Writer portrait - Phillip K. Dick

Many science fiction fans won't be familiar with the name Philip K. Dick, but the names "Total Recall", "Blade Runner" and "The Man in the High Castle" are quite known. All of these movies  and shows were based on stories originally written by Philip K. Dick. But who was this writer? 

He was born in 1928 in Chicago with a twin sister named Jane Charlotte Dick, who died only a few weeks later. This would influence his work later on with the "phantom twin" motif. His mental problems first came to light, when he was 7 years old and he was told that he was a potential schizophrenic.

The family moved then to California. After his parents divorce Philipp and his mother moved again before returning again to California in 1938. It was around that time that Philipp began to develop an interest in Science Fiction. After graduation high school he briefly attended the University of California before leaving in 1950 due to ongoing problems with anxiety. 

During that time he began philosophical studies which would become a main influence for his work along with his mental problems, which gave his work an almost psychedelic quality. He began publishing stories in the early 1950ies. In order to write enough to make a living he began using drugs, including LSD during the following decade.

In the 1970ies he claimed to have had contact with a force beyond earth. While this was most likely a symptom of a mental illness it led to a certain stability in his life and work. It was the inspiration for his Valis trilogy. He died on March 2nd, 1982 after having suffered stroke a few days before.

Since the 1990ies Dick's work has become more and more popular due to several movie and tv show adaptations.

His drug abuse and mental problems influenced his work clearly and gave it a unique style. While a lot of science fiction moves within the rules of fictive science as the term rightly says Philip K. Dick's style was on ocasions close to Fantasy. This made it unpredictable and in many ways unique.

The influence of his philosophical studies is also evident. A lot of his work revolves about the perception of reality. In "Total Recall" or "We Can Remember It for You Wholesale" as the source material is called, the main character wishes to be implanted with fake memories in order to experience a trip to Mars and during the course there are several twists as to what memories are actually real. Not only is the perception of reality of the main character's changed but he also actively takes part in this change when choosing to have  his memories altered.

If we assume that our personality is in many ways shaped by the sum of our experiences this means that by altering our memories were are actively altering our personality.

The idea of things not being what they seem appreas as well in "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" the source material for "Blade Runner". It is about hiding the inner core at first and finally realising that true happiness can only be achieve by staying true to oneself. Any sort of deception creates pain. In the end we learn that it is better to learn the truth, regardless wether the lie is more comforting because it will never feel real.

Despite using the vehicle of Science Fiction, Dick's work is merely about human nature and the way we see ourselves. We can try to alter ourselves, our memories and how others perceive us but the only thing the matters is our true self and who we are deep inside. Only then we will be at peace and find true happiness.

If you try to some up all of this work with one word, that word would surely be "perception". How we and others perceive ourselves.

One might call Philip K. Dick a genius or a madman but most like he was a bit of both. It takes courage to write the way he did, opening up ones most inner fears and thoughts. Maybe this is what it takes to be a genius writer and maybe it takes the courage of a madman to dare doing it.