Category Archives: Empire

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

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

“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

The Man Who Japed

Posted on June 25, 2014 by tashqueedagg

Introduction The Man Who Japed was published in 1956 and is Dick’s second science fiction novel, after Solar Lottery. It was originally published by Ace Books, in a volume with E. C. Tudd’s The Space Born. This was a common … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Bureaucracy, Consumerism, Empire, Mental Illness, Philip K. Dick, Politics, Power, Religion, Sexuality, Space Exploration, Suburbia | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Faith of Our Fathers

Posted on June 18, 2014 by tashqueedagg

Story Background “Faith of Our Fathers” was originally published in Dangerous Visions in 1967. It can now be found in The Eye of the Sibyl and Other Classic Stories by Philip K. Dick on pp. 197–222. Plot Summary Tung Chien … Continue reading →

Posted in Alien Invasion, Bureaucracy, Drug Use, Empire, Knowledge, Mental Illness, Philip K. Dick, Politics, Power | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

A Game of Unchance

Posted on June 18, 2014 by tashqueedagg

Story Background “A Game of Unchance” was originally published in Amazing in July 1964. It can now be found in The Eye of the Sibyl and Other Classic Stories by Philip K. Dick on pp. 157–174. Plot Summary On Mars, … Continue reading →

Posted in Alien Invasion, Childhood, Consumerism, Empire, Philip K. Dick, Politics, Posthumanism, Space Exploration, Supernatural Abilities, Technology, war, Work | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Retreat Syndrome

Posted on June 8, 2014 by tashqueedagg

Story Background “Retreat Syndrome” was originally published in Worlds of Tomorrow in January 1965. It can now be found in The Eye of the Sibyl and Other Classic Stories by Philip K. Dick on pp. 67–85. Plot Summary Caleb Myers, … Continue reading →

Posted in Bureaucracy, Cold War, Empire, Mental Illness, Philip K. Dick, Power, Space Exploration, Time Travel, war | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Precious Artifact

Posted on June 8, 2014 by tashqueedagg

Story Background “Precious Artifact” was originally published in Galaxy in October 1964. It can now be found in The Eye of the Sibyl and Other Classic Stories by Philip K. Dick on pp. 53–65. Plot Summary Milt Biskle has just … Continue reading →

Posted in Alien Invasion, Alien Life, Bureaucracy, Empire, Environment, Humanism, Philip K. Dick, Politics, Posthumanism, Power, Urban Issues, war | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

If There Were No Benny Cemoli

Posted on June 5, 2014 by tashqueedagg

Story Background “If There Were No Benny Cemoli” was originally published in Galaxy in December 1963. It can now be found in Minority Report and Other Classic Stories by Philip K. Dick on pp. 173–190. Plot Summary John LeConte witnesses … Continue reading →

Posted in Alien Invasion, Bureaucracy, Empire, Knowledge, Philip K. Dick, Politics, Power, Technology, Urban Issues, war | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Unreconstructed M

Posted on June 4, 2014 by tashqueedagg

Story Background “The Unreconstructed M” was originally published in Science Fiction Stories in January 1957. It can now be found in Minority Report and Other Classic Stories by Philip K. Dick on pp. 117–146. Plot Summary 1 – The small … Continue reading →

Posted in Bureaucracy, Empire, Knowledge, Philip K. Dick, Politics, Power, Technology, Transhumanism, Work | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments