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Повне зібрання короткої прози #3
The Complete Short Stories: Volume 3
Following The Folio Society’s publication of some of Philip K. Dick’s most celebrated novels, including The Man in the High Castle, Ubik, A Scanner Darkly & Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, the author’s estate approached the team with a new idea – an edition of all 118 pieces of short fiction. The result is The Complete Short Stories, a four-volume set celebrating the extraordinary creative output of a singular mind.
Limited to 750 copies, this box set features a dizzying array of elements, from the two-part presentation box and bindings, designed by independent studio La Boca, to the carefully chosen endpapers and eye-popping color scheme. Twenty-four illustrators were commissioned to create one image each for a Philip K. Dick short story chosen specially for them. A work of art on every level, The Complete Short Stories is the definitive edition – an essential set not only for science-fiction aficionados, but for anyone with a passion for illustrative art and 20th century literature.
Limited to 750 hand-numbered copies
Bindings designed by La Boca and bound in Duchesse cloth screen-printed with fluorescent inks
The text of this edition follows that of the five-volume Collected Stories of Philip K. Dick published in the UK by Millennium in 1999–2000, with minor emendations. Jonathan Lethem’s fascinating introduction has been revised by the author from a piece originally published in 2002.
VOLUME 3
The Crawlers • Sales Pitch • Shell Game • Upon the Dull Earth • Foster, You’re Dead • Pay for the Printer • War Veteran • The Chromium Fence • Misadjustment • A World of Talent • Psi-Man Heal My Child! • Autofac • Service Call • Captive Market • The Mold of Yancy • The Minority Report • Recall Mechanism • The Unreconstructed M • Explorers We • War Game • If There Were No Benny Cemoli • Novelty Act • Waterspider • What the Dead Men Say
4 volumes
24 illustrations in total by 24 artists, printed on Arctic Volume Ivory paper
2,560 text pages in total
Set in Mentor with Futura display
Text printed on Abbey Pure FSC certified paper
Title pages and contents printed in two colours
Coloured page edges
Ribbon markers
Four volumes each 9¾" x 6¾"
Presented in a two-part box designed by La Boca
Limited to 750 copies, this box set features a dizzying array of elements, from the two-part presentation box and bindings, designed by independent studio La Boca, to the carefully chosen endpapers and eye-popping color scheme. Twenty-four illustrators were commissioned to create one image each for a Philip K. Dick short story chosen specially for them. A work of art on every level, The Complete Short Stories is the definitive edition – an essential set not only for science-fiction aficionados, but for anyone with a passion for illustrative art and 20th century literature.
Limited to 750 hand-numbered copies
Bindings designed by La Boca and bound in Duchesse cloth screen-printed with fluorescent inks
The text of this edition follows that of the five-volume Collected Stories of Philip K. Dick published in the UK by Millennium in 1999–2000, with minor emendations. Jonathan Lethem’s fascinating introduction has been revised by the author from a piece originally published in 2002.
VOLUME 3
The Crawlers • Sales Pitch • Shell Game • Upon the Dull Earth • Foster, You’re Dead • Pay for the Printer • War Veteran • The Chromium Fence • Misadjustment • A World of Talent • Psi-Man Heal My Child! • Autofac • Service Call • Captive Market • The Mold of Yancy • The Minority Report • Recall Mechanism • The Unreconstructed M • Explorers We • War Game • If There Were No Benny Cemoli • Novelty Act • Waterspider • What the Dead Men Say
4 volumes
24 illustrations in total by 24 artists, printed on Arctic Volume Ivory paper
2,560 text pages in total
Set in Mentor with Futura display
Text printed on Abbey Pure FSC certified paper
Title pages and contents printed in two colours
Coloured page edges
Ribbon markers
Four volumes each 9¾" x 6¾"
Presented in a two-part box designed by La Boca
658 pages, Hardcover
Published April 6, 2021
2 people are currently reading
94 people want to read
About the author
Philip K. Dick
2,010 books22.5k 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
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 16, 2024
3-й том менш сподобався за попередній. Особливо повпливали на враження тексти на космічну тематику (їх тут дай боже), які з першого тому наче по якості зросли, але ідейно досі не захоплюють (це дуже суб’єктивно, можливо вам буде цілком ок)
Із 23-х оповідань відзначу декілька:
-”На нудній Землі”- дуже цікавий концепт, в якому дівчина у дивний спосіб прикликає янголів і в подальшому це все впливає не тільки на близьких а й на людей загалом;
-”Помилка адаптації” - родич Blade Runner але з паракінетиками;
-”Автофаб”-постапок, в якому великі роботизовані фабрики дивом вистояли, а люди намагаються потрапити всередину, але плани, як завше, йдуть не так як треба;
-”Механізм спогаду”- сюжетка про пацієнта та психоаналітика, які намагаються зрозуміти звідки у першого акрофобія і до чого тут майбутнє;
-”Водяний павук”- чисто фанове оповідання, в якому Дік з колеги по ремеслу, Пола Андерсона, зробив передвісника майбутнього. Азімов там також має епізодичну роль))
Із 23-х оповідань відзначу декілька:
-”На нудній Землі”- дуже цікавий концепт, в якому дівчина у дивний спосіб прикликає янголів і в подальшому це все впливає не тільки на близьких а й на людей загалом;
-”Помилка адаптації” - родич Blade Runner але з паракінетиками;
-”Автофаб”-постапок, в якому великі роботизовані фабрики дивом вистояли, а люди намагаються потрапити всередину, але плани, як завше, йдуть не так як треба;
-”Механізм спогаду”- сюжетка про пацієнта та психоаналітика, які намагаються зрозуміти звідки у першого акрофобія і до чого тут майбутнє;
-”Водяний павук”- чисто фанове оповідання, в якому Дік з колеги по ремеслу, Пола Андерсона, зробив передвісника майбутнього. Азімов там також має епізодичну роль))
July 17, 2024
Останнє оповідання це відвал усього)
November 10, 2021
Volume #3 of the marvelously designed Folio Society edition. Here are my short, pithy observations on each story.
- The Crawlers (Imagination July 1954)
Mutant creepy crawler kids are being born around radioactive-contaminated Oakridge Tennessee. Kids seem to have their own agenda, which freaks out the town folk. More scenario than story.
- Sales Pitch (Future June 1954)
The Fasrad sells itself! Literally!
- Shell Game (Galaxy Sept. 1954)
A hospital ship loaded with paranoid personality disorder patients crashlands on a planet. The inmates try to make sense of their situation. Chaos results. Inspiration for Golgafrincham Ark Fleet Ship B?
- Upon the Dull Earth (Beyond Fantasy Fiction Nov. 1954)
Creepy, poetic tale of a young woman drawn to 'the other side' but who has second thoughts when prematurely transported there. Returning has consequences...for everyone.
- Foster, You're Dead (Star Science Fiction Stories #3 1955)
Classic PKD theme: the Military-Industrial-Complex gets a foot in the door of the Average American Household. Big bucks--sex sells, but fear sells even more!
- Pay the Printer (Satellite Science Fiction Oct 1956)
People need to realize that they have to be makers and not just printers. Prescient PKD fun fact--in 2021 we have a shortage of skilled machinists.
- War Veteran (If March 1955)
How to prevent a war by somehow convincing your enemy that they are 100% guaranteed to lose it...even though they are sure to win it. Great concept. Confusing plot line.
- The Chromium Fence (Imagination July 1955)
In the future, the world is polarized by...advertising. Are you a Purist with white teeth, fresh breath, and perfect hair--or--a Naturalist with B.O., greasy hair and crooked teeth?
- Misadjustment (Science Fiction Quart. Feb 1957)
A few rare folk are born with the P-K power; the power to warp a bubble of reality to their own delusions. They must be tracked down and eliminated--you may have P-K and not realize it!
"My P-K husband thinks he is a chicken!"
"Have you turned him in to the government?"
"No. We need the eggs."
- A World of Talent (Galaxy Oct 1954)
Timelines, time travel, anti-Psi powers, and a girl named Pat. Themes and motif PKD will return to quite often.
- Psi-Man Heal My Child (Imaginative Tales Nov 1955)
An alternate title for this story was 'Outside Consultant.' Perhaps the editor thought that it was a little too sedate for a PULP MAGAZINE!
- Autofac (Galaxy Nov 1955)
Not how we pictured the robot revolution! One of the first SF depictions of von Neumann probes.
- Service Call (Science Fiction Stories July 1955)
Do you have a swibble yet? No? Well don't fret. Soon you will.
But be sure to make space for it because late-model swibbles take up a lot of room.
- Captive Market (If Apr 1955)
It is said that the secret to a successful business is picking your market properly. Businesswoman Mrs. Edna Berthelson of Walnut Creek CA is VERY good at picking her market.
- The Mold of Yancy (If Aug 1955)
John Edward Yancy gives folksy, simplistic advice to the citizens of Callisto and in doing so keeps them all under the government thumb. Only thing--he isn't real!
How-to manual for Ronald Reagan?
- The Minority Report (Fantastic Universe Jan 1956)
IRL, police are increasingly using computer algorithms--rather than precogs--to 'stop crimes before they occur.' Aka racial profiling.
We live in a PKD universe.
- Recall Mechanism (If July 1959)
Know what is worse than Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder? Pre-Traumatic Stress Disorder!
- The Unreconstructed M (Science Fiction Stories Jan 1957)
M is for Murder--it doesn't have a chalk M on its back, but is an efficient assassin and can plant evidence to frame another. Will the guilty and innocent receive justice?
- Explorers We (Fantasy & Science Fiction Jan 1959)
The 6 astronauts of the disastrous expedition that crashed on Mars cobble together a ship and return to Earth. So where are the ticker-tape parades?
- War Game (Galaxy Dec 1959)
What better way to subvert your opposition than with instructive and fun toys for their children. Just make sure that the games don't have small parts.
- If There Were No Benny Cemoli (Galaxy Dec 1963)
"All the News That's Fit to Print...and Then Some." Fake news to the rescue?
- Novelty Act (Fantastic Feb. 1964)
The First Lady of the US keeps the populace entertained and controlled by PKD's version of "America's Got Talent." Jug band Bach! This novella was later folded into his 1964 novel "The Simulacra."
- Waterspider (If Jan 1964)
Who knew PKD could do humor? The future kidnaps Poul Anderson from gathering of pre-cogs--SFCon 1954. Very meta: "Phil Dick..met him yesterday...Very nervous fellow, was almost afraid to come in."
- What the Dead Men Say (World of Tomorrow June 1964)
Continuing brain activity after death allows a 'half-life' for the deceased to continue to manage their affairs. You can imagine what the ultra-rich and powerful use this time for.
- The Crawlers (Imagination July 1954)
Mutant creepy crawler kids are being born around radioactive-contaminated Oakridge Tennessee. Kids seem to have their own agenda, which freaks out the town folk. More scenario than story.
- Sales Pitch (Future June 1954)
The Fasrad sells itself! Literally!
- Shell Game (Galaxy Sept. 1954)
A hospital ship loaded with paranoid personality disorder patients crashlands on a planet. The inmates try to make sense of their situation. Chaos results. Inspiration for Golgafrincham Ark Fleet Ship B?
- Upon the Dull Earth (Beyond Fantasy Fiction Nov. 1954)
Creepy, poetic tale of a young woman drawn to 'the other side' but who has second thoughts when prematurely transported there. Returning has consequences...for everyone.
- Foster, You're Dead (Star Science Fiction Stories #3 1955)
Classic PKD theme: the Military-Industrial-Complex gets a foot in the door of the Average American Household. Big bucks--sex sells, but fear sells even more!
