Review: “The Preserving Machine and Other Stories” by Philip K. Dick – “Total Recall” by Paul Verhoeven (Arnold Schwarzenegger) – Len Wiseman (Colin Farrell)

PODCAST:

S2E12 – The Preserving Machine and Other Stories*

Listen to the podcast here (click to play/right click and select “save target as” to download):

WRITTEN BOOK REVIEWS:

Ryan: 3 Stars “…An early collection of short stories touching on cold-war era fears, and other weird pseudo-realities…”

Wilk: 3 Stars “…The movie Total Recall is superior in every way…”

Rick: 5 Stars “…This is a nicely packaged story packed with ideas that inspired two of the best Sci-fi films…”

(Click the links to read full written reviews on Goodreads.com)

SUBJECT MATTER:

Book:“The Preserving Machine and Other Stories” by Philip K. Dick

“Ace paperback original. 1976 printing with new cover art. Collection of stories including: The Preserving Machine [Dr. Rupert Labyrinth] (1953); War Game (1959); Upon the Dull Earth (1954); Roog (1953); War Veteran (1955); Top Stand-By Job [Jim Briskin] (1963); Beyond Lies the Wub (1952); We Can Remember It for You Wholesale (1966); Captive Market (1955); If There Were No Benny Cemoli (1963); Retreat Syndrome (1965); The Crawlers (1954); Oh, to Be a Blobel! (1964); What the Dead Men Say (1964); Pay for the Printer (1956).” (from Amazon.com)

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Film:“Total Recall” by Paul Verhoeven (Arnold Schwarzenegger)

“Action star extraordinaire Arnold Schwarzenegger is Quaid, a 2084 construction worker haunted by dreams of Mars. Against the wishes of his wife (Sharon Stone), Quaid goes to a company that implants artificial memories, so he can “remember” visiting the red planet. However, Quaid is actually a secret agent from Mars – or is he?” (from Amazon.com)

*** * ***

Film:“Total Recall” by Len Wiseman (Colin Farrell)

“Total Recall is an action thriller about reality and memory, inspired anew by the famous short story “We Can Remember It For You Wholesale” by Philip K. Dick.” (from Amazon.com)

 

SHOW NOTES:

We discuss one of our favorite authors in one of our more contentious shows. The author bio may have gone a little over the approximate 10 minutes usually spent on bios but since Dick’s first bio with NDIOS was so light and reduced him to a random crazy, there was a need to flesh the poor guy out a tad. In the show, Wilk demonstrates exceedingly tactful and gentlemanly debate maneuvers to convince us that he is right on all accounts once again…

Anyway, if you have a book report due and you hope to grasp any insight you can find on PK Dick’s legendary short story, “We can Sell it to Wholesale”, I can’t really say if you are looking in the right place. Better read it and form your own interpretation.

Adieu, my dear friends.

-Rick

FUN FACTOIDS:

Philip K. Dick is a well respected author in the science fiction community and his works often feature themes which blur the lines of reality. Much has been made about this author’s own personal struggles that also seemed to explore these themes.

Check out this documentary about Philip K. Dick which focuses on the author’s mystical experiences: “The Penultimate Truth About Philip K. Dick” on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afam25BJMeU&list=PL0C6AAE4A6BC928CE

 

ADDENDUM: On this episode we talked about claims that PKD was known for speaking in ancient languages and how this was witnessed by others. On Episode #348 of the “Geek’s Guide to the Galaxy” podcast, host David Barr Kirtley interviews American science fiction author and astrophysicist Gregory Benford who personally knew PKD. Starting at about the 28:28 mark in the interview Benford discusses witnessing first hand PKD speak in ancient koine Greek. Take a listen: https://geeksguideshow.com/2019/02/07/ggg348-gregory-benford/.

 

 

 

* DISCLAIMER: Please be advised that the views and opinions of the hosts and guests of NDIOS are completely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views and beliefs of the other hosts and guests or that of NDIOS.

Preview Episode (Total Recall)

PODCAST:

S2P12 – Preview Episode (Total Recall)*

Listen to the podcast here (click to play/right click and select “save target as” to download):

 

SUBJECT MATTER:

Book:“The Preserving Machine and Other Stories” by Philip K. Dick

“Ace paperback original. 1976 printing with new cover art. Collection of stories including: The Preserving Machine [Dr. Rupert Labyrinth] (1953); War Game (1959); Upon the Dull Earth (1954); Roog (1953); War Veteran (1955); Top Stand-By Job [Jim Briskin] (1963); Beyond Lies the Wub (1952); We Can Remember It for You Wholesale (1966); Captive Market (1955); If There Were No Benny Cemoli (1963); Retreat Syndrome (1965); The Crawlers (1954); Oh, to Be a Blobel! (1964); What the Dead Men Say (1964); Pay for the Printer (1956).” (from Amazon.com)

*** * ***

Film:“Total Recall” by Paul Verhoeven (Arnold Schwarzenegger)

“Action star extraordinaire Arnold Schwarzenegger is Quaid, a 2084 construction worker haunted by dreams of Mars. Against the wishes of his wife (Sharon Stone), Quaid goes to a company that implants artificial memories, so he can “remember” visiting the red planet. However, Quaid is actually a secret agent from Mars – or is he?” (from Amazon.com)

*** * ***

Film:“Total Recall” by Len Wiseman (Colin Farrell)

“Total Recall is an action thriller about reality and memory, inspired anew by the famous short story “We Can Remember It For You Wholesale” by Philip K. Dick.” (from Amazon.com)

* DISCLAIMER: Please be advised that the views and opinions of the hosts and guests of NDIOS are completely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views and beliefs of the other hosts and guests or that of NDIOS.

Review: “Starship Troopers” (Robert A. Heinlein) and “Starship Troopers” (Paul Verhoeven)

PODCAST:

Listen to the podcast here (click to play/right click and select “save target as” to download):

S1E5 – Starship Troopers (Book/Movie)*

WRITTEN BOOK REVIEWS:

Ryan: 3 Stars “Full Metal Jacket with Bugs (minus the bugs)…”

Wilk: 4 Stars “This is a great book in its own right- do not read this expecting an action filled romp like the movie…”

Rick: 1 Star “There is such a disproportionate description of military technology, military protocol, ‘morals’, and ‘ethics’ juxtaposed with the minute story line, I have every reason to believe it is merely a propaganda tool rather than artful sci-fi…”

Bob (guest): “I enjoyed Heinlein’s subtle but consistent portrayal of women being equal or superior to men. He doesn’t hammer it, it is just part of the thread…”

(Click the links to read full written reviews on Goodreads.com)

SUBJECT MATTER:

“Starship Troopers” by Robert A. Heinlein

Book: “Starship Troopers” by Robert A. Heinlein

“In one of Robert Heinlein’s most controversial bestsellers, a recruit of the future goes through the toughest boot camp in the Universe–and into battle with the Terran Mobile Infantry against mankind’s most frightening enemy.” (from Amazon.com)

*** * ***

“Starship Troopers” by Paul Verhoeven

Movie: “Starship Troopers” by Paul Verhoeven (Casper Van Dien)

“STARSHIP TROOPERS charts the lives of elite members of the Mobile Infantry, a corps of dedicated young men and women soldiers fighting side-by-side in the ultimate intergalactic war… the battle to save humankind. The enemy is mysterious and incredibly powerful with only one mission: survival of their species no matter what the human cost. ” (from Amazon.com)

WILK’S SHOW NOTES:

Another month and another podcast. As our inevitable and forgettable lives dwindle away we measure the banality by talking into a plastic bubble. Our words are sent into space where they exist to provide solace to others. The solace in knowing that they have succeeded where we have failed. As we live upon our knees we meekly use a medium that requires no eye contact. Our only prayer is that no mirror catches our gaze, in that we cannot bear to look upon ourselves.

This month we explored the novel “Starship Troopers” written by Robert A. Heinlein. We also had our first guest, Bob Wilkinson. It was later revealed, in a classic “No Deodorant” style twist, that Bob was the father of Wilk. Hilarity ensued.

In all honesty it is hard to recall what actually did ensue. The writer of the show notes, me, drank to the point of almost blacking out during the podcast. I recall saying that I did not support the troops and discussing liberal vs. libertarian philosophy, but other than that everything else is a blur (here is a link to the Heinlein Society website mentioned in the show: http://www.heinleinsociety.org/). So, below are some bullet points of things that may have happened:

• Everyone but Ryan enjoyed the book despite the lack of action
• Rick is against nuclear testing
• Ryan said “no one is requiring you to drink”
• The movie is fantastic and has a different political viewpoint than the book
• Something offensive (actually many offensive things)
• The book was very well written but had a political bent that many may disagree with.

I can only speak for myself and my Dad, but we both loved this book. I think that the nostalgia element of the book played a factor for Bob.

Overall, I would wholeheartedly recommend that you do not drink a fifth of bourbon while discussing this book.

So, until next time, don’t eat a lot of raw garlic, because there is no deodorant in Outer Space! * – Wilk

 

 

* DISCLAIMER: Please be advised that the views and opinions of the hosts and guests of NDIOS are completely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views and beliefs of the other hosts and guests or that of NDIOS.