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Second Variety
In the aftermath of a devastating nuclear war between the United Nations and the Soviet Union, sophisticated robots, nicknamed “claws”, are created to destroy what remains of human life. Left to their own devices, however, the claws develop robots of their own. II-V, the second variety, remains unknown to the few humans left on Earth. Or does it?
Second Variety was adapted into the film Screamers.
Second Variety was adapted into the film Screamers.
1 pages, Audiobook
First published March 1, 1953
About the author
Philip K. Dick
1,753 books20.8k followersPhilip K. Dick was born in Chicago in 1928 and lived most of his life in California. In 1952, he began writing professionally and proceeded to write numerous novels and short-story collections. He won the Hugo Award for the best novel in 1962 for The Man in the High Castle and the John W. Campbell Memorial Award for best novel of the year in 1974 for Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said. Philip K. Dick died on March 2, 1982, in Santa Ana, California, of heart failure following a stroke.
In addition to 44 published novels, Dick wrote approximately 121 short stories, most of which appeared in science fiction magazines during his lifetime. Although Dick spent most of his career as a writer in near-poverty, ten of his stories have been adapted into popular films since his death, including Blade Runner, Total Recall, A Scanner Darkly, Minority Report, Paycheck, Next, Screamers, and The Adjustment Bureau. In 2005, Time magazine named Ubik one of the one hundred greatest English-language novels published since 1923. In 2007, Dick became the first science fiction writer to be included in The Library of America series.
In addition to 44 published novels, Dick wrote approximately 121 short stories, most of which appeared in science fiction magazines during his lifetime. Although Dick spent most of his career as a writer in near-poverty, ten of his stories have been adapted into popular films since his death, including Blade Runner, Total Recall, A Scanner Darkly, Minority Report, Paycheck, Next, Screamers, and The Adjustment Bureau. In 2005, Time magazine named Ubik one of the one hundred greatest English-language novels published since 1923. In 2007, Dick became the first science fiction writer to be included in The Library of America series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 392 reviews
September 25, 2019
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"Much of the wisdom of one age is the folly of the next."
—Charles Simmons
"Transformers: Robots in disguise."
—TV ad
In the ashes of a post-atomic war, where the U.S.A. has been blown off the face of the Earth (this was the 1950s, so Putin is blameless for once), a Soviet soldier is headed right towards an American bunker and is attacked from all angles by a colony of murderous spheres who butcher him with robotic efficiency.
In this chilling short story, Philip K. Dick explores the oft-mooted hypothesis that robots will one day turn against their creators.
America has the edge in this futile war (because of the killer robots they've invented) and word arrives that Russia, who've since realised that these machines have become a threat to both sides, want a pow-wow to discuss a way they can work together for the sake of humankind.
Designed to hunt and destroy non-American human life, the robots
Considering the story was written in the 50s, this was remarkably prescient. It's also shadowed by a dark cloud of fatalism (I guess Philip K. Dick was trying to warn us of the consequences of man's folly).
This was an engaging and thought-provoking read; one which I thoroughly enjoyed, although the poignant ending was entirely foreseeable.
I preferred his Ubik, but this was a real cracker of a short story, nonetheless.
Big thanks to my sci-fi sensei, @apatt, for another great recommendation!
"Much of the wisdom of one age is the folly of the next."
—Charles Simmons
"Transformers: Robots in disguise."
—TV ad
In the ashes of a post-atomic war, where the U.S.A. has been blown off the face of the Earth (this was the 1950s, so Putin is blameless for once), a Soviet soldier is headed right towards an American bunker and is attacked from all angles by a colony of murderous spheres who butcher him with robotic efficiency.
In this chilling short story, Philip K. Dick explores the oft-mooted hypothesis that robots will one day turn against their creators.
America has the edge in this futile war (because of the killer robots they've invented) and word arrives that Russia, who've since realised that these machines have become a threat to both sides, want a pow-wow to discuss a way they can work together for the sake of humankind.
Designed to hunt and destroy non-American human life, the robots
Considering the story was written in the 50s, this was remarkably prescient. It's also shadowed by a dark cloud of fatalism (I guess Philip K. Dick was trying to warn us of the consequences of man's folly).
This was an engaging and thought-provoking read; one which I thoroughly enjoyed, although the poignant ending was entirely foreseeable.
I preferred his Ubik, but this was a real cracker of a short story, nonetheless.
Big thanks to my sci-fi sensei, @apatt, for another great recommendation!
May 15, 2019
For those of us convinced that the machines are taking over, Philip K. Dick brilliantly shows us that our paranoia is well founded. There are interesting details in Second Variety including self-replicating and advancing technology that many futurists I'm reading are talking about now. But Second Variety was published in 1953. Except for a war with the Soviet Union that prefigures the development of autonomous killer machines (that go on to replicate and improve themselves), Dick's work doesn't feel out of date. Open for suggestions on my next PK Dick book because there will be more. Enjoyed having my paranoia confirmed!
July 11, 2023
Set in a post-apocalyptic world, the Russians and the Americans have bombed the globe into a near-uninhabitable wasteland. They continue to fight, though there isn’t much left to scrap over and the Russians are winning until America invents the claws: robotic balls of whirling blades that attack and kill any warm-blooded being not wearing a particular patch designed to shut them down. The tide of the war turns, and the Russians send a message that they want to talk.
Philip K Dick’s narrative is thought-provoking, leading the reader to contemplate man’s inventions and how they might prove to be humanity's ultimate undoing.
