Beyond Lies the Wub
by Philip K. Dick · first published 1987
70% recommend20% neutral10% critical
Why HN recommends it
Early short stories with strong, memorable premises. The title story stands out, and the collection works well as a starting point for PKD's short fiction, with most of the stories enjoyable throughout.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Originally published in Planet Stories in 1951, here is Philip K. Dick's classic tale of humanity's discovery of a strange alien race . . . the Wub.
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…him, of his books I can recommend: - The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch - Martian Time-Slip - Galactic Pot Healer - Eye in the Sky - the middle part of Lies, Inc Some of his short stories: - Beyond Lies the Wub - Faith of Our Fathers
on “The Essential Philip K. Dick” ↗Some recommendations for people: Omnilingual by H. Beam Piper, known for his alternative time line stories. Beyond Lies the Wub, by Philip K Dick, a collection of his early short stories. A Princess of Mars, by Edgar Rice Burroughs. The beginning of his Mars series about its civilization's decline.
on “Project Gutenberg's science fiction bookshelf” ↗"The first published stories are not very good by any standard" I loved PKD's Beyond Lies the Wub, which was his first published story (published in 1952). I also really liked the story he wrote the year before (but which didn't get published until the year after) called Roog.
on “Philip K. Dick: A Visionary Among the Charlatans (1975)” ↗…books go (which is quite far, as he is one of my favorite authors), I would recommend "Ubik", "The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch", and "Martian Time Slip". And of his short stories, I'd recommend "Beyond Lies the Wub" and "Woof". Gibson's "Neuromancer" is alright, but "Count Zero" is better. Avoid the rest of his work. "Brave New World" is an incredibly overrated, heavy-handed propaganda novel, written without…
on “Sci-Fi Novels You Should Read” ↗…of Palmer Eldritch 3 - Martian Time Slip Honorable mentions: 4 - A Maze of Death 5 - Divine Invasion (the 2nd of the VALIS trilogy) 6 - Eye in the Sky Of his short stories, I'd recommend "Beyond Lies the Wub" and "Roog". Regarding movies influenced by his work: The original "Blade Runner" movie is far better than "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep". The original "Total Recall" movie is far better than…
on “Philip K. Dick: A Visionary Among the Charlatans (1975)” ↗PKD's short stories are excellent. Beyond Lies the Wub, We can remember it for you wholesale, Adjustment Team, Perky Pat, etc... I would also like to add Greg Egan - Diaspora. I love it for how it takes post/transhumanism (among other things) to the extreme.
on “Sci-Fi Novels You Should Read” ↗Make sure you also read "Not by Its Cover", a sort of sequel to "Beyond Lies the Wub".
on “Philip K. Dick: A Visionary Among the Charlatans (1975)” ↗PKD has some bad stories, but I think he has a lot of good ones. Electric Sheep isn't one of his good ones, I agree with that. I quite liked most of the stories in Beyond Lies the Wub. An example of a bad story of his from that collection, off the top of my head, is The Indefatigable Frog. That was pretty silly. I encourage you to give Beyond Lies the Wub a shot before writing him…
on “Ursula K. Le Guin, “the emissary from Orsinia,” challenges expectations” ↗Try short stories. There are all sorts: PK Dick Beyond Lies the Wub, Autofac, to Nabokov Signs and Symbols, Chekhov the Duel, to HP Lovecraft.
on “Ask HN: Are books worth it?” ↗Reading most of his short stories in order is a great experience. Yes, you hit some not so great stories, but from time to time you hit gold. Beyond Lies the Wub, Meddler and Paycheck are some of his early works that worth a read. Regarding Ubik, there is a Russian movie, Koma, that looks like it had Ubik as inspiration, and in that probably is more faithful…
on “The Essential Philip K. Dick” ↗…Transmigration of Timothy Archer at all). Many of his other books, like Lies, Inc, also have great parts in them, but are kind of inconsistent. Some of his short stories are excellent. My favorites: - Beyond Lies the Wub - Roog - The Father Thing - Faith of Our Fathers I didn't really like A Scanner Darkly, nor Do Android Dream of Electric Sheep and would consider them of minor import had not movies been made of them.…
on “Philip K. Dick: A Visionary Among the Charlatans (1975)” ↗Reading this I was reminded of a novella by Phillip K. Dick, Beyond Lies the Wub - https://www.gutenberg.org/files/28554/28554-h/28554-h.htm.
on “Researchers train an algorithm to interpret pig grunts as emotions” ↗…chronological order. You can see the man, quite clearly, and how he goes from chipper 50’s pulp writer to new wave prophet of banal doom, step by reality-shattering step. Some of his earlier work like “Beyond Lies the Wub” hints at what would later come, with the theme of existential query and horror. The man had a truly brilliant mind. His final works, up to and including his death, are the most concinnous possible conclusion…
on “The Eyes Have It, by Philip K. Dick (1953)” ↗