Philip K Dick discussion

What is the best biography of Philip K. Dick?

Well, I only have I Am Alive and You Are Dead: A Journey into the Mind of Philip K. Dick by Emmanuel Carrère, so I can't say if it's the best, but I certainly enjoyed it.

good question. Unfortunately I haven't read any yet, but over time I've gotten the impression that Divine Invasions: A Life of Philip K. Dick is highly recommended amongst PKD fans and often considered the best. I hope to read it soon, and it was recently republished so it shouldn't be hard to find

This topic asks a question i have wondered many times. Which is the most acclaimed, best biography. PKD is one of few writers who fascinate me enough to read a good biography.

I can't say definitely that it's the best, or even really a biography, but I enjoyed "What If Our Earth is Their Heaven?" which is a series of interviews with PKD during his last year of life.

Matt wrote: "I can't say definitely that it's the best, or even really a biography, but I enjoyed "What If Our Earth is Their Heaven?" which is a series of interviews with PKD during his last year of life."

I like that book, too, Matt. It's not really biography, being a series expressed informal interviews with PKD, but you get really close to him: how he spoke and expressed himself.

I have read a few biographies of PKD, and I think the best general introduction is Sutin's 'Divine Invasions'. It's full of detail on his life, and there is a very useful summary and review section of his books at the end. The Carrere book is more of an interpretation of Dick's life and work, but it does give some good insight into the more well-known novels. The recently re-released biography by Anne Dick is also very well-written, with some interesting personal accounts.

it's not a (by definition) 'biography' but it's one of the more interesting PKD things I've read, and it's called WHAT IF OUR WORLD IS THEIR HEAVEN.

:)

the 'Owl in Daylight' revelations of that book are also discussed here, on this Group: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...

Mike wrote: "it's not a (by definition) 'biography' but it's one of the more interesting PKD things I've read, and it's called WHAT IF OUR WORLD IS THEIR HEAVEN.

:)"

That's a really good book, Mike. It's interesting to hear PKD's own words, discussing his work and beliefs. At the time I read it, it was something of an eye-opener for me as to where his head was at.

It was good to read that he'd at least seen the rushes for Blade Runner and got an inkling of his posthumous Hollywood fame.

I Am Alive and You Are Dead: A Journey into the Mind of Philip K. Dick is quite readable and provides some insights vis a vis what' was happening n PKDs life when he wrote certain books. The author of the book also made and interesting French film called The Mustache that is quite confusing unless you know that is is PKD influenced.

I think this is very subjective. I've read four of them now, the ones by Lawrence Sutin, Greg Rickman, Paul Williams and Anne R. Dick. I think if you want an objective biography, the Sutin is the best place to start. Personally, until I read Anne R. Dick's book this week, Greg Rickman's biography and his two other books were my favorites. But I found Anne R. Dick's book a real page turner. I couldn't put it down. It's the first time I really felt like I had an idea of what really drove him and what diagnoses he might be saddled with today. It also was better at giving context because she put in a lot of background on what was going on during each period of his life. I particularly found it helpful to know other writers were using amphetamines in the late 50's, early 60's too. It was great getting the perspective on the events in his life from his wives, girlfriends and friends as a counterpoint to the things I've read from his perspective only.