History of the FutureHistory of the Future

7: Philip K. Dick 7: Philip K. Dick and the New Waveand the New Wave

The “New Wave” in SFThe “New Wave” in SF Originates in Britain, mid-1960sOriginates in Britain, mid-1960s

More literary & experimental More literary & experimental approachapproach

Darker and more pessimisticDarker and more pessimistic Sex, drugs, pop-cultureSex, drugs, pop-culture

New Worlds magazineNew Worlds magazine JG Ballard, Brian Aldiss, Michael JG Ballard, Brian Aldiss, Michael

MoorcockMoorcock Thomas M. Disch, Samuel R. Thomas M. Disch, Samuel R.

Delaney from USDelaney from US Leaves SF with more attitude & Leaves SF with more attitude &

stylestyle

Dangerous VisionsDangerous Visions

US AnthologyUS Anthology Published 1967Published 1967 Edited by Harlan EllisonEdited by Harlan Ellison

Launch of “New Wave” in USLaunch of “New Wave” in US Hipper style, more sex, more Hipper style, more sex, more

religionreligion Revolutionary claims just hypeRevolutionary claims just hype Writers like Ellison, Roger Writers like Ellison, Roger

Zelazny start scooping up SF Zelazny start scooping up SF awardsawards

SF Meets LiteratureSF Meets Literature

New & established authors resent limits of New & established authors resent limits of genregenre 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 youthRead science fiction in their youth Went to university and studied literatureWent to university and studied literature Want to write SF that is real literatureWant to write SF that is real literature

Produces some excellent workProduces some excellent work Most languishes between SF and literary Most languishes between SF and literary

communitiescommunities Push peaks in the 1970sPush peaks in the 1970s

Science fiction first appears on college curriculaScience fiction first appears on college curricula

SF & The FutureSF & The Future

SF authors shift away from technological SF authors shift away from technological extrapolationextrapolation Many work more with myth and fableMany work more with myth and fable Recycle genre elements to different endRecycle genre elements to different end More interested in character, styleMore interested in character, style Explore science & technology through allegoryExplore science & technology through allegory

Connection is weakeningConnection is weakening Futuristic imagery and ideas spreadingFuturistic imagery and ideas spreading Space program & futurology usurp SF territorySpace program & futurology usurp SF territory Vonnegut, etc. achieving fame in “mainstream”Vonnegut, etc. achieving fame in “mainstream”

J. G. BallardJ. G. Ballard Figurehead of New Wave in Figurehead of New Wave in

BritainBritain Writer of “Inner Space”Writer of “Inner Space”

Grew up in WWII concentration Grew up in WWII concentration campcamp

Fascinated by medical pathologyFascinated by medical pathology Disliked plot, characterizationDisliked plot, characterization

Stories featureStories feature The end of the world, everyone The end of the world, everyone

dazed & obsesseddazed & obsessed Breakdown of civilizationBreakdown of civilization American dreamscapesAmerican dreamscapes Ruins of the space programRuins of the space program Very weird alienated sexVery weird alienated sex

Ursula K. LeGuinUrsula K. LeGuin

Came to prominence in late Came to prominence in late 1960s1960s Fixture of SF college curriculaFixture of SF college curricula Strong moral & feminist elementStrong moral & feminist element

The Left Hand of Darkness The Left Hand of Darkness (1969)(1969) Cold war allegory; hermaphrodite Cold war allegory; hermaphrodite

societysociety The Dispossessed (1974)The Dispossessed (1974)

An “ambiguous” anarchist utopiaAn “ambiguous” anarchist utopia Thoughtful, seriousThoughtful, serious

Other New Wave AuthorsOther New Wave Authors

Roger ZelaznyRoger Zelazny Stylish writing – sex, slang, drugsStylish writing – sex, slang, drugs Mythology, fable, interior of mindsMythology, fable, interior of minds

Samuel R. DelaneySamuel R. Delaney Dazzling, allegorical space quests in 60sDazzling, allegorical space quests in 60s Gay, black, bohemian, fan of science fictionGay, black, bohemian, fan of science fiction Becomes post-modern academic in 70sBecomes post-modern academic in 70s

Thomas M. DischThomas M. Disch Elegant, bleak novels in 60s and 70sElegant, bleak novels in 60s and 70s 334 (1972) deals with near future urban life334 (1972) deals with near future urban life Achieves broader renown as poet, criticAchieves broader renown as poet, critic

Impact of the New WaveImpact of the New Wave

As a result of this literary driveAs a result of this literary drive Sex & obscenity appears in the futureSex & obscenity appears in the future Entropy gets fashionableEntropy gets fashionable People start name-dropping William People start name-dropping William

BurroughsBurroughs Popular culture makes its way into SFPopular culture makes its way into SF

