Voices From the Street
Encyclopedia
Voices From The Street is an early realist, non-science fiction novel by science fiction
author Philip K. Dick
, written in the early 1950s. Unpublished at the time, it was released on January 23, 2007 by Tor Books
for the first time.
As with many of his early books which were considered unsuitable for publication when they were first submitted as manuscripts, this was not science fiction
, but rather literary fiction. The original manuscript was 547 pages in length. There is some speculation that the unpleasant marriage in the manuscript may be an attempt by Dick to sort out his own faltering second marriage to Kleo Apostolides (1950-58), as noted in Lawrence Sutin and Emmanuel Carriere's biographies of the author.
, and appears again in Dick's later post-apocalyptic science fiction novel Dr. Bloodmoney (1964), again as proprietor of a television and radio repair shop, although he is killed in the opening stages of World War III
. The character of Hadley also returns in Dr. Bloodmoney, as a black man, as opposed to the Caucasian character that he was in Voices from the Street, and again in Dick's science fiction novel The Crack in Space
(1966). In this novel, the character is once again Caucasian, and works for a character named Darius Pethel, who is essentially the same as Fergesson. However, despite these multiple appearances of characters, the books in which this happens are mutually exclusive, and the characters in each make no references to incidents that took place in the others.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
author Philip K. Dick
Philip K. Dick
Philip Kindred Dick was an American novelist, short story writer and essayist whose published work is almost entirely in the science fiction genre. Dick explored sociological, political and metaphysical themes in novels dominated by monopolistic corporations, authoritarian governments and altered...
, written in the early 1950s. Unpublished at the time, it was released on January 23, 2007 by Tor Books
Tor Books
Tor Books is one of two imprints of Tom Doherty Associates LLC, based in New York City. It is noted for its science fiction and fantasy titles. Tom Doherty Associates also publishes mainstream fiction, mystery, and occasional military history titles under its Forge imprint. The company was founded...
for the first time.
As with many of his early books which were considered unsuitable for publication when they were first submitted as manuscripts, this was not science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
, but rather literary fiction. The original manuscript was 547 pages in length. There is some speculation that the unpleasant marriage in the manuscript may be an attempt by Dick to sort out his own faltering second marriage to Kleo Apostolides (1950-58), as noted in Lawrence Sutin and Emmanuel Carriere's biographies of the author.
Synopsis
Official synopsis:- Stuart Hadley is a young radio-electronics salesman in early 1950s Oakland, California. Hadley is also an angry young man, an artist, a dreamer, and a screw-up. He has what many would consider an ideal life; a nice house, a pretty wife, a good job with prospects of advancement, but he still feels unfulfilled; something is missing from his life. From drinking to sex to religious fanaticism, Hadley unsuccessfully tries to fill his void. He reacts to his wife's love and kindness of his employer with anxiety and fear rather than acceptance. This is the story of Hadley's descent into depression and madness, and the story of his redemption.
Connections to other Dick works
Hadley's boss, Fergesson, appeared briefly in Dick's previous novel Gather Yourselves TogetherGather Yourselves Together
Gather Yourselves Together is an early novel by the late science fiction author Philip K. Dick, written around 1948-1950, and published posthumously by WCS Books in 1994. As with many of his early books which were considered unsuitable for publication when they were first submitted as manuscripts,...
, and appears again in Dick's later post-apocalyptic science fiction novel Dr. Bloodmoney (1964), again as proprietor of a television and radio repair shop, although he is killed in the opening stages of World War III
World War III
World War III denotes a successor to World War II that would be on a global scale, with common speculation that it would be likely nuclear and devastating in nature....
. The character of Hadley also returns in Dr. Bloodmoney, as a black man, as opposed to the Caucasian character that he was in Voices from the Street, and again in Dick's science fiction novel The Crack in Space
The Crack in Space
The Crack in Space is a 1966 science fiction novel by American writer Philip K. Dick. In the United Kingdom, it has been published under an alternate title Cantata 140 .-Plot summary:...
(1966). In this novel, the character is once again Caucasian, and works for a character named Darius Pethel, who is essentially the same as Fergesson. However, despite these multiple appearances of characters, the books in which this happens are mutually exclusive, and the characters in each make no references to incidents that took place in the others.