What do you think?
Rate this book
RIDICULUM: Classic pulp sci-fi tales with a humorous twist!
“The human race has one really effective weapon, and that is laughter.”
-Mark Twain
Let's face it... doom and gloom is an easy sell. Readers do love their tales of bleak futures and apocalyptic hellscapes. So much so, it seems that publishers have forgotten we readers also like to laugh. And with times being what they are, we’re ALL in need of a few good laughs.
Now, what if I told you there was once a time when sci-fi magazines routinely printed comedic tales about absurdist dystopias, twisted robot logic, and time travel shenanigans gone awry? Of aliens behaving badly, and hyper-intelligent mice toppling the national security state? That films like Idiocrasy borrowed heavily from these stories. As did Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. And Douglas Adams all but owed his career to these golden age galactic romps.
Ridiculum is an anthology that collects some of the best (and unfortunately forgotten) comedic stories from the pulp era, including works by genre legends such as Philip K. Dick, Murray Leinster, Robert Sheckley, Harry Harrison, John D MacDonald, C. L. Moore, Henry Kutter, and more.
Indeed, this anthology is so good, here’s what some AI on the internet said about
"I never thought I'd see any of these stories again, but I was wrong. Ridiculum is a treasure trove of fun nostalgia!"
How can you argue with that? And this digital edition is only $0.99! So what are you waiting for? Buy this book! Read it cover to cover. Leave a review and let everyone know how swell it is.ng as they are, we’re all in need of some light-hearted fun.
-Mark Twain
Let's face it... doom and gloom is an easy sell. Readers do love their tales of bleak futures and apocalyptic hellscapes. So much so, it seems that publishers have forgotten we readers also like to laugh. And with times being what they are, we’re ALL in need of a few good laughs.
Now, what if I told you there was once a time when sci-fi magazines routinely printed comedic tales about absurdist dystopias, twisted robot logic, and time travel shenanigans gone awry? Of aliens behaving badly, and hyper-intelligent mice toppling the national security state? That films like Idiocrasy borrowed heavily from these stories. As did Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. And Douglas Adams all but owed his career to these golden age galactic romps.
Ridiculum is an anthology that collects some of the best (and unfortunately forgotten) comedic stories from the pulp era, including works by genre legends such as Philip K. Dick, Murray Leinster, Robert Sheckley, Harry Harrison, John D MacDonald, C. L. Moore, Henry Kutter, and more.
Indeed, this anthology is so good, here’s what some AI on the internet said about
"I never thought I'd see any of these stories again, but I was wrong. Ridiculum is a treasure trove of fun nostalgia!"
How can you argue with that? And this digital edition is only $0.99! So what are you waiting for? Buy this book! Read it cover to cover. Leave a review and let everyone know how swell it is.ng as they are, we’re all in need of some light-hearted fun.
267 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 24, 2023
About the author
Philip K. Dick
1,933 books23.1k 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 wor
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 wor
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 5, 2026
Short is good
Many good short stories for when you are busy and don't have time for longer ones. Take it to the doctors office with you while you wait for others. Always the best way to make time go by.
Many good short stories for when you are busy and don't have time for longer ones. Take it to the doctors office with you while you wait for others. Always the best way to make time go by.
June 20, 2026
Fun classic SF
This is a nice collection of stories with a humorous side. It includes “A Logic Named Joe”, that seems very relevant with current news of AI being “helpful”.
This is a nice collection of stories with a humorous side. It includes “A Logic Named Joe”, that seems very relevant with current news of AI being “helpful”.
July 26, 2026
A mixture of fun and silly
It seems like the authors are playing with us for their own amusement. The title says it all, the stories are ridiculous.
It seems like the authors are playing with us for their own amusement. The title says it all, the stories are ridiculous.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews