As I called it over on Fbook, “the biggest, baddest, BEST issue of Otaku ever!” Someone quickly asked, “Otaku??” Yes, OTAKU… PKD Otaku!” The word is actually Japanese slang referring to people with obsessive interests. Obsessive is an understatement when it comes to fans of Philip K. Dick. Dickheads is our other affectionate term.
Anyway, this is the 23rd issue of Patrick Clark’s great zine, and the third one I’ve been involved with. My novel was featured in issue #21 with several pages of Q and A with me, book reviews and commentary on A Kindred Spirit. Issue #22 had a follow-up on AKS, plus interviews by me: one with Tessa Dick (Phil’s fifth and final wife) and a reprint of an old interview with Scott Apel on PKD’s Dream Connection. Now, this Exegesis-laden issue has a commentary by moi (ej ‘jami’ Morgan) about the newly released Exegesis of Philip K. Dick and another fine book review of AKS by Senior Dickhead (pronounce as Spanish or elder statesman) Frank C. Bertrand. I would link directly to those, but the zine is not set up that way. darn! You’ll have to page through the PDF starting here, Otaku #23, but admire the eye candy along the way — stunning!
ZiaLink Ink 
Clicking on the pic of the zine or the last link (Otaku 23) will take you to the 6 meg PDF. I would have used bookmark tags and made the cover content list links to the articles. This would have made navigation much easier, and allowed us to link to actual articles. But, it seems links were problematic in whatever tool Nick used to create this visually stunning issue. So, NO complaints… just enjoy!! OH, and using the earlier link, okay this ONE: PKD Otaku , you will find a link to all the back issues, including the ones I mentioned. Eye Candy, indeed… not a Hell-Chore 😉
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Senior Dickhead/Elder Statesman, pronounced the Spanish way?? How am I going to live that one down?? But, just think of the wordplay possibilities for “senior dickhead”!!!
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Honestly, I really did LOL on that one 😉 I was trying to say “se·ñor Dick-head” but after 30 years I still can’t spell or speak Spanish… GEEEZ! What a hoot! Glad you are a good sport! Well, our elder statesman, that was respectful. You know how much I appreciate you, Mr. Bertrand and thank you again for the very kind 4.5 star review. I still remember reading your interview with PKD as one of the first non-fiction Dickian pieces back in the mid 1990s. Who knew we’d be chatting on blogs and Fbook and reading on Kindles? Thanks again!!OH, my “main page” is http://www.AKSbook.com, but the day in question, I was trying to get you to post something on Fbook — my page there.
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I very much prefer your sobriquets to being “witty and urbane.” Not even sure what that means!! The responses to PKD Otaku #23 are getting curioser and curioser, don’t ya think?? Wonder if anyone has actually taken the time to READ and think about it??
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I posted a comment over on Total Dickhead, regarding our Zine: I like that you can see our names clearly on the cover shot, too 😉 Thanks again Frank, for the fab book review and all you do!
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You are quite welcome for the book review. It is a good story, an intriguing story, that uses PKD as a character in an applicable way. Love banter in their “afterlife” between him and Jim Pike. But do feel free to post that now anyplace and everyplace you like!!! Okay with me. In the meantime, I’m trying to round up material from sundry sources for the next issue of PKD Otaku…
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Frank, my comment from 2 weeks ago is still not posted on the Dickhead blog! Makes me wonder how many others are not there…. hmmmm. If you have purchased items on Amazon, have you ever posted reviews there? It would look better coming from you, especially from YOU, given your stature in the PKD world. I’ll post your review here on the book blog, and perhaps on Shelfari and the AKS FB page. Once again, mucho gracias!!
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My last several posts to Mr. Gill’s self-serving Dickhead blog have not seen the light of day. Either he’s started to pick and choose what he likes and/or he’s too busy trying to get his fiction published. Regardless, I’ve had it with him. Going to focus on PKD Otaku, SF Commentary and the new and improved PhilipKDickfans.com. And I really must disagree with your application of “stature” to me. I’ve seen NONE of that. Been little if ANY responses to my PKD work over the years. Really. The only item that gets regularly republished/reposted is my interview with Phil. That’s it!! Nothing else, nada!! No stature in that. None…
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As an addendum, I don’t want to seem ungrateful. But you are the ONLY person that has used the word “stature” about me. For that to apply, in my opinion, there would had to have been one or more essays written about my PKD work. Are you aware of any? One of more extended forum discussions about my PKD work. Are you aware of any? One of more ongoing Blog discussions about my PKD work, etc., etc. Perhaps even a book collection of my better PKD essays…Are you aware of such a book? The point being, I try to be pragmatic and realistic about the world around me. I see no significant evidence that I have any kind of “stature” amongst PKD fandom, and certainly not in PKD academia.
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Frank, re-reading this as I am moving my book site and blog over to Word Press (soon, probably around March 1, 2013.) Anyway, you have written several essays (articles, at least) about PKD. Otaku comes to mind. And, you used to post rather prolifically on Fbook and on my blog. You should create an eBook collection of your various writings and thoughts about Phil. It’s getting SO much easier. I can tell you more. Still your pal? *** jami
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A new PKD Otaku is coming out SOON, in a few days, May 2013. This one is an “All Paul” issue, a memorial tribute to the late, great Paul Williams. I will create a new post with link the moment it is published. Meanwhile, enjoy this excellent obit/tribute from NPR.
NPR’s Remembering Paul Williams, Founder of Crawdaddy!
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Cant’ wait for the new book as my mind needs just the workout your books demand.
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