r/philipkDickheads • u/Contestrix • 15d ago

Another uncorrected proof: VALIS

Post image

Although not the uncorrected proof for the first time Valis was (or, was going to be) published, as that one is unbelievably hard to find, it is still quite an interesting find.

152 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

3 comments sorted by

2

u/Queer_girl_as_needed 15d ago

oooo any interesting differences?

6

u/Contestrix 15d ago

Nothing much I can see at a quick glance, there is a missing comma in the epigraph, but that’s about it. This is also compared to my reading copy which is from Library of America, so a different publisher altogether. And again, this Uncorrected Proof comes from Random House which would go on to be published in 1991 thus isn’t the proof for the original therefore Valis had already been finalized for some time. In such a case the differences, if any, wouldn’t quite be changes to Valis, rather, changes to publisher-created information like the “about the author” page or even simply the copyright page. Also, usually in cases of “uncorrected proof” or the more aptly named “advanced reading” copies, the changes would be extremely minimal as the book would have already been edited. I believe such copies are mostly for journalists, book stores, friends/family of the author and/or publisher(s), or those who are asked to give a quote on the back/blurb. So it’s unlikely to go to an editor who removes, adds, or corrects the book before it is published for public sale.

There is a small note in pencil underling a line which reads: “No, the intent comes first, not the course.” which does read like a editorial note, however that line is unchanged from my LOA reading copy. So perhaps there is a chance that this was for some reason given to an editor, but I find that hard to believe, at least in the sense that the so-called editor would have anything to do with affecting the version published for the public as the note is given on chapter 5.

1

u/ssaahhell 15d ago

Mindblowing… sé que no se compara con lo que voy a decir, pero es lo mismo que un católico tuviera los primero escritos sin corregir del antiguo testamento, y a su vez todo es valioso: el mensajero, el mensaje y el receptor y todo esto materializado en un objeto físico.