Philip K. Dick ponders the very nature of humanity in this anthology of five gripping short stories and novellas. Includes "The Defenders," "Foster, You're Dead," "Piper in the Woods," "Second Variety," and "The Variable Man."

Science fiction-noveller.

A study of the novels and short stories of science fiction writer Philip K. Dick (1928-1982)with presentation of a literary chronology of his career.

SECOND VARIETY The claws were bad enough in the first place—nasty, crawling little death-robots. But when they began to imitate their creators, it was time for the human race to make peace—if it could! The Russian soldier made his way nervously up the ragged side of the hill, holding his gun ready. He glanced around him, licking his dry lips, his face set. From time to time he reached up a gloved hand and wiped perspiration from his neck, pushing down his coat collar. Eric turned to Corporal Leone. “Want him? Or can I have him?” He adjusted the view sight so the Russian’s features squarely filled the glass, the lines cutting across his hard, somber features. Leone considered. The Russian was close, moving rapidly, almost running. “Don’t fire. Wait.” Leone tensed. “I don’t think we’re needed.” The Russian increased his pace, kicking ash and piles of debris out of his way. He reached the top of the hill and stopped, panting, staring around him. The sky was overcast, drifting clouds of gray particles. Bare trunks of trees jutted up occasionally; the ground was level and bare, rubble-strewn, with the ruins of buildings standing out here and there like yellowing skulls. The Russian was uneasy. He knew something was wrong. He started down the hill. Now he was only a few paces from the bunker. Eric was getting fidgety. He played with his pistol, glancing at Leone. “Don’t worry,” Leone said. “He won’t get here. They’ll take care of him.” “Are you sure? He’s got damn far.” “They hang around close to the bunker. He’s getting into the bad part. Get set!” The Russian began to hurry, sliding down the hill, his boots sinking into the heaps of gray ash, trying to keep his gun up. He stopped for a moment, lifting his fieldglasses to his face. “He’s looking right at us,” Eric said.

Interviews with the genius behind The Man in the High Castle and countless other science fiction classics. In the field of science fiction, Philip K. Dick is unparalleled. His novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? became the classic film Blade Runner. His short story “The Minority Report” was adapted for the screen by Steven Spielberg. The Man in the High Castle has become a hit series on Amazon, and those titles represent only a small fraction of his work. In November 1982, six months before the author’s untimely death, journalist Gwen Lee recorded the first of several in-depth discussions with Philip K. Dick that continued over the course of the next three months. This transcription is a fascinating read for anyone interested in the field of science fiction. “These transcripts bring fresh insights—notably, into the imaginative biotech plot line of the unwritten The Owl in Daylight . . . Dick also discusses music, writing, philosophers and his 1974–1975 mystical visions, when the revelation of his son’s undiagnosed birth defect—‘down to anatomical details’—saved the child’s life . . . Fans will rejoice.” —Publishers Weekly

Fantastical realms, enchanted creatures, and imaginative technologies are but a few of the many elements that draw readers to the science fiction and fantasy genres of literature. Great science fiction and fantasy authors are skilled at blending the unfamiliar with the familiar, making their imaginative tales both grounded and, in some cases, prescient. Writers such as Ray Bradbury, Ursula K. Le Guin, J.K. Rowling, and J.R.R. Tolkien, to name a few, explore themes ranging from conformity and government control to the dual burden and blessing of advanced technology, challenging readers to reimagine the world they know. The lives of some of the most prolific and popular authors of these genres are surveyed in this compelling volume.

This bio-bibliography of the golden age of the science fiction field includes 308 biographies compiled from questionnaires sent to the authors, and chronological lists of 483 writers' published works. This facsimile reprint of the 1975 edition includes a title index, introduction, and minor corrections. A now-classic guide to the major and minor SF writers active in the early 1970s.

Kucukalic looks beyond the received criticism and stereotypes attached to Philip K. Dick and his work and shows that the author is a serious and relevant philosophical and cultural thinker whose writing offer us important insights into contemporary digital culture

This comprehensive compendium profiles some of the most important, prolific, and influential authors in history. Readers will gain a greater understanding of figures they may already know and be introduced to those with whom they may be unfamiliar. The list is composed of a mix of writers from all different backgrounds and time periods, perfect for students of literature. This book follows the core standards in that it analyzes multiple authors and allows readers to compare and contrast their ideas. It also gives a sense of the canon in the context of history and society.