The Defenders

By Philip K. Dick

From the visionary mind of Philip K. Dick, The Defenders tells the story of a war-ravaged world, where humans have been forced to retreat miles underground, leaving robots called "leadys" to continue the deadly battle on the devastated surface-- a battlefield marked by lethal radiation and advanced weaponry.

At the heart of the story is Taylor, an American war planner assigned to witness the interrogation of a leady and unravel the truth about the very nature of the war that has engulfed the planet. Surprises are in store as Taylor and his team venture onto the surface, discovering a reality entirely different from what they were led to believe. Faced with a radical rethinking of humanity's greatest conflict, they find themselves reliant on the very machines they fought against for their survival.

The Defenders dares to explore both the destructive powers of war and the potential for unity in the face of adversity. This gripping short story showcases Philip K. Dick's exceptional craftsmanship and unyielding creativity, offering a unique journey into the depths of human potential and the transcendent power of cooperation. Immerse yourself in the visionary world of The Defenders, the compelling work of science fiction whose timely message will captivate your imagination and challenge your perspectives on war, society, and what it means to be human.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Read Books Ltd.
• Release date: Jan 18, 2016
• ISBN: 9781473379527

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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The Defenders

By

PHILIP K. DICK

Copyright © 2013 Read Books Ltd.

This book is copyright and may not be

reproduced or copied in any way without

the express permission of the publisher in writing

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

Philip K. Dick

Philip Kindred Dick was born on December 16 1928, in Chicago, Illinois. The death of his twin sister, Jane, six weeks after their birth profoundly affected the writer in later life and is said to account for the recurring theme of the ‘phantom twin’ in many of his works.  

Dick and his family moved to the Bay Area of San Francisco when he was young, and later on to Washington DC following his parents divorce. Dick attended Elementary school and then a Quaker school before the family moved back to California. It was around this time that Dick began to take an active interest in the science fiction genre, reading his first magazine ‘Stirring Science Stories’, at age twelve.

Dick attended High School in Berkeley, California, where he and fellow science fiction author Ursula K.Le Guin were members of the same graduating class (1947) but were unknown to each other at the time. After graduation, he briefly attended the University of California in Berkeley, taking classes in History, Psychology, Philosophy, and Zoology. Through his studies in Philosophy, he came to believe that existence is based on internal perceptions which do not necessarily correspond to external reality; he described himself as an acosmic pantheist, believing in the universe only as an extension of God. Dick ultimately concluded the world is not entirely real and there is no way to confirm whether what we see is truly there at all. This question from his early studies persisted as a theme in many of his novels.

Dick married five times between 1959 and 1973, and had three children. He sold his first story in 1951 and from that point on he wrote full-time, selling his first novel in 1955. The 1950s were a difficult and impoverished time for Dick. He once said We couldn’t even pay the late fees on a library book. He published almost exclusively works of science fiction, but was said to covet a career in mainstream American literature.  

In addition to 44 published novels, Dick wrote an estimated 121 short stories, most of which appeared in science fiction magazines during his lifetime. Dick passed away in hospital after suffering a number of strokes, unaware of the

Reviews for The Defenders

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

This is the second Philip K. Dick story I've read and I have to say that it was a great read. I wasn't expecting such a difference from the post-apocalyptic/robotic future type story that this was. I'm looking forward to diving further into Dick's stories that I have loaded up on my Kindle and iPod (audiobooks).

[gregorio_roth · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Interesting premise and overall a Philip K. Dick book. Not of his best caliber but a fun read non the less.

[arkrayder · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

As a commentary on power, “The Defenders” is fascinating and complex. The leadies have no real power over the humans. Due to their programming they cannot harm the humans who reach the surface. They put on a good show however and are capable of threats, but not real violence. Their power depends only on deception and the use of media. They destroy model cities and project the images of destruction down to the bunkers. If “The Defenders” is Dick’s vision of the extent of political power, he is strikingly optimistic about the weakness of states and their reliance of informal sources of power, such as ideology and mass media. Good short read.