The divine madness of Philip K. Dick

249 Pages·2016·1.51 MB·English

by  Arnold

THE DIVINE MADNESS
OF PHILIP K. DICK
Photo by Tessa B. Dick. Used with permission.
THE DIVINE MADNESS
OF PHILIP K. DICK
Kyle Arnold
1
1
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© Oxford University Press 2016
First Edition published in 2016
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Library of Congress Cataloging- in- Publication Data
Arnold, Kyle.
The divine madness of Philip K. Dick / Kyle Arnold.
pages cm. — (Inner Lives series)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978– 0– 19– 974325– 4 (acid- free paper)
1. Dick, Philip K.— Psychology. 2. Dick, Philip K.— Family. 3. Science fiction,
American— History and criticism. 4. Psychology and literature. I. Title.
PS3554.I3Z545 2016
813ʹ.54— dc23
2015033239
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Printed by Sheridan, USA
Inner Lives
Series Editor
William Todd Schultz
Dan P. McAdams
George W. Bush and the Redemptive
Dream: A Psychological Portrait
William Todd Schultz
Tiny Terror: Why Truman Capote (Almost)
Wrote Answered Prayers
Tim Kasser
Lucy in the Mind of Lennon
Kyle Arnold
The Divine Madness of Philip K. Dick

CONTENTS
Acknowledgments ix
1. 2- 3- 74  1
2. Die Messages  9
3. Retreat Syndrome  31
4. Beetle Satori  41
5. Double  59
6. Counterfeit Burglary  91
7. The Pink Light  115
8. The Exegesis: Living Information  145
9. Aftermath: Null Metanoia  171
10. Divine Madness  211
Notes on Sources  219
Index  223
vii

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Many thanks to William Todd Schultz for his unflagging and
thoughtful encouragement throughout the writing of this book.
Thanks to George Atwood, who taught me psychobiography
and whose wise guidance helped me overcome several impasses.
Thanks to Kathleen Savino for her writerly advice and support.
Thanks to Amanda Lowe for further opening my perspective to
transpersonal conceptions of madness that proved invaluable in
fully grasping the subject matter of this book, and to the East
Coast Waking Down in Mutuality group for providing ongo-
ing learning in this area. I want to also thank Steve Cullen, Tessa
Dick and Gregg Rickman for helpful advice along the way.
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