What's the best Blade Runner version? (Off-Topic)

by Kahzgul, Wednesday, October 11, 2017, 13:22 (2605 days ago) @ Kermit

Philip K. Dick, which I'm ashamed to say I haven't read.

Bro. Dick is a master at taking a small premise, applying it to an entire universe, and then telling a story about the human condition which uses that premise as a backdrop. Let me start you off easy, and I'll work you up to the truly high concept pieces:

- The Man in the High Castle. This is Dick's award winning novel about what the USA would be like if the Nazis won. Some will call it his best work, but I argue that it may actually be his lowest-concept and most accessible novel.

- The World Jones Made. Higher concept about a psychic who, much like Vonnegut's main character from Slaughterhouse 5, can see and remember his own future. He knows the major events of the future and is able to take actions to change them. Told from the perspective of someone who is definitely not psychic, this is presented well as a lay person's look at higher concept and serves as an excellent bridge to Dick's other work.

- We Can Build You. Androids, action, and some interesting thought-provoking bits about what makes you real. If any of these books is skippable, it would be this one, and yet it's still a fun read and sketches the outlines of some of the more dense works.

- Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep. This is the basis for Blade Runner, and is a more complete exploration of the themes found in We Can Build You. How do you know if you are real? How do you know if someone else is? In a world where your very job may be to know the difference, and you fear you're only good at your job because you don't know about yourself, how do you go on with the day to day drudgery of simply existing?

- Galactic Pot Healer. God I love this novel. It may have the second most perfect ending of any book I've ever read (China Mieville's 'Iron Council' is my favorite by a wide margin). This is a less than serious romp through a universe which contains, among other things, an immortal blob-god whom the main character joins forces with purely because the main character is in love with a hot chick who also joins forces with the blob-god. Did I mention that the ending is perfect? It's PERFECT.

- Flow my Tears, the Policeman Said. My favorite Dick. A well known and popular TV host wakes up in a world where he no longer exists. How, why, and what happened to him are the main plot drivers, but the world is also a darker one than ours where racism and fascism have taken the lead and cynicism and escapism have become the gods to which people pray. It resonates with me more today than the day I first read it. Seriously just thinking about this book right now is bringing tears to my eyes.

The Sirens of Titan, A Maze of Death... There are so many other brilliant novels this man put forth into our world. Do yourself a kindness and read him. No one I've ever read has been able to deliver such brilliantly simple and human feelings through such complicated and conceptual worlds and situations.