Short Stories by Philip K. Dick

Portrait of Philip K. Dick.
Attribution: Suntup.press

Philip K. Dick (December 16, 1928 – March 2, 1982) was an American science fiction writer who sold his first stories in the early ’50s and continued to write for pulp magazines until his breakthrough novel, The Man in the High Castle (1962), which won the Hugo Award. He wrote many more popular novels throughout the 1960s and ’70s, like Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (1968), Ubik (1969), and A Scanner Darkly (1977). He married five times, had ongoing health and money troubles, and died of a stroke in March 1982, just missing the film debut of Blade Runner.

Many of his stories deal with normal people suddenly recognizing that their world’s a simulation—their memories are implanted, their partners are inhuman, their realities are unreal. His stories often feel dark and are filled with paranoia, drug use, and mental instability. You’ll recognize many of his stories as popular sci-fi films (Total Recall, Minority Report, Paycheck, etc.).

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On this page you’ll find details to the following twelve short-story collections by

A Handful of Darkness (1955)

  1. “Colony“
  2. “Impostor“
  3. “Expendable“
  4. “Planet for Transients“
  5. “Prominent Author“
  6. “The Builder“
  7. “The Little Movement“
  8. “The Preserving Machine“
  9. “The Impossible Planet“
  10. “The Indefatigable Frog“
  11. “The Turning Wheel“ (1954)
  12. “Progeny“
  13. “Upon the Dull Earth” (1954)
  14. “The Cookie Lady“
  15. “Exhibit Piece” (1954)
A Handful of Darkness (1955)

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The Variable Man And Other Stories (1957)

  1. “The Variable Man” (1953)
  2. “Second Variety” (1953)
  3. “The Minority Report” (1956)
  4. “Autofac” (1955)
  5. “A World of Talent” (1954)
The Variable Man And Other Stories (1957)

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The Preserving Machine (1969)

  1. “The Preserving Machine“
  2. “War Game“
  3. “Upon the Dull Earth” (1954)
  4. “Roog“
  5. “War Veteran” (1955)
  6. “Top Stand-By Job“
  7. “Beyond Lies the Wub”
  8. “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale” (1966)
  9. “Captive Market“
  10. “If There Were No Benny Cemoli“
  11. “Retreat Syndrome“
  12. “The Crawlers” (1954)
  13. “Oh, to be a Blobel!“
  14. “What the Dead Men Say“
  15. “Pay for the Printer“ (1956)
The Variable Man And Other Stories (1957)

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The Book of Philip K. Dick (1973)

Note: This books was reissued in 1977 as The Turning Wheel and Other Stories

  1. “Nanny“
  2. “The Turning Wheel“ (1954)
  3. “The Defenders“
  4. “Adjustment Team“
  5. “Psi-Man“
  6. “The Commuter“
  7. “A Present for Pat“
  8. “Breakfast at Twilight“
  9. “Shell Game” (1954)
The Book of Philip K. Dick (1973)

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The Best of Philip K. Dick (1977)

1. “Beyond Lies the Wub”
2. “Roog”
3. “Second Variety” (1953)
4. “Paycheck” (1953)
5. “Impostor”
6. “Colony”
7. “Expendable”
8. “The Days of Perky Pat”
9. “Breakfast at Twilight”
10. “Foster, You’re Dead!” (1955)
11. “The Father-Thing” (1954)
12. “Service Call”
13. “Autofac” (1955)
14. “Human Is”
15. “If There Were No Benny Cemoli”
16. “Oh, to Be a Blobel!”
17. “Faith of Our Fathers”
18. “The Electric Ant”
19. “A Little Something for Us Tempunauts”

The Best of Philip K. Dick (1977)

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The Golden Man (1980)

  1. “The Golden Man” (1954)
  2. “Return Match” (1967)
  3. “The King of the Elves” (1953)
  4. “The Mold of Yancy” (1955)
  5. “Not By Its Cover” (1968)
  6. “The Little Black Box” (1964)
  7. “The Unreconstructed M” (1957)
  8. “The War with the Fnools” (1964)
  9. “The Last of the Masters” (1954)
  10. “Meddler” (1954)
  11. “A Game of Unchance” (1964)
  12. “Sales Pitch” (1954)
  13. “Precious Artifact” (1964)
  14. “Small Town” (1954)
  15. “The Pre-persons” (1974)
The Golden Man (1980)

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Robots, Androids, and Mechanical Oddities (1984)

  1. “The Little Movement”
  2. “The Defenders”
  3. “The Preserving Machine”
  4. “Second Variety” (1953)
  5. “Impostor”
  6. “Sales Pitch” (1954)
  7. “The Last of the Masters” (1954)
  8. “Service Call”
  9. “Autofac” (1955)
  10. “To Serve the Master” (1956)
  11. “War Game”
  12. “A Game of Unchance”
  13. “The Electric Ant”
  14. “The Exit Door Leads In”
  15. “Frozen Journey” (Title changed to “I Hope I Shall Arrive Soon”.)
Robots, Androids, and Mechanical Oddities (1984)

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I Hope I Shall Arrive Soon (1985)

  1. “How to Build a Universe That Doesn’t Fall Apart Two Days Later”
  2. “The Short Happy Life of the Brown Oxford”
  3. “Explorers We”
  4. “Holy Quarrel”
  5. “What’ll We Do with Ragland Park?”
  6. “Strange Memories of Death”
  7. “The Alien Mind”
  8. “The Exit Door Leads In”
  9. “Chains of Air, Web of Aether”
  10. “Rautavaara’s Case”
  11. “I Hope I Shall Arrive Soon”
I Hope I Shall Arrive Soon (1985)

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The Collected Stories of Philip K. Dick (1987)

This collection contains 118 stories in five volumes. Each of these volumes was also released as a standalone collection:

  1. Beyond Lies the Wub (1988)
  2. Second Variety (1989)
  3. The Father-Thing (1989)
  4. The Days of Perky Pat (1990)
  5. The Little Black Box (1990)
The Collected Stories of Philip K. Dick (1987)

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Beyond Lies the Wub (1988)

  1. “Stability”
  2. “Roog”
  3. “The Little Movement”
  4. “Beyond Lies the Wub”
  5. “The Gun”
  6. “The Skull”
  7. “The Defenders”
  8. “Mr. Spaceship”
  9. “Piper in the Woods”
  10. “The Infinites”
  11. “The Preserving Machine”
  12. “Expendable”
  13. “The Variable Man” (1953)
  14. “The Indefatigable Frog”
  15. “The Crystal Crypt”
  16. “The Short Happy Life of the Brown Oxford”
  17. “The Builder”
  18. “Meddler” (1954)
  19. “Paycheck” (1953)
  20. “The Great C”
  21. “Out in the Garden”
  22. “King of the Elves” (1953)
  23. “Colony”
  24. “Prize Ship”
  25. “Nanny”
Beyond Lies the Wub (1988)

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Second Variety (1989)

  1. “The Cookie Lady”
  2. “Beyond the Door”
  3. “Second Variety” (1953)
  4. “Jon’s World”
  5. “The Cosmic Poachers”
  6. “Progeny”
  7. “Some Kinds of Life”
  8. “Martians Come in Clouds”
  9. “The Commuter”
  10. “The World She Wanted”
  11. “A Surface Raid”
  12. “Project: Earth”
  13. “The Trouble with Bubbles”
  14. “Breakfast at Twilight”
  15. “A Present for Pat”
  16. “The Hood Maker”
  17. “Of Withered Apples”
  18. “Human Is”
  19. “Adjustment Team”
  20. “The Impossible Planet”
  21. “Impostor”
  22. “James P. Crow”
  23. “Planet for Transients”
  24. “Small Town” (1954)
  25. “Souvenir”
  26. “Survey Team”
  27. “Prominent Author”
Second Variety (1989)

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The Father-Thing (1989)

  1. “Fair Game” (1959)
  2. “The Hanging Stranger” (1953)
  3. “The Eyes Have It” (1953)
  4. “The Golden Man” (1954)
  5. “The Turning Wheel” (1954)
  6. “The Last of the Masters” (1954)
  7. “The Father-Thing” (1954)
  8. “Strange Eden” (1954)
  9. “Tony and the Beetles” (1954)
  10. “Null-O” (1958)
  11. “To Serve the Master” (1956)
  12. “Exhibit Piece” (1954)
  13. “The Crawlers” (1954)
  14. “Sales Pitch” (1954)
  15. “Shell Game” (1954)
  16. “Upon the Dull Earth” (1954)
  17. “Foster, You’re Dead” (1955)
  18. “Pay for the Printer” (1956)
  19. “War Veteran” (1955)
  20. “The Chromium Fence” (1955)
  21. “Misadjustment”
  22. “A World of Talent” (1954)
  23. “Psi-Man Heal My Child!”
The Father-Thing (1989)

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The Days of Perky Pat (1990)

  1. “Autofac” (1955)
  2. “Service Call”
  3. “Captive Market”
  4. “The Mold of Yancy” (1955)
  5. “The Minority Report” (1956)
  6. “Recall Mechanism”
  7. “The Unreconstructed M” (1957)
  8. “Explorers We”
  9. “War Game”
  10. “If There Were No Benny Cemoli”
  11. “Novelty Act”
  12. “Waterspider”
  13. “What the Dead Men Say”
  14. “Orpheus with Clay Feet”
  15. “The Days of Perky Pat” (1963)
  16. “Stand-by”
  17. “What’ll We Do with Ragland Park?”
  18. “Oh, to Be a Blobel!”
The Days of Perky Pat (1990)

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The Little Black Box (1990)

  1. “The Little Black Box” (1964)
  2. “The War with the Fnools” (1964)
  3. “A Game of Unchance” (1964)
  4. “Precious Artifact” (1964)
  5. “Retreat Syndrome”
  6. “A Terran Odyssey”
  7. “Your Appointment Will Be Yesterday”
  8. “Holy Quarrel”
  9. “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale” (1966)
  10. “Not By Its Cover” (1968)
  11. “Return Match” (1967)
  12. “Faith of Our Fathers”
  13. “The Story to End All Stories for Harlan Ellison’s Anthology”
  14. “Dangerous Visions”
  15. “The Electric Ant”
  16. “Cadbury, the Beaver Who Lacked”
  17. “A Little Something for Us Tempunauts”
  18. “The Pre-persons” (1974)
  19. “The Eye of the Sibyl”
  20. “The Day Mr. Computer Fell out of its Tree”
  21. “The Exit Door Leads In”
  22. “Chains of Air, Web of Aether”
  23. “Strange Memories of Death”
  24. “I Hope I Shall Arrive Soon”
  25. “Rautavaara’s Case”
  26. “The Alien Mind”
The Little Black Box (1990)

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The Short Happy Life of the Brown Oxford (1990)

  1. “Stability”
  2. “Roog”
  3. “The Little Movement”
  4. “Beyond Lies the Wub”
  5. “The Gun”
  6. “The Skull”
  7. “The Defenders”
  8. “Mr. Spaceship”
  9. “Piper in the Woods”
  10. “The Infinites”
  11. “The Preserving Machine”
  12. “Expendable”
  13. “The Variable Man” (1953)
  14. “The Indefatigable Frog”
  15. “The Crystal Crypt”
  16. “The Short Happy Life of the Brown Oxford”
  17. “The Builder”
  18. “Meddler” (1954)
  19. “Paycheck” (1953)
  20. “The Great C”
  21. “Out in the Garden”
  22. “The King of the Elves” (1953)
  23. “Colony”
  24. “Prize Ship”
  25. “Nanny”
The Short Happy Life of the Brown Oxford (1990)

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We Can Remember It for You Wholesale (1990)

  1. “The Cookie Lady”
  2. “Beyond the Door”
  3. “Prominent Author”
  4. “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale” (1966)
  5. “Jon’s World”
  6. “The Cosmic Poachers”
  7. “Progeny”
  8. “Some Kinds of Life”
  9. “Martians Come in Clouds”
  10. “The Commuter”
  11. “The World She Wanted”
  12. “A Surface Raid”
  13. “Project: Earth”
  14. “The Trouble with Bubbles”
  15. “Breakfast at Twilight”
  16. “A Present for Pat”
  17. “The Hood Maker”
  18. “Of Withered Apples”
  19. “Human Is”
  20. “Adjustment Team”
  21. “The Impossible Planet”
  22. “Impostor”
  23. “James P. Crow”
  24. “Planet for Transients”
  25. “Small Town” (1954)
  26. “Souvenir”
We Can Remember It for You Wholesale (1990)

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The Minority Report (1991)

  1. “Autofac” (1955)
  2. “Service Call”
  3. “Captive Market”
  4. “The Mold of Yancy” (1955)
  5. “The Minority Report” (1956)
  6. “Recall Mechanism”
  7. “The Unreconstructed M” (1957)
  8. “Explorers We”
  9. “War Game”
  10. “If There Were No Benny Cemoli”
  11. “Novelty Act”
  12. “Waterspider”
  13. “What the Dead Men Say”
  14. “Orpheus with Clay Feet”
  15. “The Days of Perky Pat”
  16. “Stand-by”
  17. “What’ll We Do with R“
The Minority Report (1991)

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Second Variety (1991)

  1. “Fair Game” (1959)
  2. “The Hanging Stranger” (1953)
  3. “The Eyes Have It” (1953)
  4. “The Golden Man” (1954)
  5. “The Turning Wheel” (1954)
  6. “The Last of the Masters” (1954)
  7. “The Father-Thing” (1954)
  8. “Strange Eden” (1954)
  9. “Tony and the Beetles” (1954)
  10. “Null-O” (1958)
  11. “To Serve the Master” (1956)
  12. “Exhibit Piece” (1954)
  13. “The Crawlers” (1954)
  14. “Sales Pitch” (1954)
  15. “Shell Game” (1954)
  16. “Upon the Dull Earth” (1954)
  17. “Foster, You’re Dead” (1955)
  18. “Pay for the Printer” (1956)
  19. “War Veteran” (1955)
  20. “The Chromium Fence” (1955)
  21. “Misadjustment”
  22. “A World of Talent” (1954)
  23. “Psi-Man Heal My Child!”
  24. “Second Variety” (1953)
Second Variety (1991)

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The Eye of the Sibyl (1992)

  1. “The Little Black Box” (1964)
  2. “The War with the Fnools” (1964)
  3. “Precious Artifact” (1964)
  4. “Retreat Syndrome”
  5. “A Terran Odyssey”
  6. “Your Appointment Will Be Yesterday”
  7. “Holy Quarrel”
  8. “A Game of Unchance” (1964)
  9. “Not By Its Cover” (1968)
  10. “Return Match” (1967)
  11. “Faith of Our Fathers”
  12. “The Story to End All Stories for Harlan Ellison’s Anthology”
  13. “Dangerous Visions”
  14. “The Electric Ant”
  15. “Cadbury, the Beaver Who Lacked”
  16. “A Little Something for Us Tempunauts”
  17. “The Pre-persons” (1974)
  18. “The Eye of the Sibyl” (1975)
  19. “The Day Mr. Computer Fell out of its Tree”
  20. “The Exit Door Leads In”
  21. “Chains of Air, Web of Aether”
  22. “Strange Memories of Death”
  23. “I Hope I Shall Arrive Soon”
  24. “Rautavaara’s Case”
  25. “The Alien Mind”
The Eye of the Sibyl (1992)

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The Philip K. Dick Reader (1997)

