Author Archives: tashqueedagg

About tashqueedagg

Searching for the radical themes in American literature. American literature for the age of Occupy

Philip K. Dick Book Club Podcast

Posted on July 22, 2017 by tashqueedagg

Hi everyone. Thanks for reading this blog. I have noticed the many hits it has been giving. Why have I not been updating? Mostly, life has gotten in the way. I am proud to have gotten through the stories and … Continue reading →

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Book Announcement

Posted on March 14, 2015 by tashqueedagg

I know this blog has been quiet for too long. The reason for this was that I have been busy finishing my book on Philip K. Dick. It is being published by a great small press specializing in Philip K. … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 8 Comments

The Crack in Space (1966)

Posted on November 24, 2014 by tashqueedagg

Introduction The Crack in Space was first published by Philip K. Dick in 1966 with the help of Ace Books. It is about an overpopulated Earth facing a jobs crisis. Millions are left without work or hope of work and … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Bureaucracy, Humanism, Philip K. Dick, Philosophy, Posthumanism, Sexuality, Space Exploration, Supernatural Abilities, Technology, Time Travel, Transhumanism, Urban Issues, Work | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Eye in the Sky (1957)

Posted on November 14, 2014 by tashqueedagg

Introduction Eye in the Sky was originally published by Philip K. Dick in 1957. It tells the story of a small group of people accidently thrown into a proton beam deflector. This allows some of them to impose their reality … Continue reading →

Posted in Afterlife, Bureaucracy, Childhood, Cold War, Family, Knowledge, Mental Illness, Philip K. Dick, Politics, Power, Religion, Science, Sexuality, Technology, Work | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Philip K. Dick’s Philosophy of History: Part One

Posted on November 9, 2014 by tashqueedagg

Part One: The Promise of the Frontier Not much has been written about Philip K. Dick’s philosophy of history as revealed in his fiction. On the one hand, this is surprising because from the beginning of his career Dick was … Continue reading →

Posted in Alien Life, Bureaucracy, Cold War, Empire, Philip K. Dick, Politics, Posthumanism, Space Exploration, Technology, war | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

The Cosmic Puppets (1957)

Posted on November 8, 2014 by tashqueedagg

Introduction The Cosmic Puppets was originally published by Philip K. Dick 1957. Its plot centers on the mystery of a middle-aged man–Ted Barton–realizing that the town of his childhood has completely changed. As he investigates, he learns that the town … Continue reading →

Posted in Alien Invasion, Childhood, Family, Humanism, Knowledge, Philip K. Dick, Politics, Power, Religion, Time Travel, Urban Issues | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

The World Jones Made (1956)

Posted on October 25, 2014 by tashqueedagg

The World Jones Made was published in 1956 and was part of his first batch of novels penned in the mid-1950s, including Vulcan’s Hammer (not published until 1960), Dr. Futurity, The Cosmic Puppets, and Solar Lottery. It is the first … Continue reading →

Posted in Alien Invasion, Alien Life, Cold War, Humanism, Knowledge, Philip K. Dick, Politics, Posthumanism, Power, Supernatural Abilities, Transhumanism | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Vulcan’s Hammer (1960)

Posted on October 23, 2014 by tashqueedagg

Vulcan’s Hammer is one of Philip K. Dick’s least appreciated novels. Published between Time Out of Joint and The Man in the High Castle, readers have often pointed out that this novel is more like his earlier undeveloped tales than … Continue reading →

Posted in Bureaucracy, Empire, Humanism, Mental Illness, Philip K. Dick, Politics, Posthumanism, Power, war | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Dr. Futurity (1960)

Posted on September 26, 2014 by tashqueedagg

Chapter Summaries Chapter One Doctor Jim Parsons experiences a terrifying day dream that entails the destruction of the world that he knew while on his commute to work. One of the reasons that he can allow his mind to flow … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Bureaucracy, Childhood, Family, Humanism, Philip K. Dick, Posthumanism, Science | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

“No Laughing Matter”: Media, Morality and Resistance in The Man Who Japed

Posted on July 3, 2014 by tashqueedagg

Philip K. Dick’s early novel The Man Who Japed is quite prescient in describing how morality and the media intersect as a tool of power. As the novel opens, we are given some very recognizable Orwellian imagery. Government institutions are … Continue reading →

Posted in Bureaucracy, Empire, Humanism, Philip K. Dick, Politics, Religion, Sexuality, Urban Issues | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments