The Postmodern Humanism of Philip K. Dick

Vest (English and applied linguistics, U. of Guam) compares the work of US science fiction writer Dick (d. 1982) with that of Franz Kafka, Jorge Luis Borges, and Italo Calvino. Though Dick has not attained canonical status because of the ill repute of science fiction, he says, he has become recognized as a major writer whose contributions to American literature and culture cannot be denied. His topics include science fiction, humanism, and postmodern literature; the metamorphosis of science fiction; parallel minds and alternate worlds; divine textualities; time, love, and narcosis; and Dick in the 21st century. Annotation 穢2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)