When it comes to modern sci-fi writers there are several names that immediately spring to mind; Asimov, Clarke, Herbert, Heinlein and Dick and when it comes to Hollywood, Philip K Dick’s name seems to have jumped to the top of the options pile. Adaptations of his stories have been turned into some of the most iconic and successful films in the genre. From the loose interpretation of Ridley Scott’s classic BLADE RUNNER up to the soon to be released A SCANNER DARKLY, Dick’s mind-twisting novels and short stories are still hot property with the studios looking to make smart sci-fi films. After living a life of almost complete poverty, Philip K Dick is now one of the highest paid writers in Hollywood. With the imminent release of Richard Linklater’s take on PKD’s drug-crazed novel A SCANNER DARKLY, Titan Books have published COUNTERFEIT WORLDS by Brian J Robb.
Earlier this year we looked at a book called THE BLADE RUNNER EXPERIENCE from Wallflower Press, which explored the influence and effect that film has had on a wide range of media formats. It was an academic book, and while it was filled with masses of research and analysis it remained very much a film studies book that struggled to break out of its academic roots. COUNTERFEIT WORLDS, on the other hand, is written by the current editor of Dreamwatch magazine and is in an infinitely more readable and populist style. It is still incredibly well researched, from its opening, concise biography of Dick as an author, through to his own early attempts of bringing his ideas to the screen, to the history and analysis of all the currently released films based on Dick novels, including A SCANNER DARKLY.
Each film is covered with the background history of the original story and the long development process of bringing the stories to life on the screen. Naturally, BLADE RUNNER gets the greatest coverage, which is fitting, not only because of its influence on the sci-fi film genre but also because it is the film that brought the worlds of PK Dick to a much larger audience. It is also the only film adaptation that he actually gave any input to, before his death prior to the film’s completion.
For both fans and newcomers to Philip K Dick’s stories and distorted world view, either in print or on celluloid, this book is a must have. It is filled with anecdotes from people who knew the man and from people who worked on the films. It is well-informed without being overly scholarly, making it something you want to read. It is also highly illustrated, but only in black and white, and while a nice glossy colour volume would have been even more attractive, the pictures serve as a reminder for the all-important text.
Highly recommended.
COUNTERFEIT WORLDS: PHILIP K DICK ON FILM by Brian J Robb is published by Titan Books on July 21 and is available from Amazon.