  1. “Fair Game” (1959)
  2. “The Hanging Stranger” (1953)
  3. “The Eyes Have It” (1953)
  4. “The Golden Man” (1954)
  5. “The Turning Wheel” (1954)
  6. “The Last of the Masters” (1954)
  7. “The Father-Thing” (1954)
  8. “Strange Eden” (1954)
  9. “Tony and the Beetles” (1954)
  10. “Null-O” (1958)
  11. “To Serve the Master” (1956)
  12. “Exhibit Piece” (1954)
  13. “The Crawlers” (1954)
  14. “Sales Pitch” (1954)
  15. “Shell Game” (1954)
  16. “Upon the Dull Earth” (1954)
  17. “Foster, You’re Dead!” (1955)
  18. “Pay for the Printer” (1956)
  19. “War Veteran” (1955)
  20. “The Chromium Fence” (1955)
  21. “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale” (1966)
  22. “The Minority Report” (1956)
  23. “Paycheck” (1953)
  24. “Second Variety” (1953)
The Philip K. Dick Reader (1997)

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Minority Report (2002)

  1. “The Minority Report” (1956)
  2. “Impostor”
  3. “Second Variety” (1953)
  4. “War Game”
  5. “What the Dead Men Say”
  6. “Oh, to Be a Blobel!”
  7. “The Electric Ant”
  8. “Faith of Our Fathers”
  9. “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale” (1966)
Minority Report (2002)

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Selected Stories of Philip K. Dick (2002)

  1. “Beyond Lies the Wub”
  2. “Roog”
  3. “Paycheck” (1953)
  4. “Second Variety” (1953)
  5. “Impostor”
  6. “The King of the Elves” (1953)
  7. “Adjustment Team”
  8. “Foster, You’re Dead!” (1955)
  9. “Upon the Dull Earth” (1954)
  10. “Autofac” (1955)
  11. “The Minority Report” (1956)
  12. “The Days of Perky Pat”
  13. “Precious Artifact” (1964)
  14. “A Game of Unchance” (1964)
  15. “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale” (1966)
  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”
Selected Stories of Philip K. Dick (2002)

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Paycheck (2004)

  1. “Paycheck” (1953)
  2. “Nanny”
  3. “Jon’s World”
  4. “The Little Movement””
  5. “Breakfast at Twilight”
  6. “Small Town” (1954)
  7. “The Father-Thing” (1954)
  8. “The Chromium Fence” (1955)
  9. “Autofac” (1955)
  10. “The Days of Perky Pat”
  11. “Stand-by”
  12. “A Little Something for Us Tempunauts”
  13. “The Pre-persons” (1974)
Paycheck (2004)

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Vintage PKD (2006)

Excerpts from novels

  1. The Man in the High Castle
  2. A Scanner Darkly
  3. The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch
  4. Ubik
  5. VALIS

Stories

  1. “The Days of Perky Pat”
  2. “I Hope I Shall Arrive Soon”
  3. “A Little Something for Us Tempunauts”

Essay

“The Lucky Dog Pet Store” (Introduction to The Golden Man)

Letters

“The Zebra Papers

Vintage PKD (2006)

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The Early Work of Philip K. Dick, Volume One: The Variable Man & Other Stories (2009)

  1. “Beyond lies the wub“
  2. “The Gun“
  3. “The Skull“
  4. “Mr. Spaceship“
  5. “Piper in the Woods“
  6. “The Variable Man” (1953)
  7. “The Crystal Crypt“
  8. “Meddler” (1954)
  9. “Beyond the Door“
  10. “Jon’s World“
  11. “Progeny“
  12. “Of Withered Apples“
  13. “Adjustment Team“
  14. “James P. Crow“
  15. “Souvenir“
The Early Work of Philip K. Dick, Volume One: The Variable Man & Other Stories (2009)

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The Early Work of Philip K. Dick, Volume Two: Breakfast at Twilight & Other Stories (2002)

  1. “Breakfast at Twilight“
  2. “Survey Team“
  3. “The Hanging Stranger“ (1953)
  4. “The Eyes Have It” (1953)
  5. “The Turning Wheel“ (1954)
  6. “The Last of the Masters“ (1954)
  7. “Strange Eden“ (1954)
  8. “Tony and the Beetles“ (1954)
  9. “Exhibit Piece” (1954)
  10. “The Crawlers” (1954)
  11. “Sales Pitch” (1954)
  12. “Upon the Dull Earth” (1954)
  13. “A World of Talent” (1954)
The Early Work of Philip K. Dick, Volume Two: Breakfast at Twilight & Other Stories (2002)

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