Filmske priče

by Philip K. Dick, Vladimir Cvetković Sever (Translator)

Izvorni naslovi :
THE MINORITY REPORT
WE CAN REMEMBER IT FOR YOU WHOLESALE
SECOND VARIETY
PAYCHECK
IMPOSTER
THE KING OF THE ELVES
THE ELECTRIC ANT
FAITH OF OUR FATHERS
THE DAYS OF PERKY PAT
THE FATHER-THING
THE LITTLE BLACK BOX
THE STORY TO END ALL STORIES FOR HARLAN ELLISON'S ANTHOLOGY
DANGEROUS VISIONS

Za razliku od većine SF pisaca, slobodno se može ustvrditi kako Philipu K. Dicku iz godine u godinu raste ugled i popularnosti. Razlog tome su svakako, osim neosporne kvalitete njegovih priča i romana, njihove brojne ekranizacije: glasoviti režiseri (Spielberg, Verhoeven, Scott, Woo...) gotovo se nadmeću koji će prije prenijeti neko Dickovo djelo na filmsko platno. Tako se, iz gled(al)išta "Šarenog dućana", ideja o objedinjavanju Dickovih "filmskih" priča (filmovanih i onih koje će to vjerojatno postati) u jednu knjigu nametnula sama - i sad je, evo tu, pred vama!
Za razliku od većine SF pisaca, slobodno se može ustvrditi kako Philipu K. Dicku iz godine u godinu raste ugled i popularnost.
Razlog tome su svakako, osim nesporne kvalitete njegovih priča i romana, njihove brojne ekranizacije: glasoviti režiseri (Spielberg, Verhoeven, Scott, Woo...) gotovo se nadmeću koji će prije prenijeti neko Dickovo djelo na filmsko platno. Priče okupljene u ovoj knjizi savršen su dokaz vrsnoće Dickova postupka: bez obzira nalazimo li njegove junake na Marsu (Pružamo vam uspomene na veliko), u vremenskim koridorima (Isplata), u vihoru svemirskih ratova (Uljez) ili u teroru orvelijanskih antiutopija (Manjinski izvještaj), riječ je, ipak, o adekvatnim i nadasve maštovitim kulisama - izvanjskim kulisama onih drama i lomova koji se zbivaju u svijesti likova. Androidi, roboti, stvorovi, špijuni isprana mozga - sve su to samo metafore nerazlučivih tunela najveće enigme: ljudskoga uma. Drugim riječima, Dicka ne zanima čovjek u prostoru, nego prostor u čovjeku...

Genres: Science Fiction

301 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Philip Kindred Dick was a prolific American science fiction author whose work has had a lasting impact on literature, cinema, and popular culture. Known for his imaginative narratives and profound philosophical themes, Dick explored the nature of reality, the boundaries of human identity, and the impact of technology and authoritarianism on society. His stories often blurred the line between the real and the artificial, challenging readers to question their perceptions and beliefs.
Raised in California, Dick began writing professionally in the early 1950s, publishing short stories in various science fiction magazines. He quickly developed a distinctive voice within the genre, marked by a fusion of science fiction concepts with deep existential and psychological inquiry. Over his career, he authored 44 novels and more than 100 short stories, many of which have become classics in the field.
Recurring themes in Dick's work include alternate realities, simulations, corporate and government control, mental illness, and the nature of consciousness. His protagonists are frequently everyday individuals—often paranoid, uncertain, or troubled—caught in surreal and often dangerous circumstances that force them to question their environment and themselves. Works such as Ubik, The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch, and A Scanner Darkly reflect his fascination with perception and altered states of consciousness, often drawing from his own experiences with mental health struggles and drug use.
One of Dick’s most influential novels is Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, which served as the basis for Ridley Scott’s iconic film Blade Runner. The novel deals with the distinction between humans and artificial beings and asks profound questions about empathy, identity, and what it means to be alive. Other adaptations of his work include Total Recall, Minority Report, A Scanner Darkly, and The Man in the High Castle, each reflecting key elements of his storytelling—uncertain realities, oppressive systems, and the search for truth. These adaptations have introduced his complex ideas to audiences well beyond the traditional readership of science fiction.
In the 1970s, Dick underwent a series of visionary and mystical experiences that had a significant influence on his later writings. He described receiving profound knowledge from an external, possibly divine, source and documented these events extensively in what became known as The Exegesis, a massive and often fragmented journal. These experiences inspired his later novels, most notably the VALIS trilogy, which mixes autobiography, theology, and metaphysics in a narrative that defies conventional structure and genre boundaries.
Throughout his life, Dick faced financial instability, health issues, and periods of personal turmoil, yet he remained a dedicated and relentless writer. Despite limited commercial success during his lifetime, his reputation grew steadily, and he came to be regarded as one of the most original voices in speculative fiction. His work has been celebrated for its ability to fuse philosophical depth with gripping storytelling and has influenced not only science fiction writers but also philosophers, filmmakers, and futurists.
Dick’s legacy continues to thrive in both literary and cinematic spheres. The themes he explored remain urgently relevant in the modern world, particularly as technology increasingly intersects with human identity and governance. The Philip K. Dick Award, named in his honor, is presented annually to distinguished works of science fiction published in paperback original form in the United States. His writings have also inspired television series, academic studies, and countless homages across media.
Through his vivid imagination and unflinching inquiry into the nature of existence, Philip K. Dick redefined what science fiction could achieve. His work continues to challenge and inspire, offering timeless insights into the human condition a

