Philip K. Dick Books In Order

Publication Order of Blade Runner Books

Publication Order of VALIS Trilogy Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Short Stories/Novellas

Publication Order of Short Story Collections

Publication Order of Graphic Novels

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Publication Order of The Pulp Writers Books

Publication Order of The Last Interview Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

About Philip K. Dick:

Philip K. Dick is a prolific American author of science fiction. He has written novels, essays, and short stories. Dick explored themes of political, sociological, and metaphysical nature which were incorporated into his books which deal heavily with monopolistic businesses, totalitarian government, romance, action, and altered states as well as betrayal and the perception of reality. His books in later years shifted and began to explore the themes he was interested in, metaphysics and theology. Abuse of drugs, paranoia, and schizophrenia were also incorporated heavily into his books, drawing from Philip K. Dick’s own life experiences. He has published 44 books and over a hundred short stories.

Life Of Philip K. Dick

Philip K. Dick was born on December 16, 1928. He was born Philip Kendrick Dick six weeks early with his twin sister Jane Charlotte to his mother Dorothy Kindred Dick and Joseph Edgar Dick. Both of his parents worked for the United States Department Of Agriculture. When his twin sister died six weeks later, it had a profound effect on Philip. His motif of the lost or invisible twin came into many of his novels. His family moved to the area around San Francisco Bay and when Philip was five, his father was transferred to Reno, Nevada. His mother refused to move and Dorothy and Joseph ended up divorcing. They both wanted custody and his mother ended up getting custody of Philip. She moved to Washington D.C. for a job and Philip was enrolled in John Eaton Elementary School from 1932 to 1938. Dorothy and Philip moved back to California in June 1938 and Philip discovered his first interest in science fiction from reading a magazine with science fiction short stories.

Philip went on to attend Berkeley High School in the town of Berkeley, California. He also graduated with fellow future science fiction author Ursula K. Le Guin, but they didn’t know each other. He attended the University of California at Berkeley for a short time and was released with an honorary dismissal in 1950. His major was undeclared and Dick took a variety of courses. He said he was a “cosmic pan en theist”, treating the universe as an extension of God. He read Plato and metaphysical works and came to the conclusion that the world may not be real and that existence is entirely individual based on one’s reality and that the external truth may also exist but be completely different.

The Cosmic Puppets

The Cosmic Puppet was published in 1957 based on a revision of his novella “A Dark Glass Of Darkness”. It follows Ted and Peg Barton as they go on a trip to revisit their old town but come back to realize that nothing looks like it once did. The town has fallen victim to “The Change” and as Ted and Peg meet more of the inhabitants, they come to realize that nothing is as it seems, and a supernatural war of sorts is being waged between two with ultimate powers in the town.

Solar Lottery

Solar Lottery was written in 1954 by Philip K. Dick. It deals with a world where the Quizmaster, the head of the world government, is chosen using an aspect of game theory called minimax. Multiple Quizmasters have been assassinated and assassins are sent out to try and kill the Quizmaster so that the leader earns the respect of the people. The process of getting chosen is called the Solar Lottery. The book follows Ted Benteley as he attempts to get a job in the Quizmaster’s office and becomes involved in a plot of intrigue, conspiracy, and murder.

Books Made Into Movies

Many of Philip K. Dick’s books have been made into movies. Adaptations of his novels have made over $1 billion in profits.

– Bladerunner. This 1982 cult favorite movie starred Harrison Ford as the main character whose job is to hunt down rogue robots, the Nexus 6’s. The movie was directed by Ridley Scott and is loosely adapted from Philip K. Dick’s “Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep?”. Dick was impressed with the film’s depiction of a futuristic and highly populated Los Angeles, but Ridley Scott admitted that he did not read the original material that the movie was based on.

– Total Recall. Total Recall was the first movie made based off of the book by the same name in 1990. It is based on the short story “We Can Remember It For You Wholesale”. Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger in the main role and directed by Paul Verhoeven. The movie deals with the tantalizing promise of getting a vacation or fake memory experience provided to you through the magic of science and companies that are set up to make money off of providing this service. Arnold’s character is happily married to Sharon Stone, but after he goes through the total recall, everything turns upside down and he must flee to Mars to save his life, and find out whether he’s in reality, or something far more fantastical.

– Confession d’un Brujo. Philip K. Dick’s novel “Confessions Of A Crap Artist” was turned into a French movie. It was not a science fiction novel, but a brief montage of science fiction plays on a tv in the movie, showcasing the French people’s acknowledgement of Dick, who has a critical respect there.

– Screamers. Screamers was a 1995 movie based on Dick’s short story “Second Variety”. Starring Peter Weller, the movie changed the location from war torn Earth to a distant planet. A sequel to the movie was released in 2009 straight to video called Screamers: The Hunting.

– Minority Report. Minority Report was made into a movie in 2002 that was directed by Steven Spielberg and starred Tom Cruise in the main role. In the future police departments use pre cogs, or pre cognitive, psychic beings that can tell the future. The departments use these glimpses of the future to arrest people for crimes they have not committed, but will commit in the future.

– Out Of This World/Impostor. Dick’s story Impostor was adapted first as Out Of This World, a British tv series, and then the 2002 movie Impostor, which starred Gary Sinise and Vincent D’Onofrio.

– Paycheck. This 2008 John Woo directed movie starred Ben Affleck and Uma Thurman and was adapted from the same named short story.

– A Scanner Darkly. A Scanner Darkly came out in 2006, was directed by Richard Linklater, and starred Keanu Reeves as the main role, Winona Ryder as an apparent junkie who may be more, and Robert Downey Jr. and Woody Harrelson as sidekicks and functioning drug addicts to the mysterious Substance D.

– Next. Next came out in 2007 and starred Nicolas Cage, based on a short story called “The Golden Man”.

– Radio Free Albermuth. This movie came out in 2010 and is based on the novel of the same name.

– The Adjustment Bureau. This 2011 film thriller starred Matt Damon and Emily Blunt and is based on the short story “The Adjustment Team”.

– Total Recall. This remake starred Colin Farrell in the title role in 2012 with Len Wiseman directing.

2 Responses to “Philip K. Dick”

1. Kelly: 3 years ago

   I first became aware of Philip K. Dick by reading ‘Electric Dreams’ a book of ten short stories that inspired a TV series of the same name which was shown on Channel 4 in the UK. Couldn’t see it on your list but it prompted me to read some of his other works, thanks for compiling all this info it’s very useful.

   Reply
2. Joshua Smith: 6 years ago

   Thank you for this. A friend gave me his literal stack of PKD books and I’ve been wanting to tackle them but I didn’t know in which order to read them. Thanks again!

   Reply