[.ca] Selected Stories of Philip K. Dick (ISBN 0375421513)

Contents of book:
Austin, here are the stories in this book: 1. Beyond Lies the Wub 2. Roog 3. Paycheck 4. Second Variety 5. Imposter 6. The King of the Elves 7. Adjustment Team 8. Foster, You're Dead 9. Upon the Dull Earth 10. Autofac 11. The Minority Report 12. The Days of Perky Pat 13. Precious Artifact 14. A Game of Unchance 15. We Can Remember It For You Wholesale 16. Faith of Our Fathers 17. The Electric Ant 18. A Little Something For Us Tempunauts 19. The Exit Door Leads In 20. Rautavaara's Case 21. I Hope I Shall Arrive Soon A great collection.

A saucerful of secrets:
This collection of PKD's work is a great introduction into the vast depth with which PDK writes. Each story is told within 20 pages and gives great character, plot and emotional development that each story takes you down a different perspective. I found myself throughout the collection saying there was nothing new he could write about, yet each story brought forward a sci-fi concept that I had not thought of. I do question one of the lead-in stories "Roog" which is short and at times pretty pointless. If you are new to sci-fi, a story such as that, could lead you to stop reading further, as "Beyond lies the Wub" is not one of the best stories in this collection as well. After you make it beyond these two, the stories, plot twists and characters are more refined and much more enjoyable. Paycheck was my favorite in this collection, and has me anxious to see the movie, even though John Woo will twist this masterpiece around. Interesting note, four of the stories inspired films, Second Variety - "Screamers"; Paycheck - "Paycheck"; We can remember it for you wholesale - "Total Recall"; and The Minority Report - "Minority Report"

Paranoia and Identity:
This is an incredible collection from one of the most widely recognized and revered voices in SF history. PKD is a writer whose vision and stories have been regurgitated onto the silver screen in films like TOTAL RECALL ("We Can Remember it for You Wholesale), THE MINORITY REPORT and IMPOSTER most recently. The basis for those films are in this book and offer much more than the filmed versions, to say the least. While the three stories above are strong on their own terms, others in this collection offer more evidence of Dick's greatness and vision of a world where no one can be trusted, especially yourself. On display are stories that range from Fantasy - KING OF THE ELVES, wherein a man takes in a travelling band of elves, Gothic Horror UPON THE DULL EARTH - in which a witch and her husband attempt to cross the boundaries of life and death. The down side of time travel in A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR US TEMPUNAUTS and peek behind the curtain of reality in FAITH OF OUR FATHERS. In RAUTAVAARA'S CASE, the basic tenets of Catholocism are tested and turned on a screw to the most ardent of believers. In some way all of the stories in the selection turn something on its rear, turn the world a few degrees on its axis and offer a glimpse at what could be. PKD shows us those things which we would rather not consider as the truth of a reality. There are 21 superb stories in this collection, each throwing a monkey-wrench into the perceptions of self, the world around you and the relationship between the two.

question:
Might someone please list the stories included in this volume? I really don't need editorial, just the titles. I can't exactly purchase something if I don't know what I'll be getting.

The future ain't what it used to be:
In many ways Dick is a poor writer. His ability to create images by discriptive language and his ability to create interesting and believable charcteres are adequate at best (and there are those who think that this faint praise is vast exaggeration). At his best, however, Dick approaches genius as he contrives plots that beautifully illuminate a philosophical idea that he is exploring. Thus he explores the distinction between perception and reality in We Can Remember It For You Wholesale and asks what it is to be human in Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Such gems are the exception, however, not the rule. Still, many of these stories leave one dissatisfied. Far from timeless, they arise out of the beatnik fifties for the most part and beatnik philosophy permeates these stories. Several repeated themes or attributes ring hollow in the world of today. For example, smoking tobacco is nearly universal in Dick's future but has been condemned to obscurity and shame today. Similarly, many stories are set in the aftermath of a nuclear showdown between the US and the USSR. Another frequent theme is precognition and one wonders if Dick did not see himself in that light. If so, he misjudged both himself and us. He was not as foresightful as he thought he was and we are better than he thought we were. It should be mentioned that Hollywood has not been kind to Dick. The directors of such movies as Total Recall (based upon We Can Remember It For You Wholesale) have taken an idea from a beautiful little story, added explosions and bikini babes, and created a blockbuster that bears only the slightest resemblance to its inspiration. It is perhaps fitting that Hollywood should so mangle these stories since a common theme of many is the creation of an illusion that supercedes the reality. All in all, and given that Dick is surely one of the best science fiction writers of the last century, Dick serves to illustrate that science fiction has yet to find a truly great author. Science fiction needs an author who can do for science fiction what Stephen King and Dean Koontz have done for the horror novel; to elevate it above its niche. Dick was a good idea man. Too bad he wasn't a better writer.