things. Fiction is sold less than non fiction.
I hope you own the bookstore because you are better than to work in a store.

[nerdfatha]

I started with man in High Castle and followed it with Do Androids dream of Electric sheep and a large book of short stories. Now I'm about halfway through three Stigmata and will likely do Ubik next. His books are addicting and he keeps the pace going, even if there is no action.

[amnril]

I enjoy his short stories and am a huge fan of UBIK as it was the first PKD book I read.

[pavanbhatia]

You a good reviewer, you dont waffle, your on point. Good one. I havent read any of his books, whick one do recommend to read first....?

[duaneosborne]

Wheres your book shop ? Wonderful video ... Keedp reading & thanks

[ComandanteOso]

i've always recommend start with A Maze of Death, which was my starting point...

[Smylesallen]

Great review man!!! Very helpful! I am a fan of all the movies... and so i would love to appreciate his writing! Upon looking up his writings there are many! You are a very fun, intelligent, and inquisitive guy! Thanks for your review~

[GigiMurakami]

I just splashed dish water in my eyes. Don’t wear headphones until the end 😩😩😩😩

[fanfaretloudest]

Great I have started "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sleep?" and I like it so far. Will definitely or in time check out "Ubik" next. Thanks for the recommendations!