7

I have heard this a couple of times now but I don't know the reasoning behind this. I know that the film adaptation of the novel was released shortly before the authors death.

Also, if this is the case, what was Ridley Scott's response to his distress?

Improve this question
7
  • Thanks for the link there. However, I heard that his take on the film was not what he had imagined and that he was not impressed. Perhaps I have been misinformed though. – PrimalScientist Aug 2 '13 at 12:36
  • 3
    Given that letter he wrote and how he died inbetween the letter and the movie's release it seems pretty unlikely that he had a problem with it. Do you perhaps have a link to anyone claiming he did? – jono Aug 2 '13 at 12:53
  • Will research and see what I can come up with. – PrimalScientist Aug 2 '13 at 12:57
  • After some 'quick' research, it seems he had a problem with early scripts (Herb Jaffe). Considering how long ago it was actually written. I have just seen some information from a fan website: Link Perhaps this is what was actually meant when I read the report (I cannot remember where now as it was a while ago but was always something I sort of thought about...) – PrimalScientist Aug 2 '13 at 13:12
  • 1
    Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep wasn't a short story, it was a novel... – evilsoup Aug 3 '13 at 10:01
23

"Why was Philip K Dick so distressed..."
Easy answer; he wasn't.

If you read Mike Scott's excellent answer, you will see that, although he never saw the completed version, what he did see impressed him significantly enough that he sent a glowingly complimentary letter to the production company, thanking them for their contribution to the field of SciFi, which he felt had been stagnating.

Improve this answer
3
  • Yeah, I read it. PKD did feel that SciFi was stagnating and that the original scripts were extremely sub-par. However, his attitude obviously changed when a new script was written in 1980 and submitted in 1981. Upon seeing an unfinished version of the film he was obviously delighted. Thanks all who helped answer my question. – PrimalScientist Aug 2 '13 at 14:24
  • 2
    You mean the field of futurism ;-) – Zommuter Aug 2 '13 at 14:24
  • Yes, the field of futurism!! =] – PrimalScientist Aug 2 '13 at 14:27

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.