Robots, Androids, and Mechanical Oddities
Encyclopedia
Robots, Androids, and Mechanical Oddities: The Science Fiction of Philip K. Dick is a collection of science fiction
stories by Philip K. Dick
. It was first published by the Southern Illinois University Press
in 1984 and was edited by Patricia S. Warrick and Martin H. Greenberg
. The stories had originally appeared in the magazines Fantasy and Science Fiction, Galaxy Science Fiction
, Space Science Fiction
, Astounding, Future, Orbit, Science Fiction Stories, Imagination
, Amazing Stories
, Rolling Stone College Papers and Playboy
.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
stories by Philip K. Dick
Philip K. Dick
Philip Kindred Dick was an American novelist, short story writer and essayist whose published work is almost entirely in the science fiction genre. Dick explored sociological, political and metaphysical themes in novels dominated by monopolistic corporations, authoritarian governments and altered...
. It was first published by the Southern Illinois University Press
Southern Illinois University Press
Southern Illinois University Press, founded in 1956, is a university press located in Carbondale, Illinois.The press publishes approximately 50 titles annually, among its more than 1,200 titles currently in print....
in 1984 and was edited by Patricia S. Warrick and Martin H. Greenberg
Martin H. Greenberg
Martin Harry Greenberg was an American speculative fiction anthologist and writer.-Biography:Dr. Martin H. Greenberg was born March 1, 1941, to Max and Mae Greenberg in South Miami Beach, Florida...
. The stories had originally appeared in the magazines Fantasy and Science Fiction, Galaxy Science Fiction
Galaxy Science Fiction
Galaxy Science Fiction was an American digest-size science fiction magazine, published from 1950 to 1980. It was founded by an Italian company, World Editions, which was looking to break in to the American market. World Editions hired as editor H. L...
, Space Science Fiction
Space Science Fiction
Space Science Fiction was a science fiction magazine published by Space Publications, Inc. of New York and The Archer Press Ltd. of London that ran for eight issues from May 1952 to September 1953. Space was edited by Lester del Rey and featured a monthly book review column by George O. Smith...
, Astounding, Future, Orbit, Science Fiction Stories, Imagination
Imagination (magazine)
Imagination was an American fantasy and science fiction magazine first published in October 1950 by Raymond Palmer's Clark Publishing Company. The magazine was sold almost immediately to Greenleaf Publishing Company, owned by William Hamling, who published and edited it from the third issue,...
, Amazing Stories
Amazing Stories
Amazing Stories was an American science fiction magazine launched in April 1926 by Hugo Gernsback's Experimenter Publishing. It was the first magazine devoted solely to science fiction...
, Rolling Stone College Papers and Playboy
Playboy
Playboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
.
Contents
- Introduction, by Patricia S. Warrick & Martin H. GreenbergMartin H. GreenbergMartin Harry Greenberg was an American speculative fiction anthologist and writer.-Biography:Dr. Martin H. Greenberg was born March 1, 1941, to Max and Mae Greenberg in South Miami Beach, Florida...
- "The Little Movement"
- "The DefendersThe Defenders (short story)"The Defenders" is a 1953 science fiction short story by American author Philip K. Dick, and the basis for Dick's 1964 novel The Penultimate Truth. It is one of several of his short stories to be expanded into a novel....
" - "The Preserving Machine"
- "Second VarietySecond Variety"Second Variety" is an influential short story by Philip K. Dick first published in Space Science Fiction magazine, in May 1953. It is one of Dick's many stories in which nuclear war has rendered the Earth's surface an uninhabitable, gray ash pile, and the only things remaining are killer robots...
" - "ImpostorImpostor (short story)"Impostor" is a science fiction short story by Philip K. Dick. It was first published in Astounding magazine in June, 1953. Impostor, a feature film based on the story, was released in 2002 starring Gary Sinise, Madeleine Stowe and Vincent D'Onofrio...
" - "Sales PitchSales PitchSales Pitch is a science fiction short story by Philip K. Dick, first published in Future Science Fiction magazine, June 1954. The premise of omni-present, intrusive and even aggressive advertising and marketing is as relevant as ever. In the end of the story, the character is driven mad by a robot...
" - "The Last of the MastersThe Last of the Masters"The Last of the Masters" is a science fiction novelette by Philip K. Dick. The original manuscript of the story was received by the Scott Meredith Literary Agency on July 15, 1953, and the story was published by the Hanro Corporation in the final issue of Orbit Science Fiction in 1954. It has...
" - "Service CallService Call"Service Call" is a science fiction short story by Philip K. Dick. It was first published in Science Fiction Stories, July 1955. The plot centers on a service agent for an authoritarian bio-technology from an alternate future who appears in the contemporary USA....
" - "AutofacAutofac"Autofac" is a 1955 science fiction short story by Philip K. Dick that features one of the earliest treatments of self-replicating machines. It is set some years after an apocalyptic world war has devastated Earth's civilizations, leaving only a network of hardened robot "autofacs" in operation to...
" - "To Serve the Master"
- "War Game"
- "A Game of Unchance"
- "The Electric AntThe Electric AntThe Electric Ant is a science fiction short story by Philip K. Dick. First published in Fantasy and Science Fiction magazine in October 1969....
" - "The Exit Door Leads InThe Exit Door Leads InThe Exit Door Leads In is a science fiction short story by Philip K. Dick. First published in 1979."The Exit Door Leads In" was written for Rolling Stone College Papers, a short-lived publication. It is unusual among Dick's stories in that it was written at the request of the editors...
" - "Frozen Journey"