What do you think?
Rate this book
The Defenders and Other Stories
In a 1978 interview, Philip K. Dick said 'I've always had this funny feeling about reality. It just seems very feeble to me sometimes. It doesn't seem to have the substantiality that it's suppose to have.' Fortunately for us, Dick translated his feelings about reality into some of the greatest science fiction writing of all time. This collection features five stories from early in his career, when he found his voice as a writer. In 'The Gun,' a planet lies dead, destroyed by a devastating war. Only a powerful weapon remains as protection, but what's left to protect? In 'Beyond the Door,' a man buys 'a cuckoo clock for his wife—without knowing the price he would have to pay.' In 'The Crystal Crypt,' three earthlings attempt to gain advantage over the entire population of Mars, in order to advance Earth's commercial interests. In 'The Skull,' an imprisoned hunter is offered redemption, if he will agree to embark on the most unusual hunt of several lifetimes. Finally, in 'The Defenders,' a population of robots fights an Armageddon-like war, while humans live underground, feeding the war machine. But what does winning really mean? These five stories allow us an early glimpse into the mind of the Hugo Award winning author.
4 pages, MP3 Book
First published January 1, 1950
6 people are currently reading
115 people want to read
About the author
Philip K. Dick
1,997 books22.6k followersPhilip Kindred Dick was a prolific American science fiction author whose work has had a lasting impact on literature, cinema, and popular culture. Known for his imaginative narratives and profound philosophical themes, Dick explored the nature of reality, the boundaries of human identity, and the impact of technology and authoritarianism on society. His stories often blurred the line between the real and the artificial, challenging readers to question their perceptions and beliefs.
Raised in California, Dick began writing professionally in the early 1950s, publishing short stories in various science fiction magazines. He quickly developed a distinctive voice within the genre, marked by a fusion of science fiction concepts with deep existential and psychological inquiry. Over his career, he authored 44 novels and more than 100 short stories, many of which have become classics in the field.
Recurring themes in Dick's work include alternate realities, simulations, corporate and government control, mental illness, and the nature of consciousness. His protagonists are frequently everyday individuals—often paranoid, uncertain, or troubled—caught in surreal and often dangerous circumstances that force them to question their environment and themselves. Works such as Ubik, The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch, and A Scanner Darkly reflect his fascination with perception and altered states of consciousness, often drawing from his own experiences with mental health struggles and drug use.
One of Dick’s most influential novels is Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, which served as the basis for Ridley Scott’s iconic film Blade Runner. The novel deals with the distinction between humans and artificial beings and asks profound questions about empathy, identity, and what it means to be alive. Other adaptations of his work include Total Recall, Minority Report, A Scanner Darkly, and The Man in the High Castle, each reflecting key elements of his storytelling—uncertain realities, oppressive systems, and the search for truth. These adaptations have introduced his complex ideas to audiences well beyond the traditional readership of science fiction.
In the 1970s, Dick underwent a series of visionary and mystical experiences that had a significant influence on his later writings. He described receiving profound knowledge from an external, possibly divine, source and documented these events extensively in what became known as The Exegesis, a massive and often fragmented journal. These experiences inspired his later novels, most notably the VALIS trilogy, which mixes autobiography, theology, and metaphysics in a narrative that defies conventional structure and genre boundaries.
Throughout his life, Dick faced financial instability, health issues, and periods of personal turmoil, yet he remained a dedicated and relentless writer. Despite limited commercial success during his lifetime, his reputation grew steadily, and he came to be regarded as one of the most original voices in speculative fiction. His work has been celebrated for its ability to fuse philosophical depth with gripping storytelling and has influenced not only science fiction writers but also philosophers, filmmakers, and futurists.
Dick’s legacy continues to thrive in both literary and cinematic spheres. The themes he explored remain urgently relevant in the modern world, particularly as technology increasingly intersects with human identity and governance. The Philip K. Dick Award, named in his honor, is presented annually to distinguished works of science fiction published in paperback original form in the United States. His writings have also inspired television series, academic studies, and countless homages across media.
Through his vivid imagination and unflinching inquiry into the nature of existence, Philip K. Dick redefined what science fiction could achieve. His work continues to challenge and inspire, offering timeless insights into the human condition a
Raised in California, Dick began writing professionally in the early 1950s, publishing short stories in various science fiction magazines. He quickly developed a distinctive voice within the genre, marked by a fusion of science fiction concepts with deep existential and psychological inquiry. Over his career, he authored 44 novels and more than 100 short stories, many of which have become classics in the field.
Recurring themes in Dick's work include alternate realities, simulations, corporate and government control, mental illness, and the nature of consciousness. His protagonists are frequently everyday individuals—often paranoid, uncertain, or troubled—caught in surreal and often dangerous circumstances that force them to question their environment and themselves. Works such as Ubik, The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch, and A Scanner Darkly reflect his fascination with perception and altered states of consciousness, often drawing from his own experiences with mental health struggles and drug use.
