Introductions

I think I discussed it in the last version of SOC, but I met Philip K. Dick several times before I knew who he was. I lived in Buena Park, adjacent to Fullerton, California, and was in college in Fullerton. Because it was too easy for me to distract myself at home, I had a habit of going to a 24-hour restaurant in Fullerton when I had a paper to write or something to research for school.

The restaurant had an overflow area that was generally closed by midnight, but the waitresses let me use it, and I would usually be by myself there. I'd order something to eat, and then drink coffee for hours and leave a large tip.

Once in a while, another guy would come in to do what seemed to be the same thing. He would sit in another part of the overflow area, and we'd generally acknowledge one another with a wave and sometimes a verbal hello. Then, he introduced himself as "Phil" one night, and I introduced myself. The next time we were both there, we talked a little more, and he told me he wrote books, saying something along the lines of "probably not anything you've heard of."

Not so. He was Philip K. Dick, and I had already read several of his books and knew that he lived in the area because some of his books were set in that area. It was nothing approaching a friendship, but we acknowledged one another, and I resisted asking for an autograph.

On 20 Feb 2016, I finished reading "Counterfeit Unrealities" (a collection of 4 novellas) by Philip K. Dick published by the Science Fiction Book Club in 2022. It includes: "The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch" & "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep" & "Ubik" & "A Scanner Darkly."

On 11 Feb 2017, I finished reading: "Selected Stories of Philip K. Dick," introduction by Jonathan Lethem (2002, ISBN 0-375-42151-3). I remember (I think) liking all of these stories.

I write down when I finish reading a book which I started doing when Shelfari was in existence. It's a tragedy he died at only 53 years old. I plan in the near future to read other Philip K. Dick novels which I have in Library of America editions.
 
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