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Sci-fi author Philip K. Dick (1928-82), whose works provided the source for films such as "Bladerunner," "Total Recall," "Minority Report," "Paycheck," and "A Scanner Darkly," was into vinyl. In an essay from 1980, he wrote "I have a good stereo system (at least my cartridge and speakers are good) and I own a huge record collection, and every night . . . I write while wearing my Stax electrostatic top-of-line headphones" (see THE SHIFTING REALITIES OF PHILIP K. DICK, ed. Lawrence Sutin, pp. 90-91). Wonder what the cartridge was and what kind of turntable he had. Lots of writers talk about the music they are into, but not many, as far as I'm aware, talk about their equipment.
Follow Ups:
A few recomendations to get sterted with would be fine.
Dennis
If you have already read the classics (e.g., Asimov's I, ROBOT, Arthur Clarke's CHILDHOOD'S END, Alfred Bester's THE DEMOLISHED MAN and THE STARS MY DESTINATION--the latter regarded by many as the best sf novel ever written), then check out Samuel R. Delany (esp. NOVA, THE EINSTEIN INTERSECTION, TROUBLE ON TRITON, and his magnum opus, STARS IN MY POCKET LIKE GRAINS OF SAND), William Gibson to be sure (yes, start with NEUROMANCER), Kim Stanley Robinson's Martian trilogy; for some recent stuff, Iain M. Banks' THE ALGEBRAIST and Richard K. Morgan's ALTERED CARBON. For a good anthology of stories, THE NORTON BOOK OF SCIENCE FICTION. And although I guess it's classifiable as fantasy, but China Mieville's PERDIDO STREET STATION is a mindblower.
I suggest you visit any site listing the Hugo and Nebula award winners for sci fiction. I've always been very satisfied after reading the Hugo and Nebula award winners that I have been able to get my hands on.
http://www.nicholaswhyte.info/sf/nh2.htm
On the above site with winners listed by author, for example I can see that I've read,
-- 1993, Best Novel, Doomsday BooK. Connie Willies
-- 1972, Best Novella, The Queen of Air and Darkness - Poul Anderson
-- 1976, Best Novel, The Forever War - Joe Haldeman
-- 1970, Best Novel, The Left Hand of Darkness - Ursula K. LeGuin
and yes - 2001, Best Novel, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
I love Robert Heinlein's "Glory Road", E.E. "Doc Smiths" Lensman and Skylark Series was also on my list of favorites.
Gene Wolfe.
Read "Neuromancer" right away.
For classic stuff - "Time Enough for Love" by Heinlein. Have you read "Dune" by Frank Herbert?
As for PKD, read "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" - the basis for the film 'Bladerunner'. Dick's book "Radio Free Albumuth" is autobiographical and includes his record store and LP experiences.
Pete
...but maybe that's a different kind...;-)
user510's system
Go Muffin!
nt
Now I have to read all those books.
~ Pat O'Malley
though I guess it's good to have company... :^)
All things considered, jmc has a point.
I recently found out he and Heinlein had been friends of a sort. I've always been a fan of Heinlein's too. Does that make me a Heinie-head in addition to being a Dickhead?
Juhani
Please withhold the comments about Dusthead. I have found that a can of UBIK is essential for collecting those LPs that I missed so many years ago.
Yes, you most definitely do. Nice collection!
Juhani
i'm on a mission now ...
~ Pat O'Malley
Almost forgot my Dick gallery....
I believe it was the novel, A Maze Of Death, in which 6 or 8 people touring a cyclotron device are zapped by an energy beam, rendered unconscious and then play out the nightmare of each other's fantasty worlds- this novel ends in the hero chucking his California military tech career in exchange for manufacturing the best hi fi components. The last page is a litany of anti grav cartridges, and everything else a genius sci fi writer obsessed with audio could dream up.
I worship Dick.
Scanner darkly and other works constantly make allusions to Altec, et. al.- the guy was on the game.
Jonathan
Radio Free Albemuth, which features a main charactor that works in a record store (like PKD did) and later becomes a record company executive (which PKD didn't - too much integrity!).
Great book!
Jeez, I just admitted I'm an audiophile... admitting being a Dickhead is far easier...
"I always play jazz records backwards, they sound better that way"
-Thomas Edison
still find that film one of my favorites.
The music from Blade Runner was by Vangelis and is very good. Because of copyright problems the original filmscore LP has different music from the later issued CD. Both good.
The Director's Cut is the only way to watch the movie.
Not sure how much of this is myth or misconception, but iirc, the movie was released one way initially, and after a lukewarm to cold reception, was changed slightly to broaden its appeal. The original released version is actually not the Director's Cut - that was done later after a copy of the original version resurfaced, and Ridley Scott was commissioned to do his Director's Cut.
I agree - the score is excellent.
Great, great movie, perhaps my personal favorite...still holds up very well even after almost 20 years...lots of interesting trivia at the link below.
I have a copy of the film, and it one of the few that I watch repeatedly.
My favorite. Explored the question of 'reality' vs. 'what the mind perceives as reality'.And yes, he was a full-on audiophile-interest in the sonics as well as the music, constantly changing equipment, etc.etc.
Too bad he's not around to enjoy his new fame-and the money that goes with it. The SF mags didn't pay very well.
not that i am not excited to see a discussion of PKD, vinyl or music - but, um, wasn't everyone into vinyl in 1980? :) but yes, he sounds like he was *more* into it than many.
i remember one of the characters (the policeman?) in "flow my tears..." listened to some interesting music (20th century avant garde and the like). i'm not surprised he was into his gear.
-jmc
I think he worked at a used record store. I believe he had a great interest in classical music.
Note my moniker. PKD fans should get the reference.
Valis
He did work in a record store and he was interested in classical music (although in the piece I quoted from he mentions listening to Bonnie Koloc, who if memory serves was a folksinger).
Coincidentally I'm reading VALIS right now. In the first chapter Dick refers to listening to a Seraphim LP of Handel arias.
50% of the respondents to your post will object to the title because they won't get the reference.
Mark Kelly
nt
I've probably cruelled the pitch by alerting people now so i'm bound to lose.
Mark Kelly
I object.
Even the Dickheads aren't objecting, so are you some kind of weirdo, or what?
ya dickhead, you!
****
If I had more money I'd soon be broke...but I'd have more LPs!
I suspect you're correct (we'll see).
The whole scanner darkly thing and all.
Am I playing the record or is the record
playing me?
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