One of Dick’s most influential novels is Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, which served as the basis for Ridley Scott’s iconic film Blade Runner. The novel deals with the distinction between humans and artificial beings and asks profound questions about empathy, identity, and what it means to be alive. Other adaptations of his work include Total Recall, Minority Report, A Scanner Darkly, and The Man in the High Castle, each reflecting key elements of his storytelling—uncertain realities, oppressive systems, and the search for truth. These adaptations have introduced his complex ideas to audiences well beyond the traditional readership of science fiction.
In the 1970s, Dick underwent a series of visionary and mystical experiences that had a significant influence on his later writings. He described receiving profound knowledge from an external, possibly divine, source and documented these events extensively in what became known as The Exegesis, a massive and often fragmented journal. These experiences inspired his later novels, most notably the VALIS trilogy, which mixes autobiography, theology, and metaphysics in a narrative that defies conventional structure and genre boundaries.
Throughout his life, Dick faced financial instability, health issues, and periods of personal turmoil, yet he remained a dedicated and relentless writer. Despite limited commercial success during his lifetime, his reputation grew steadily, and he came to be regarded as one of the most original voices in speculative fiction. His work has been celebrated for its ability to fuse philosophical depth with gripping storytelling and has influenced not only science fiction writers but also philosophers, filmmakers, and futurists.
Dick’s legacy continues to thrive in both literary and cinematic spheres. The themes he explored remain urgently relevant in the modern world, particularly as technology increasingly intersects with human identity and governance. The Philip K. Dick Award, named in his honor, is presented annually to distinguished works of science fiction published in paperback original form in the United States. His writings have also inspired television series, academic studies, and countless homages across media.
Through his vivid imagination and unflinching inquiry into the nature of existence, Philip K. Dick redefined what science fiction could achieve. His work continues to challenge and inspire, offering timeless insights into the human condition a
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
November 17, 2022
the second collection of short stories by Philip K. Dick I've read recently. a familiarity to the style and focus of the stories, and the audiobook reader.
within this, the stories are individual and inventive.
many contain a conflict/event, and discuss it's repercussions.
the title short story "the defenders" stood out, the story containing several takes on the meaning of the title... including the humans being defended from themselves.
within this, the stories are individual and inventive.
many contain a conflict/event, and discuss it's repercussions.
the title short story "the defenders" stood out, the story containing several takes on the meaning of the title... including the humans being defended from themselves.
December 7, 2016
This is a book of short stories first published in magazines in the early fifties. An odd thing: The print book is entitled The Defenders and Three Others. It has four stories. The audio book version that I heard has five stories, but only three in common. The print version includes "Beyond Lies the Wub" which I've read before. The audio version includes "The Skull", not in the print version, and which I also had read before. "The Defenders" is a precursor to Dick's later novel The Penultimate Truth.
The audiobook is narrated by William Coon. He has a perfectly good reading voice, but I think he fancies himself a voice actor; unfortunately he has no talent for dialog.
The audiobook is narrated by William Coon. He has a perfectly good reading voice, but I think he fancies himself a voice actor; unfortunately he has no talent for dialog.
September 9, 2024
A mixed bag. The defenders itself shows lots of signs of classic Dick.
In a way, the other stories are quite inspiring, in that such a great writer can start with such crap. Maybe I too can go from crap to greatness. Also inspiring that some of the short stories were published- how much higher than necessary do I set standards for myself? … Sci-fi does make you ask yourself questions
Themes running through the collection include ungrateful/unfaithful wives, awful (phantom menace level) dialogue, and smoking. The advent of vid-phones also can be seen here.
Still, the defenders, while not great, is still decent and shows lots of elements, of both style and content, which go on to feature heavily in future Dick writing. The other stories too, maybe with the exception of behind the door and the skull, have similar elements. It’s also just interesting, in itself, to see how Dick started off and how his style, world building, writing, and content evolve over time. Especially the dialogue- the first few have dialogue like: Eric thought about how he worked in office 7 where his job was x which meant his wife should be more happy as compared to others in their society he had quite an average salary.
Eric: hi boss, I haven’t seen you since you sent me the explanation of how the calendar we use every day of our lives work, let me just remind you how it works now
In a way, the other stories are quite inspiring, in that such a great writer can start with such crap. Maybe I too can go from crap to greatness. Also inspiring that some of the short stories were published- how much higher than necessary do I set standards for myself? … Sci-fi does make you ask yourself questions
Themes running through the collection include ungrateful/unfaithful wives, awful (phantom menace level) dialogue, and smoking. The advent of vid-phones also can be seen here.
Still, the defenders, while not great, is still decent and shows lots of elements, of both style and content, which go on to feature heavily in future Dick writing. The other stories too, maybe with the exception of behind the door and the skull, have similar elements. It’s also just interesting, in itself, to see how Dick started off and how his style, world building, writing, and content evolve over time. Especially the dialogue- the first few have dialogue like: Eric thought about how he worked in office 7 where his job was x which meant his wife should be more happy as compared to others in their society he had quite an average salary.
Eric: hi boss, I haven’t seen you since you sent me the explanation of how the calendar we use every day of our lives work, let me just remind you how it works now
August 30, 2021
The Defenders:
U.S. and Russia have the war to end all wars, the surface is unlivable so they retreat to living underground but they continue their war using robots. With all of humanity now living below the surface and the only thing on the surface of the planet are robots fighting the never ending war - what happens when a team from the U.S. decides to go back to the surface?
If you gave this to someone and gave them no knowledge of the author, I think they would read it and say something along the lines of "reads like a Philip Dick book" or "has ideas similar to what Philip Dick used to write" - it's all Dick all the time.
Good stuff.
U.S. and Russia have the war to end all wars, the surface is unlivable so they retreat to living underground but they continue their war using robots. With all of humanity now living below the surface and the only thing on the surface of the planet are robots fighting the never ending war - what happens when a team from the U.S. decides to go back to the surface?
If you gave this to someone and gave them no knowledge of the author, I think they would read it and say something along the lines of "reads like a Philip Dick book" or "has ideas similar to what Philip Dick used to write" - it's all Dick all the time.
Good stuff.
January 5, 2024
Short, but very good!
November 7, 2025
I give the Defenders three stars, the others I give 2. They were fairly boring.
April 28, 2023
The Defenders and Other Stories" by Philip K. Dick is a collection of short stories that offers a glimpse into the author's unique perspective on reality and the human experience. As a fan of science fiction and speculative fiction, I found this book to be an intriguing and thought-provoking read.
The stories in this collection vary in length and subject matter, but they are all united by the common themes of identity, perception, and the nature of reality. Each story presents a different twist on these themes, and some of the most memorable ones include "The Defenders," which imagines a future where humanity is protected by automated defense systems, and "The Eyes Have It," which features a protagonist who can only see the world in a unique way due to a medical condition.
One of the strengths of this collection is the diversity of its stories. Some are more philosophical, while others are more action-packed, and there is something for every reader. Additionally, the author's writing style is engaging and accessible, making it easy to become engrossed in each story.
Overall, I highly recommend "The Defenders and Other Stories" to fans of science fiction, speculative fiction, and those who enjoy exploring complex themes in literature. This collection is a must-read for anyone looking for a fresh perspective on the world around us.
The stories in this collection vary in length and subject matter, but they are all united by the common themes of identity, perception, and the nature of reality. Each story presents a different twist on these themes, and some of the most memorable ones include "The Defenders," which imagines a future where humanity is protected by automated defense systems, and "The Eyes Have It," which features a protagonist who can only see the world in a unique way due to a medical condition.
One of the strengths of this collection is the diversity of its stories. Some are more philosophical, while others are more action-packed, and there is something for every reader. Additionally, the author's writing style is engaging and accessible, making it easy to become engrossed in each story.
Overall, I highly recommend "The Defenders and Other Stories" to fans of science fiction, speculative fiction, and those who enjoy exploring complex themes in literature. This collection is a must-read for anyone looking for a fresh perspective on the world around us.
May 28, 2024
5 short stories, loved it.
'The Gun,' space ship shot down over dead planet with no life left only self building weapons
'Beyond the Door,' murderous sentiant cuckoo clock
'The Crystal Crypt,' three earthlings steal Mars city to try and stop the war
'The Skull,' prisoner sent back in time to kill pacifist leader before he preaches, but he is him.
'The Defenders,' a population of robots fights an Armageddon-like war, while humans live underground OMG THIS ONE IS SO SWAG I WANNNA KISS THE ROBOTS
'The Gun,' space ship shot down over dead planet with no life left only self building weapons
'Beyond the Door,' murderous sentiant cuckoo clock
'The Crystal Crypt,' three earthlings steal Mars city to try and stop the war
'The Skull,' prisoner sent back in time to kill pacifist leader before he preaches, but he is him.
'The Defenders,' a population of robots fights an Armageddon-like war, while humans live underground OMG THIS ONE IS SO SWAG I WANNNA KISS THE ROBOTS
October 15, 2017
Listened to an audiobook version of this, which did not contain "Beyond Lies the Wub" but did contain "The Skull". I did not like the voice of the audiobook narrator at all. Some of the stories were very simplistic; seems like PKD didn't trust his readers to notice anything and instead spelled everything out. I really liked The Defenders.
