"The Empire is the institution, the codification, of derangement; it is insane and imposes its insanity on us by violence, since its nature is a violent one... The Empire never ended."
Philip K. Dick was largely unknown during his lifetime. Many of his best works were written in marathon writing sessions, fueled by amphetamines to get his books done and collect a paycheck as quickly as possible. It wasn't until the release of the movie Blade Runner in 1982 (months after Dick's death) that the world started to take notice of Dick's twisted sensibilities, paranoid obsessions, and wholly original novels. The Cyberpunk movement, largely inspired by the success of Blade Runner, took Dick's themes of reality, identity, and the individual in the face of authoritarianism, and brought them into the Information Age. Since then, the influence of Dick can be seen in all media. Here are just a few examples of Dick's lasting legacy.
The Matrix - The paragon of modern mind-benders, and a striking example of the influence of Philip K. Dick on popular culture. At this point, the lot of this movie should be a secret to no one: a disillusioned computer hacker realizes that reality is not as it seems, and that what he knows as the "real world" is actually a virtual reality created by bug-like machines that harvest human beings for energy. More action-oriented than the novels of Philip K. Dick, but does an excellent job of framing existential crises in larger-than-life terms. The film also shares with Dick an obsession with Eastern philosophy and the Second Coming.
Vurt by Jeff Noon - A twisted novel of drugs and inter-dimensional travel. The story takes place in a society that has been transformed by a hallucinogenic drug called Vurt, which transports users into a series of shared virtual realities. Users enter Vurt by tickling the back of their throat with colored feathers, each feather offering a doorway to a different "trip." The story centers around Scribble and his gang the Stash Riders as they hunt for the rare and dangerous "Curious Yellow" feather so that Scribble can rescue his sister Desdemona who was lost in one of the alternate realities of Vurt. A one-of-a-kind and very psychedelic novel.
Amnesia Moon by Jonathan Lethem - Author Jonathan Lethem has played a significant role in bringing new literary attention to the works of Philip K. Dick (see this article he wrote for Virginia Quarterly), and this early novel shows that he shares Dick's bizarre imagination and biting social commentary. The hero of this book is a man named Chaos, an amnesiac living in the projection booth of an abandoned movie theater in post-apocalyptic America. Upon learning that he is a "dreamer," a person whose dreams can re-make reality (like the hero of Le Guin's Lathe of Heaven), Chaos is thrown into a hallucinatory cross-country odyssey through an America twisted by apocalyptic events, but still eerily familiar.
The Invisibles by Grant Morrison, et al. - Cult comic book writer Grant Morrison is no stranger to alternate worlds and twisted psyches (see The Filth, Doom Patrol, etc.) but The Invisibles is his magnum opus. The Invisibles is a secretive cell of supercool anarchist freedom fighters, battling repressive shadow governments, creatures from alternate dimensions, and oppression of all stripes, physical and psychic. The series, which ran from 1994-2000 and has since been collected in 7 trade paperbacks, is chock full of time travel, magic, violence, sex, and Grant Morrison's crazy and always fascinating ideas.
eXistenZ - All the films by Canadian director David Cronenburg are concerned with memory and identity in a way that would make Philip K. Dick proud. However, this sci-fi thriller is probably the closest to Dick's own vision. It involves an immersive biological video game, whose consoles are living organisms which attach directly to the mind of the player. During a test run of the system, someone attempts to assassinate the game's maker which sends her on the run, with a journalist acting as a reluctant body guard. The two are pursued through level after level of the game, until their motives and even their own identities become suspect. An under-appreciated sci-fi gem.
OK Computer by Radiohead - The album OK Computer by British band Radiohead is widely regarded to be one of the best and most influential rock albums of the 1990s. The dense production and alien sounds of the music blend seamlessly with lead singer Thom Yorke's claustrophobic and angst-ridden songs of 21st Century life. However, just like in the novels of Philip K. Dick (of whom Radiohead are admitted fans), ultimately there is a (sometimes dim) light of hope shining through. This album is a masterpiece.
LP5 by Autechre - The British electronic duo Autechre make musical worlds that are highly reminiscent of the literary ones that Philip K. Dick inhabits. Autechre's dense, polyrhythmic, and often harsh electronic soundscapes can boggle the mind, and a listener may at first feel lost and confused amidst the apparent dischord and shifting sonics. However, persistent listening will reveal "keys" to understanding their songs -- a lilting melody or persistent beat buried in the mix -- serving as an anchor for your ear and opening you up to the haunting beauty hidden amidst the chaos. LP5 is a good place for someone new to Autechre to start, as its (comparative) accessibility will help the new listener acclimate to the group's twisted aesthetic before jumping into the bolder sonic experiments of Confield or Chiastic Slide.