Reviews

[Lea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Collection of short stories by Philip K. Dick that are made into movies, or could be made into a film by publisher's opinion, as listed below:

THE MINORITY REPORT
WE CAN REMEMBER IT FOR YOU WHOLESALE
SECOND VARIETY
PAYCHECK
IMPOSTER
THE KING OF THE ELVES
THE ELECTRIC ANT
FAITH OF OUR FATHERS
THE DAYS OF PERKY PAT
THE FATHER-THING
THE LITTLE BLACK BOX
THE STORY TO END ALL STORIES FOR HARLAN ELLISON'S ANTHOLOGY
DANGEROUS VISIONS

I'm a great SF admirer as I think that is the genre that conveys the unique blend of science, philosophy, psychology and quality fiction. Philip K. Dick is a canonical writer of the genre with the established talent of writing the incredibly innovative and creative storylines with vivid characters and unexpected twist that has shock value that imprints the story into your consciousness. I think that the strongest stories were: “The Minority report“, “We can remember it for you wholesale“, “Second variety“ and “Paycheck“. In “We can remember it for you wholesale“ as well as in “Paycheck“, Dick uncovers great themes of the volatility of subjective reality and memories. “Electric ant“ and “Imposter“ are also amazing as they tackle the central theme surrounding artificial intelligence - what does it mean to have consciousness for AI, and is it inherently related not only to cognition but also emotion and therefore, dignity? Can we redefine what does being human mean in the age of technology, technology that in a lot of ways act as only humans did on this earth for a long time? The first-person narration takes the reader on the wandering journey through the terraces of consciousness, both human and artificial. Philip K. Dick writers internal processes skillfully, always shifting in perspective and imposing deep philosophical, political and ethical questions. His writing is intended to bring discomfort, or more precisely, to remind the reader of his discomfort in the external world of culture, as well in his existential angst, deeply rooted in the insecurity and impermanence of everything, even the Self.

[Maja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Visok stepen investiranosti u narativ najbolje opisuje moje stanje sa svakom započetom pričom. Kirk je istovremeno i jednostavan i kompleksan – piše o suštinskim, klasično američkim strahovima, ali održava dinamiku akcijom i stresnim situacijama. Naravno, neke priče su mi bile draže od drugih, ali generalno je svaka interesantna, pri čemu su mi možda manje poznate čak i zanimljivije od onih popularizovanih ekranizacijom. Moji favoriti su priče Druga varijanta i U danima Perky Pat .

[Sanja_Sanjalica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fenomenalan je!

[Irma · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, I need to say how much I love the idea for this collection! It's kind of themed: stories that made it to the big screen, stories that are expected to hit the big screen soon and stories that the publisher thought would be good for the big screen. I loved almost all of them; my absolute favourites were We Can Remember It For You Wholesale (translated to Croatian as "Pružamo vam uspomene na veliko") and The Electric Ant ("Električni mrav"). I'm not a huge fan of SF so the fact I liked Dick's stories so much came almost as a surprise. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? is definitely going on my to-read list!

[Filip Mladenovic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Odlicne price. Takodje variraju u kvalitetu ali jedan plus za raznovrsnost odabira. Sve u svemu veci sam ljubitelj Dikovih romana.