Philip Kindred Dick (December 16, 1928 - March 2, 1982) was an American author who wrote 44 novels and about 121 short stories, most of which appeared in science fiction magazines during his lifetime. His fiction explored varied philosophical and social questions such as the nature of reality, perception, and identity, and commonly featured characters struggling against alternate realities, illusory environments, monopolistic corporations, authoritarian governments, and altered states of consciousness. Dick's posthumous influence extended beyond literary circles into Hollywood. Popular films based on his works include Blade Runner, Total Recall, Minority Report, and The Adjustment Bureau. This recording is from a speech Dick gave in France in 1977.