Course Title:  Literature 310,  Books To Movies:  Philip K. Dick

Prerequisite:  Wikipedia

Credits:  4

Books To Movies, Literature 310 is a course designed to introduce the student to a number of books, written by legendary author Philip K. Dick, that have inspired and influenced modern science fiction movies. The list includes:

• Blade Runner
• Total Recall
• Minority Report
• A Scanner Darkly

Blade Runner was released in 1982 and starred Harrison Ford as Rick Deckard. It was based, in a great deal, on the novel "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep." First published in 1968, the novel is based 53 years in the future, 2021. After great warfare, living creatures became scarce, androids of all types were developed and eventually blended into civilization. When the government wanted to banished them from earth, they simply blended in, which gave Rick Deckard a job as bounty hunter.

Total Recall was released in 1990 and starred Arnold Schwarzenegger as Douglas Quaid/Hauser. Based on the 1966 short story, "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale." The setting for this novel is 2084, and the location is mostly on Mars. This is a classic story of questioning reality, what is real memory, what is real truth? A vacation turns into much more as Quaid's life, as he thought he knew it, begins to unravel.

Minority Report was released in 2002 and starred Tom Cruise as  Chief John Anderton,  the movie was directed by Steven  Spielberg.  In the future,  computers will enable the law enforcement community to be on the scene of a crime,  right at the time of the crime.  They will become so adept at preventing crime,  that crime almost ceases to exist.  But  what happens when a Chief crime office is accused murder? 

A Scanner Darkly is scheduled to be released in 2006.  It will star Keanu Reeves as Fred/Bob Arctor, and has Woody Harrelson and Robert Downey Jr. on its cast list as well.   The book is classic Dick, with drugs,  sex, government over-surveillance,  split personalities and questioning realities.  The main character, Fred/Bob Arctor is both a narcotic agent and a drug dealer,  will he apprehend himself or will the drug culture prevail?