S. Hartwell Johnson (Wenatchee Valley College)
sjoh@****.com (Log-in to reveal)

This panel examines the works and influence of American science fiction author Philip K. Dick. We are interested in proposals about the novels and short stories written by PKD, the many film and television adaptations of those works, the influence of his works and ideas on media of various kinds, and, more generally, the influence of Philiip K. Dick on other science fiction authors. This panel welcomes proposals both related to the conference theme, "Palimpsests: Memory and Oblivion," and those not related.

Philip K. Dick’s contribution to American science fiction, and his influence on media in general, is large and varied. This panel aims to explore those contributions and influences by examining PKD from a wide range of perspectives. PKD is significant not just for his creative contributions to the literature of science fiction, including Ubik, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, A Scanner Darkly, and many more, but also for the way his ideas have been borrowed by numerous other kinds of media including film, television, and video games. Additionally, PKD, as well as other science fiction authors influenced by Dick, seems to invite a special kind of attention within the cultural discourses that their works and ideas help to foment.

This panel hopes to include papers working directly with the novels and short stories of Philip K. Dick as well as papers that address any of the many adaptations of his works. In addition to primary works and direct adaptations, the panel would also be interested in papers that look at the varied films, television series, and other media that were inspired by Dick's works and ideas. Finally, the panel would also welcome papers that examine the mythmaking and criticism that surrounds PKD and many related science fiction authors. This includes the ways science fiction authors are sometimes construed as prophets, purveyors of trash, opportunists, science communicators/popularizers, techno-utopians, and many other varied assessments.