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The Father-Thing (collection)
Encyclopedia
The Father-Thing is a collection of science fiction
stories by Philip K. Dick
. It was first published by Gollancz
in 1989 and reprints Volume III of The Collected Stories of Philip K. Dick
. It had not previously been published as a stand-alone volume. Many of the stories had originally appeared in the magazines If
, Science Fiction Adventures, Science Fiction Stories, Orbit, Fantasy and Science Fiction, Imagination
, Future, Galaxy Science Fiction
, Beyond Fantasy Fiction
, Satellite, Science Fiction Quarterly and Imaginative Tales.
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 Gollancz
Gollancz
Gollancz often refers to the British publishing house Victor Gollancz Ltd.Gollancz, a family name originating from the Polish town Gołańcz , is mainly known as the name of a prominent British Jewish family, including:* Sir Hermann Gollancz , rabbi* Sir Israel Gollancz , scholar of...
in 1989 and reprints Volume III of The Collected Stories of Philip K. Dick
The Collected Stories of Philip K. Dick
The Collected Stories of Philip K. Dick is a collection of science fiction stories by Philip K. Dick. It was first published by Underwood-Miller in 1987 as a five volume set. See Philip K...
. It had not previously been published as a stand-alone volume. Many of the stories had originally appeared in the magazines If
If (magazine)
If was an American science fiction magazine launched in March 1952 by Quinn Publications, owned by James L. Quinn. Quinn hired Paul W. Fairman to be the first editor, but early circulation figures were disappointing, and Quinn fired Fairman after only three issues. Quinn then took over the...
, Science Fiction Adventures, Science Fiction Stories, Orbit, Fantasy and Science Fiction, 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,...
, Future, 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...
, Beyond Fantasy Fiction
Beyond Fantasy Fiction
Beyond Fantasy Fiction was a US fantasy fiction magazine edited by H. L. Gold, with only ten issues published from 1953 to 1955. The last two issues carried the cover title of Beyond Fiction, but the publication's name for copyright purposes remained as before.Although not a commercial success, it...
, Satellite, Science Fiction Quarterly and Imaginative Tales.
Contents
- Introduction, by John BrunnerJohn BrunnerJohn Brunner may refer to:* Sir John Brunner, 1st Baronet , a.k.a. John Tomlinson Brunner, British industrialist and Liberal Member of Parliament* John L...
- "Fair Game"
- "The Hanging Stranger"
- "The Eyes Have It"
- "The Golden ManThe Golden Man"The Golden Man" is an 11600-word science fiction novelette by Philip K. Dick. It was received by the Scott Meredith Literary Agency on June 24, 1953, and first published in the April 1954 issue of If magazine. The story was illustrated by Kelly Freas in its original publication...
" - "The Turning WheelThe Turning WheelThe Turning Wheel is an 8,400 word science fiction novelette by Philip K. Dick. The Scott Meredith Literary Agency received the submission on July 8, 1952 and it was published in Science Fiction Stories No. 2, 1954....
" - "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...
" - "The Father-ThingThe Father-thingThe Father-Thing is a 1954 science fiction short story by Philip K. Dick. The story, written from a child's point of view, concerns the replacement of a boy's father by a replicated version. Only the child sees the difference and has to recruit other children to help him reveal the truth...
" - "Strange EdenStrange EdenStrange Eden is a 1954 science fiction short story by Philip K. Dick. It tells of a planetary survey team that encounters an immortal woman on an uninhabited planet. The woman reveals that her race has visited Earth over the entire course of human history and were the inspiration for ancient gods...
" - "Tony and the Beetles"
- "Null-ONull-O"Null-O" is a 1958 science fiction short story by Philip K. Dick. This rather brief story examines the concept of totally unempathic and 'logical' humans in an obvious parody of the plot and concepts of The Players of Null-A by A. E. van Vogt. These beings view individual collections of matter, i.e...
" - "To Serve the Master"
- "Exhibit PieceExhibit PieceExhibit Piece is a 1954 science fiction short story by Philip K. Dick. The story is an early exploration of the concept of shifting realities, so common in the writer's fiction later on. The protagonist is a future historian of the 20th century and finds himself shifting in time from the future to...
" - "The CrawlersThe CrawlersThe Crawlers is a science fiction short story by Philip K. Dick. First published in Imagination magazine, July 1954 under the title "Foundling Home"....
" - "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...
" - "Shell GameShell Game (short story)"Shell Game" is a science fiction short story by Philip K. Dick. "Shell Game" was submitted to the Scott Meredith Literary Agency and received by SMLA on December 12, 1953. First published in Galaxy Science Fiction Sept...
" - "Upon the Dull EarthUpon the Dull Earth"Upon the Dull Earth" is a science fiction short story by Philip K. Dick, first published in November 1954 in Beyond Fantasy Fiction.-Plot summary:...
" - "Foster, You’re DeadFoster, You're Dead!"Foster, You're Dead!" is a 1955 science fiction short story by Philip K. Dick. It was first published in Star Science Fiction Stories No.3....
" - "Pay for the PrinterPay for the PrinterPay for the Printer is a science fiction short story by Philip K. Dick. First published in Satellite Science Fiction, October 1956.- Plot :...
" - "War VeteranWar VeteranWar Veteran is a science fiction short story by Philip K. Dick. It was first published in If magazine in March 1955.-Plot summary:The plot concerns an old man who claims to have travelled back in time from a future in which Earth has lost a devastating war to its own Martian and Venusian colonies...
" - "The Chromium FenceThe Chromium FenceThe Chromium Fence is a 1955 science fiction short story by Philip K. Dick, first published in Imagination magazine.The story is set in a future where political differences have been reduced to trivialities, the purists are pitted against the naturalists...
" - "Misadjustment"
- "A World of TalentA World of Talent"A World of Talent" is a science fiction short story by Philip K. Dick, first published in Galaxy Science Fiction magazine, October 1954.- Plot summary:...
" - "Psi-Man Heal My Child!Psi-man Heal My Child!"Psi-man Heal My Child!" is a short story written by Philip K. Dick in 1955. It also has the alternate titles Psi-man and Outside Consultant and appeared in Dick's short story collection Second Variety....
" - Notes