| "The Story to End All Stories for Harlan Ellison's Anthology Dangerous Visions" | |
|---|---|
| Short story by Philip K. Dick | |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | science fiction, horror, post-apocalyptic, dystopian, flash fiction |
| Publication | |
| Published in | Niekas |
| Publication type | science fiction fanzine |
| Publisher | Ed Meskys |
| Publication date | 1968 |
"The Story to End All Stories for Harlan Ellison's Anthology Dangerous Visions" (1968) is a 117-word short story by Philip K. Dick, written as an addendum, or spiritual sequel to "Faith of Our Fathers". It is a simply written account of a decadent, dystopian, post-apocalyptic society, characterised by inter-species sex, infanticide, and cannibalism. The story is symbolic and satirical, reflecting ideas of divinity and the consequences of war, themes which figure large in the author's writing.[1]
It was first published in the science-fiction fanzine Niekas, before finding its way into Dick's own The Eye of the Sibyl. The latter portion of the story's title refers to the sci-fi anthology Dangerous Visions (1967), edited by Harlan Ellison, in which "Faith of Our Fathers" first appeared. Dangerous Visions has been credited as a milestone of sex and sexuality in speculative fiction;[2] sex is a major motif in "Stories", especially the non-mainstream varieties.
References[edit]
- ^ Dick, Philip K. (1995). "How to Build a Universe That Doesn't Fall Apart Two Days Later". In Lawrence Sutin (ed.). The Shifting Realities of Philip K. Dick: Selected Literary and Philosophical Writings. New York: Vintage/Random House. p. 271.
- ^ Sarrantonio, Al, editor. 999: New Stories of Horror and Suspense. 1999. Avon Books. ISBN 0-380-97740-0