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reading (Philip K. Dick stories)
Jan. 23rd, 2011 11:08 amLast night I finished the last of the Philip K. Dick stories I downloaded from Project Gutenberg and put on the nook. All of these stories were published in the early '50's in science fiction magazines. They do have an older science fiction feel to them. The science is pretty loose, creative licencse on half-life and genetics for example. Atmosphere, not the literary variety, is generously put wherever it might be needed. But part of the appeal of old science fiction is that it was about coming up with a good yarn.
I was surprised how obviously anti-war many of these stories were. There were various levels of post apocalypse, but war and the results of war was an integral part of most of the stories.
The major plot progression of "The Second Variety" is notably telegraphed, made all the worse because one of the pictures lands out of place in the epub copy of the book. It should have been on the last page, but appeared in the middle of the story. But Dick shows talent here, what you thought was the major point wasn't. The last line shows the inattentive reader their hubris.
"The Eyes Have It" is a timeless bit of humour. It's short, sweet, and well delivered.
In "The Gun" and "The Skull" there are hints at other social structures that don't play a role in the plot but make the aliens more alien so to speak. It's hard to tell if Dick put these in just to make the exotic feel exotic or if he was quietly slipping in more social commentary.
These stories are a long way from androids dreaming of electric sheep or clans on the Alphane moon, but they interesting glances into the past as much as they are about the future.
5. Philip K. Dick Various Short Stories
I was surprised how obviously anti-war many of these stories were. There were various levels of post apocalypse, but war and the results of war was an integral part of most of the stories.
The major plot progression of "The Second Variety" is notably telegraphed, made all the worse because one of the pictures lands out of place in the epub copy of the book. It should have been on the last page, but appeared in the middle of the story. But Dick shows talent here, what you thought was the major point wasn't. The last line shows the inattentive reader their hubris.
"The Eyes Have It" is a timeless bit of humour. It's short, sweet, and well delivered.
In "The Gun" and "The Skull" there are hints at other social structures that don't play a role in the plot but make the aliens more alien so to speak. It's hard to tell if Dick put these in just to make the exotic feel exotic or if he was quietly slipping in more social commentary.
These stories are a long way from androids dreaming of electric sheep or clans on the Alphane moon, but they interesting glances into the past as much as they are about the future.
5. Philip K. Dick Various Short Stories
