Explore the best stories by Philip K. Dick, visionary of science fiction. Discover tales about alternate realities, artificial intelligence, and dystopian futures, such as “Foster, You’re Dead” and “We Can Remember It For You Wholesale.” Read his complete stories and immerse yourself in his unique universe.
The Impossible Planet is a science fiction story by Philip K. Dick, published in October 1953 in the magazine Imagination. The story follows Captain Andrews and his crew, who receive an unusual request from a 350-year-old woman: to travel to Earth, the mythical planet believed to be the cradle of humanity. Although science has ruled out that the Earth ever existed, the older woman is willing to pay a large sum to fulfill her dream, which awakens Andrews’ greed.
We Can Remember It for You Wholesale, written by Philip K. Dick and published in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction in April 1966, is a science fiction story that explores the manipulation of memory. Douglas Quail is an ordinary man with a monotonous life who dreams of traveling to Mars. Unable to do so, he turns to Rekal Incorporated, a company that implants false memories to make its clients believe they have had extraordinary experiences. However, during the procedure, details suggest that Quail’s life is not what he thinks it to be. As he tries to understand the truth, he finds himself caught up in a web of intrigue and mysterious secrets.
In “We Can Remember It For You Wholesale,” Philip K. Dick explores the limits of reality and identity through the story of Douglas Quail, an ordinary man who longs for an extraordinary life. Tired of his monotonous existence, Quail buys implanted memories of a trip to Mars. However, when the memories emerge, Quail discovers that his life may not be as ordinary as he thought. This story, which inspired the movie Total Recall, raises profound questions about memory, perception, and the nature of reality.
The Father-Thing is a disturbing science fiction short story by Philip K. Dick published in December 1954 in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. An eight-year-old, Charles, begins to suspect something terrible is happening to his father. One night, as he enters the garage, he witnesses a disturbing scene: next to his father is an identical replica of him. During dinner, Charles is confronted by the disturbing creature that, he is convinced, has usurped his father’s place. His mother’s incomprehension and the escalation of events that this provokes lead Charles to run away from home in search of help, triggering a desperate struggle to discover the truth in an environment that becomes increasingly oppressive and terrifying.
Foster, You’re Dead is a science fiction short story by Philip K. Dick, published in Star Science Fiction Stories No. 3 in 1955. In a society obsessed with preparing for nuclear war, Mike Foster faces the stigma of being the son of an ‘anti-P’, someone who refuses to buy bomb shelters or contribute to the community defence system. While his peers make booby traps and knives at school, he lives with the constant humiliation and fear of not having a shelter to protect him. Social pressure and fear drive him to crave security in a world where paranoia has become a lucrative business.