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O Crânio
Um criminoso recebe uma importante tarefa: assassinar um homem. Seria uma tarefa fácil para ele, não fosse uma particularidade: o homem havia morrido séculos antes. Voltando no tempo com o único objeto que poderá ajudá-lo a encontrar seu alvo, o crânio do homem, ele parte para a difícil missão.
Este e-book faz parte do projeto Literatura Descoberta, que tem por objetivo levar ao público traduções inéditas de textos disponíveis no Domínio Público com uma linguagem mais acessível. O projeto foi idealizado por Laura Scaramussa Azevedo, bacharelanda em Tradução pela Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto.
Este e-book faz parte do projeto Literatura Descoberta, que tem por objetivo levar ao público traduções inéditas de textos disponíveis no Domínio Público com uma linguagem mais acessível. O projeto foi idealizado por Laura Scaramussa Azevedo, bacharelanda em Tradução pela Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto.
47 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1952
2 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 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 23, 2025
Que mente criativa tem esse autor! Adorei a ideia do conto, tão simples, ao mesmo tempo tão inusitado e nos leva a tantas reflexões.
Um matador recebe a incumbência de voltar no passado, 200 anos antes e assassinar o Fundador de uma doutrina que influenciou muita gente, até os dias atuais, atrapalhando o status quo. Ele precisa matá-lo antes de deixar plantadas suas ideias.
Quase no final saquei quem era o tal fundador e o que estava prestes a acontecer, mesmo assim não tirou a graça e a surpresa na narrativa.
Apesar de não ter cunho religioso, é inevitável deixar de fazer uma analogia com os ensinos de Cristo, muitos hoje que o idolatram fazem de tudo para distorcer seu ensinamentos, tão contra o interesse de tanta gente.
" Tenho um estranho paradoxo para vocês. Aqueles que tiram vidas irão perder a sua própria. Aqueles que matam, morrerão. Mas aquele que dá a sua própria vida, viverá outra vez!
Um matador recebe a incumbência de voltar no passado, 200 anos antes e assassinar o Fundador de uma doutrina que influenciou muita gente, até os dias atuais, atrapalhando o status quo. Ele precisa matá-lo antes de deixar plantadas suas ideias.
Quase no final saquei quem era o tal fundador e o que estava prestes a acontecer, mesmo assim não tirou a graça e a surpresa na narrativa.
Apesar de não ter cunho religioso, é inevitável deixar de fazer uma analogia com os ensinos de Cristo, muitos hoje que o idolatram fazem de tudo para distorcer seu ensinamentos, tão contra o interesse de tanta gente.
" Tenho um estranho paradoxo para vocês. Aqueles que tiram vidas irão perder a sua própria. Aqueles que matam, morrerão. Mas aquele que dá a sua própria vida, viverá outra vez!
April 21, 2024
Uma história estranhamente familiar, mas muito interessante. Quando nós damos conta e lembramos que fora escrita lá atrás, em 1952... Tudo faz ainda mais sentido, curti demais esse conto.
Só agora estou conhecendo as obras desse autor, apesar de consagrado por obras que viraram clássicos, ou sucessos no cinema, ainda assim, me parece ser bem desconhecido por muitos; mas já virei fã e quero ler todos os livros dele que vejo pela frente...
Um cara que escreveu e foi muito além do seu tempo, e ainda hoje nos intriga, mexe com nossa mente... Críticas extremamente pertinentes e até atuais, uma visão única da vida e da realidade... Sensacional vale muito a pena conhecer...
Só agora estou conhecendo as obras desse autor, apesar de consagrado por obras que viraram clássicos, ou sucessos no cinema, ainda assim, me parece ser bem desconhecido por muitos; mas já virei fã e quero ler todos os livros dele que vejo pela frente...
Um cara que escreveu e foi muito além do seu tempo, e ainda hoje nos intriga, mexe com nossa mente... Críticas extremamente pertinentes e até atuais, uma visão única da vida e da realidade... Sensacional vale muito a pena conhecer...
July 26, 2025
Leitura rápida, fluida e envolvente. Vale a pena gastar alguns minutinhos para ler a história de Conger, um assassino que é enviado para o passado para assassinar um homem cuja única informação que ele tem é um crânio.
O livro termina com o seguinte paradoxo: "Aqueles que tiram vidas irão perder a sua própria. Aqueles que matam, morrerão. Mas aquele que dá a sua própria vida, viverá outra vez!"
O livro termina com o seguinte paradoxo: "Aqueles que tiram vidas irão perder a sua própria. Aqueles que matam, morrerão. Mas aquele que dá a sua própria vida, viverá outra vez!"
March 26, 2023
A história começou a fazer sentido nas últimas páginas, antes disso é de difícil envolvimento com os personagens e a trama.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews