Future imperfect: Philip K. Dick at the movies

243 Pages·2007·1.45 MB·English

by  Jason P. Vest

Future Imperfect
Philip K. Dick at the Movies
Jason P. Vest
LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData
Vest,JasonP.,1972–
Futureimperfect:PhilipK.Dickatthemovies/JasonP.Vest.
p.cm.
Includesbibliographicalreferences(p. )andindex.
ISBN-13:978–0–275–99171–5(alk.paper)
ISBN-10:0–275–99171–7(alk.paper)
1.Dick,PhilipK.—Filmandvideoadaptations.2.Sciencefictionfilms—Historyandcriticism.
I.Title.
PS3554.I3Z9152007
791.43’6—dc22 2007016355
BritishLibraryCataloguinginPublicationDataisavailable.
Copyright©2007byJasonP.Vest.
Allrightsreserved.Noportionofthisbookmaybe
reproduced,byanyprocessortechnique,withoutthe
expresswrittenconsentofthepublisher.
LibraryofCongressCatalogCardNumber:2007016355
ISBN-13:978–0–275–99171–5
ISBN-10:0–275–99171–7
Firstpublishedin2007
PraegerPublishers,88PostRoadWest,Westport,CT06881
AnimprintofGreenwoodPublishingGroup,Inc.
www.praeger.com
PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica
Thepaperusedinthisbookcomplieswiththe
PermanentPaperStandardissuedbytheNational
InformationStandardsOrganization(Z39.48-1984).
10987654321
Tomymother,DeloresVest,forkeepingmehonest
Tomysisters,KatherineDriesenandCynthiaTennison,forkeeping
mehumble
and
Totheloveofmylife,PatriciaThomas,forkeepingmehappy

Contents
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction TheManintheHighCastle:PhilipK.Dick xi
andtheMovies
Chapter1 MoreHumanthanHuman:BladeRunner 1
Chapter2 MemoryPrime:TotalRecall 29
Chapter3 UnburdeningtheSoul:Confessionsd’unBarjo 57
Chapter4 FutureWar:Screamers 75
Chapter5 IdentityTheft:Impostor 97
Chapter6 FutureCrime:MinorityReport 115
Chapter7 MoneyintheBank:Paycheck 143
Chapter8 SchizophreniaonDemand:AScannerDarkly 155
Conclusion RollCredits:TheFilmsofPhilipK.Dick 175
Notes 181
Bibliography 195
FilmsCited 203
Index 209

Acknowledgments
Thisbookcouldnothavebeenwrittenwithouttheenthusiasm,encourage-
ment,andexpertiseofmyeditor,DanielHarmon.Hisinsighthasenriched
thisprojectinmorewaysthanIcancount.Danhasbeenthebook’sgreatest
championanditsgreatestcritic,providinginvaluableassistanceateveryjunc-
ture.Hisadviceandfriendshiparegreatlyappreciated.
ThisstudycomparesthefilmadaptationsofPhilipK.Dick’sfictiontotheir
literarysources.Dickwasoneoftwentieth-centuryAmerica’sbestnovelists,
and his writing is a valuable contribution to American literature. Quoting
his words is crucial to this project’s success. All citations of Dick’s fiction
arereprintedbypermissionofthePhilipK.DickTrustanditsagents,Scovil
ChichakGalenLiteraryAgency,Inc.
Mycolleagueshaveofferedvaluableguidanceduringthisbook’slongges-
tation.IamespeciallygratefultoGeraldEarly,ofWashingtonUniversity’s
CenterfortheHumanities,formentoringmyprofessionaldevelopment;to
Guinn Batten, of Washington University’s Department of English and
American Literature, for encouraging my interest in Dick’s fiction; and to
ChristopherSchreiner,oftheUniversityofGuam’sDivisionofEnglishand
AppliedLinguistics,forsupportingmyresearchduringanexceptionallyhec-
ticacademicyear.
Myfamilyandfriendshaveexhibitedmorepatiencethanonepersonhasa
righttoexpect.Thisprojectwouldnothavebeenpossiblewithouttheirfor-
bearanceortheirhumor.
Thankyouall.