The Skull: Short Story
3.5/5
()
About this ebook
Conger is given a chance to be released from prison on the condition that he completes one job—he must travel back in time and kill a man who, if allowed to live, will later change the world.
Philip K. Dick was an American science-fiction novelist, short-story writer and essayist. His first short story, “Beyond Lies the Wub,” was published shortly after his high school graduation. Some of his most famous short stories were adapted for film, including “The Minority Report,” “Paycheck,” “Second Variety” (adapted into the film Screamers) and “We Can Remember It For You Wholesale” (adapted into the film Total Recall).
HarperCollins brings great works of literature to life in digital format, upholding the highest standards in ebook production and celebrating reading in all its forms. Look for more titles in the HarperCollins short-stories collection to build your digital library.
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.
Read more from Philip K. Dick
The Man in the High Castle Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Our Friends From Frolix 8 Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Cosmic Puppets Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Lies, Inc. Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Ubik Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Penultimate Truth Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5We Can Build You Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5A Scanner Darkly Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Exegesis of Philip K. Dick Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Simulacra Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Solar Lottery Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Crack in Space Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Selected Stories Of Philip K. Dick Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Dr. Futurity Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Time Out Of Joint Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Best of Philip K. Dick Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The World Jones Made Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Martian Time-Slip Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Maze Of Death Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Clans Of The Alphane Moon Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Eye In The Sky Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Now Wait For Last Year Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Related to The Skull
Related ebooks
The House of Untold Stories: 50 Unexpected Tales Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Variable Man Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Breakfast at Twilight Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Hanging Stranger Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSecond Variety Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Planet Stories Super Pack #2: Positronic Super Pack Series #46 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBeyond the Door Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Upon The Dull Earth Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Skull Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Clans Of The Alphane Moon Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Crystal Crypt Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Now Wait For Last Year Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Vulcan's Hammer Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Beyond Lies the Wub Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Defenders Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Futuria Fantasia, Fall 1939 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsConfessions Of A Crap Artist Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Time Machine (Legend Classics) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Triplanetary Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Gun Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Piper in the Woods Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Poems by Walt Whitman Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Mystery of the Yellow Room Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mr. Spaceship Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDr. Bloodmoney Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Four Weird Tales Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Burning Wheel Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFuturia Fantasia (Illustrated Edition): Complete Four Volume Edition - Science Fiction Fanzine Created by Ray Bradbury Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Link Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5
Science Fiction For You
This Is How You Lose the Time War Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Silo Series Collection: Wool, Shift, Dust, and Silo Stories Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I Am Legend Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Wool: Book One of the Silo Series Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Shift: Book Two of the Silo Series Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Stories of Ray Bradbury Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Kindred: A Graphic Novel Adaptation Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Flowers for Algernon Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Cryptonomicon Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Camp Zero: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I Who Have Never Known Men Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Institute: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Ocean at the End of the Lane: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Annihilation: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Frankenstein: Original 1818 Uncensored Version Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Sarah J. Maas: Series Reading Order - with Summaries & Checklist Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England: Secret Projects, #2 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Dust: Book Three of the Silo Series Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Alchemist: A Graphic Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Troop Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Warrior of the Light: A Manual Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Roadside Picnic Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Deep Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How High We Go in the Dark: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Psalm for the Wild-Built Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Perelandra: (Space Trilogy, Book Two) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Deep Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Brandon Sanderson: Best Reading Order - with Summaries & Checklist Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for The Skull
5 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
The Skull - Philip K. Dick
THE SKULL
Philip K. Dick
HarperPerennialClassicsLogo.jpgCONTENTS
Epigraph
The Skull
About the Author
About the Series
Copyright
About the Publisher
Epigraph
Conger agreed to kill a stranger he had never seen. But he would make no mistakes because he had the stranger’s skull under his arm.
The Skull
What is this opportunity?
Conger asked. Go on. I’m interested.
The room was silent; all faces were fixed on Conger—still in the drab prison uniform. The Speaker leaned forward slowly.
Before you went to prison your trading business was paying well—all illegal—all very profitable. Now you have nothing, except the prospect of another six years in a cell.
Conger scowled.
There is a certain situation, very important to this Council, that requires your peculiar abilities. Also, it is a situation you might find interesting. You were a hunter, were you not? You’ve done a great deal of trapping, hiding in the bushes, waiting at night for the game? I imagine hunting must be a source of satisfaction to you, the chase, the stalking—
Conger sighed. His lips twisted. All right,
he said. Leave that out. Get to the point. Who do you want me to kill?
The Speaker smiled. All in proper sequence,
he said softly.
The car slid to a stop. It was night; there was no light anywhere along the street. Conger looked out. Where are we? What is this place?
The hand of the guard pressed into his arm. Come. Through that door.
Conger stepped down, onto the damp sidewalk. The guard came swiftly after him, and then the Speaker. Conger took a deep breath of the cold air. He studied the dim outline of the building rising up before them.
I know this place. I’ve seen it before.
He squinted, his eyes growing accustomed to the dark. Suddenly he became alert. This is—
Yes. The First Church.
The Speaker walked toward the steps. We’re expected.
"Expected? Here?"
Yes.
The Speaker mounted the stairs. You know we’re not allowed in their Churches, especially with guns!
He stopped. Two armed soldiers loomed up ahead, one on each side.
All right?
The Speaker looked up at them. They nodded. The door of the Church was open. Conger could see other soldiers inside, standing about, young soldiers with large eyes, gazing at the icons and holy images.
I see,
he said.
"It was