the world Dick made

Short Stories

Paycheck published 1953

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Paycheck and Other Classic Stories by Philip K. Dick
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First published in Imagination Jun 1953

Jennings works a two year job at Rethrick construction and agrees to have his memory wiped when the gig is up. He’s able to figure out that Rethrick construction built an illegal time scoop when he receives some odds and ends from the future he had sent himself in the past, and eventually he attempts to blackmail Earl Rethrick into accepting him as a partner in the company.

Not a particularly great story. The 2003 movie starring Ben Affleck is so bad it might actually be good.

Cast of characters

  • Jennings – our protagonist
  • Earl Rethrick – founder of Rethrick construction
  • Kelly McVane – Rethrick construction employee

Roog published 1953

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First published in Fantasy & Science Fiction 1953

“Roog” was Dick’s first short story sale published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction in 1953.

Boris the dog tries in vain to alert his owners to the threat of the roogs, which after a bit of misdirection turn out to be garbage men.

Cast of characters

  • Boris the dog
  • Alf Cardossi – Boris’s owner

Beyond Lies the Wub published 1952

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First published in Planet Stories Jul 1952

“Beyond Lies The Wub” is Dick’s first published short story appearing in Planet Stories in 1952.

On an expedition rounding up Martian animals Captain Franco encounters the wub, a pig-like creature he intends to eat even after it turns out to be an intelligent form of life with a tendency toward philosophical discussion.

Cast of characters

  • The wub – a pig-like telepathic extra terrestrial
  • Captain Franco – a wrangler of alien lifeforms
  • Peterson, Jones, French – crew members aboard Franco’s ship