Book review: The Exegesis of Philip K. Dick
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The Exegesis of Philip K. Dick
by Philip K. Dick
Iconic science fiction writer Philip K. Dick, PKD to non-noobs, had a series of religious, or psychotic, or neuro-farting episodes during months of February and March of 1974. You know: visitation from angels, pink beams, gnosis from the Lord and / or aliens. The kind of stuff you find on other side of the rainbow. Dick referred to these events as “2-3-74.” “2-3-74” informed all his novels thereafter. The theological bent of these novels divided fans, but I think they are some of his best. Those novels are only a gleaming of the thousands of pages he wrote trying to make sense of “2-3-74.” Dick called this unending (unendable?) nonfiction work as his “exegesis.” Fans called it the holy grail. Locked away for years, it has been unearthed and edited to a somewhat manageable size (800+ pages) by Jonathan Lethem and Pamela Jackson. So now we can dig into the raw stuff. Dick’s real reactions to his mystical experiences.
This probably isn’t the best place for noobs to start but who knows maybe it is best to just dive right in the deep end. For those not interested in SF novels, I would recommend this book for the seekers, the wanderers, those that still haven’t found what they are looking for (though this text might be a cruel joke) or anyone whose knowledge of Christianity is sufficient enough to be familiar with the word Parakletos. For years critics have been saying Dick is our Dostoyevsky, our Borges, and now he can also be our Jung, our Swedenborg, our Meister Eckhart. Go non-noob yourself.
- Bryan
Themocracy