In San Rafael in the summer of 1966, a broke science fiction writer began a novel. Doubleday published it in March 1968 as Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Fourteen years later, Ridley Scott filmed it as Blade Runner.

Philip K. Dick lived in Marin from 1958 to 1972, and wrote nearly everything he’s remembered for here.

He started in Point Reyes Station. In 1961, at a kitchen table in a small yellow house on Lorraine Avenue, he wrote The Man in the High Castle. It won the Hugo Award when he was 34, and it later became an Amazon Prime Video show.

He wrote Dr. Bloodmoney out there too — the bombs fall on the Bay Area and the survivors reassemble in West Marin, listening to a marooned astronaut broadcast down to them from a dying satellite. Point Reyes Station, he decided, would come through it better than most places.

In Santa Venetia it all came apart.

He’d been running on amphetamines for years. A bout of pancreatitis nearly killed him. In 1970 his wife left, taking their daughter, and Dick filled the empty house with addicts — by June 1971 two had moved in for good. He was 42, four marriages behind him, and he had stopped writing altogether; he wouldn’t finish another novel for two years. The paranoia that had always been a literary device was turning into a way of living. That stretch became A Scanner Darkly.

Then, on the night of November 17, 1971, someone came through the door.

They ignored the stereo. They ignored the typewriter. They went for the file cabinets and the wall safe — and they opened the safe with explosive charges. A detonation on a quiet cul-de-sac. Papers were taken. And, strangest of all, the perishable food out of the refrigerator.

Nothing about it read like a burglary. It read like an operation.

No police theory ever satisfied him. Dick worked his own list for the rest of his life: the FBI, the CIA, religious fanatics, black militants, someone from his own circle. Asked years later whether any new evidence had surfaced, he said no — that the whole thing filled him with anxiety, that he tried not to think about it, and that he doubted any ever would.

Although Philip K. Dick died in early 1982, the same year Blade Runner was released, his kids later set up a trust to steward his work. Isa Dick Hackett has helped with many productions, including A Scanner Darkly (star-studded 2006 film), The Man in the High Castle (as executive producer of the 2015-2019 Emmy award-winning TV show), and Blade Runner 2099 (as executive producer of the 2027 Amazon Prime series).

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The individual SF Symphony tickets went on sale recently. One of the first events of the season is this classic film with a live orchestra on September 10 and 12 (the Saturday show is selling out fast).

The campus amphitheater is hosting this group rooted in the legacy of the Grateful Dead. The Saturday and Sunday shows sold out, so don’t wait to grab a ticket.

Because leaving Marin might take more planning. Look for our Marin events in the Wednesday email.

Beer lovers: the renowned Toronado bar in Lower Haight is changing hands. This is your chance to celebrate with the old and new owners. 11:30am to late.

Here’s an excuse to head up to the Sonoma Coast. Stop by the free festival with food, crafts, and music ($10 parking).

You can still join the half marathon, 5K, or 10K races. But I mainly wanted to share that traffic will be affected until 10am, including near Sausalito and the Golden Gate Bridge bike/pedestrian paths.

Please note that this property isn’t associated with the banner sponsor above or Marin Buzz in any way. It is just a unique home you might be interested in seeing, for entertainment purposes only!

120 Sunset Way, Muir Beach

Is anyone else obsessed with Muir Beach, or just me?

There’s a cluster of 150 homes, only about 6 miles (an 18 minute drive) from Depot Plaza in Mill Valley. It feels very remote since it is surrounded on all sides by Mt. Tamalpais State Park and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

So when one of those few homes hits the open market, I pay attention. This is only a 2 bedroom home, however, there are two extra rooms and a detached garage.

The hot tub overlooking the beach is incredible. Wouldn’t that be a nice spot to watch the sunset?

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Thanks for reading. We will be back with the regular events and activities email Wednesday morning!

— Allison + Brian