Tony And The Beetles: Short Story

By Philip K. Dick

A commentary on racism, “Tony and the Beetles” takes place in a colony world where Terra has been oppressing the Beetles of Orion for decades. But when Terra suffers a major defeat at the hands of the Beetles, Tony, a small boy, is surprised to discover the Beetles he believed to be his friends aren’t so friendly after all.

Philip K. Dick was an American science-fiction novelist, short-story writer and essayist. His first short story, “Beyond Lies the Wub,” was published shortly after his high school graduation. Some of his most famous short stories were adapted for film, including “The Minority Report,” “Paycheck,” “Second Variety” (adapted into the film Screamers) and “We Can Remember It For You Wholesale” (adapted into the film Total Recall).

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• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Jan 7, 2014
• ISBN: 9781443433273

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

[robert.zimmermann · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This one takes race relations to distant planetary systems, while also addressing the innocence of a child's world view.

[wez-13 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

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!