[pjd]

If I may say, many science fiction writers seem to have a pro-socialist, pro-drug ideology. One of the things that is remarkable about Dick is that he is rabidly anti-Socialist, anti-Communist and although he writes a lot about drugs, he HATES them and isn't shy about it.

[ClearCase_guy]

Thanks. I have often cited this story in my responses to FR abortion threads. It’s powerful.

[JohnnyZ]

Nomating this thread for Best Vanity of the Year

[The_Reader_David]

You must read the wrong science fiction authors. Most I’m familiar with are libertarian, some are quite apolitical.

[Spiff]

I used to be a HUGE Philip K. Dick fan back in the 80’s. I read everything that he wrote that I could get my hands on. It is interesting to see that Hollywood is now making film after film based upon his novels and short stories. Except that Hollywood rarely gets or trys to make the point his stories were trying to make. They warp most of them into something different than what was intended by Dick.

[TheKidster]

Try reading the Star Faction by Ken MacLeod and the other books in the series. Good Sci Fi with great political speculations to boot.
I’m a huge PKD fan and love McLeod also so maybe others will too?

[irishjuggler]

Yeah, I’ve read the story. It’s a good one. It’s also in The Eye of The Sibyl and Other Classic Stories (The Collected Short Stories of Philip K. Dick, Vol. 5). PKD was an incredible genius.

[Mycroft Holmes]

I have everything PKD has ever published and enjoyed nearly all of it (with the exception of a previously unpublished MS that is now out in hardcover, the name escapes me). Fact is that PKD was a notorious speed addict and that this addiction is most certainly what lead to his early death.

regards,

[pjd]

anti-abortion ping to Narses.

Would you please ping you anti-abortion ping list here?

Thanks.

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

He was on the right track regarding the logical extension of the devaluing of life.

Singer from Princeton U. has argued on behalf of mothers being able to decide whether to abort their children for up to 3 weeks after birth.

In England, a woman cannot be charged with homicide for killing her children within their first year after birth. She can only be charged with manslaughter because she isn’t fully responsible because of all the difficulties surrounding birth, motherhood, etc. How that changes the nature of a particularly heinous crime such that the English adopt it into their legal code is answered by the logical extension of devaluing life.

[Duke Nukum]

oh yes, I tell people about this story all the time. many times when I see pro-abortion ladies on TV I see his character who regrets not having a “trophy” for the mantle place.

Philip K. Dick, the greatest American writer of the 20th century. Most important too.

[Tolkien]

I’ve read about 5 or 6 Phillip K. Dick novels and I loved every one. He put a lot of thought into it.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

although he writes a lot about drugs, he HATES them and isn't shy about it.

Philip K. Dick (who is dead) wrote a lot about drugs because he used them a lot. He might have hated drugs, but only in the way that addicts do. Very fine author, though the work is uneven.

[backhoe]

Thank you.

This, and "Love Conquers All" by Fred Saberhagen, helped turn me from pro-choice, to pro-life... so very long ago. Much to remember...

[Sam Cree]

Late SF writer Keith Laumer also has an anti abortion short story, though it’s not very subtle. He also has an anti socialism short story, also not too subtle.

He wrote some nice stories.

[Arioch7]

Very cool. I like PKD myself BUT I have to say that his Valis Trilogy was disturbing to me.

It seems to me that this trilogy was simply madness put to paper and I found it interesting but when the Timothy Archer story came in, I was baffled.

Hell, I read Foucault's Pendulum By Umberto Eco and wasn't nearly as confused.

Just a small gripe about a great writer.

On a side note, Kurt Vonnegut Jr. died today. I know he is a left-winger but I enjoyed his writing.

Arioch7