Friday, November 9, 2018

Philip K Dick's Electric Dreams

Philip K Dick's Electric Dreams by Philip K. Dick, Audiobook: 6 hrs. and 56 mins., Hardback book: 213 pages


The ten short stories in this collection were the inspiration for the episodes of the TV show from the title. There is an introduction before each one from the writer of the corresponding episode. The introduction includes how the episode differs from the story and how it inspired the writer.

I liked all of the stories but the last one, "Autofac". On a post-apocalyptic Earth automated factories continue to search for resources and make things despite humans not needing them. The humans attempt to stop the factories by pitting one factory against another. Something about just didn't appeal to me.

My favorite were "Sales Pitch" and "The Hood Maker". "Sales Pitch" involves a robot that is trying to sell itself to a husband and wife. It won't take no for an answer. After all the advertising the husband has endured he refuses to give in and comes up with an extreme solution. In "The Hood Maker" someone is making hoods that protect the user from being mind-read but the powers that be don't like this. After all, if you have nothing to hide, why should you mind if your mind is read? The hood makers are trying to avoid being found by the authorities but time is running out. The ending is not what you expect.

I find it hard to describe Philip K. Dick's writing so I will provide a quote from one of the introductions. Kalen Egan and Travis Sentell: "He used science fiction as his personal laboratory, testing the limits of humanity and reality over and over again, seeing where they broke and where they held together." I would highly recommend this to fans of science fiction.

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