Though the ending was predictable, the tale is well-written and engaging. I would recommend this short-story to any sci-fi lover.
Another big thanks to Apatt for his recommendation!
Philip K Dick’s narrative is thought-provoking, leading the reader to contemplate man’s inventions and how they might prove to be humanity's ultimate undoing.
Though the ending was predictable, the tale is well-written and engaging. I would recommend this short-story to any sci-fi lover.
Another big thanks to Apatt for his recommendation!
February 6, 2017
This is a classic 1953 SF short story, free online at Baen (and at Gutenberg.org). Review first posted on Fantasy Literature:
For a classic SF blast from the past, we have Philip K. Dick’s “Second Variety,” a gripping tale set in a post-apocalyptic world where a nuclear war between the Soviet Union and the American bloc has turned the earth into an uninhabitable wasteland. The two sides are still fighting, though there is little left to fight over. The West, which was losing the war, have developed lethal, self-replicating robots that they call “claws,” spinning spheres of blades that ambush and kill any living thing, except those people carrying radiation-emitting tabs that temporarily turn off the robot claws (yes, you can tell this was written in the 1950’s).
The Western forces receive a written message from the Russians, urgently requesting a meeting. Major Hendricks travels by foot to the meeting. On the way, Hendricks meets a vulnerable-looking young boy, David, who carries a teddy bear. David tags along with Hendricks to the meeting ― where Hendricks gets the shock of his life. But it’s only the first of several shocks for him. The West’s robots have taken self-replication to a whole new level. Some of their new varieties are known, but the second variety hasn’t yet been identified. And that could be lethal to all humans.
“Second Variety” is a fine example of classic science fiction, one in which there’s actually a strong and intriguing woman character. It managed to remind me of both the Alien and Terminator movies. It’s an action-filled story that nevertheless asks important questions of humankind, questions that remain relevant in our day, when the countries warring have shifted somewhat, but armed conflicts continue and have become increasingly high-tech.
“Second Variety” was loosely adapted into the movie Screamers in 1995. If you click on one of the Gutenberg links to this story, I strongly recommend that you skip the versions that include images, since the original illustrations show up too early in the text and spoil some of the surprises
For a classic SF blast from the past, we have Philip K. Dick’s “Second Variety,” a gripping tale set in a post-apocalyptic world where a nuclear war between the Soviet Union and the American bloc has turned the earth into an uninhabitable wasteland. The two sides are still fighting, though there is little left to fight over. The West, which was losing the war, have developed lethal, self-replicating robots that they call “claws,” spinning spheres of blades that ambush and kill any living thing, except those people carrying radiation-emitting tabs that temporarily turn off the robot claws (yes, you can tell this was written in the 1950’s).
The Western forces receive a written message from the Russians, urgently requesting a meeting. Major Hendricks travels by foot to the meeting. On the way, Hendricks meets a vulnerable-looking young boy, David, who carries a teddy bear. David tags along with Hendricks to the meeting ― where Hendricks gets the shock of his life. But it’s only the first of several shocks for him. The West’s robots have taken self-replication to a whole new level. Some of their new varieties are known, but the second variety hasn’t yet been identified. And that could be lethal to all humans.
“Second Variety” is a fine example of classic science fiction, one in which there’s actually a strong and intriguing woman character. It managed to remind me of both the Alien and Terminator movies. It’s an action-filled story that nevertheless asks important questions of humankind, questions that remain relevant in our day, when the countries warring have shifted somewhat, but armed conflicts continue and have become increasingly high-tech.
“Second Variety” was loosely adapted into the movie Screamers in 1995. If you click on one of the Gutenberg links to this story, I strongly recommend that you skip the versions that include images, since the original illustrations show up too early in the text and spoil some of the surprises
February 13, 2022
First published in Space Science Fiction (May 1953), the novella Second Variety is one of Dick’s most popular shorter works and one of his most exciting ones too. One one level it is a brutal tale of war, demonstrating the savagery of both the weapon-wielders and the weapon-makers, but on another level it is an exploration of what makes a person human or not human, and the qualities that enable those humans among us to tell the difference.
The story takes place during a war on the devastated surface of the earth. This war, now in its final stages, is being waged primarily by robots known as “claws,” large structures which break up into scores of horrible little sharp-clawed things that burrow into the body and destroy. And the claws—now robots being designed by other robots—are becoming even more sophisticated and deadly. The new ones look like humans, and are designed to exploit the sympathies of humans. The first variety appears to be a fellow soldier, the third variety a little boy. But there is another—the unidentified “second variety.” What sort of human does it pretend to be? And what human weakness is it designed to exploit?
This story is suspenseful, scary, and also—in its peculiar way—a lot of fun. And, after the excitement dies down, there’s a lot to think about here too.
December 26, 2020
Second Variety, a short story by Philip K. Dick is a gripping and action-packed tale of a group of marines fighting for survival on a post-apocalyptic Earth.
This deserves praises for it was written in the 50s. However, for today's readers, this is hella predictable. So unless you want to read some classic sci-fi glory then this might actually entertain you.
It's available for free from Project Gutenberg and LibraVox(audiobook)
This deserves praises for it was written in the 50s. However, for today's readers, this is hella predictable. So unless you want to read some classic sci-fi glory then this might actually entertain you.
It's available for free from Project Gutenberg and LibraVox(audiobook)
February 14, 2018
“It only takes one of them. Once the first one gets in it admits the others. Hundreds of them, all alike. You should have seen them. Identical. Like ants.”