December 30, 2023
A collection of Philip K. Dick’s less amazing stories. Most of these are fairly average, by modern standards, yet the author was able to deliver an interesting ending to each one that surpassed the obvious ending, leaving me pleasantly surprised with most of them.
May 16, 2017
Stories were quite predictable but enjoyable. The title story "The Defenders" is definitely the most interesting in the collection.
June 30, 2018
Very solid collection and extremely appropriate for the current time in history. Glad I picked this one up.
January 17, 2019
Fantastic read of short stories. Most I'd read in other compilations. Philip Dick really knows how to write!
May 27, 2019
Nice little audio book of four short stories. The stories were predictable but still enjoyable.
December 26, 2020
Amazing imagination. I found The Gun and Defenders to be my favorites.
September 15, 2022
A decent collection of scifi short stories.
November 1, 2022
The voice actor made these stories painful at times
December 23, 2022
The movies and TV shows based on Philip K Dick's work are often better than the work. But I still enjoy him
March 28, 2023
3/5 The Gun,
4/5 The Crystal Crypt: cool idea that you can have a world in a globe
2/5 The Skull: meh time travel paradox
3/5 The Defenders: meh robot savior story
4/5 The Crystal Crypt: cool idea that you can have a world in a globe
2/5 The Skull: meh time travel paradox
3/5 The Defenders: meh robot savior story
June 1, 2023
Dick had some profound and entertaining ideas, but he also tended to be naive and idealistic about humanity. These stories are mixed - some fun, others a bit dull and predictable.
June 9, 2023
More future predicting sci-fi stories. He saw it then! Some were tooo real!
July 7, 2023
Some standard PKD stories and themes, especially The Defenders. I found Beyond the Door to be a little creepy actually. The Crystal Crypt and The Skull both had classic PKD endings.
July 3, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
A little collection of sci-fi short stories that could each become a book of their own!🪐🔭✨
A little collection of sci-fi short stories that could each become a book of their own!🪐🔭✨
August 3, 2025
"The Skull" and "The Defenders" are both basically their own genres of science fiction now. Decently done by Dick, perhaps improved on later. I could take or leave the rest of the stories.
December 29, 2025
The Gun: 3 Stars
Beyond the Door: 3 Stars
The Crystal Crypt: 4 Stars
The Skull: 4 Stars
The Defenders: 5 Stars
Overall: 4 Stars
Beyond the Door: 3 Stars
The Crystal Crypt: 4 Stars
The Skull: 4 Stars
The Defenders: 5 Stars
Overall: 4 Stars
July 20, 2017
This has been my least favorite work by PKD, of which I'm normally a huge fan. That may have been due to the subpar audio narrating, but the stories themselves were also less "out there" than PKD's usual fare. Some of the stories had good messages, but they seemed pretty "normal" compared PKD's other works. (See "The Eyes Have It"--my favorite short story by PKD.)
December 13, 2015
Grade: C-
These early stories from Dick really show their age. I listed to the audiobook, and the narration was laughable--it gave the stories a Mystery Science Theater 3000 vibe. I finally had to stop and was able to find the title story online. That story and "The Skull" weren't too bad. "Beyond the Door" was dreadful. "The Gun" and "The Crystal Crypt" had some interesting ideas but were still pretty bad.
These early stories from Dick really show their age. I listed to the audiobook, and the narration was laughable--it gave the stories a Mystery Science Theater 3000 vibe. I finally had to stop and was able to find the title story online. That story and "The Skull" weren't too bad. "Beyond the Door" was dreadful. "The Gun" and "The Crystal Crypt" had some interesting ideas but were still pretty bad.
June 6, 2016
I am loving these short stories by Philip K. Dick a lot. The only complaint I may have would be with the narrator and let's be honest here, I'm just nitpicking now. This audiobook is a quick four-hour one that I'm pretty sure most of you will enjoy, well most sci-if fans at least. All these stories are from the 1950's and deal with various conflicts, be it us versus the Martians, or us versus the Commies. Good stuff!
Happy reading!
Happy reading!
March 4, 2010
Though I like PKD's style, I really didn't like this story, or the detail. If I were to comparatively rate this against another similar book of his, I would say that this book is a 5 (out of 10), is boring and rather silly.
Meh. Not the best writing out there, but interesting, as with all PKD's writings.
Meh. Not the best writing out there, but interesting, as with all PKD's writings.
August 5, 2010
Theis book is a compilation of 4 Philip K Dick short stories. Here are my grades for the stories:
The Defenders: A
Beyond Lies the Wub: B
The Crystal Crypt: A-
Beyond the Door: C-
All in all, this is a quick and very worthwhile read.
The Defenders: A
Beyond Lies the Wub: B
The Crystal Crypt: A-
Beyond the Door: C-
All in all, this is a quick and very worthwhile read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews