26 Comments

1. AUTHORTessa B. Dick

   on May 23, 2013 at 4:47 pm - Reply

   

   I guess you don;t want me, since you haven’t asked me. And I don’t go where I am not welcome.

2. AUTHORMary

   on May 23, 2013 at 5:00 pm - Reply

   

   I’m with Tessa. Why is she not acknowledged? This festival is beginning to seem like a trendy boy’s club! I for one am interested in what she has to share and I’m sure it’s very interesting and just as valuable as Whoopie doo- we’re having a good ol boys party -if not more so! This cannot continue or we Will come out of the woodwork!

   • AUTHORTessa B. Dick

     on May 26, 2013 at 3:33 pm - Reply

     

     thank you, Mary, for your kind words. [blush!] I think these people are revealing their true character

3. AUTHORFrank C. Bertrand

   on May 23, 2013 at 6:43 pm - Reply

   

   Funny thing about that, Tessa. I got invited and you didn’t. And you were married to Philip K. Dick. But I turned down the invite as I’m just one of those 68 year old cynical curmudgeon’s who won’t give blind obedience to postmodernism, or toe the status quo about PKD, and am VERY suspicious of academic conferences that are held at academic institutions so that those attending can get their fair share of publish-or-perish points, tenure tokens, and/or enhanced prestige and status for being the host. Is there going to be a “dealers room” at this? Is there going to be a “art show” at this? Is there going to be a “costume ball” at this? Is there going to be a “movie room”???? Hell, no…

   • AUTHORTessa B. Dick

     on May 26, 2013 at 3:11 pm - Reply

     

     thanks, Frank — I’m definitely passing on this one, too. While Tim Powers did know Phil for about the same length of time as I did, Jim Blaylock met him only in the last few years of his life. I wonder whether Barry Spatz will be there, talking about the confidential information that Phil disclosed in his therapy sessions?

     Maybe we should have a Frank Bertrand Festival.

     • AUTHORFrank C. Bertrand

       on May 26, 2013 at 3:23 pm - Reply

       

       A what festival????!!! You got me chuckling on that one, Tessa. But I don’t consider myself ANY kind of “expert” or “adviser” about Phil. I just try to understand what he actually wrote as best I can, not what someone else tells me he meant to write. What do you think about Mary’s point, that it seems more and more like a back-room boy’s club, being somewhat elitist in whom they are going to let attend???? Surprised a lot more people aren’t asking some hard questions about this “festival”….

       • AUTHORTessa B. Dick

         on May 26, 2013 at 3:33 pm - Reply

         

         Frank, I love Mary’s post. [it makes me blush] I must thank her — I have infinitely more respect for readers like you than for the academics (I used to be an academic, but I’m recovering now]

         • AUTHORFrank C. Bertrand

           on May 26, 2013 at 3:42 pm -

           

           I was once on my way to becoming an “academic.” Got 7 courses done towards my MA, then realized how much of a game it was, with credentials being a LOT more important than ACTUAL ability. Phew…that was close. Got to see it up close and personal though in a department faculty/student committee…all the one-up-mans-ship, the jockeying for publish-or-perish points, etc. Rather comical, actually. Make for a great Reality TV show!!! As would this so called “festival” being held at an academic institution.

4. AUTHORUmberto Rossi

   on May 26, 2013 at 2:01 pm - Reply

   

   “academic conferences that are held at academic institutions so that those attending can get their fair share of publish-or-perish points, tenure tokens, and/or enhanced prestige and status for being the host”
   Well, that is exactly NOT what the Festival will be, Frank. If you got the impression that it’s like that, you got it totally wrong. Btw, you’re talking about an event which is being organized, but there is no final program yet, and there won’t be one till late in 2013… so what are we talking about? Some people have been invited, some accepted, some declined, some are thinking about it, but since I’m sending invitations (which doesn’t mean it’s me who decides who is invited and who isn’t) I am aware that not all the people we are planning to invite have already received invitations.
   So, you’re free to say what you like about the 2014 festival, but please comment on it when the official program will be published.

5. AUTHORTessa B. Dick

   on May 26, 2013 at 8:57 pm - Reply

   

   Frank, you are one in a million! Kudos!

6. AUTHORadmiral obvious

   on May 27, 2013 at 2:49 pm - Reply

   

   The Philip K. Dick festival’s promoters would love (SF would have loved) to have Tessa. There is no elitism. It would also have been cool to have Frank Bertrand, whom PKD mentions in a letter. I don’t understand why either of you feel snubbed or why the negative comments, but it’s clear that the PKD Fest organizers don’t merit them. Nobody is saying that academia doesn’t have problems, but the SF PKD Fest hardly suffered from being hosted at a university. Nobody was excluded, many non-academics gave talks, and a great time was had by all.

   • AUTHORTessa B. Dick

     on May 27, 2013 at 10:50 pm - Reply

     

     I’m sorry, but after the shabby way the San Francisco PKD Festival treated me, I am not anxious to attend. Furthermore, certain individuals who do plan to attend have attacked me publicly, telling vicious lies. As I stated above, I do not go where I am not welcome. I have a life.

