Otis Singleton
The 2017 anthology series Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams is based on short stories written by Philip K. Dick. The series adapts and contemporises Dick's stories for global audiences, with each episode standing as a sharp, thrilling, standalone drama. Dick's stories, which were published between 1953 and 1955, explore themes such as paranoia, memory, identity, and what it means to be human.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of work | Short stories |
| Number of stories adapted | 10 |
| Author | Philip K. Dick |
| Genre | Science fiction |
| Type of series | Anthology |
| Number of episodes | 10 |
| Episode length | 50 minutes |
| Episode writers | Ronald D. Moore, Michael Dinner, Tony Grisoni, Jack Thorne, Matthew Graham, David Farr, Dee Rees, Travis Beacham |
| Executive producers | Ronald D. Moore, Michael Dinner, Bryan Cranston, Maril Davis |
| Episode directors | Tom Harper |
| Example episode | "The Commuter" |
| Example story | "The Commuter" |
| Example episode cast | Timothy Spall, Anthony Boyle, Tuppence Middleton |
| Example story publication | Imagination magazine |
| Example story publication year | 1955 |
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What You'll Learn
'The Father Thing'
"The Father Thing" is a 1954 science fiction short story by Philip K. Dick. It was adapted into an episode of the same name in the 2017 TV series Electric Dreams, which is based on Dick's works.
The story revolves around a young boy named Charlie Walton, who discovers that his father has been replaced by an alien doppelgänger. Only Charlie notices the difference and has to enlist the help of his friends to uncover the truth and stop an alien invasion. In the story, Charlie's father, Ted, exhibits strange behaviour, such as talking to himself in the garage. When confronted, he praises his son's work and enjoys dinner with the family, but Charlie remains convinced that something is amiss.
The premise of "The Father Thing" taps into the fear that people may not be who they appear to be and explores the idea of something sinister lurking beneath the surface of suburban life. It is told from Charlie's perspective and is more personal than other invasion stories of the time, focusing on the invasion of a single family rather than an entire community. This intimate lens highlights the turmoil within the family and how it affects Charlie, making it an emotionally resonant work.
The Electric Dreams episode "The Father Thing" largely faithfully adapts the original story. It expands the backstory of Charlie's family, including his father's bond with him and marital troubles with Charlie's mother. The episode also broadens the scope of the alien invasion, as Charlie connects with others online who have experienced similar strange behaviour with their loved ones, indicating a wider-reaching threat.
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'Sales Pitch'
Sales Pitch
The episode "Sales Pitch" from Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams is based on a short story of the same name by Philip K. Dick. First published in 1954, the story centres around a couple, Ed and Sally, who receive an unexpected visitor offering to sell them something. Ed is an intergalactic commuter who dreams of a less technological life, while Sally is less enthusiastic about this potential change. Their lives take a turn when a "Fully Automatic Self-Regulating Android (Domestic)", or fasrad, interrupts their evening and proceeds to destroy their home while pitching itself to them as a product.
Tony Grisoni, the writer who adapted "Sales Pitch" for the screen, mentions in his introduction that Dick had expressed regret about the ending of the original story. Grisoni took the liberty of freely adapting the story, making changes beyond what was necessary for the transition to a new medium.
In the episode, the story's underlying themes and critiques remain intact, but the specifics of the narrative diverge significantly. While the original story features a robot that wreaks havoc on the couple's home, the episode takes a different approach. It explores the psychological bombardment of its protagonist, who is overwhelmed by relentless robotic ads and persistent door-to-door salespeople.
This adaptation of "Sales Pitch" captures the essence of Dick's exploration of the ideological and commercial forces that shape and threaten identity. By updating the story's elements, the episode resonates with modern audiences who can relate to the challenges of managing constant notifications and advertisements in our technology-driven world.
"Sales Pitch" is just one example of how Electric Dreams brings Philip K. Dick's short stories to life, offering a blend of faithfulness to the source material and creative interpretation to engage viewers.
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'The Hanging Stranger'
"The Hanging Stranger" is one of the stories featured in the anthology series *Electric Dreams. The series is based on the works of renowned author
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'The Hood Maker'
"The Hood Maker" is an episode of *Electric Dreams* that is based on a short story of the same name by Philip K. Dick, originally published in 1955. The story is included in the collection *The Minority Report*, which also includes the story that inspired the 2002 film *Minority Report*.
"The Hood Maker" takes place in a world where telepathy is common, and a small percentage of the population can read minds. These telepaths are employed by the government to prevent crimes before they happen. The story follows a police detective, Hood, who is investigating a company that manufactures hoods that block telepathic signals. As he delves deeper into the case, he uncovers a conspiracy that threatens the very foundation of their society.
The story explores themes of privacy, surveillance, and the role of government in a world where thoughts can be read. It also examines the potential consequences of a society that relies heavily on a technology that only a select few can access and control.
The episode stars Richard Madden as Agent Ross, a telepath who works for the government to prevent crimes. Hood, the original detective character, is replaced by a female character named Honor, played by Holliday Grainger. The story's setting is also updated to a futuristic city where telepaths are an accepted part of society.
The episode remains true to the themes and tone of the original story while updating the characters and setting to make them more relevant to a modern audience. It explores the ethical implications of a world where privacy is virtually non-existent and the potential dangers of a society that becomes reliant on a technology that can be used to control and manipulate.
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'Impossible Planet'
The story is set in the distant future and follows two jaded space tourism employees, Norton and Andrews, who are approached by a 342-year-old woman, Irma Louise Gordon, and her robot servant. Irma offers them five years' salary each to take her on one last trip to Earth, a planet that is believed to have been evacuated centuries ago due to solar flares and whose existence is considered a long-debunked myth. Despite their doubts about Earth's existence, the tour guides agree to the trip, intending to deceive Irma by taking her to a similar planet.
As the journey progresses, the tour guides' scam begins to trouble them, and they ultimately find themselves faced with a bittersweet surprise. The episode explores themes of humanity and the consequences of deception, while also questioning what it means to be human in a futuristic and fantastical world.
While the episode remains faithful to the original short story, it introduces a romantic subplot between Norton and Irma, and offers a more ambiguous ending. The story's unique setting and exploration of human connection within a futuristic context showcase Philip K. Dick's ability to blend science fiction with thought-provoking narratives.
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Frequently asked questions
The series is based on Philip K. Dick's short stories.
Season 1 adapts stories such as "The Hanging Stranger", "The Hood Maker", "Impossible Planet", "The Commuter", "Sales Pitch", "Foster, You're Dead!" and "Father Thing".
The series was screened on Channel 4 in the UK and Amazon Prime in the US.
