My newest video for Time.com is about Philip K. Dick and all the movie adaptations of his books and stories, the latest of which is The Adjustment Bureau, based on the story “Adjustment Team” written in 1953. It’s fascinating that Dick’s 50-year-old stories are just now being brought to the big screen – and still seem modern. Testament to the strangeness of his brain.
I do mistakenly say that Blade Runner is one of ten PKD “books” that have been adapted, when I meant to say, “stories.” Only a few novels have, so far, provided source material for films – Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, A Scanner Darkly, Confessions of a Crap Artist, Radio Free Albemuth. Most of the movies are based on short stories (which do appear in books).
I produced, wrote and edited the video along with producer Craig Duff, who shot and provided additional editing:
Actually, Bladerunner is based on Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, which is a novel (book). ;v)
Yes, I said that! But most of the movies are based on short stories. I accidentally said that ten of his “books” have been adapted.
cool vid. I too have a rather sizable collection of Philip K Dick books, with several copies of some and some of the original pulp printings in AMAZING or WORLDS OF TOMORROW, collected in protective wrappers.
After rereading “The Adjustment Team” just recently I realised how much of it ended up in “DARK CITY” from Alex Proyas.
Thanks! I have some of the old magazines, too. I saw “Dark City” when it came out but I don’t remember it in much detail. I may have to check it out again.
I liked the video, too – but first of all I’ve too say I’m really jealous of your Scanner-Darkly-Shirt 😉
Yes! A friend of mine in Austin did crew work on the film and gave me the shirt… since I’m the biggest Dick-head he knows.
Excellent appreciation of PKD, Brian!
Would love to see a film version of Man In the High Castle. Valis, too, is a fav. Three Stigmata… oh yeah. (Perky Pat ; )
Oh, and Time Out of Joint — very Truman Show-ish.
Yes, the ability to feel empathy was important to him. His reading about the Nazi’s influenced his ideas re the “non-human” into the androids of Electric Sheep.
There is so much irony in how little Dick was paid at the time; he’d kind of hurry up and finish the current novel because he needed the money. Now hundred million dollar blockbusters are made of out these “pulp” Science Fiction works.
He did get a bit bonkers at the end, but the Exegesis has some fascinating ruminations. Have you seen the illustrated version of Dick’s Pink Light Epiphany drawn by R. Crumb…?
Great job, Brian!
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