"Sales Pitch" is a

science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel unive ...

short story by American writer

Philip K. Dick Philip Kindred Dick (December 16, 1928March 2, 1982), often referred to by his initials PKD, was an American science fiction writer. He wrote 44 novels and about 121 short stories, most of which appeared in science fiction magazines during his l ...

, first published in '' Future Science Fiction ''magazine, June 1954. The premise is the omnipresent, intrusive and even aggressive

advertising Advertising is the practice and techniques employed to bring attention to a product or service. Advertising aims to put a product or service in the spotlight in hopes of drawing it attention from consumers. It is typically used to promote a ...

and

marketing Marketing is the process of exploring, creating, and delivering value to meet the needs of a target market in terms of goods and services; potentially including selection of a target audience; selection of certain attributes or themes to emph ...

. At the end of the story, the protagonist is driven mad by a robot who can forcefully market himself, and refuses to take no for an answer. The subject was of concern to Dick, and features in his early works such as ''

The Man Who Japed ''The Man Who Japed'' is a science fiction novel by American writer Philip K. Dick, first published in 1956. Although one of Dick's lesser-known novels, it features several of the ideas and themes that recur throughout his later works. The "jap ...

''.

Ending

In 1978, Dick said of the story: For a 1989–1990 radio series, Sci Fi Radio produced an audio play version of this story Sci Fi Radio, "Sales Pitch" by Philip K. Dick, Adapted by Brad Shriver, directed by John O. Williams, Archive.org, Last Accessed Jan 2 2015
/ref> which is now available for free download. The story was adapted by

Tony Grisoni Tony Grisoni (born 28 October 1952) is a British screenwriter. He lives in London. His first feature film, ''Queen of Hearts'', directed by Jon Amiel, won the Grand Prix at the 1990 Festival du Film de Paris. Life and career He has co-written se ...

for the episode "Crazy Diamond" of the 2017 TV series '' Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams''.

References

External links

* Short stories by Philip K. Dick 1954 short stories Works originally published in Future Science Fiction and Science Fiction Stories {{1950s-sf-story-stub