Divine Invasions: A Life of Philip K. Dick

ALSO BY LAWRENCE SUTIN

Do What Thou Wilt: A Life of Aleister Crowley

A Postcard Memoir

Jack and Rochelle:

A Holocaust Story of Love and Resistance

The Shifting Realities of Philip K. Dick: Selected Literary and Philosophical Writings (editor)

Divine
Invasions

Lawrence Sutin

CARROLL & GRAF PUBLISHERS
NEW YORK

Divine Invasions
A Life of Philip K. Dick
Carroll & Graf Publishers
An Imprint of Avalon Publishing Group Inc.
245 West 17th Street
11th Floor
New York, NY 10011

Preface copyright © 2005 Copyright © 1989 by Lawrence Sutin First Carroll & Graf edition 2005

All previously unpublished writings and excerpts from writings by Philip K. Dick included herein, including the story "11-17-80" are copyright © 1989 by the Estate of Philip K. Dick. They are published here by permission of the Estate; all rights reserved. Previously published writings by Philip K. Dick excerpted herein are copyright © as of the year of their first publication, by Philip K. Dick or the Estate of Philip K. Dick. Reprinted by permission; all rights reserved. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher, except by reviewers who may quote brief excerpts in connection with a review in a newspaper, magazine, or electronic publication; nor may any part of this book be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or other, without written permission from the publisher. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available. ISBN: 0-7867-1623-1

9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Printed in the United States of America Distributed by Publishers Group West

To my good and loving parents, Jack and Rochelle Sutin

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The research and writing of this book proved to be an adventure beyond all initial expectations. Those who regard Philip K. Dick's probings into "What is Real?" as mere metaphysical quibblings have never undertaken to write a full account of a life.

I am indebted to so many persons who extended me time and consideration that it seems ungrateful to single out a few for special thanks. But I must mention those whose support was most vital. My agent, Dorothy Pittman, diligently marketed my proposal at a time when those "in the know" declared that a biography of Philip K. Dick was a commercial impossibility. Dorothy was also, for me, the perfect readerone who dreams along with the text. My editor, Michael Pietsch, took the risk of purchasing the book and, in his labors on the manuscript, respected my style and intentions while constantly spurring me to greater clarity and depth. Paul Williams, the literary executor of the Philip K. Dick Estate, provided all the cooperation a biographer could ask for; his sole concern was that, insofar as possible, the truth be told. Anne Dick gave vital support by granting me numerous long interview sessions and access to her excellent book Search for Philip K. Dick. Tessa Dick, Nancy Hackett, and Kleo Mini all graciously responded to my interview queries on their married lives with Phil. Laura Coehlo and Isa Hackett, Phil's daughters, similarly extended their cooperation. Tim Powers, Phil's good and true friend, unstintingly shared his memories, journals, and personal contacts. Joseph Morris, my good and true friend, shared the vision of this book with me throughout.

I interviewed well over one hundred persons who knew Phil or possessed information about him, and I thank all who-out of love and respect for Phil-took the time to talk or write to me. A few of these persons shall, by their own wishes, go nameless here. All errors and omissions in the text are, of course, solely my responsibility. But I can extend my most heartfelt thanks to: Gerald Ackerman, Karen and Poul Anderson, D. Scott Apel, Alexandra Apostolides, Chris and Greg Arena, Lawrence Ashmead, Charles Bennett, James Blaylock, Hatte Blejer, Charles Brown, Jayne Brown, Mildred Downey Broxon, Dr. Harry E. Bryan, Harry and Nita Busby, Carol Carr, the late Terry Carr, Loren Cavit, Lynne Cecil, Richard Daniels, Crania Davis, Thomas Disch, Dick Ellington, Harlan Ellison, Gladys Fabun, Hampton Fancher, Tim Finney, Pat Flannery, James Frenkel, Russell Galen, Evelyn Glaubman, Cynthia Goldstone, Sherry Gottlieb, Ron Goulart, Iskandar Guy, Michael Hackett, Linda Hartinian, David Hartwell, Linda Herman (Librarian, Special Collections, California State University at Fullerton), Neil Hudner, Mark Hurst, Honor Jackson, K. W. Jeter, Dr. George Kohler, Jerry Knight, Dean Koontz, Jerry Kresy, Gwen Lee, Ursula K. Le Guin, Linda Levy/ Taylor, Miriam Lloyd, Richard Lupoff, Vincent and Virginia Lusby, Michelle McFadden, Willis McNelly, Steve Malk, Merry Lou Malone, Barry Malzberg, David May, Ann Montbriand, Bernie Montbriand, Margaret Nearing, Kirsten Nelson, J. G. Newkom, Nicole Panter, David Peoples, Juan and Su Perez, Serena Powers, J. B. Reynolds, Alan Rich, Gregg Rickman, Leon Rimov, Betty Jo Rivers, Gregory Sandow, William Sarill, Doris Sauter, Donald Schenker, Tom Schmidt, Robert Silverberg, Joan Simpson, John Sladek, Barry Spatz, Art Spiegelman, Norman Spinrad, Nit Sprague, the late Roy Squires, Lou Stathis, E. M. Terwilliger, J'Ann Tolman, Ray Torrence, Jeff Wagner, Michael and Susan Walsh, Mary Wilson, Robert Anton Wilson, William Wolfson, Richard Wolinsky, Donald Wollheim, and Roger Zelazny.

My greatest debt is to the courageous spirit of Philip K. Dick.

Lawrence Sutin

Minneapolis

May 1989

CONTENTS

Preface
xi

INTRODUCTION: If Heraclitus Is Right-And "The Nature Of Things Is In The Habit Of Concealing Itself"-Then Where Better To Look For Great Art Than In A Trash Genre?
I

Chapter 1:
This Mortal Coil (December 1928-January 1929)
11

Chapter 2: Coming Of Age And The Onset Of Vertigo (19291944) 20
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Chapter 3:
Forward Into The "Real" World, Or, Phil And The Cosmos Start To Compare Notes Seriously (1944-1950)
45

Chapter 4:
A Real Writer At Last, Phil Learns The Facts Of Life In The SF Ghetto And Tries To Get The Hell Out-But Writes His Best Stuff Inside It (Hence The Confusion) (1950-1958)
66

Chapter 5:
Phil Falls In Love, Becomes A Country Squire, Starts Writing Great Books, & Has "Nervous Breakdown" #3 (Love Can Be A Very Deep Hole 7'o Fall Into) (1958-1963)
97

Chapter 6:
Phil's Marriage Mimics "Reality" By Coming Apart At The Seams, A Vision In The Sky Inspires The Most Brilliant Invasion Of Earth Story Ever Written, And, Country Squire No More, Phil Moves To East (Gak!) Oakland, Gets Weird, And Finds A New Wife (1963-1965)
119

Chapter 7:
A New Start, A Quiet Life, Then Everything Falls Apart Again-And Phil Can't Find The Handy Spray Can Of Ubik That Could Make It All Cohere (1965-1970)
145

Chapter 8: Dark Night Of The Soul, Dark-Haired Girls, A Scanner Darkly-It's Always Darkest Before The Dawn, Of Course, But Try Remembering That When The Shit Has Finally Hit The Fan Like It Does In Those Weird Phil Dick Novels (1970-1972) 168
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Chapter 9:
Contemplating Suicide In A Foreign Land, Phil Decides Instead To Commence A New Life From The Bottom Up, Kicks The Amphetamine Urge, Finds A New Wife In Orange County, Writes A Tragic Classic On The Drug Culture, And Concludes That Reality Is "Amazingly Simple" Just As His Life Is Turned Upside Down Once More (1972-1974)
187

Chapter 10: Annus Mirabilis: Information-Rich Pink Light, The Black Iron Prison And The Palm Tree Garden Superimposed, Christopher's Life Saved, A Meta-abstraction Of Ultimate Infinite Value-But Who KNEW What The Hell It REALLY Meant? Not Phil, Not Even As It Beamed Out Nightly Dreams Explaining It All In Giant Books (February 1974-February 1975) 208
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Chapter 11:
As 2-3-74 Ripens Into Valis, Phil Fashions New Theories Nightly Yet Wonders-Meta-abstractions Be Damned-If Ever He'll Find The True Love He Deserves (Who Doesn't?), While Slowly He Discovers (Sometimes) Something Like Happiness Anyway (1975-1978)
234

Chapter 12: Big Bucks And Condo Comfort, First Mainstream Sale To A New York House, The Gosh Wow Hollywood Dazzle Of Blade Runner-None Of These Are Enough, Not Nearly, Not With A World Crying Out For Redemption And Stubborn Reality Still Undefined; But Time Is Running Out And Phil Knows It (1979-1982) 260
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Chronological Survey and Guide
290