American Writers (One Hundred Pages at a Time)

Philip K. Dick Book Club: Episode 65: Strange Eden

And now for a story I really do not like, "Strange Eden". "Strange Eden" is a story of ancient alien explorers mixed with some mighty strange sexual politics.

Episode 86: James Fenimore Cooper: The Deerslayer (2)

In this episode I look at chapters 7 through 12 of James Fenimore Cooper's novel, "The Deerslayer." In this section, the Deerslayer, Natty Bummpo, makes his first kill and the mystery of the box of pirate treasure is examined.

The Philip K. Dick Boook Club: Episode 64: The Father-Thing

In this episode of the Philip K. Dick Book Club, we look at the short story "The Father-Thing". It is a story about who children see the emotional instability of their parents. It is also (it seems) a story of childish imagination and adventure in a suburban environment.

Episode 85: James Fenimore Cooper: The Deerslayer (1)

Time to insanely charge into the Leatherstocking Tales. We will begin with the first in the series (although the last one published), "The Deerslayer." So, let's meet Natty Bummpo and his friends as they arrive at Glimmerglass.

Philip K. Dick Book Club: Episode 63: The Turning Wheel

In "The Turning Wheel", Philip K. Dick explores Eastern religions and the broader realtionship between the technocratic life and the religious life. It is one of his strongest early stories dealing with technology.

Episode 84: Louisa May Alcott: Jo's Boys (2)

Our final episode in this series on Louisa May Alcott. In the second half of "Jo's Boys" our major heroes face adult challanges and even life and death choices.

Philip K. Dick Book Club: Episode 62: Progeny

In this episode, I look at Philip K. Dick's story "Progeny." How much power should we give to those we raise and educate our children? Can the posthuman (transhuman?) be achieved simply through education?

Episode 83: Louisa May Alcott: Jo's Boys (1)

It is ten years after the events of "Little Men" and we check in on the adulthood of the graduates of Plumfield. In this episode, we look at Alcott's final novel "Jo's Boys".

Episode 82: Louisa May Alcott: Little Men (3)

The finale of my series on Louisa May Alcott's "Little Men."

Philip K. Dick Book Club: Episode 61: The Last of the Masters

In this episode we look at Dick's sole tale looking specifically at anarchism. While anarchist themes run throughout his works, he only examined the concept directly in this sci-fi tale, "The Last of the Masters." And through this tale, Dick explores the germ of the state and the relationships between automation and freedom and government.

Episode 81: Louisa May Alcott. Little Men (2)

Part 2 of my thoughts on Louisa May Alcott's "Little Men," which includes my ideas on the central chapter of the novel "Damon and Pythias". 

Philip K. Dick Book Club: Episode 60: Upon the Dull Earth

"You! You're not Silvia. You are one of the Kung Fu Creatures on the Ramage 2"

"Upon the Dull Earth" is a story by Philip K. Dick. A little help?

Episode 80: Louisa May Alcott, Little Men (1)

We continue our look into the "Little Women" trilogy with "Little Men". How are Jo's students and family doing at her school in Plumfield? What does Alcott have to tell us in this novel about education, family, second chances, and growing up?

Philip K. Dick Book Club: Episode 59: Shell Game

In "Shell Game", a preview of his great novel "Clans of the Alphane Moon", Dick explores the military, paranoia, and mental illness. Are our delusions products of our environment and training?

Episode 79: Louis May Alcott: Little Women-Conclusion

In this episode we come to the end of Alcott's novel "Little Women," but we have a lot more Alcott to discuss as we explore the sequals.

 

Philip K. Dick Book Club: Episode 58: Souvenir

Once again Philip K. Dick takes us to the frontier and evaluates empire, cultural homogenity, technology, and work in his brilliant story "Souvenir". In this story, Dick expands his ideas on crafting, human-scaled technology, and the meaning of work. He will fully develop these ideas in "Galactic Pot-Healer" a decade later.

Philip K. Dick Book Club: Episode 56: Prize Ship

Opps. I guess I messed up the order of episodes.

"Prize Ship" by Philip K. Dick is a story that exploress the consequences of time travel and an expanding universe, war, and the frontier.

Episode 78: Louisa May Alcott, Little Women (4)

We are reaching the climax of Louisa May Alcott's "Little Women." In the second half of the novel the story moves to focus on Amy and Jo and their futures in relationships and art.

Philip K. Dick Book Club: Episode 57: World of Talent

One of Philip K. Dick's masterpieces, "A World of Talent" explores posthumanism,  the frontier, war, and governmental conspiracies. This story brings to a capstone many of Dick's early ideas and themes.

Episode 77: Louisa May Alcott, Little Women (3)

Part 3 of my review of "Little Women" covers Beth's recovery, the return of Mr. March, and the journies of the women as they enter into adult careers.

