The Preserving Machine and Other Stories

The Preserving Machine is a pretty good collection of short stories by Philip K Dick from the early 1950s through the mid-1960s. Some of his best work is here. I had already read several of these in other collections, but there were many new ones and I definitely enjoyed this book. Among the stories that stood out for me were "War Veteran," about an old man who is a war veteran from a future war yet to be fought by Earth -- and lost. The authorities move quickly to try and change the future and it's really interesting to see how things work out. Another is the famous "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale," which of course was the basis for the movie Total Recall. For the life of me, I don't see where they got that movie from this story, show more but it's a good story about a man who yearns to go to Mars and his only way is through a VR-type experience where he goes as a secret agent. However, while the men performing this service for him are engaged, they discovered he actually has done this and just doesn't remember. It turns into a real mind f*ck. Great story. Yet another story I enjoyed was "Oh To Be a Blobel!". A war has been fought between humans and blobels, great amoeba-like beings, and on both sides, spies were used who had to undergo changing into the form of the other. When we read this story, our hero changes from being human to being a blobel throughout the day and is miserable. A coin operated psychiatrist introduces him to a female blobel who changes to human at certain times of day, thinking they would have something in common. And they get married and have kids. Hybrids. Then divorced. Then the unthinkable. At the end of the story, Vivian resorts to blobelian world class science to be converted into a 100% human so she can get back together with George -- who has converted into a blobel, so he can start a business on their planet. Wacky and sad. I do have a complaint, however. PKD wasn't always kind to his female characters, probably cause he had constant problems with his five wives and women in general. In "Retreat Syndrome," John states, "So you doomed our cause, out of petty, domestic spite. Out of mere female bitterness, because you were angry at your husband; you doomed an entire moon to three years of losing, hateful war." Later, in "What the Dead Men Say," Johnny thinks "He did not like the idea of working for a woman...." So, PKD misogyny is present in full force. Take it or leave it -- it's up to you. Even with the flaws, this is still a good book with some really good stories, so I definitely recommend it, not only to Dick fans, but to anyone who wants to become acquainted with his writing. show less

Collection of stories

The Preserving Machine [Dr. Rupert Labyrinth] (1953); War Game (1959); Upon the Dull Earth (1954); Roog (1953); War Veteran (1955); Top Stand-By Job [Jim Briskin] (1963); Beyond Lies the Wub (1952); We Can Remember It for You Wholesale (1966); Captive Market (1955); If There Were No Benny Cemoli (1963); Retreat Syndrome (1965); The Crawlers (1954); Oh, to Be a Blobel! (1964); What the Dead Men Say (1964); Pay for the Printer (1956).

Indeholder "Upon The Dull Earth", "The Preserving Machine", "War Game", "Roog", "War Veteran", "Top Stand-By Job", "Beyond Lies The Wub", "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale", "Captive Market", "If There Were No Benny Cemoli", "Retreat Syndrome", "The Crawlers", "Oh To Be A Blobel!", "Pay For The Printer".

"Upon The Dull Earth" handler om Silvia Everett der tiltrækker overjordiske valkyrie-lignende væsener vha blod og det har rædselsvækkende følger for hendes forlovede Ricky og alle andre - eller er det kun hende?
"The Preserving Machine" handler om en opfinder Doc Labyrinth der mener at civilisationen står for fald og laver en maskine til at gemme musik som levende væsener og laver en Mozart fugl og en Bach bille.
"War Game" show more handler om at Ganymedes eksporterer legetøj til Jorden blandt andet nogle legetøjssoldater og et brætspil som man vinder ved at tabe.
"Roog" handler om en hund der tror skraldemændene er aliens der stjæler fra dens mennesker.
"War Veteran" handler om at det trækker op til krig mellem Venus, Mars og Jorden - webfoots crows og paste faces - men så dukker en veteran David Unger fra den kommende krig op.
"Top Stand-By Job" handler om at præsidentjobbet blot er som backup for den computer der styrer landet og besættes via fagforeningen men en dag bliver computeren sat ud af drift.
"Beyond Lies The Wub" handler om en wub, der ligner et stort svin, men det er dumt at forsøge at slå en ihjel for at spise den.
"We Can Remember It For You Wholesale" handler om en mand der gerne vil have en kunstig erindring om at han har været på Mars som hemmelig agent - men måske har han allerede været der.
"Captive Market" handler om en gammel kone, der for at tjene penge knuser menneskehedens sidste chance for overlevelse.
"If There Were No Benny Cemoli" handler om at for at undgå retsforfølgelse opfinder de ansvarlige for krigen en syndebuk.
"Retreat Syndrome" handler om John Cupertino fra Ganymedes der ikke er sikker på hvor han er eller om han har slået sin kone ihjel.
"The Crawlers" handler om børn tæt på et strålingslaboratorium der udvikler sig lidt sært og deres børn er endnu særere.
"Oh To Be A Blobel!" handler om George og Vivian der var spioner for hver sin side i krigen og derfor er begge menneske noget af tiden og blobel i resten - til sidst bliver de skilt og George bliver blobel og Vivian menneske.
"Pay For The Printer" handler om at efter atomkrigen er aliens kaldet Biltong kommet til hjælp og de kan kopiere uskadte ting som mad og ure og biler - næsten perfekt men ikke evigt.

Glimrende novellesamling show less