The Crystal Crypt

By Philip K. Dick

Stark terror ruled the Inner-Flight ship on that last Mars-Terra run. For the black-clad Leiters were on the prowl ... and the grim red planet was not far behind.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wilder Publications, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 20, 2015
• ISBN: 9781633848054

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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Fantastic Stories Presents

The Crystal Crypt

by Philip K. Dick

2015 © Positronic Publishing

Cover Image © Can Stock Photo Inc. / rolffimages

Positronic Publishing

PO Box 632

Floyd, VA 24091

ISBN 13: 978-1-63384-805-4

First Positronic Publishing Edition

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The Crystal Crypt

Stark terror ruled the Inner-Flight ship on that last Mars-Terra run. For the black-clad Leiters were on the prowl ... and the grim red planet was not far behind.

Attention, Inner-Flight ship! Attention! You are ordered to land at the Control Station on Deimos for inspection. Attention! You are to land at once!

The metallic rasp of the speaker echoed through the corridors of the great ship. The passengers glanced at each other uneasily, murmuring and peering out the port windows at the small speck below, the dot of rock that was the Martian checkpoint, Deimos.

What’s up? an anxious passenger asked one of the pilots, hurrying through the ship to check the escape lock.

We have to land. Keep seated. The pilot went on.

Land? But why? They all looked at each other. Hovering above the bulging Inner-Flight ship were three slender Martian pursuit craft, poised and alert for any emergency. As the Inner-Flight ship prepared to land the pursuit ships dropped lower, carefully maintaining themselves a short distance away.

There’s something going on, a woman passenger said nervously. Lord, I thought we were finally through with those Martians. Now what?

I don’t blame them for giving us one last going over, a heavy-set business man said to his companion. After all, we’re the last ship leaving Mars for Terra. We’re damn lucky they let us go at all.

You think there really will be war? A young man said to the girl sitting in the seat next to him. Those Martians won’t dare fight, not with our weapons and ability to produce. We could take care of Mars in a month. It’s all talk.

The girl glanced at him. Don’t be so sure. Mars is desperate. They’ll fight tooth and nail. I’ve been on Mars three years. She shuddered. "Thank goodness I’m getting

Reviews for The Crystal Crypt

[ecw0647 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Short fiction of mild interest. Rather predictable.

[dreesie-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another clever short story by Philip K Dick. This story definitely feels very dated, as the last of the Terrans are heading home from Mars and the two planets prepare for war. And Terrans essentially look the same as humans--which means people can sneak into one of their cities to "destroy" it.

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

I did not expect that to happen. Well done ending with a very interesting story leading up to it. I'm really starting enjoying Dick's stories.

[arkrayder · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The Crystal Crypt is a science fiction short story by Philip K Dick and was first published in the US magazine Planet Stories, January 1952. The Crystal Crypt tells the story of the very last Mars to Earth space flight, an mass evacuation that took place after hostilities broke out on the Red planet. Of course the last ship isn't going to leave easily, not when the black-clad Leiters are on the prowl. A great little Philip K Dick short story, and one that has a genuine surprise plot twist and a great ending.