Second Variety was first published in 1953, but halt! Please stay tuned, this oldie is not mouldy! Second Variety, like a lot of PKD’s fiction, still holds up well today, which is why they are still being adapted into movies and TV shows. However, stylistically Second Variety is a little different from PKD's more famous works like Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, Ubik, and The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch. Nobody uses or even mention hallucinogenic drugs in this story. Having said that, there are some surreal hallucinatory scenes in this story which depict actual events rather than drug-fueled trips.
Second Variety is set in a post-apocalypse Earth that has been mostly reduced to ashes by a war between the US and Russia. Conditions are so terrible on Earth that the US government has relocated to the moon to direct the military action from there. The war was going badly for the US until they turned the tide by introducing robots to the warfare. These robots are constantly developed and improved until they reach the point where they are able to repair and improve themselves, and so true AI is born. The primary function, perhaps the only function, of these robots is simply to destroy all human lives they come across, except American human lives. The Americans can be distinguished by a device they carry, a tab that emits a short hard radiation which neutralises the robots. The robots are developed and assembled in underground factories which are, of course, autonomously operated by the robots themselves. They are so effective in the performance of their job that the Russians eventually contact the Americans to discuss terms of surrender. This would have been great news for the US if not for the fact that the robots have become so sophisticated that they are no longer content to operate within the purview of destroying only Russian humans.
50s Art by Ebel
I suspect that Second Variety may be the inspiration for the Terminator movies, certainly, it is the best “robot uprising” story I have ever read, far superior to the clumsily written Robopocalypse. It is also a cautionary tale about letting technology go out of control, not to mention the ultimate futility of war. In fact, this would have been a depressing read if it was not so much fun! I was riveted by Second Variety from beginning to end. While it is not wonderfully trippy and mind-bending like Ubik etc. it is furiously paced and has a humdinger of an ending. Better still, Second Variety is in the public domain and can be read online for free or download as e-books (see links below).
So, given that it is great, not long (about 60 pages) and free to read, I can heartily recommend it for everybody (except people who dislike sci-fi but then these people don't read my reviews).
Notes :
• Download e-book or read online at Project Gutenberg
• Free audiobook version also available from Librivox.
�� Robot uprising is not as ridiculous as you think, see video clip below.
You Boston eggheads stop it!
Second Variety was first published in 1953, but halt! Please stay tuned, this oldie is not mouldy! Second Variety, like a lot of PKD’s fiction, still holds up well today, which is why they are still being adapted into movies and TV shows. However, stylistically Second Variety is a little different from PKD's more famous works like Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, Ubik, and The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch. Nobody uses or even mention hallucinogenic drugs in this story. Having said that, there are some surreal hallucinatory scenes in this story which depict actual events rather than drug-fueled trips.
Second Variety is set in a post-apocalypse Earth that has been mostly reduced to ashes by a war between the US and Russia. Conditions are so terrible on Earth that the US government has relocated to the moon to direct the military action from there. The war was going badly for the US until they turned the tide by introducing robots to the warfare. These robots are constantly developed and improved until they reach the point where they are able to repair and improve themselves, and so true AI is born. The primary function, perhaps the only function, of these robots is simply to destroy all human lives they come across, except American human lives. The Americans can be distinguished by a device they carry, a tab that emits a short hard radiation which neutralises the robots. The robots are developed and assembled in underground factories which are, of course, autonomously operated by the robots themselves. They are so effective in the performance of their job that the Russians eventually contact the Americans to discuss terms of surrender. This would have been great news for the US if not for the fact that the robots have become so sophisticated that they are no longer content to operate within the purview of destroying only Russian humans.
50s Art by Ebel
I suspect that Second Variety may be the inspiration for the Terminator movies, certainly, it is the best “robot uprising” story I have ever read, far superior to the clumsily written Robopocalypse. It is also a cautionary tale about letting technology go out of control, not to mention the ultimate futility of war. In fact, this would have been a depressing read if it was not so much fun! I was riveted by Second Variety from beginning to end. While it is not wonderfully trippy and mind-bending like Ubik etc. it is furiously paced and has a humdinger of an ending. Better still, Second Variety is in the public domain and can be read online for free or download as e-books (see links below).
So, given that it is great, not long (about 60 pages) and free to read, I can heartily recommend it for everybody (except people who dislike sci-fi but then these people don't read my reviews).
Notes :
• Download e-book or read online at Project Gutenberg
• Free audiobook version also available from Librivox.
�� Robot uprising is not as ridiculous as you think, see video clip below.
You Boston eggheads stop it!
August 21, 2019
It’s the ideas this man had that prove his prescience. https://youtu.be/kgaO45SyaO4 He also had the right chops sell a story, his characters in Second Variety are typical in that they are without affectation. It is by creating the people he does, the sounding board of their reactions, that the gap is bridged and Dick’s fantastic scenarios resonate.
There is an interesting episode of Black Mirror called Metalhead that riffs on this idea.
There is an interesting episode of Black Mirror called Metalhead that riffs on this idea.
February 1, 2021
Another amazing classic science fiction from Philip K. Dick. This is my favorite of all his short stories.
In a war with Russia, the Americans have produced AI in the form of machines that slice and dice anyone who comes near them, unless of course they are carrying the radiation belts that protect the wearer from the machines themselves. But what happens when those machines become self aware? And start creating new machines? Machines that look and act like humans. The Russians and the Americans have discovered these new humanoid killing machines. They have discovered ones engraved with "first variety" and "third variety." Which leads to the question, what happened to the "second variety?"
