DICK PHILIP K.: (1928-1982) American Writer of Science Fiction. A rare T.L.S., Phil, one page, 4to, Santa Ana ...

DICK PHILIP K.: (1928-1982) American Writer of Science Fiction. A rare T.L.S., Phil, one page, 4to, Santa Ana, California, 25th May 1979, to Professor Patricia Warrick. Dick alarmingly announces 'At four-thirty p.m. today I suffered an acute attack of a congenital arrhythmia, paroxysmal atrial tachycardia, the first such attack I have experienced in a number of years. Whether it was due to your disturbing phone call earlier in the day or to a cluster of stress factors - such as tax problems - I do not know; in any case, since uncorrected PAT arrhythmia usually ends in death, I must regretfully inform you that I will not be coming to Appleton either in June or at any other time', further remarking that he is supposed to see a cardiologist and adding 'The book project, then, must be abandoned in all respects. This is a final decision on my part.' Dick concludes by expressing his regret at not being able to meet his correspondent, 'but I must defer to the gravity of this long-standing physical complaint which I had incorrectly supposed to be under control'. Accompanied by the original envelope. VG