 

Philip K. Dick Book Club: Episode 55: Meddler

In "Meddler", Philip K. Dick gives us a time travel loop story. We have seen these plenty of times. What do you think of Philip K. Dick's take on this old story? Can meddling in the future change the present?

Episode 76: Louisa May Alcott, Little Women (2)

Second part of my series on Louisa May Alcott's "Little Women." How do the girls get along without their mother and when facing disease and death?

Philip K. Dick Book Club: Episode 54: Adjustment Team

Why do we give such power to urban planners and developers? What are their goals? Should we allow those in power to manipulate our reality for a greater good? These are just some of the questions explored in Philip K. Dick's story "Adjustment Team".

Episode 75: Louisa May Alcott, Little Women (1)

In this episode, we begin a new series looking at the "Little Women" triology. We will begin with "Little Women." So let's all be reintroduced to Jo, Beth, Meg, Amy, Mrs. March and Laurie.

Philip K. Dick Book Club: Episode 53: Exhibit Piece

In "Exhibit Piece", Philip K Dick explores time travel and history and gives an ironic look at 1950s conformity. Was the 1950s the peak of American consumeri conformity or was it really, just maybe, a golden age of free minded individualism? Maybe it all depends on how the future turns out.

Episode 74: Jack London: Assorted Stories-2

Our final episode on Jack London looks at some of his later stories. J-Lo has been fun, but it is time to move onto different things (bigger and better?).

"The Strength of the Strong"
"War"
"The Mexican"
"Told from the Drooling Ward"
"The Water Baby"
"The Red One"

Philip K. Dick Book Club: Episode 52: Crawlers

Philip K. Dick explores posthumanism and the relationship between the abnormal and the state in "Crawlers." Are posthumans a threat? Whare is our moral burden for communities destroyed by nuclear testing?

Episode 73: Jack London: Assorted Stories (1)

A handful of stories by Jack London are looked at in this episode, including some of his best stories of the Pacific and urban America.
"All Gold Canyon"
"The Apostate"
"A Piece of Steak"
"The Chinago"
"Mauki"
"Koolau the Leper"
"South of Slot"

Philip K. Dick Book Club: Episode 51: Of Withered Apples

The next in a series of short stories by Philip K. Dick that explored marriage, but unlike the others ("Human Is," "Beyond the Door," :Our in the Garden"), "Of Withered Apples" is set in a rural setting.

Episode 72: Jack London: Klondike Tales, Part 2

In this episode, I look at six more of J-Lo's short stories set in the Klondike gold rush.
"God of his Fathers"
"Batard"
"The League of Old Men"
"Love of Life"
"The Wit of Portortuk"
"To Build at Fire"

Philip K. Dick Book Club: Episode 50: Breakfast at Twilight

What would you risk for another couple years of peace? Is war worse than death? Dick explores these questions in "Breakfast at Twilight."

Episode 71: Jack London, Klondike Tales

In thsi episode, I look at six of Jack London's Klondike tales, the stories produced from his experiences in the Yukon gold rush.
"To the Man on the Trail"
"The White Silence"
"In a Far Country"
"The Wisdom of the Trail"
"An Odyssey of the North"
"The Law of Life"

Philip K. Dick Book Club: Episode 49 Sales Pitch

In "Sales Pitch", Philip K. Dick considers consumer society, the commute, and the frontier, but fails once again to see the value of automation.

Philip K. Dick Book Club: Episode 48: Prominent Author

In "Prominent Author," Philip K Dick goes back to an old interesst of his: explaiing the origin of the world religions using the devices of science fiction. Could the  Bible have been written by a time traveller?

Episode 70: Jack London, The Sea-Wolf (3)

The final part of my examination of Jack London's "The Sea-Wolf." In this episode I suggest that Maud Brewster may be the real hero of the story.
This ends out look at Jack London's books, but we still have his stories (25 of them), which we will look at over the next two weeks.

Philip K. Dick Book Club: Episode 47: Survey Team

"Survey Team" by Philip K. Dick explores the question of over-conumption and war and the morality of abusers getting another chance (they don't get one).

Episode 69: Jack London: The Sea-Wolf (2)

Part 2 of my review of Jack London's "The Sea-Wolf." In this part, I take on the question of resistance and take a closer look at the character of Humphrey Van Weyden.

Episode 68: Jack London: The Sea-Wolf (1)

In this episode, we look at the first chapters of Jack London's "The Sea-Wolf" and take a close look at the villain of the tale, the sealing schooner captain Wolf Larsen.

Philip K. Dick Book Club: Episode 46.2: The World Jones Made (2)

Part 2 of my comments on Philip K. Dick's novel "The World Jones Made".

Philp K. Dick Book Club: Episode 46.1, The World Jones Made (1)

In this episode we look at a novel (slightly out of chronological order), "The World Jones Made." This novel takes on three interelated themes: precognition/mutation, the frontier, and individualism in a totalitarian state.