THE FOLIO SOCIETY PRESENTS: A SCANNER DARKLY

The Folio Society have recently published a collected edition comprising two of Philip K. Dick's most notable works: 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?' and 'A Scanner Darkly'. This 488 page book is complemented with twelve pages of color illustrations and one double-page-spread illustrated by both artists. What's more, it's also quarter-bound in blocked cloth, set in Mentor with a Neptune display, and garnished with paper sides. What now follows is my interview with one of those artists, Andrew Archer, regarding his work on one half of this book. Please enjoy.





1) Please tell us a little bit about yourself, Andrew Archer?   I'm a New Zealand born illustrator who currently resides in Melbourne, Australia. I've been an illustrator for 10 years now, and originally studied Graphic Design. My work is a combination of all of my passions, including: culture, Asia, basketball, and travel.

Illustration by Andrew Archer from The Folio Society

edition of A Scanner Darkly by Philip K Dick

©Andrew Archer 2017

2) How did you become involved with this project: ‘A Scanner Darkly’?   The Folio Society originally approached me to work on the cover and six internal illustrations for 'A Scanner Darkly', so of course I accepted their kind offer. After all, I was aware of their previous work and was a fan of the high standard they set.

3) Were your illustrations inspired by the filmic adaptation?   I did watch the film before approaching the illustrations and tried to approach every scene with a fresh perspective and idea. You see, when you read a book like this, you'll soon realize that each scene and character can be interpreted completely differently, and I wanted to bring my own fresh take for each scene.

4) What’s your favorite Philip K. Dick book and why?   My favorite books would have to be: 'A Scanner Darkly', 'Ubik', and 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?'. I hadn't read 'A Scanner Darkly' before I was offered this project and very much enjoyed the novel once I did, even though 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?' is an all-time favorite.

Illustration by Andrew Archer from The Folio Society

edition of A Scanner Darkly by Philip K Dick

©Andrew Archer 2017

5) If you could get a celebrity – either living or dead – to promote your illustrations, who would you choose, and why would you want to choose this particular person?   Michael Jordan. His work ethic and his competitive edge can make anything happen. In fact, his relentless dedication to his craft makes him so special, even if he didn't have the natural talent he had, his drive and determination would still make him great. I'm all about hard work.

6) During your time in this field, what is the one thing that has kept you in good stead?   Finding a way to combine my passions with my craft has helped my commercial career and is extremely satisfying on a personal level. One of the most enjoyable projects I have worked on is my personal series, Edo Ball, which combines basketball and Japanese culture.

I also realized that you will never completely enjoy an individual work and will only truly find happiness and purpose through the journey and the process itself.

7) If you had a personal motto, what would it be?   The journey is the dream.

So there you have it, folks. My interview with Andrew Archer about his work on the Philip K Dick novel, ‘A Scanner Darkly’. Priced at £75, this 488 page book might seem like a lot of money. But then again, once you see what you get for it, it sure is worth the punt. For more information please feel free to check out The Folio Society's official website or twitter pages. Or alternately, come back here next week to check out my interview with Chris Skinner, the second illustrator who drew the other story included in this book: 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?'.