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This is the discussion hub for our discussion of the Short Story anthology...

The Minority Report and Other Classic Stories by Philip K. Dick


CONTENT

Introduction: How Do You Know You're Reading Philip K. Dick? by James Tiptree Jr.   (-->> DISCUSSION)
Autofac   (-->> DISCUSSION)
Service Call   (-->> DISCUSSION)
Captive Market   (-->> DISCUSSION)
The Mold of Yancy   (-->> DISCUSSION)
The Minority Report   (-->> DISCUSSION)
Recall Mechanism   (-->> DISCUSSION)
The Unreconstructed M   (-->> DISCUSSION)
Explorers We   (-->> DISCUSSION)
War Game   (-->> DISCUSSION)
If There Were No Benny Cemoli   (-->> DISCUSSION)
Novelty Act   (-->> DISCUSSION)
Waterspider   (-->> DISCUSSION)
What the Dead Men Say   (-->> DISCUSSION)
Orpheus with Clay Feet   (-->> DISCUSSION)
The Days of Perky Pat   (-->> DISCUSSION)
Stand-By   (-->> DISCUSSION)
What'll We Do with Ragland Park?   (-->> DISCUSSION)
Oh, to Be a Blobel!   (-->> DISCUSSION)
Notes


Please comment of each individual story in its own topic in the PK Dick Short Stories folder (Links to each story's topic in the Table of Content below.) You can use this topic for general discussions of the anthology as a whole.

So, I can't find a copy of this collection. Will make it hard to participate.

Still halfway.
I liked most of the stories so far
the others are not bad, it is just I don't understand them.

Glad that there are lots of space-themed stories so far.

Brendan wrote: "So, I can't find a copy of this collection. Will make it hard to participate."

Pretty sure some are in the public domain.
if some of the stories are listed, then I guess you won't be guilty in reading the online version? cmiiw

I thought one of the interesting tidbits from reading the notes at the end of the book is about PKD's relationship with the editors.

He mentions that Davidson (editor of F&SF) rejected "Days of Perky Pat", apparently because he'd never heard of Barbie�.

He mentions that Horace Gold (editor of Galaxy), liked his stories but eventually they parted ways over Gold's habit of making changes to stories he'd purchased, though he had a solid relationship with Frederick Pohl (Gold's successor at Galaxy.)

Interestingly, he mentions that John Campbell, editor of Astounding (later renamed to today's Analog) and mentor and favorite publisher of Isaac Asimov, thought PKD's stories were "nuts". :)

Is homeostatic PKD's favorite word? And can I call a Fizzini?

The nuts quote was aptly applied.

And yes, homeostatic is his favorite word.

I think we should all try to use "homeostatic" in conversation at least once today.

Glad I joined the group because it prompted me to read a collection I've had but only read some of (Minority Report and Blobel are the two that stuck). Was a good enough read to power through in a day though!

Wait, you finished all the stories in one day?

Yes...?

I was stuck minding a 6 month old while my wife did some fence painting.

Donald wrote: "Yes...?

I was stuck minding a 6 month old while my wife did some fence painting."

I salute you, Sir.

I have never been able to finish an anthology/story collection in one day, for some reason it is quite taxing compared with a single novel.

I find Dick really easy to read, which helps.

Other short story compendiums with a variety of authors slow me down a lot more, to the point where I often avoid them. The complete changes in tone and/or style gets frustrating - Rogues and Witches: Wicked, Wild & Wonderful are two recent examples that I've stalled for weeks in the middle of them.

Silvana wrote: "I have never been able to finish an anthology/story collection in one day, for some reason it is quite taxing compared with a single novel..."

Me, neither. I can't even finish a magazine in one sitting. The end of every story as an excuse to rethink, “what should I do next?�

G33z3r wrote: "Me, neither. I can't even finish a magazine in one sitting. The end of every story as an excuse to rethink, “what should I do next?"

I'm doing well to finish a chapter without my mind wandering. Just call me Mr. Short Attention Span.

If it's in the same world then it is fine, like Sharp Ends from Joe Abercrombie but if each story has a different world then I need more time to adjust. Having the same writer is not helpful either, like in this PKD story collection or Ted Chiang's Stories of Your Life.

The good thing from story collection though, is that I get to spend more time with the book. I tend to read fast if I enjoy a book and then I feel "Whoa that's it? I want more!"