Rating: 
Summary: Paranoia and Identity
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Paranoia and Identity
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Great Collection
Review: This reader is botha wonderful introduction to the sci-fi world of Philip K. Dick and a brilliant read in itself. Dick has written some of the most provocative short stories of the genre since Bradbury and Asimov and many of them are contained in this collection. His stories are written with a keen surrealist wit and a very dark sense of humor, as Kafka himself might have written science fiction. Stylistically, Dick is more straightforward than his contemporaries Burroughs, Pynchon and Wilson, but thematically, his ideas are just as complex and intriguing (if not more so) than those of said authors. This makes for an thought-provoking read that is also enoyable (a rare find among "serious" fiction writers). In short, if you haven't read Dick, this is the best and most economical introduction to his stunning body of short fiction. If you are a long time fan, chances are, most of your favorites will be here, all bound in one volume for easy transit.
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