History of the Future 7: Philip K. Dick and the New Wave

The “New Wave” in SF Originates in Britain, mid-1960s Originates in Britain, mid-1960s More literary & experimental approach More literary & experimental approach Darker and more pessimistic Darker and more pessimistic Sex, drugs, pop-culture Sex, drugs, pop-culture New Worlds magazine New Worlds magazine JG Ballard, Brian Aldiss, Michael Moorcock JG Ballard, Brian Aldiss, Michael Moorcock Thomas M. Disch, Samuel R. Delaney from US Thomas M. Disch, Samuel R. Delaney from US Leaves SF with more attitude & style Leaves SF with more attitude & style

Dangerous Visions US Anthology US Anthology Published 1967 Published 1967 Edited by Harlan Ellison Edited by Harlan Ellison Launch of “New Wave” in US Launch of “New Wave” in US Hipper style, more sex, more religion Hipper style, more sex, more religion Revolutionary claims just hype Revolutionary claims just hype Writers like Ellison, Roger Zelazny start scooping up SF awards Writers like Ellison, Roger Zelazny start scooping up SF awards

SF Meets Literature New & established authors resent limits of genre New & established authors resent limits of genre Is it really the “literature of ideas”? Is it really the “literature of ideas”? Typical New Wave author: Typical New Wave author: Read science fiction in their youth Read science fiction in their youth Went to university and studied literature Went to university and studied literature Want to write SF that is real literature Want to write SF that is real literature Produces some excellent work Produces some excellent work Most languishes between SF and literary communities Most languishes between SF and literary communities Push peaks in the 1970s Push peaks in the 1970s Science fiction first appears on college curricula Science fiction first appears on college curricula

SF & The Future SF authors shift away from technological extrapolation SF authors shift away from technological extrapolation Many work more with myth and fable Many work more with myth and fable Recycle genre elements to different end Recycle genre elements to different end More interested in character, style More interested in character, style Explore science & technology through allegory Explore science & technology through allegory Connection is weakening Connection is weakening Futuristic imagery and ideas spreading Futuristic imagery and ideas spreading Space program & futurology usurp SF territory Space program & futurology usurp SF territory Vonnegut, etc. achieving fame in “mainstream” Vonnegut, etc. achieving fame in “mainstream”

J. G. Ballard Figurehead of New Wave in Britain Figurehead of New Wave in Britain Writer of “Inner Space” Writer of “Inner Space” Grew up in WWII concentration camp Grew up in WWII concentration camp Fascinated by medical pathology Fascinated by medical pathology Disliked plot, characterization Disliked plot, characterization Stories feature Stories feature The end of the world, everyone dazed & obsessed The end of the world, everyone dazed & obsessed Breakdown of civilization Breakdown of civilization American dreamscapes American dreamscapes Ruins of the space program Ruins of the space program Very weird alienated sex Very weird alienated sex

Ursula K. LeGuin Came to prominence in late 1960s Came to prominence in late 1960s Fixture of SF college curricula Fixture of SF college curricula Strong moral & feminist element Strong moral & feminist element The Left Hand of Darkness (1969) The Left Hand of Darkness (1969) Cold war allegory; hermaphrodite society Cold war allegory; hermaphrodite society The Dispossessed (1974) The Dispossessed (1974) An “ambiguous” anarchist utopia An “ambiguous” anarchist utopia Thoughtful, serious Thoughtful, serious

Other New Wave Authors Roger Zelazny Roger Zelazny Stylish writing – sex, slang, drugs Stylish writing – sex, slang, drugs Mythology, fable, interior of minds Mythology, fable, interior of minds Samuel R. Delaney Samuel R. Delaney Dazzling, allegorical space quests in 60s Dazzling, allegorical space quests in 60s Gay, black, bohemian, fan of science fiction Gay, black, bohemian, fan of science fiction Becomes post-modern academic in 70s Becomes post-modern academic in 70s Thomas M. Disch Thomas M. Disch Elegant, bleak novels in 60s and 70s Elegant, bleak novels in 60s and 70s 334 (1972) deals with near future urban life 334 (1972) deals with near future urban life Achieves broader renown as poet, critic Achieves broader renown as poet, critic

Impact of the New Wave As a result of this literary drive As a result of this literary drive Sex & obscenity appears in the future Sex & obscenity appears in the future Entropy gets fashionable Entropy gets fashionable People start name-dropping William Burroughs People start name-dropping William Burroughs Popular culture makes its way into SF Popular culture makes its way into SF Loosens restraints on SF writers in general Loosens restraints on SF writers in general Including Dick, Pohl whose books you read Including Dick, Pohl whose books you read

