Philip K Dick

Best-known for his sci-fi, cyberpunk novels, Philip Kindred Dick wrote numerous books and over a hundred short stories, many involving socio-political themes and set in authoritarian, repressive futures - usually somewhere in California. Heavily influenced by philosphies and religions including Buddhism,Taosim and the Kabbalah, he was also fond of psychedelic drugs, and in his later life would be plagued by paranoia and disturbing visions. Hollywood has often been attracted to his high-tech, grungy versions of the future, though the sentiment was not returned. Married and divorced five times, Dick died in 1982 at the age of just 52, when his life support was eventually switched off following a stroke. "You would have to kill me and prop me up in the seat of my car with a smile printed on my face to get me to go near Hollywood." - Philip K. Dick