American Writers (One Hundred Pages at a Time)

One of Philip K. Dick's masterpieces, "A World of Talent" explores posthumanism,  the frontier, war, and governmental conspiracies. This story brings to a capstone many of Dick's early ideas and themes.

Part 3 of my review of "Little Women" covers Beth's recovery, the return of Mr. March, and the journies of the women as they enter into adult careers.  

In "Meddler", Philip K. Dick gives us a time travel loop story. We have seen these plenty of times. What do you think of Philip K. Dick's take on this old story? Can meddling in the future change the present?

Second part of my series on Louisa May Alcott's "Little Women." How do the girls get along without their mother and when facing disease and death?

Why do we give such power to urban planners and developers? What are their goals? Should we allow those in power to manipulate our reality for a greater good? These are just some of the questions explored in Philip K. Dick's story "Adjustment Team".

In this episode, we begin a new series looking at the "Little Women" triology. We will begin with "Little Women." So let's all be reintroduced to Jo, Beth, Meg, Amy, Mrs. March and Laurie.

In "Exhibit Piece", Philip K Dick explores time travel and history and gives an ironic look at 1950s conformity. Was the 1950s the peak of American consumeri conformity or was it really, just maybe, a golden age of free minded individualism? Maybe it all depends on how the future turns out.

Our final episode on Jack London looks at some of his later stories. J-Lo has been fun, but it is time to move onto different things (bigger and better?). "The Strength of the Strong" "War" "The Mexican" "Told from the Drooling Ward" "The Water Baby" "The Red One"

Philip K. Dick explores posthumanism and the relationship between the abnormal and the state in "Crawlers." Are posthumans a threat? Whare is our moral burden for communities destroyed by nuclear testing?

A handful of stories by Jack London are looked at in this episode, including some of his best stories of the Pacific and urban America. "All Gold Canyon" "The Apostate" "A Piece of Steak" "The Chinago" "Mauki" "Koolau the Leper" "South of Slot"