Philip K. Dick Not primarily identified as “New Wave” Not primarily identified as “New Wave” Writing long before that Writing long before that But did have a story in “Dangerous Visions” But did have a story in “Dangerous Visions” Very influential on New Wave (and on later cyberpunk) Very influential on New Wave (and on later cyberpunk) Writing from mid-50s to early-80s Writing from mid-50s to early-80s About 50 novels written (not all published) About 50 novels written (not all published) Best SF novels from Best SF novels from Never famous or best selling Never famous or best selling

His Life Troubled life. Influenced his work Troubled life. Influenced his work Trouble with authority. Trouble with authority. Drops out of college Drops out of college Only jobs in record store and as DJ Only jobs in record store and as DJ Many wives. Liked unstable, dark haired young women. Many wives. Liked unstable, dark haired young women. Drug problems, speed (amphetamine addict) Drug problems, speed (amphetamine addict) Investigated by FBI Investigated by FBI Constant financial problems Constant financial problems Mentally unstable Mentally unstable Fascinated by madness Fascinated by madness Had “revelatory” experience in 1972 Had “revelatory” experience in 1972

Unique Reading Experience Mixture of ordinary and fantastical Mixture of ordinary and fantastical Troubled, sympathetic people Troubled, sympathetic people All heroes are struggling small- timers All heroes are struggling small- timers Weird events Weird events Apocalyptic, existential crises Apocalyptic, existential crises Philosophical yet trashy Philosophical yet trashy Funny Funny Dark humor, human sympathy Dark humor, human sympathy

The Future Dick’s work clearly reflects time & place Dick’s work clearly reflects time & place Many unpublished “mainsteam” 50s novels Many unpublished “mainsteam” 50s novels SF brings freedom from censorship? SF brings freedom from censorship? Very little realistic science/technology Very little realistic science/technology Creates twisted versions of existing world Creates twisted versions of existing world Uses SF clichés in new ways Uses SF clichés in new ways

Recurring Themes Real or Fake? Real or Fake? often ambiguous often ambiguous wisdom, authenticity in strange places wisdom, authenticity in strange places Collapsing realities Collapsing realities Hidden battle of good and evil Hidden battle of good and evil Mental Illness Mental Illness Human or Android? Human or Android? Nuclear war Nuclear war Drugs Drugs Sometimes expose reality Sometimes expose reality

The Man in the High Castle Alternate history – Nazis win war Alternate history – Nazis win war Only Hugo award Only Hugo award More carefully written than most More carefully written than most Commercial failure Commercial failure Spurs redoubled output Spurs redoubled output

Periods (I) Early novels (1950s) Early novels (1950s) Including Time Out of Joint (1959) Including Time Out of Joint (1959) “Mainstream” novels (late 1950s), unpublished “Mainstream” novels (late 1950s), unpublished Flood of SF novels in 1960s Flood of SF novels in 1960s Uneven quality, highlights are Uneven quality, highlights are Martian-Time Slip (1964) Martian-Time Slip (1964) The Man in the High Castle (1961) The Man in the High Castle (1961) Dr Bloodmoney (1965) Dr Bloodmoney (1965) The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch (1965) The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch (1965) Now Wait for Last Year (1966) Now Wait for Last Year (1966) Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep (“Blade Runner”) (1968) Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep (“Blade Runner”) (1968) Ubik (written 1969) Ubik (written 1969)

Periods (II) 1960s novels marked by 1960s novels marked by Drugs Drugs Nuclear war Nuclear war Increasingly ambiguous realities Increasingly ambiguous realities 1970s 1970s Fewer novels Fewer novels Increasingly theological tone Increasingly theological tone Several based on own “revelations Several based on own “revelations

Periods (III) Dick dies (1982), becomes famous Dick dies (1982), becomes famous Blade Runner film appears Blade Runner film appears Academic reputation grows Academic reputation grows Unpublished books appear Unpublished books appear Viewed as key SF author Viewed as key SF author Attractive to Marxists, cultural studies Attractive to Marxists, cultural studies Cult following Cult following Postmodern blend of high and low culture Postmodern blend of high and low culture

Summary: late 60s, early 70s Deepening & splintering of SF Deepening & splintering of SF Beginnings of sub-genre of literary SF Beginnings of sub-genre of literary SF Much commercial work goes on as before Much commercial work goes on as before though much altered. though much altered. Academic favorites are not popular favorites Academic favorites are not popular favorites Role of future becomes more problematic Role of future becomes more problematic Used more consciously as mirror of present Used more consciously as mirror of present Idea of progress is challenged Idea of progress is challenged Symbols of future spread beyond SF Symbols of future spread beyond SF