The New York Times has a book critic named Molly Young who writes a column/newsletter called "Read Like the Wind," which offers book recommendations for both old and new titles. (Apparently there are people who need book recommendations. I have recommended hundreds of books to myself, but only manage to read a few dozen every year.)
The latest column is called "The Essential Philip K. Dick," and Young discusses Dick and recommends ten of his books, with recommendations aimed at different reader interests, e.g. what to read if you are totally new to Dick, what to read if you want his best novel (Young says it is Ubik, which I still haven't read) and so on. I've read something like 5-10 Dick books, but Young is obviously is more well-read on Dick than I am, and apparently a bigger fan. The above photo from Twitter shows the license plate on her car.
My favorite Dick novel is The Man In the High Castle. I haven't felt a huge urge to read him since reading Now Wait For Last Year a few years ago, although I suppose I ought to try Valis and Ubik.
Here is Molly Young's website. And you can follow her on Twitter.
Hat tip, Nick Helseg-Larsen, although also I also take the Times and subscribe to Ms. Young's newsletter.
4 comments:
We talked about Ubik when you stayed with Adie and I in August!
Ubik is my choice, too. Give it a try. Now Wait for Last Year is minor (resist temptation to bad jokes) Dick.
Ubik, The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch, We Can Build You, Valis & The Divine Invasion stand out as my favorite PKD books. I also like the edited Exegesis for the (possible) non-fiction of his.
I love Phil's last four novels: Valis, The Divine Invasion, The Transmigration of Timothy Archer, and Radio Free Albemuth.
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