検索キーワード： 著者 "Philip K Dick" すべてのカテゴリー

In "Beyond Lies the Wub", the crew of a spaceship buys a "wub", a large pig-like animal from a native martian to eat on the way home. The Wub turns out to be a sentient being capable of intelligent conversation, empathy, and possibly telepathy and mind control. When a crew member converses with the remarkable Wub, the captain makes a rash and violent decision that could put the return mission in danger.

Published shortly after his high school graduation, “Beyond Lies the Wub” is the classic short story by science fiction master Philip K. Dick. Peterson, a crew member from a spaceship visiting Mars, purchases a giant, pig-like creature called a wub. Although Captain Franco means to make a meal of the strange beast, the wub proves to be likeable and intelligent by discussing the travels of Odysseus and the impact of myth on the human spirit.

In this collection of five stories, all first published in the 1950s, Dick justified his existence by exploring a number of truly interesting ideas. In “Small Town” a man creates a perfect scale model of his own town, as a means of escaping his unbearable reality. In “Human Is” the wife of a scientist notices that her husband has returned from a scientific expedition a changed man, but she’s not complaining. In “Foster, You’re Dead” a father’s unwillingness to participate in his country’s preparations for a war that never happens, leads to unexpected consequences for his family....

Che cosa accade dopo la fine del mondo? Cosa avviene quando la Bomba - quella di cui tutti parlavano dal 1945 - viene finalmente lanciata? Apparso nel 1963, "Cronache del dopobomba" narra il mondo dopo il lancio dell'ordigno che ha messo in ginocchio l'umanità, cancellando dalla faccia della terra città ed esseri viventi. I sopravvissuti non sono più uguali a prima, ma rappresentano l'embrione di una stirpe che ha innestato sulle malinconie di una civiltà al crepuscolo il vitalismo confuso di una razza agli albori.

Siamo nel 2046, in un'America totalitaria nella quale lo Stato controlla le azioni, le parole e perfino i pensieri dei suoi cittadini, così come avviene ormai in tutto il mondo. Joe Fernwright è un guaritore di vasi, in grado di far tornare come nuovi i manufatti di ceramica che restaura. In un mondo dove tutto è fatto di plastica, però, Joe si ritrova disoccupato e depresso. Con un matrimonio fallito alle spalle, e senza prospettive, il suo unico divertimento è quello di dedicarsi, con alcuni amici sparsi in tutto il mondo, a quel che Joe chiama semplicemente il Gioco.

Prima che il problema della disoccupazione, del surplus di braccia si manifestasse, Dick aveva già ipotizzato una soluzione grottesca e sarcastica: la gente in più che non serve al sistema economico mettiamola in ghiacciaia. Teniamola da parte. Forse ci serviranno un giorno, forse no, però se li mettiamo in cantina non se ne andranno in giro a prostituirsi, drogarsi, rubare, spacciare e chissà quante altre attività illegali. Teniamo desti solo quelli che servono, che lavorano e consumano. Quelli che fanno girare la macchina del capitale.

La Mente Comune di Ganimede ha decretato la fine del pianeta Terra. L'umanità sarà cancellata e il mondo riportato alla sua originaria purezza per essere nuovamente colonizzato dalla specie superiore dei Ganimediani, grossi vermi dotati di capacità telepatiche. Tuttavia, i membri del Gran Consiglio sanno che per raggiungere l'obiettivo l'ultima sacca di resistenza terragna – i ribelli Neg guidati dal leader nero Percy X – dovrà essere annientata.

Stuart Hadley è un giovane irrequieto e tormentato, insoddisfatto del lavoro, del matrimonio, dell'ambiente in cui vive e si muove, ma incapace di trovare certezze esistenziali alle quali ancorarsi per non perdere la propria identità in un universo che gli appare caotico e insensato, in un'America in procinto di diventare la più grande potenza mondiale e già alle prese con le sue stesse contraddizioni sociali. Stuart è un sognatore che si scontra con un mondo del quale sembra non capire e soprattutto non approvare nulla.

Dive into the thought-provoking world of Philip K. Dick’s science fiction classic, Variable Man. Originally published in 1953 in Space Science Fiction, this captivating tale unfolds in a future Earth shackled by a relentless obsession with war and an overreliance on mechanical calculators. What happens when an unpredictable variable—a man from the past who can mend not just appliances but also the very fabric of destiny—enters this rigid world? As he challenges the limitations of technology, he becomes both humanitys greatest hope and its inevitable downfall. Experience a ...

In a future where predictability reigns supreme, advanced computers can forecast the outcomes of wars before a single shot is fired. However, they foresee a grim stalemate between the Terran and Centaurian Empires. What they desperately require is an element of unpredictability, and that’s precisely what they get when Thomas Cole, a man from the past, is inadvertently thrust into their time. Can he disrupt their calculated predictions, or is he merely another variable in a game of chance? Discover the thrilling tale of The Variable Man, originally published in the September 1953 issue of...

In the midst of a seemingly stalemated war with the Yucks from Proxima Centauri, a hidden truth lurks beneath the surface. Their mines, designed to strangle Terran planets, seem to propagate on their own, leaving humanity baffled. The brightest minds can only speculate that these ships and mines are somehow alive. Faced with desperation, humanity takes a bold step if the Yucks can harness organic vessels, why cant we? Enter Mr. Spaceship, a revolutionary concept that merges consciousness with warfare. But as the lines blur between machine and sentient being, will a conscious warship follow the...

Aliens have invaded Earth, but not in the way you might expect! In The Eyes Have It, we encounter bizarre, one-celled creatures masquerading as ordinary humans, leading to a delightful satire on certain writing styles. This whimsical tale echoes the brilliance of science fiction legend Philip Dick. Meanwhile, Tony and the Beetles transports us to a distant future where Earths vast colonial empire is in jeopardy. Ten-year-old Tony faces the harsh realities of history as it catches up with humanity, offering a sobering yet engaging perspective on our past and what lies ahead. Two captivating ...

In the aftermath of a devastating nuclear war that has rendered the Earths surface uninhabitable, humanity has retreated into underground hives, where they labor tirelessly to produce the war materials fueling a relentless conflict between the East and West. For eight long years, the battle has been waged not by humans, but by advanced robots known as Ledeys, capable of surviving the extreme radiation above. These mechanical warriors, the Defenders, stand as the last line of defense between the warring factions, their surveillance relaying vital information to the generals below. But as the ...

Dive into the imaginative worlds of Philip K. Dick with two captivating early science fiction tales. In The Crystal Crypt, tensions between Mars and Earth are on the brink of explosion, and only a band of merchants and salesmen stand in the way of chaos. Can they complete their mission against the odds? Meanwhile, Beyond the Door explores the tantalizing question of what lurks behind the threshold‚Aîwill it be a threat or a revelation? Join Phil Chenevert as he guides you through these thought-provoking narratives.

Dive into two captivating tales in the unmistakable style of Philip K. Dick. First, meet the Wub‚Aîa 400-pound, slovenly creature that resembles a bizarre mix of walrus and hog. The hungry crew of a spaceship sees it as a potential meal for just 50 cents, but the Wub has its own ideas about fate. The second story, The Skull, weaves a gripping narrative of time travel intertwined with unscrupulous governments, prisoners, and religious undertones, all featuring a cunning assassin. Prepare for an exhilarating journey through imagination and thought! (summary by Phil Chenevert)

Of Withered Apples by Philip K. Dick is a hauntingly symbolic short story that blends dreamlike imagery with unsettling undercurrents of fate and desire. In this surreal tale, Dick draws readers into a world where ordinary objects—such as withered apples hanging on a tree—take on an ominous significance, suggesting temptation, decay, and the fragility of human will.

Explore Philip K. Dick’s thought‑provoking novelette The Last of the Masters, set 200 years after an anarchist revolt dismantles governments. Hidden in a remote valley, a benevolent robot ruler maintains humanity’s last functioning state—until insurgents challenge the fragile balance. This intense clash of anarchism and authoritarianism delves into themes of technology, empathy, and political power.

Step into a chilling vision of the future in The Golden Man by Philip K. Dick, a masterful blend of science fiction, suspense, and philosophical depth. Set in a world where mutants are hunted by a powerful government, the story follows Cris, a strangely evolved human with golden skin and extraordinary abilities that defy control. As authorities seek to capture and destroy him, Dick explores themes of evolution, free will, and humanity’s uncertain place in the cosmos.

On Asteroid Y-3, a strange phenomenon is spreading among Earth’s stationed personnel: soldiers and workers suddenly believe they are turning into plants. They abandon their duties, lying in the sun with no desire for anything else. Doctor Henry Harris is sent to investigate these bizarre cases, only to uncover something deeper than delusion—an unspoken yearning for escape from the grind of mechanized society. In his search for answers, Harris encounters the mysterious “Pipers,” symbolic figures that awaken buried desires for simplicity and peace.

Il secondo volume della raccolta di straordinari racconti di Philip K. Dick, i primi scritti del più geniale tra gli innovatori del genere della fantascienza. Un totale di trentatré racconti, pubblicati tra il 1947 e il 1953, di un Philip K. Dick che muove i primi passi nella letteratura fantascientifica.