This is brilliant. I read Ubik a few years back, and I absolutely loved it, but none of my friends were interested in reading it, so I didn't get to discuss it with anyone. So it's just lovely to hear such a smart conversation about it. I have no idea how the algorithm got me to you, but I'm glad it did.
So glad you enjoyed the episode! You can find more discussion of science-fiction in our back catalogue, including Blade Runner, 2001 A Space Odyssey and Akira
25:00 William Gibson never once painted for us a "cool sci-fi location". All of his descriptions serve the purpose of elaborating how the technology works, and why it does what it does.
It really feels like Dick is trying to promote God and religion with this book. Am I missing something? Or is this just religious propoganda to promote the idea of faith?
I didn’t get that feeling. To me it was more a social commentary about people and technology. As we get more advanced, technology becomes more ubiquitous, like how everyone has smartphones now. The spray, Ubik, is what helped the character not get lost in the past. The character was reliant on Ubik to survive. Almost like we are all slaves to modern technology and must use it to not fade away in society. This is reinforced by the door that costs money to open in the apartment. Humans literally become controlled by ubiquitous technology as we advance. I don’t know PKDs opinions on the matter of technology, but it was an interesting topic to think about for me.
This is brilliant. I read Ubik a few years back, and I absolutely loved it, but none of my friends were interested in reading it, so I didn't get to discuss it with anyone. So it's just lovely to hear such a smart conversation about it. I have no idea how the algorithm got me to you, but I'm glad it did.
So glad you enjoyed the episode! You can find more discussion of science-fiction in our back catalogue, including Blade Runner, 2001 A Space Odyssey and Akira
Great job mates. Great review
10 more hours of this please
cheers, mate
Your Podcast is amazing. I’m sadly binge watching as I work away at my Masters. Your debates are spot on. Thank you!
25:00 William Gibson never once painted for us a "cool sci-fi location". All of his descriptions serve the purpose of elaborating how the technology works, and why it does what it does.
We agree, for more of our thoughts check out our two-part series on Neuromancer: th-cam.com/video/lmLfkgR1wJ4/w-d-xo.htmlsi=xSV0xgKSdRrGJheO
Will you do some modern architects? Like BIG
Do you imagine that Ubik could be made into a commercially viable film?
it could work but you'd need to lean into the stylisation / tropiness and flattened affect. weirdly could be quite a good wes anderson film i think.
Only Christopher Nolan could do that
GREAT DEBATE AND TALK!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!
Kings Arms Pub
How COOL 😎
I have no idea how you guys sit like that, and for and hour no less. I couldn't sit like that for even one minute.
Y.o.u.t.h.
It really feels like Dick is trying to promote God and religion with this book. Am I missing something? Or is this just religious propoganda to promote the idea of faith?
Oh no. Not God. Noooop. No one smart can ever believe in anything but nothing mattering! Grow up child
I didn’t get that feeling. To me it was more a social commentary about people and technology. As we get more advanced, technology becomes more ubiquitous, like how everyone has smartphones now.
The spray, Ubik, is what helped the character not get lost in the past. The character was reliant on Ubik to survive. Almost like we are all slaves to modern technology and must use it to not fade away in society. This is reinforced by the door that costs money to open in the apartment. Humans literally become controlled by ubiquitous technology as we advance.
I don’t know PKDs opinions on the matter of technology, but it was an interesting topic to think about for me.