Apparently this story was adapted into the 1995 film "Screamers," which I have not seen, though now I am interested in watching. It is the second of Dick's stories which have reminded me of The Terminator film franchise. It is thrilling and unique and though I kind of figured out the twist at the end, my enjoyment was not inhibited. It also features a very well written female character who I could really dig my teeth into, and the more simple killing machines from the beginning reminded me of the Black Mirror episode "Metalhead," one of my favorites.
All in all, a wonderful story, still very relevant today, and a perfect way to close out November.
Day thirty of my November challenge where I try to read one science fiction or fantasy short story a day.
In a war with Russia, the Americans have produced AI in the form of machines that slice and dice anyone who comes near them, unless of course they are carrying the radiation belts that protect the wearer from the machines themselves. But what happens when those machines become self aware? And start creating new machines? Machines that look and act like humans. The Russians and the Americans have discovered these new humanoid killing machines. They have discovered ones engraved with "first variety" and "third variety." Which leads to the question, what happened to the "second variety?"
Apparently this story was adapted into the 1995 film "Screamers," which I have not seen, though now I am interested in watching. It is the second of Dick's stories which have reminded me of The Terminator film franchise. It is thrilling and unique and though I kind of figured out the twist at the end, my enjoyment was not inhibited. It also features a very well written female character who I could really dig my teeth into, and the more simple killing machines from the beginning reminded me of the Black Mirror episode "Metalhead," one of my favorites.
All in all, a wonderful story, still very relevant today, and a perfect way to close out November.
Day thirty of my November challenge where I try to read one science fiction or fantasy short story a day.
April 21, 2015
To the 2000's reader, this story is predictable.
It wouldn't be published today.
But, in the 1950's, this was probably mind blowing.
Sometimes it's hard to force oneself to read in light of that not so distant past (maybe 1700's France would be easier), but it's worth reading these classics to understand how you've got to where we are.
It wouldn't be published today.
But, in the 1950's, this was probably mind blowing.
Sometimes it's hard to force oneself to read in light of that not so distant past (maybe 1700's France would be easier), but it's worth reading these classics to understand how you've got to where we are.
December 16, 2015
An ok short story by Philip K. Dick; definitely not among his best work. It suffers from a overly conventional narrative structure and a predictable twist at the end.
September 14, 2017
“‘I hate the damn things I wish we’d never invented them. […]’
‘If we hadn’t invented them, the Ivans would have.’”
This conversation between two American soldiers sitting inside their bunker reveils one of the mechanisms leading people to dedicate their creativity and knowledge to the development of weapons that will prove more destructive and insidious even than the weapons humanity already knows. The paranoiac pattern underlying this way of reasoning reminds you of that used by two young children sitting in a sandbox and hitting each other, and yet, outside the world of pacifist dreamers, there is a devilish logic behind it.
PKD’s story Second Variety takes us into a post-apocalyptic future in which the Earth, as we know it, no longer exists but has turned into landscapes of ashes and nuclear rabble. It all started when the Soviet Union launched a nuclear attack on the U.S., and Washington retaliated:
Although the Russians had the first strike, the Americans soon managed to tip the scales of warfare in their favour by developing little robots, the so-called “claws”, that are programmed to kill anything that is human (and does not wear a certain radiation-emitting tab like the American soldiers do). These “claws” are highly intelligent killer-machines that actually repair themselves and develop later and “better” versions of themselves in underground factories left alone by any human – so that even the American side no longer really knows what kind of robots are out there roaming the land in search of flesh. Whereas the Earth is turning more and more into a post-apocalyptic graveyard, the U.S. government and the military high command have escaped to the Moon Base, while the rank and file are continuing to do their duty in the immediate vicinity of danger and destruction. When the Russians finally realize that they cannot win the war anymore, they send an emissary to Major Hendricks’s bunker, and although the emissary is sliced to pieces by the “claws”, the Americans can still retrieve the message he was carrying. Now it is up to major Hendricks to fight his way through the nuclear, and “claw”-ridden, wasteland in order to talk terms with the Russians. He soon finds out, however, that the “claws” have designed android forms of robots – in various varieties – in order to get into the bunkers and destroy the soldiers, and that it is no longer easy for him to decide whom to trust.
The story was written in 1953 and, obviously, after more than 60 years of science fiction novels and movies, its final twist is no longer as fresh as the morning dew. However, that does not make Second Variety any less worth reading since PKD manages to conjure up an atmosphere of paranoia that keeps your hair standing on end even if you wear it very long. We soon find ourselves immersed in an enervating guessing game about who is a human being and who is a machine.
Apart from contributing to the suspense of the story, the idea of human-like robots created by other robots also has an eerie quality of its own. Is it really so far-fetched to think that one day, artificial intelligence will at least be on a par with human intelligence and even enable machines to create new technology? What attitude will these intelligent machines have towards their old, human, creators? In the story, the robots leave no doubt that they intend to annihilate the human race, but even the androids in Second Variety cannot completely deny their human creators a certain kind of admiration, which does not prevent them from following their plans to the end:
Coming to think of it, even though there are no androids walking down our streets yet and though we can be pretty sure our next-door-neighbour is a human being, the situation is already different on the Internet. So, in a way, PKD’s story Second Variety may be not too far away from the truth after all.
A last question, maybe a hopeful one, also remains: Since these intelligent machines were first created by human beings, will they – if, as in Second Variety, they start a new race and civilization – continue life with the same mental flaws and shortcomings of their original creators, or will they overcome the spirit of competition and aggression that helped spawn them? PKD’s own answer is given at the end of the story:
PS: The story has got a companion piece: Jon's World.
‘If we hadn’t invented them, the Ivans would have.’”
This conversation between two American soldiers sitting inside their bunker reveils one of the mechanisms leading people to dedicate their creativity and knowledge to the development of weapons that will prove more destructive and insidious even than the weapons humanity already knows. The paranoiac pattern underlying this way of reasoning reminds you of that used by two young children sitting in a sandbox and hitting each other, and yet, outside the world of pacifist dreamers, there is a devilish logic behind it.
PKD’s story Second Variety takes us into a post-apocalyptic future in which the Earth, as we know it, no longer exists but has turned into landscapes of ashes and nuclear rabble. It all started when the Soviet Union launched a nuclear attack on the U.S., and Washington retaliated:
”The disks began sailing down all over Russia within hours after Washington got it. But that hadn’t helped Washington.”
Although the Russians had the first strike, the Americans soon managed to tip the scales of warfare in their favour by developing little robots, the so-called “claws”, that are programmed to kill anything that is human (and does not wear a certain radiation-emitting tab like the American soldiers do). These “claws” are highly intelligent killer-machines that actually repair themselves and develop later and “better” versions of themselves in underground factories left alone by any human – so that even the American side no longer really knows what kind of robots are out there roaming the land in search of flesh. Whereas the Earth is turning more and more into a post-apocalyptic graveyard, the U.S. government and the military high command have escaped to the Moon Base, while the rank and file are continuing to do their duty in the immediate vicinity of danger and destruction. When the Russians finally realize that they cannot win the war anymore, they send an emissary to Major Hendricks’s bunker, and although the emissary is sliced to pieces by the “claws”, the Americans can still retrieve the message he was carrying. Now it is up to major Hendricks to fight his way through the nuclear, and “claw”-ridden, wasteland in order to talk terms with the Russians. He soon finds out, however, that the “claws” have designed android forms of robots – in various varieties – in order to get into the bunkers and destroy the soldiers, and that it is no longer easy for him to decide whom to trust.
The story was written in 1953 and, obviously, after more than 60 years of science fiction novels and movies, its final twist is no longer as fresh as the morning dew. However, that does not make Second Variety any less worth reading since PKD manages to conjure up an atmosphere of paranoia that keeps your hair standing on end even if you wear it very long. We soon find ourselves immersed in an enervating guessing game about who is a human being and who is a machine.
”’It’s strange, machines so much like people that you can be fooled. Almost alive. I wonder where it’ll end.’”
Apart from contributing to the suspense of the story, the idea of human-like robots created by other robots also has an eerie quality of its own. Is it really so far-fetched to think that one day, artificial intelligence will at least be on a par with human intelligence and even enable machines to create new technology? What attitude will these intelligent machines have towards their old, human, creators? In the story, the robots leave no doubt that they intend to annihilate the human race, but even the androids in Second Variety cannot completely deny their human creators a certain kind of admiration, which does not prevent them from following their plans to the end:
”’A beautiful ship, Major. Well built. I admire your workmanship. You people have always done good work. You build fine things. Your work, your creations, are your greatest achievement.’”
Coming to think of it, even though there are no androids walking down our streets yet and though we can be pretty sure our next-door-neighbour is a human being, the situation is already different on the Internet. So, in a way, PKD’s story Second Variety may be not too far away from the truth after all.
A last question, maybe a hopeful one, also remains: Since these intelligent machines were first created by human beings, will they – if, as in Second Variety, they start a new race and civilization – continue life with the same mental flaws and shortcomings of their original creators, or will they overcome the spirit of competition and aggression that helped spawn them? PKD’s own answer is given at the end of the story:
”They were already beginning to design weapons to use against each other.”
PS: The story has got a companion piece: Jon's World.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2013
A Spind-Tingling, Post-Apocalyptic Novelette
"The claws were bad enough in the first place - nasty, crawling little death-robots. But when they began to imitate their creators, it was time for the human race to make peace - if it could!"
In "Second Variety," a PKD post-apocalyptic tale, the world has been destroyed in a nuclear war. Humanity has been relegated to bunkers. But that doesn't stop the fighting. The brilliant Americans have invented "claws," robots capable of roaming and killing the Russians. Of course, the claws evolve on their own and so-called varieties, the "Davids" and "Wounded Soldiers," trojan horses in human skin, conjure images congruent with Terminator and T2. Could this story have served as inspiration to James Cameron? Possibly. The prose is addictive, the world building is frightening and the protagonist, Major Hendricks, is drawn as well as could be in limited space.
The bottom line: I grew goose skin page after page of this tale and couldn't imagine reading it during the Cold War (a time when global nuclear winter was a genuine possibility). (Note that the novelette is available for free on the Kindle and can be finished in about an hour.)
"The claws were bad enough in the first place - nasty, crawling little death-robots. But when they began to imitate their creators, it was time for the human race to make peace - if it could!"
In "Second Variety," a PKD post-apocalyptic tale, the world has been destroyed in a nuclear war. Humanity has been relegated to bunkers. But that doesn't stop the fighting. The brilliant Americans have invented "claws," robots capable of roaming and killing the Russians. Of course, the claws evolve on their own and so-called varieties, the "Davids" and "Wounded Soldiers," trojan horses in human skin, conjure images congruent with Terminator and T2. Could this story have served as inspiration to James Cameron? Possibly. The prose is addictive, the world building is frightening and the protagonist, Major Hendricks, is drawn as well as could be in limited space.
The bottom line: I grew goose skin page after page of this tale and couldn't imagine reading it during the Cold War (a time when global nuclear winter was a genuine possibility). (Note that the novelette is available for free on the Kindle and can be finished in about an hour.)
May 1, 2018
ফিলিপ কে. ডিক আমার পছন্দের ছোট-গল্পকার। সেজন্যে তার ধারালো, সরস লেখনীর সাথে-সাথে নিয়ামক হিসেবে কাজ করে গল্পগুলোর ফাঁকে-ফাঁকে ঢুকিয়ে দেয়া দর্শন। সেজন্যে তার সাই-ফাই গল্পগুলোতে তেমন ঘটনার ঘনঘটা, ক্লাইম্যাক্সের আতিশয্য, বিজ্ঞানের জটিলতর ঘোরপ্যাঁচ আশা করি কম, ধারালো, সরস লেখা আশা করি বেশি।
'সেকন্ড ভ্যারাইটি'-তে ধারালো, সরস লেখা ছিল; দর্শন ছিল; বোনাস হিসেবে ছিল ঘটনার ঘনঘটা; তবুও গল্পটা ঠিক জমল না। কেন জমল না? ওই যে, ঘটনার ঘনঘটা, ক্লাইম্যাক্স, বিজ্ঞানের ঘোরপ্যাঁচ আশা কম করলেও, ভদ্রলোক প্রথমেই এগুলোর সবকটাই জুড়ে দিয়েছেন। তারপর শেষে গিয়ে খেই হারিয়ে ফেলেছেন। ধীরে-ধীরে কাহিনী জমিয়ে দিয়েছেন--যখনই নড়েচড়ে বসেছি, জমজমাট একটা সমাপ্তির আশায়, ঠিক তখনই কেমন যেন ছন্দপতন। এই গাছে ঠেলেঠুলে গাছে উঠিয়ে দিয়ে, পরে মই কেড়ে নেয়ার জন্যে এক তারা কাটা।
'সেকন্ড ভ্যারাইটি'-তে ধারালো, সরস লেখা ছিল; দর্শন ছিল; বোনাস হিসেবে ছিল ঘটনার ঘনঘটা; তবুও গল্পটা ঠিক জমল না। কেন জমল না? ওই যে, ঘটনার ঘনঘটা, ক্লাইম্যাক্স, বিজ্ঞানের ঘোরপ্যাঁচ আশা কম করলেও, ভদ্রলোক প্রথমেই এগুলোর সবকটাই জুড়ে দিয়েছেন। তারপর শেষে গিয়ে খেই হারিয়ে ফেলেছেন। ধীরে-ধীরে কাহিনী জমিয়ে দিয়েছেন--যখনই নড়েচড়ে বসেছি, জমজমাট একটা সমাপ্তির আশায়, ঠিক তখনই কেমন যেন ছন্দপতন। এই গাছে ঠেলেঠুলে গাছে উঠিয়ে দিয়ে, পরে মই কেড়ে নেয়ার জন্যে এক তারা কাটা।
November 11, 2023
“Second Variety” is a short science fiction story by Philip K. Dick. “Second Variety” explores into the themes of technology, the nature of humanity, and self-destruction. Throughout the story, the author tells story of groups of humans and their interaction with the variety. The story was written during the World War II, and it is set in a post-apocalyptic Earth. This story also serves as an imagined world in case Earth has been covered in ashes due to the war between the US and Russia. Therefore, the setting of this story is in on the moon where the US government has relocated to direct their military action from there.
Philip K. Dick is one of the best authors I have ever read. His background is so interesting that it makes his work interesting too; I believe part of his uncontroversial background also contributes to his work. I read “The Hanging Stranger” before this book, and I found that both are very surprising and engaging. Both have a moment where it "clicks," and we all know what is going on in the story.
The plot at first seems to be pretty usual, but as I read, I realized it is not just like typical science fiction books; it is Philip K. Dick’s book. It is so interesting that I had to read it in one sitting. The language is easy to read.
The story revolves around the claw, the technology that humans designed to destroy the enemies’ life, that becomes more evolved and adapted over time, and in the end, it poses threats to human life. The main message of this story concerns the advancement of technology and potential dangers. The claw represents the danger and unintended consequences of advanced technology, and the author tries to use this story as a means to warn us.
For me, I think this story is exceptionally good. The language is easy to read. The plot is outstanding. I would recommend this book to everyone since the story is interesting, and the message is useful.
Story-9, Language-9, Ideas-9, Characters-8, Enjoyment-8, Overall-8.5
Philip K. Dick is one of the best authors I have ever read. His background is so interesting that it makes his work interesting too; I believe part of his uncontroversial background also contributes to his work. I read “The Hanging Stranger” before this book, and I found that both are very surprising and engaging. Both have a moment where it "clicks," and we all know what is going on in the story.
The plot at first seems to be pretty usual, but as I read, I realized it is not just like typical science fiction books; it is Philip K. Dick’s book. It is so interesting that I had to read it in one sitting. The language is easy to read.
The story revolves around the claw, the technology that humans designed to destroy the enemies’ life, that becomes more evolved and adapted over time, and in the end, it poses threats to human life. The main message of this story concerns the advancement of technology and potential dangers. The claw represents the danger and unintended consequences of advanced technology, and the author tries to use this story as a means to warn us.
For me, I think this story is exceptionally good. The language is easy to read. The plot is outstanding. I would recommend this book to everyone since the story is interesting, and the message is useful.
Story-9, Language-9, Ideas-9, Characters-8, Enjoyment-8, Overall-8.5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 19, 2019
Putting the Soviet-Gringo war aside , this book is actually really good.
It is a fast paced descend into suspicious paranoia, giving you an obvious plot twist at first, then a not so obvious one, and finally a chilling one.
There's a war, Androids, people living in the moon, but above all, it's a philosophical story, that reveals it's purpose on the very last sentence.
It is a fast paced descend into suspicious paranoia, giving you an obvious plot twist at first, then a not so obvious one, and finally a chilling one.
There's a war, Androids, people living in the moon, but above all, it's a philosophical story, that reveals it's purpose on the very last sentence.
May 2, 2018
The story began spectacularly, and unfolded breaking all the conventions of Asimov's Robotics, while painting a grim picture of warmongering humanity. Unfortunately it ended in a rather pessimistic note, whereas it could have been ended in a far more upbeat manner.
Perhaps, that's the speciality of Dick's vision.
Perhaps, that's the speciality of Dick's vision.
September 30, 2020
A grim brutal read of warfare using Claws, machines that hunt and kill people, forces using the Claws wear a special wrist device to protect them, strangely the Claws remind me of the Hellfire missile currently in use nicknamed the Ninja Bomb.
December 12, 2017
One of the best and scarier books I’ve ever read in one hour thirty. The second variety.
The Soviet’s are being soviets and bombing stuff. This leading to a too grand scale war where most of humanity gets decimated, and yet it continues, with the Russians on the winning side. Taken by desperation the Americans take refuge on the moon and create robots to fight their war.
The consequences of it are made clear as we follow an American Major down on Earth.
The Soviet’s are being soviets and bombing stuff. This leading to a too grand scale war where most of humanity gets decimated, and yet it continues, with the Russians on the winning side. Taken by desperation the Americans take refuge on the moon and create robots to fight their war.
The consequences of it are made clear as we follow an American Major down on Earth.
December 31, 2021
The Cold War era. Russians and Americans fighting and killing each other. Technology has been introduced that could turn the tide of war. But what if that’s not all the technology plans to change?
I love this story for a lot of reasons that aren’t necessarily tied to the story.
This was one of my first Dick reading experiences, and so I will always remember how it grabbed me and didn’t let go.
Although not his best work, not even his best short story in my opinion, it does capture that wonderful paranoia of Dick’s work along with the beginnings of one of his classic motifs: what does it mean to be human?
Despite the plot holes, the sometimes clunky writing, the underwhelming characters, I love it. What can I say? Philip K. Dick is a mood and this story taps into that really well.
I love this story for a lot of reasons that aren’t necessarily tied to the story.
This was one of my first Dick reading experiences, and so I will always remember how it grabbed me and didn’t let go.
Although not his best work, not even his best short story in my opinion, it does capture that wonderful paranoia of Dick’s work along with the beginnings of one of his classic motifs: what does it mean to be human?
Despite the plot holes, the sometimes clunky writing, the underwhelming characters, I love it. What can I say? Philip K. Dick is a mood and this story taps into that really well.
November 9, 2021
Very exciting story, but a bit predictable. PKD is an amazing writer, and this is an amazing story, but the so-called surprises and twisted were less-than-shocking. Still a very entertaining story as every story doesn't need to be a masterpiece.
November 12, 2023
"Second Variety" by Philip K. Dick is a great book. Though it is the longest book we’ve read so far in class, this story is one of the better books we’ve read in class. “Second Variety” is a thought-provoking exploration of the danger of advanced technology and the blurred lines between man and machine. The story makes the readers question their existence along with those close to them. The readers will soon find themselves asking what made us human and what made robots not. It is both fascinating and scary at the same time if robots were to evolve into what they are in the story.
The author’s ability to capture the nature of human struggle in the face of existential threats is fascinating. The characters, confined to an underground bunker, are desperately trying to stop the war and put an end to the war life. In the dystopian setting, the author also skillfully explores themes of trust, betrayal, and the relentless pursuit of survival. There is not much character development since the story focuses more on the aspect of what makes a human rather than what makes a human good.
The author has a remarkable way of using words to convey an intense feeling of desolation and paranoia. The use of literary devices in “Second Variety” is great; it was as if I was standing on the battlefield with the protagonist. The story gives the reader a lot of creepy feelings. It is both fun and exciting to keep guessing whether the protagonist will survive or not, who can be trusted and who can’t, and who is a robot and who is a human. All of the guessing makes the story gripping. I was able to finish “Second Variety” in one sitting.
The author’s ability to capture the nature of human struggle in the face of existential threats is fascinating. The characters, confined to an underground bunker, are desperately trying to stop the war and put an end to the war life. In the dystopian setting, the author also skillfully explores themes of trust, betrayal, and the relentless pursuit of survival. There is not much character development since the story focuses more on the aspect of what makes a human rather than what makes a human good.
The author has a remarkable way of using words to convey an intense feeling of desolation and paranoia. The use of literary devices in “Second Variety” is great; it was as if I was standing on the battlefield with the protagonist. The story gives the reader a lot of creepy feelings. It is both fun and exciting to keep guessing whether the protagonist will survive or not, who can be trusted and who can’t, and who is a robot and who is a human. All of the guessing makes the story gripping. I was able to finish “Second Variety” in one sitting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2023
The second variety, written by Phillip K. Dick, is an incredible story with and incredible plot twist over plot twist. The main character, Major Hendricks received a letter from the Soviet Union inviting him to go negotiate terms, and that is how it all began. Hendricks made the decision to go, where he met Tasso, Rudi, and Klaus. They told him that the killing machine, or the "claws," is evolving into a newer species that resembles humans almost exactly. They also told him that they had successfully identified the first and third variety (of what they were calling these new entities), and that since there was a first, a third, and a second, there had to be a second. So who or what is the second variety? Could be anyone right? Could be Rudi, could be Tasso, could be Klaus, or even Hendricks himself :OOO. Now as problem starts to arise, so does trust issues. I find it funny when the 4 of them started to not trust each (reminds me of the spider man meme pointing at each other). But the one part that fascinates me the most was the ending. Oh how I loved the plot twist after a plot twist. When Tasso shot Klaus and revealed him as one of the varieties, Hendricks, including us the readers thought that Klaus was the second variety until multiple Tasso started showing up. Hendricks knew he messed up telling the other Tasso where the moon base was. Overall, this story got into my top 3 all time favorite sci fi stories (from Mr.Adam’s class) and if I could change 1 thing about this story, dear author, maybe a little shorter next time please? (To me short stories are 10 pages long (max!!)).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2023
The second variety is an extremely well written mystery story. It has great pacing, and builds up suspense and tension extremely well.
The characters are believable. They act like people with flaws and emotions. Like Hendricks, who even after seeing Klaus getting ganged up by the claws and is presumably killed goes and hugs Klaus who returns even though he shouldn’t even be alive. While the robots do kind of act logically, as they do everything that they have to in order to kill all humans.
The robots are great, they are creative and the Author’s utilization of the robots' varieties to build suspense and suspicion around each character is great. How he portrays the robot as alive is also interesting but isn't really explored all that much in the story. But as far as we are told robots are interesting, as they evolve and at the end are revealed to be about to go to war with each other. He makes the robots at the end kind of like analogies for how we treat each other, how we go to war and have a tendency for violence.
The writing is great, the author only lets us into the mind of one single character, Hendrics, this makes us trust Hendricks, while simultaneously making us suspicious of other characters, because unlike with Hendricks we don’t know the motivations or thoughts of the other characters. The ending is great. It really ties everything up really well.
Overall, 5/5 great story, great characters, great writing. It does everything it seeks out to do superbly.
The characters are believable. They act like people with flaws and emotions. Like Hendricks, who even after seeing Klaus getting ganged up by the claws and is presumably killed goes and hugs Klaus who returns even though he shouldn’t even be alive. While the robots do kind of act logically, as they do everything that they have to in order to kill all humans.
The robots are great, they are creative and the Author’s utilization of the robots' varieties to build suspense and suspicion around each character is great. How he portrays the robot as alive is also interesting but isn't really explored all that much in the story. But as far as we are told robots are interesting, as they evolve and at the end are revealed to be about to go to war with each other. He makes the robots at the end kind of like analogies for how we treat each other, how we go to war and have a tendency for violence.
The writing is great, the author only lets us into the mind of one single character, Hendrics, this makes us trust Hendricks, while simultaneously making us suspicious of other characters, because unlike with Hendricks we don’t know the motivations or thoughts of the other characters. The ending is great. It really ties everything up really well.
Overall, 5/5 great story, great characters, great writing. It does everything it seeks out to do superbly.
November 11, 2023
“Second Variety” by Phillip K. Dick is one of the best science fiction short stories I have ever read. I read one of his other stories, “The Hanging Stranger,” but that story is barely as good as this one. “The Hanging Stranger” felt so rushed and there wasn’t really any pause in the story to explain in detail what was going on. But since “Second Variety” is a longer story, I felt like the author was able to bring out its full potential more.
The plot was great. It was very thrilling, and the ending was great, one of the best I have seen in science fiction so far! (Maybe alien stories just aren’t my cup of tea) Even though the concept was kind of basic-robots taking over the world and killing everybody-the author took it to a new level!
One thing I would say though is that it was kind of hard for me to read? I don’t know really how to explain it. Maybe it was just because I was tired when I was reading it but I didn’t understand what was going on at all at the beginning of the story. I had to use an audiobook to help guide me which worked out well.
Overall, I think that “Second Variety” is a great science fiction short story! If you are ever trying the science fiction genre, you should one hundred percent give it a chance! It will keep you hooked on the genre instead of scaring you away like some other science fiction books would! ^o^
The plot was great. It was very thrilling, and the ending was great, one of the best I have seen in science fiction so far! (Maybe alien stories just aren’t my cup of tea) Even though the concept was kind of basic-robots taking over the world and killing everybody-the author took it to a new level!
One thing I would say though is that it was kind of hard for me to read? I don’t know really how to explain it. Maybe it was just because I was tired when I was reading it but I didn’t understand what was going on at all at the beginning of the story. I had to use an audiobook to help guide me which worked out well.
Overall, I think that “Second Variety” is a great science fiction short story! If you are ever trying the science fiction genre, you should one hundred percent give it a chance! It will keep you hooked on the genre instead of scaring you away like some other science fiction books would! ^o^
July 29, 2021
A brilliant short story which pokes fun at the irony of the human condition and the advent of sentient artificial intelligence; well, "pokes fun" is too light a phrase, because it wasn't exactly a funny book to begin with. Definitely recommend, and I liked how the story shaped up to have some spooky parallels with other dystopian novels (e.g. 1984).
September 8, 2019
4.25 stars. The writing is off at first, but the story itself makes up for it. Review to come.
September 4, 2020
Probably my favorite PKD thing I’ve read so far! I explain why that is and compare it to its adaptation SCREAMERS (1995) over on the Ink to Film podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
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