Joan Simpson collection on Philip K. Dick

Special Collections & University Archives

The UCR Library

P.O. Box 5900

University of California

Riverside, California 92517-5900

Phone: 951-827-3233

Fax: 951-827-4673

Email: specialcollections@ucr.edu

URL: http://library.ucr.edu/libraries/special-collections-university-archives

Descriptive Summary

Title: Joan Simpson collection on Philip K. Dick

Date (inclusive): 1977-1978

Collection Number: MS 081

Creator: Dick, Philip K.

Creator: Simpson, Joan

Creator: Le Guin, Ursula K.

Creator: Silverberg, Robert, 1935-

Extent: 0.21 linear feet (1 box)

Repository: Rivera Library. Special Collections Department.

Riverside, CA 92517-5900

Abstract: The collection consists mainly of letters, poems, and story drafts written by science fiction author Philip K. Dick to Joan Simpson, who he was in a relationship with for most of 1977. Letters in the collection focus mostly on Dick's relationship with Simpson, including their breakup in November of 1977, as well as reflections about his life and experiences. Also included in the collection are some correspondence from Dick to reviewers and publishers about his works and others, and personal correspondence and invitations sent to Simpson.

Languages: The collection is in English.

Access

This collection is open for research.

Publication Rights

Copyright has not been assigned to the University of California, Riverside Libraries, Special Collections & University Archives. Distribution or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. To the extent other restrictions apply, permission for distribution or reproduction from the applicable rights holder is also required. Responsibility for obtaining permissions, and for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Preferred Citation

[identification of item], [date if possible]. Joan Simpson collection on Philip K. Dick (MS 081). Special Collections & University Archives, University of California, Riverside.

Acquisition Information

Purchased in 2020.

Collection Scope and Contents

The collection consists mainly of letters, poems, and story drafts written by science fiction author Philip K. Dick to Joan Simpson, who he was in a relationship with for most of 1977. Letters in the collection focus mostly on Dick's relationship with Simpson, including their breakup in November of 1977, as well as reflections about his life and experiences. Also included in the collection are some correspondence from Dick to reviewers and publishers about his works and others, and personal correspondence and invitations sent to Simpson.

Related Materials

See also the Collection on Philip K. Dick (MS 199) [link: https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt0c6034t4/] and the Anne R. Dick Collection on Philip K. Dick (MS 083) [link: https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8rb7bw7/].

See also the Philip K. Dick collection (SC-06-PKD) held at California State University Fullerton [link: http://archives.fullerton.edu/repositories/5/resources/57].

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects

Authors and publishers

Science fiction -- Authorship

Genres and Forms of Materials

Correspondence

Poems

Short stories

Correspondence 1965, 1974, 1977-1978 1977

Scope and Contents

This series is comprised of correspondence to, or collected by, Joan Simpson. The bulk of the letters are written to her by Philip K. Dick and detail various aspects of their relationship.

Arrangement

The materials in this series are grouped into two chuncks. The first part are all letters written by Philip K. Dick. The Second part are other letters collected or written by Joan Simpson. Each portion is arranged chronologically.

Box 1, Folder 1

Philip K. Dick to Doubleday & Co. Inc. 1965

Scope and Contents

Facsimiles of four letters written by Philip Dick.

Box 1, Folder 2

Philip K. Dick to Raymond April 27, 1977

Scope and Contents

Facsimile

Box 1, Folder 3

Philip K. Dick to Joan Simpson May 7, 1977

Scope and Contents

Dick begins being appreciative of Joan taking him in before diverging into a discussion of taking chances, certainty vs uncertainty, as exemplified by invasions across the British Channel.

Box 1, Folder 4

Philip K. Dick to Joan Simpson May 20, 1977

Scope and Contents

Topics include some personal background, effforts to reveal an antagonist, the 2-3-74 experience, precognition, cosmology, and Joan's importance to him.

Box 1, Folder 5

Philip K. Dick with Christopher Kuppig (Dell Publishing) 1977

Box 1, Folder 6

Philip K. Dick to Joan Simpson October 29, 1977

Scope and Contents

Included with letter are typewritten copies of articles from Metz newspaper.

Box 1, Folder 7

Philip K. Dick to Joan Simpson December 2, 1977

Scope and Contents

Includes poem about Harvey.

Box 1, Folder 8

Philip K. Dick to Joan Simpson December 5, 1977

Scope and Contents

Topics include splitting time between northern and southern California, discussion of publishing of A Scanner Darkly.

Box 1, Folder 9

Philip K. Dick to Joan Simpson December 13, 1977

Scope and Contents

Notes positive reviews of A Scanner Darkly.

Box 1, Folder 10

Philip K. Dick to Joan Simpson February 9, 1978

Box 1, Folder 11

Philip K. Dick to Joan Simpson undated

Scope and Contents

Discusses state of their relationship

Box 1, Folder 12

Ursula K. Le Guin to Philip K. Dick November 25, 1974

Scope and Contents

Le Guin discusses a work by Philip Dick and travel to London.

Box 1, Folder 13

Joan Simpson with Robert Silverberg July 14 and 25, 1977

Scope and Contents

Simpson writes about Dick's work and thanks Silverberg for his recent review. Silverberg responds with an expression of his love for Phil and his own relationship and emotional struggles.

Box 1, Folder 14

Miriam to Joan Simpson November 3, 1977

Scope and Contents

Miriam writes about Thanksgiving plans and her plans to travel around Sonoma county. Includes a copy of a letter she wrote to Ardis Waters.

Box 1, Folder 15

Joan May to Senator William Proxmire November 28, 1977

Scope and Contents

Facsimile of letter to Senator William Proxmire on funding for psychology and the space program.

Box 1, Folder 16

Invitations 1977-1978

Manuscripts 1977 & undated

Scope and Contents

This series contains several manuscripts and writings by Philip K. Dick. Materials include short stories, poetry, and excerpts or fragments.

Arrangement

These manuscripts and writings are arranged alphabetically by title.

Box 1, Folder 17

"The Day Mr. Computer Fell Out of Its Tree" undated

Scope and Contents

Typescript draft of a short story.

Box 1, Folder 18

Exegesis undated

Scope and Contents

Typescript draft or excerpt from PKD's Exegesis.

Box 1, Folder 19

Notes or manuscript fragment undated

Scope and Contents

Unidentified hand-written fragment. Mentions Zebra and space-time reality.

Box 1, Folder 20

"On a Cat Which Fell Three Stories and Survived" 1977

Scope and Contents

Facsimile of poem by PKD.

Box 1, Folder 21

Unidentified manuscript fragment undated

Scope and Contents

Fragment includes discussion of VALIS, Zebra, and Exra-terrestrial intelligences (ETI). Related to Exegesis and Philip Dick's 2-3-74 experience.

Box 1, Folder 22

"Wink-Out!"

Scope and Contents

Hand-notated manusccript draft.