Loosens restraints on SF writers in Loosens restraints on SF writers in generalgeneral Including Dick, Pohl whose books you readIncluding Dick, Pohl whose books you read

Philip K. DickPhilip K. Dick

Not primarily identified as “New Not primarily identified as “New Wave”Wave” Writing long before thatWriting long before that But did have a story in “Dangerous But did have a story in “Dangerous

Visions”Visions” Very influential on New Wave (and Very influential on New Wave (and

on later cyberpunk)on later cyberpunk) Writing from mid-50s to early-80sWriting from mid-50s to early-80s

About 50 novels written (not all About 50 novels written (not all published)published)

Best SF novels from 1960-1970Best SF novels from 1960-1970 Never famous or best sellingNever famous or best selling

His LifeHis Life

Troubled life. Influenced his workTroubled life. Influenced his work Trouble with authority.Trouble with authority. Drops out of collegeDrops out of college Only jobs in record store and as DJOnly 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 FBIInvestigated by FBI Constant financial problemsConstant financial problems

Mentally unstableMentally unstable Fascinated by madnessFascinated by madness Had “revelatory” experience in 1972Had “revelatory” experience in 1972

Unique Reading ExperienceUnique Reading Experience

Mixture of ordinary and Mixture of ordinary and fantasticalfantastical Troubled, sympathetic Troubled, sympathetic

peoplepeople All heroes are struggling All heroes are struggling

small-timerssmall-timers Weird eventsWeird events

Apocalyptic, existential crisesApocalyptic, existential crises Philosophical yet trashyPhilosophical yet trashy

FunnyFunny Dark humor, human Dark humor, human

sympathysympathy

The FutureThe Future

Dick’s work clearly reflects Dick’s work clearly reflects time & placetime & place Many unpublished Many unpublished

“mainsteam” 50s novels“mainsteam” 50s novels SF brings freedom from SF brings freedom from

censorship?censorship? Very little realistic Very little realistic

science/technologyscience/technology Creates twisted versions of Creates twisted versions of

existing worldexisting world Uses SF clichés in new waysUses SF clichés in new ways

Recurring ThemesRecurring Themes

Real or Fake?Real or Fake? often ambiguousoften ambiguous wisdom, authenticity in wisdom, authenticity in

strange placesstrange places Collapsing realitiesCollapsing realities

Hidden battle of good Hidden battle of good and eviland evil

Mental IllnessMental Illness Human or Android?Human or Android? Nuclear warNuclear war DrugsDrugs

Sometimes expose Sometimes expose realityreality

The Man in the High CastleThe Man in the High Castle

Alternate history – Alternate history – Nazis win warNazis win war Only Hugo awardOnly Hugo award More carefully More carefully

written than mostwritten than most Commercial failureCommercial failure

Spurs redoubled Spurs redoubled outputoutput

Periods (I)Periods (I)

Early novels (1950s)Early novels (1950s) Including Time Out of Joint (1959)Including Time Out of Joint (1959)

““Mainstream” novels (late 1950s), unpublishedMainstream” novels (late 1950s), unpublished Flood of SF novels in 1960sFlood of SF novels in 1960s

Uneven quality, highlights areUneven 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”) Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep (“Blade Runner”)

(1968)(1968) Ubik (written 1969)Ubik (written 1969)

Periods (II)Periods (II)

1960s novels marked by1960s novels marked by DrugsDrugs Nuclear warNuclear war Increasingly ambiguous Increasingly ambiguous

realitiesrealities 1970s1970s

Fewer novelsFewer novels Increasingly theological toneIncreasingly theological tone Several based on own Several based on own

“revelations“revelations

Periods (III)Periods (III)

Dick dies (1982), Dick dies (1982), becomes famousbecomes famous Blade Runner film appearsBlade Runner film appears Academic reputation growsAcademic reputation grows Unpublished books appearUnpublished books appear

Viewed as key SF Viewed as key SF authorauthor Attractive to Marxists, Attractive to Marxists,

cultural studiescultural studies Cult followingCult following Postmodern blend of high Postmodern blend of high

and low cultureand low culture

Summary: late 60s, early Summary: late 60s, early 70s70s

Deepening & splintering of SFDeepening & splintering of SF Beginnings of sub-genre of literary SFBeginnings of sub-genre of literary SF Much commercial work goes on as beforeMuch commercial work goes on as before though much altered.though much altered.

Academic favorites are not popular Academic favorites are not popular favoritesfavorites

Role of future becomes more Role of future becomes more problematicproblematic Used more consciously as mirror of Used more consciously as mirror of

presentpresent Idea of progress is challengedIdea of progress is challenged Symbols of future spread beyond SFSymbols of future spread beyond SF