Cadbury, The Beaver Who Lacked

The Eye of the Sibyl and Other Classic Stories by Philip K. Dick
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In this odd fable with a confusing message a beaver named Cadbury is nagged by his wife for being an all-around failure and his psychiatrist isn’t much help. One day Cadbury floats a letter downstream seeking companionship (hopefully female). A few days later he receives a letter in return from Carol Stickyfoot and they correspond. He finds out from his psychiatrist that Carol is also a patient but he goes to visit her anyway, and at some point over coffee Carol splits into three women with different hostile personalities who all berate Cadbury until he disappears in a puff of smoke. 

Dick is working through his issues with women here. I’ll just leave it at that.

Cast of characters

  • Cadbury – the titular beaver
  • Hilda – Cadbury’s wife
  • Dr. Drat – Cadbury’s psychiatrist
  • Carol Stickyfoot – Cadbury’s love interest