Description
Dick, Philip K. (1928 – 1982)
A 1965 letter on The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch: ‘what is real and what is hallucination’ with Dick reflecting on his subsequent LSD experiences
A good two-page (two separate sheets) typed letter signed by Philip K. Dick (‘Phil’), February 19th 1965.
Dick writes to his publisher, Lawrence Ashmead at Doubleday & Co. He opens, ‘Dear Mr. Ashmead: Thank you very much for sending on the reviews of The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch to me, and I am enclosing a rather long review of the book from a paper in Toronto.’ He goes on, ‘Reactions to the book which I’ve picked up here and there are interesting. Several people who are active in science-fiction circles (in particular Ted White) liked it enough to make noises as to “it ought to get the Hugo” and at least one of these individuals — an s-f writer himself, but not a friend of mine, although he is located in the Bay area — has been carrying Hugo ballots around, getting people to fill them out for the Palmer Eldritch book… my theory is that the hallucinogenic-drug theme is topical, at this time anyhow, and that’s why the book has stirred up such interest in s-f circles. Possibly the dramatic plot-idea of two such drugs which compete on the market; and, as Clute points out, “Chew-Z is not a hallucinatory drug at all. It’s the real thing.” Clute has gotten onto the central concept of the book: what is “real” and what is “hallucination”. People who have taken hallucinogenic drugs who’ve talked to me couldn’t believe that, in writing the book, I had never taken an hallucinogen. Several of them even declared that I must have “written it while under such a drug”, perhaps LSD. Well, I never had — although I have since.’
The author continues, ‘Of more interest, however, is Clute’s remark in his review that when Palmer Eldritch manifests himself one is confronted by “the merciless all-seeing eyes of a God of horror.” This is important in view of the Deus Irae novel which I’m doing for you, since this, of course, s the Deus Irae which I had in mind when I wrote the outline. Consider the importance for this future book in Clute’s statement here, ‘”It is a vision of the Deity that makes Bergman’ spider a children’s toy”. However, the material which will go into Deus Irae will be quite different from this, due in part to my now having taken LSD and having actually participated in the hallucinatory experience of this sort; no need to dilate on this now, however, since you will of course be receiving the material qua novel in due time. But let me add this: it’s not nearly as bad as I depicted in the Palmer Eldritch book. That was a partial — nightmarish — insight; what I have to draw from now is rounded out… thank God!’
Dick then goes into details relating to the two novels he is working on next: Deus Irae and Now Wait for Last Year, requesting that he writes the latter first, concluding, ‘my desires… are to turn to Now Wait for Last Year immediately. (If not last year.)’
He concludes the letter by noting he is glad to have established direct contact with Ashmead, and ‘I think we’ll get along fine. Eh?’
In very fine condition. Together with a retained carbon copy of a letter from Ashmead to Dick, February 26th 1965 in which he advises that the author should ‘go ahead with Now Wait for Last Year‘ and ‘put Deus Irae in limbo for a while.’
A letter of fine content written at the height of Dick’s output, including rare and interesting comments about one of his most acclaimed works: The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch. Now Wait for Last Year was indeed his next novel to be published — in 1966, and Deus Irae was published letter — in 1976.