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    Tony and the Beetles
    Tony and the Beetles
    Tony and the Beetles
    Ebook44 pages27 minutes

    Tony and the Beetles

    By Philip K. Dick

    4.5/5

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    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherArchive Classics
    Release dateNov 27, 2013
    Author

    Philip K. Dick

    Over a writing career that spanned three decades, PHILIP K. DICK (1928–1982) published 36 science fiction novels and 121 short stories in which he explored the essence of what makes man human and the dangers of centralized power. Toward the end of his life, his work turned to deeply personal, metaphysical questions concerning the nature of God. Eleven novels and short stories have been adapted to film, notably Blade Runner (based on Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?), Total Recall, Minority Report, and A Scanner Darkly, as well as television's The Man in the High Castle. The recipient of critical acclaim and numerous awards throughout his career, including the Hugo and John W. Campbell awards, Dick was inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame in 2005, and between 2007 and 2009, the Library of America published a selection of his novels in three volumes. His work has been translated into more than twenty-five languages.

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    Reviews for Tony and the Beetles

    4.5/5

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    • 5/5
      This one takes race relations to distant planetary systems, while also addressing the innocence of a child's world view.
    • 5/5
      A short story about a boy and his family, who lives on a colonised planet orbiting Betelgeuse in the Orion system. This planet was originally inhabited by a race called the Pas-udeti, and like many other planets they inhabited, the terrans invaded and colonised those too. Each day Tony's parents listen to the radio about news of the ongoing war.The story explores the theme of xenophobia, and by association, racism. It also highlights the effect that war has on societies, particularly when the war spans multiple generations across multiple worlds. The story does not aspire to explain these themes, it only poses them in a context we can identify with, and leaves the reader to ponder their own conclusions.Tony and the Beetles is a quick yet satisfying read. Highly recommended!

    Book preview

    Tony and the Beetles - Philip K. Dick

    The Project Gutenberg EBook of Tony and the Beetles, by Philip K. Dick

    This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with

    almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or

    re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included

    with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license

    Title: Tony and the Beetles

    Author: Philip K. Dick

    Release Date: October 7, 2012 [EBook #40964]

    Language: English

    *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TONY AND THE BEETLES ***

    Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online

    Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net

    TONY and the BEETLES

    by Philip K. Dick

    [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Orbit volume 1 number 2, 1953. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]

    A TEN-YEAR-OLD BOY GROWS UP FAST WHEN HISTORY CATCHES UP WITH THE HUMAN RACE.

    Reddish-yellow sunlight filtered through the thick quartz windows into the sleep-compartment. Tony Rossi yawned, stirred a little, then opened his black eyes and sat up quickly. With one motion he tossed the covers back and slid to the warm metal floor. He clicked off his alarm clock and hurried to the closet.

    It looked like a nice day. The landscape outside was motionless, undisturbed by winds or dust-shift. The boy's heart pounded excitedly. He pulled his trousers on, zipped up the reinforced mesh, struggled into his heavy canvas shirt, and then sat down on the edge of the cot to tug on his boots. He closed the seams around their tops and then did the same with his gloves. Next he adjusted the pressure on his pump unit and strapped it between his shoulder blades. He grabbed his helmet from the dresser, and he was ready for the day.

    In the dining-compartment his mother and father had finished breakfast. Their voices drifted to him as he clattered down the ramp. A disturbed murmur; he paused to listen. What were they talking about? Had he done something wrong, again?

    And then he caught it. Behind their voices was another voice. Static and crackling pops. The all-system audio signal from Rigel

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