   • AUTHORFrank C. Bertrand

     on May 28, 2013 at 11:05 am - Reply

     

     I like the “Admiral Obvious.” Sounds like something Gilbert & Sullivan would come up with!!! And PKD was a big fan of theirs. Yes, he does mention me in several letters, and I did get to interview him in 1980, which
     interview ended up in Lawrence Sutin’s book, etc., etc. My comments here, however, should not be construed as “negative” but rather as pointed questions about the motives, intent, truthfulness of this so called “PKD Festival.” And I’m quite surprised that more individuals aren’t asking hard questions about this. Is ambivalence that rampant these days????? Professor Rossi can deny/refute what I’ve said all he wants, but he’s not answering any of the basic questions. Does he really want to flat out deny that U Cal Irvine, by hosting this “festival” on their campus, does not accrue public image prestige status points amongst their competitors????? Is he going to flat out deny that any “academics” who make a “presentation” at this so called “festival” will not accrue publish or perish points with their home academic institution, as well as pad out their CV???? I’ve been involved in academia. I know something about what goes on. These kinds of things mean a lot to them.

     • AUTHORTessa B. Dick

       on May 28, 2013 at 11:14 am - Reply

       

       Frank, after teaching at Chapman University for 12 years, I can validate what you have said.

       • AUTHORFrank C. Bertrand

         on May 28, 2013 at 11:23 am - Reply

         

         I got to teach as an “Adjunct Professor” for one year at a community college. What an eye-opening experience about what goes on behind the scenes!!! Boy, can they ever be cut-throat about their prestige, status, publish or perish points, tenure tokens. And I only bring all of this up because, the moment I saw that this so called “PKD Festival” was being held at an academic campus, U Cal Irvine, I knew is was NOT primarily for PKD fans….

         • AUTHORSanta Claus

           on May 28, 2013 at 12:59 pm -

           

           I’ve got you covered. I’ll host a REAL PKD Festival at my place for REAL fans. No PhDs or distinguished authors like Lethem or those Powers/Blaylock punks will be allowed.

       • AUTHORFrank C. Bertrand

         on May 28, 2013 at 10:42 pm - Reply

         

         Well, Santa Claus, I suppose your ironical satire has some merit to it. But I did write, “primarily”. Being a PhD and a PKD fan are not mutually exclusive. Not at all. I do wonder, though, WHY this so called “festival” is being held at a University and not some hotel/convention complex, or two motels across the street from each other, or in Joe’s Pub backroom. And why Tessa Dick was not invited, or Bruce Gillespie, or Uwe Anton, or Phillippe Hupp, all long time PKD fans out of PKD fandom…Something is not right with this picture….

         • AUTHORTessa B. Dick

           on May 28, 2013 at 11:15 pm -

           

           Actually, Bruce Gillespie told me that he was invited, but he can’t afford the cost of travel from Australia. Maybe we can set up a fundraiser for him, so we can all see him.

7. AUTHORTessa B. Dick

   on May 28, 2013 at 11:16 pm - Reply

   

   PS: Love your web site, Santa.

8. AUTHORSanta Claus

   on May 29, 2013 at 3:47 am - Reply

   

   What’s all this griping about invitations? This is not a state banquet at the White House. “Please join everyone in Irvine, California on April 25-26, 2014 for the Philip K. Dick Festival” it says at the top of the page. Mark your calendar like I am and save your money to feed your reindeer. I’m sure it’s at a public university because they have nice facilities that the organizers can get cheaply, just like last year. Some of the attendees will be academics. You don’t have to listen to them if you don’t want. Don’t like Hollywood people? No problem, just stay away from them. If art is your thing, talk to artists. If you want to vend PKD stuff, I bet you can grab a table and vend. I’ll even bet a sack full of my best elves that Tessa would be more than welcome to attend and participate if she could let go of whatever is causing her to so prematurely write off this event.

   • AUTHORTessa B. Dick

     on May 29, 2013 at 10:21 am - Reply

     

     These people have had three decades to trash Phil’s and my reputation, while I have remained silent. And now that I have broken my silence, they want me to pay to hear them talk? No, thank you.

9. AUTHORDERRUFO

   on June 28, 2013 at 4:25 pm - Reply

   

   i wouldnt take it personal if a literary figure is being recognized and if you are a sister, wife, exwife,ets are not extended an invitation it doesnt mean you cant go to it…come on stop the melodramatics…we both know you want some publicity ( who doesnt? ) but its a private matter you see….between the fans of PKD and PKD. OK ? now just relax and return to Living your Life since you all sure got tons of yrs past what phil got….okay? fine. = simulacrum model 103A signing off.

10. AUTHORDERRUFO

    on June 28, 2013 at 4:30 pm - Reply

    

    oh i forgot yes it is a trendy boys club– pkd was a guy…ok? sorry you all dont get to rave and fame yourself this time Ladies..go to a movie or a store and buy something . Leave the men to some peace.

11. AUTHORTessa B. Dick

    on October 23, 2013 at 5:22 pm - Reply

    

    Perhaps you are unaware of my credentials, but that is no excuse for your juvenile behavior.

12. AUTHORDERRUFO

    on December 1, 2013 at 12:54 am - Reply

    

    I feel kind of bad that Tessa and I didnt have a great understanding but since that june 2013 comment of mine she and I did email and I have much more understanding of her and the PKD family issues…I told I didnt mean any insult and that I was a PKD fan for a long time but this site I located when i did a info search on PKD for first time since 2008!!! or earlier…i hope i didnt bore any one–any way–Tessa was very nice to me– i appreciate it– i hope tessa gets an honored guest chair at the 2014 festival…

13. AUTHORTessa B. Dick

    on December 1, 2013 at 1:03 am - Reply

    

    thanks, derrufo — I understand a little better, now, where you are coming from — it’s hard to be in my position, so I guess I should expect many challenges

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