- Pay the Printer (Satellite Science Fiction Oct 1956)
People need to realize that they have to be makers and not just printers. Prescient PKD fun fact--in 2021 we have a shortage of skilled machinists.
- War Veteran (If March 1955)
How to prevent a war by somehow convincing your enemy that they are 100% guaranteed to lose it...even though they are sure to win it. Great concept. Confusing plot line.
- The Chromium Fence (Imagination July 1955)
In the future, the world is polarized by...advertising. Are you a Purist with white teeth, fresh breath, and perfect hair--or--a Naturalist with B.O., greasy hair and crooked teeth?
- Misadjustment (Science Fiction Quart. Feb 1957)
A few rare folk are born with the P-K power; the power to warp a bubble of reality to their own delusions. They must be tracked down and eliminated--you may have P-K and not realize it!
"My P-K husband thinks he is a chicken!"
"Have you turned him in to the government?"
"No. We need the eggs."
- A World of Talent (Galaxy Oct 1954)
Timelines, time travel, anti-Psi powers, and a girl named Pat. Themes and motif PKD will return to quite often.
- Psi-Man Heal My Child (Imaginative Tales Nov 1955)
An alternate title for this story was 'Outside Consultant.' Perhaps the editor thought that it was a little too sedate for a PULP MAGAZINE!
- Autofac (Galaxy Nov 1955)
Not how we pictured the robot revolution! One of the first SF depictions of von Neumann probes.
- Service Call (Science Fiction Stories July 1955)
Do you have a swibble yet? No? Well don't fret. Soon you will.
But be sure to make space for it because late-model swibbles take up a lot of room.
- Captive Market (If Apr 1955)
It is said that the secret to a successful business is picking your market properly. Businesswoman Mrs. Edna Berthelson of Walnut Creek CA is VERY good at picking her market.
- The Mold of Yancy (If Aug 1955)
John Edward Yancy gives folksy, simplistic advice to the citizens of Callisto and in doing so keeps them all under the government thumb. Only thing--he isn't real!
How-to manual for Ronald Reagan?
- The Minority Report (Fantastic Universe Jan 1956)
IRL, police are increasingly using computer algorithms--rather than precogs--to 'stop crimes before they occur.' Aka racial profiling.
We live in a PKD universe.
- Recall Mechanism (If July 1959)
Know what is worse than Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder? Pre-Traumatic Stress Disorder!
- The Unreconstructed M (Science Fiction Stories Jan 1957)
M is for Murder--it doesn't have a chalk M on its back, but is an efficient assassin and can plant evidence to frame another. Will the guilty and innocent receive justice?
- Explorers We (Fantasy & Science Fiction Jan 1959)
The 6 astronauts of the disastrous expedition that crashed on Mars cobble together a ship and return to Earth. So where are the ticker-tape parades?
- War Game (Galaxy Dec 1959)
What better way to subvert your opposition than with instructive and fun toys for their children. Just make sure that the games don't have small parts.
- If There Were No Benny Cemoli (Galaxy Dec 1963)
"All the News That's Fit to Print...and Then Some." Fake news to the rescue?
- Novelty Act (Fantastic Feb. 1964)
The First Lady of the US keeps the populace entertained and controlled by PKD's version of "America's Got Talent." Jug band Bach! This novella was later folded into his 1964 novel "The Simulacra."
- Waterspider (If Jan 1964)
Who knew PKD could do humor? The future kidnaps Poul Anderson from gathering of pre-cogs--SFCon 1954. Very meta: "Phil Dick..met him yesterday...Very nervous fellow, was almost afraid to come in."
- What the Dead Men Say (World of Tomorrow June 1964)
Continuing brain activity after death allows a 'half-life' for the deceased to continue to manage their affairs. You can imagine what the ultra-rich and powerful use this time for.
February 10, 2024
Повна насолода. Дік то є любофф.
August 8, 2024
Прочитав. Особливо припали до душі «Водяний павук» та «Зразковий Єнсі».
May 27, 2025
Good short stories, lots of AI, very fun.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews