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Tony and the Beetles
Reddish-yellow sunlight filtered through the thick quartz windows into the sleep-compartment. Tony Rossi yawned, stirred a little, then opened his black eyes and sat up quickly. With one motion he tossed the covers back and slid to the warm metal floor. He clicked off his alarm clock and hurried to the closet.
It looked like a nice day. The landscape outside was motionless, undisturbed by winds or dust-shift. The boy's heart pounded excitedly. He pulled his trousers on, zipped up the reinforced mesh, struggled into his heavy canvas shirt, and then sat down on the edge of the cot to tug on his boots. He closed the seams around their tops and then did the same with his gloves. Next he adjusted the pressure on his pump unit and strapped it between his shoulder blades. He grabbed his helmet from the dresser, and he was ready for the day.
In the dining-compartment his mother and father had finished breakfast. Their voices drifted to him as he clattered down the ramp. A disturbed murmur; he paused to listen. What were they talking about? Had he done something wrong, again?
It looked like a nice day. The landscape outside was motionless, undisturbed by winds or dust-shift. The boy's heart pounded excitedly. He pulled his trousers on, zipped up the reinforced mesh, struggled into his heavy canvas shirt, and then sat down on the edge of the cot to tug on his boots. He closed the seams around their tops and then did the same with his gloves. Next he adjusted the pressure on his pump unit and strapped it between his shoulder blades. He grabbed his helmet from the dresser, and he was ready for the day.
In the dining-compartment his mother and father had finished breakfast. Their voices drifted to him as he clattered down the ramp. A disturbed murmur; he paused to listen. What were they talking about? Had he done something wrong, again?
25 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 1953
4 people are currently reading
171 people want to read
About the author
Philip K. Dick
1,993 books22.7k followersPhilip Kindred Dick was a prolific American science fiction author whose work has had a lasting impact on literature, cinema, and popular culture. Known for his imaginative narratives and profound philosophical themes, Dick explored the nature of reality, the boundaries of human identity, and the impact of technology and authoritarianism on society. His stories often blurred the line between the real and the artificial, challenging readers to question their perceptions and beliefs.
Raised in California, Dick began writing professionally in the early 1950s, publishing short stories in various science fiction magazines. He quickly developed a distinctive voice within the genre, marked by a fusion of science fiction concepts with deep existential and psychological inquiry. Over his career, he authored 44 novels and more than 100 short stories, many of which have become classics in the field.
Recurring themes in Dick's work include alternate realities, simulations, corporate and government control, mental illness, and the nature of consciousness. His protagonists are frequently everyday individuals—often paranoid, uncertain, or troubled—caught in surreal and often dangerous circumstances that force them to question their environment and themselves. Works such as Ubik, The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch, and A Scanner Darkly reflect his fascination with perception and altered states of consciousness, often drawing from his own experiences with mental health struggles and drug use.
One of Dick’s most influential novels is Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, which served as the basis for Ridley Scott’s iconic film Blade Runner. The novel deals with the distinction between humans and artificial beings and asks profound questions about empathy, identity, and what it means to be alive. Other adaptations of his work include Total Recall, Minority Report, A Scanner Darkly, and The Man in the High Castle, each reflecting key elements of his storytelling—uncertain realities, oppressive systems, and the search for truth. These adaptations have introduced his complex ideas to audiences well beyond the traditional readership of science fiction.
In the 1970s, Dick underwent a series of visionary and mystical experiences that had a significant influence on his later writings. He described receiving profound knowledge from an external, possibly divine, source and documented these events extensively in what became known as The Exegesis, a massive and often fragmented journal. These experiences inspired his later novels, most notably the VALIS trilogy, which mixes autobiography, theology, and metaphysics in a narrative that defies conventional structure and genre boundaries.
Throughout his life, Dick faced financial instability, health issues, and periods of personal turmoil, yet he remained a dedicated and relentless writer. Despite limited commercial success during his lifetime, his reputation grew steadily, and he came to be regarded as one of the most original voices in speculative fiction. His work has been celebrated for its ability to fuse philosophical depth with gripping storytelling and has influenced not only science fiction writers but also philosophers, filmmakers, and futurists.
Dick’s legacy continues to thrive in both literary and cinematic spheres. The themes he explored remain urgently relevant in the modern world, particularly as technology increasingly intersects with human identity and governance. The Philip K. Dick Award, named in his honor, is presented annually to distinguished works of science fiction published in paperback original form in the United States. His writings have also inspired television series, academic studies, and countless homages across media.
Through his vivid imagination and unflinching inquiry into the nature of existence, Philip K. Dick redefined what science fiction could achieve. His work continues to challenge and inspire, offering timeless insights into the human condition a
Raised in California, Dick began writing professionally in the early 1950s, publishing short stories in various science fiction magazines. He quickly developed a distinctive voice within the genre, marked by a fusion of science fiction concepts with deep existential and psychological inquiry. Over his career, he authored 44 novels and more than 100 short stories, many of which have become classics in the field.
Recurring themes in Dick's work include alternate realities, simulations, corporate and government control, mental illness, and the nature of consciousness. His protagonists are frequently everyday individuals—often paranoid, uncertain, or troubled—caught in surreal and often dangerous circumstances that force them to question their environment and themselves. Works such as Ubik, The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch, and A Scanner Darkly reflect his fascination with perception and altered states of consciousness, often drawing from his own experiences with mental health struggles and drug use.
One of Dick’s most influential novels is Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, which served as the basis for Ridley Scott’s iconic film Blade Runner. The novel deals with the distinction between humans and artificial beings and asks profound questions about empathy, identity, and what it means to be alive. Other adaptations of his work include Total Recall, Minority Report, A Scanner Darkly, and The Man in the High Castle, each reflecting key elements of his storytelling—uncertain realities, oppressive systems, and the search for truth. These adaptations have introduced his complex ideas to audiences well beyond the traditional readership of science fiction.
In the 1970s, Dick underwent a series of visionary and mystical experiences that had a significant influence on his later writings. He described receiving profound knowledge from an external, possibly divine, source and documented these events extensively in what became known as The Exegesis, a massive and often fragmented journal. These experiences inspired his later novels, most notably the VALIS trilogy, which mixes autobiography, theology, and metaphysics in a narrative that defies conventional structure and genre boundaries.
Throughout his life, Dick faced financial instability, health issues, and periods of personal turmoil, yet he remained a dedicated and relentless writer. Despite limited commercial success during his lifetime, his reputation grew steadily, and he came to be regarded as one of the most original voices in speculative fiction. His work has been celebrated for its ability to fuse philosophical depth with gripping storytelling and has influenced not only science fiction writers but also philosophers, filmmakers, and futurists.
Dick’s legacy continues to thrive in both literary and cinematic spheres. The themes he explored remain urgently relevant in the modern world, particularly as technology increasingly intersects with human identity and governance. The Philip K. Dick Award, named in his honor, is presented annually to distinguished works of science fiction published in paperback original form in the United States. His writings have also inspired television series, academic studies, and countless homages across media.
Through his vivid imagination and unflinching inquiry into the nature of existence, Philip K. Dick redefined what science fiction could achieve. His work continues to challenge and inspire, offering timeless insights into the human condition a
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
July 21, 2019
First published in Orbit Science Fiction (1953), “Tony and the Beetles” is a wise and resonant story about how deceptively peaceful an environment may look through the eyes of a people in power, and how that “peace” may quickly pass, replaced by hostility and menace, when it becomes obvious to all—both conquerors and the conquered—that the people in power are no longer winning.
Tony is a boy who lives on the Earth colony of Betelgeuse, a place inhabited by an intelligent exo-skeletoned people called the Pas whom the earthlings refer to as “beetles.” Tony and his father discuss the war on Orion, where it looks like the beetles, backed up against the wall, may start winning for the first time. Tony pays little attention to his father’s warnings, and goes out to play with his “beetle” friends. But by the time he gets there, the news has spread: humans have lost the battle on Orion. And Tony’s friends the beetles are not his friends any more.
Dick wrote this story in the early 50’s, and I suppose he was thinking of the British and the French who were then in the process of being driven from their colonies all around the globe. But when I read it, I thought about Chris Hayes book on the American justice system, A Colony in a Nation, about Michelle Alexander’s The New Jim Crow, about the frustrated goals of the Black Lives Matter movement, and I wondered: what will happen—and it will be one day soon—when it becomes clear that White America is no longer winning?
This is one of Dick’s clearest statement about racism, and one of his best stories too. It is also unfairly neglected and seldom anthologized.
November 23, 2018
Born on Stolen Ground
Strictly speaking, this might apply to people born in most places – I know two or three places which are so dull and are lacking so much in natural beauty and cultural improvement that it is hard to imagine that people would ever have fought over them; but it would be impolite, and probably unwise, to mention names here – in that most of the world’s population might be living on ground that has been conquered by their forebears, be it in the remote, be it in the recent past. In PKD’s remarkable story Tony and the Beetles, published in 1953 in Orbit Science Fiction, a young boy, the eponymous hero, is the son of Terran colonists who had, in the course of centuries, conquered the Orion system, bit by bit, driving the original inhabitants, the Pas-udeti, off their land and forcing them to play second fiddle to the newcomers on planets that have been in their possession for ages. One morning, however, his parents seem more worried than usual by the news on the still-waging war between the Terrans and the Pas because it seems that for the first time in many decades, the latter have scored a decisive victory, which might well be the turning-point of the whole conflict. From now on, it seems, the tide has turned, and Terrans, the former masters, are on the retreat. A slow, and painful retreat, but an inevitable one.
Tony, however, thinks that this will not affect him because, after all, he was born on Betelgeuse, has got Pas friends and has never sensed any hostility or tension in his dealings with the Pas. While his parents are still discussing the war news, venting their anger against the “beetles” – a derogatory term for the Pas, inspired by their insect-like appearance –, the boy tells off his parents for using this racial slur and then decides to go to his friends in order to play with them. This morning, though, things are different than usual, and there is a vague sense of menace in the air, the Pas putting up less meekly with the boy’s naïve questions, and a Pas woman even warning him not to go into the city but to prepare to leave Betelgeuze as long as this is possible for him. When Tony finally meets his Pas friends, he has to realize that they regard him as an intruder, a stranger and that they might have been doing so all the time.
Tony and the Beetles is not a very well-known PKD story, and more is the shame, because it is a clever allegory on colonialism and on human nature as such. Written at a time, when large parts of the world were de-colonialized and people of British or French origins suddenly found themselves regarded as strangers in a country that had seen their births, this little tale gives us insight in the bitter fact that conflicts between ethnicities may easily be passed on from generation to generation and that there are wounds which might never heal. Tony’s father, who represents the most jingoistic of the colonialists, knows that Terrans are standing with their back to the wall, there simply being no space on their ruined home planet to go to, and his final conclusion is one that does not bode well for the future:
The same tone of pessimism applies to Tony’s learning the hard way that what he took for friendship and the readiness for peaceful co-existence in his dealings with the Pas was simply due to their being, until then, under the Terrans’ thumb. Now, with things taking a different shape, the Pas friends see Tony as one of the oppressors and it does not take long before they, too, confront him with the racial slur the Pas have for Terrans. This rather rude awakening to reality in all its ugliness is double-edged: On the one hand, it suggests that violence breeds violence and that oppression will beget oppression when those who have been oppressed want to have their revenge. This was, and maybe is, most likely a very unwelcome truth to those who prefer to think that the victims of oppression, having the moral high ground, are automatically good and therefore unable to commit atrocities.
On the other hand, Tony’s failure to see the writing on the wall, his naivety in dealing with the Pas can also be understood as a sign of arrogance, namely the arrogance of those in power who do not understand that they are not liked for what they are but rather not openly disliked for what they could do if they were put out.
All in all, Tony and the Beetles is a very dark story in which Dick shows a deep understanding of human nature and sound scepticism with regard to easy political solutions.
Strictly speaking, this might apply to people born in most places – I know two or three places which are so dull and are lacking so much in natural beauty and cultural improvement that it is hard to imagine that people would ever have fought over them; but it would be impolite, and probably unwise, to mention names here – in that most of the world’s population might be living on ground that has been conquered by their forebears, be it in the remote, be it in the recent past. In PKD’s remarkable story Tony and the Beetles, published in 1953 in Orbit Science Fiction, a young boy, the eponymous hero, is the son of Terran colonists who had, in the course of centuries, conquered the Orion system, bit by bit, driving the original inhabitants, the Pas-udeti, off their land and forcing them to play second fiddle to the newcomers on planets that have been in their possession for ages. One morning, however, his parents seem more worried than usual by the news on the still-waging war between the Terrans and the Pas because it seems that for the first time in many decades, the latter have scored a decisive victory, which might well be the turning-point of the whole conflict. From now on, it seems, the tide has turned, and Terrans, the former masters, are on the retreat. A slow, and painful retreat, but an inevitable one.
Tony, however, thinks that this will not affect him because, after all, he was born on Betelgeuse, has got Pas friends and has never sensed any hostility or tension in his dealings with the Pas. While his parents are still discussing the war news, venting their anger against the “beetles” – a derogatory term for the Pas, inspired by their insect-like appearance –, the boy tells off his parents for using this racial slur and then decides to go to his friends in order to play with them. This morning, though, things are different than usual, and there is a vague sense of menace in the air, the Pas putting up less meekly with the boy’s naïve questions, and a Pas woman even warning him not to go into the city but to prepare to leave Betelgeuze as long as this is possible for him. When Tony finally meets his Pas friends, he has to realize that they regard him as an intruder, a stranger and that they might have been doing so all the time.
Tony and the Beetles is not a very well-known PKD story, and more is the shame, because it is a clever allegory on colonialism and on human nature as such. Written at a time, when large parts of the world were de-colonialized and people of British or French origins suddenly found themselves regarded as strangers in a country that had seen their births, this little tale gives us insight in the bitter fact that conflicts between ethnicities may easily be passed on from generation to generation and that there are wounds which might never heal. Tony’s father, who represents the most jingoistic of the colonialists, knows that Terrans are standing with their back to the wall, there simply being no space on their ruined home planet to go to, and his final conclusion is one that does not bode well for the future:
”’Yeah, we’ll be retreating from now on. Giving ground, instead of taking it. It’ll be like this today – losing fights, draws. Stalemates and worse.’
He raised his feverish eyes toward the ceiling of the little metal housing unit, face wild with passion and misery.
‘But, by God, we’ll give them a run for their money. All the way back! Every inch!’”
The same tone of pessimism applies to Tony’s learning the hard way that what he took for friendship and the readiness for peaceful co-existence in his dealings with the Pas was simply due to their being, until then, under the Terrans’ thumb. Now, with things taking a different shape, the Pas friends see Tony as one of the oppressors and it does not take long before they, too, confront him with the racial slur the Pas have for Terrans. This rather rude awakening to reality in all its ugliness is double-edged: On the one hand, it suggests that violence breeds violence and that oppression will beget oppression when those who have been oppressed want to have their revenge. This was, and maybe is, most likely a very unwelcome truth to those who prefer to think that the victims of oppression, having the moral high ground, are automatically good and therefore unable to commit atrocities.
On the other hand, Tony’s failure to see the writing on the wall, his naivety in dealing with the Pas can also be understood as a sign of arrogance, namely the arrogance of those in power who do not understand that they are not liked for what they are but rather not openly disliked for what they could do if they were put out.
All in all, Tony and the Beetles is a very dark story in which Dick shows a deep understanding of human nature and sound scepticism with regard to easy political solutions.
March 6, 2015
Short, thought-provoking, well-developed. I rather wanted the story to continue, but the lesson (of sentient beings' inherent racism, I suppose) has been learned, so where is there to go?
Still, a fun little read.
Still, a fun little read.
January 3, 2013
This one takes race relations to distant planetary systems, while also addressing the innocence of a child's world view.
November 23, 2020
I don't remember it--I must have spaced out.
I've included this on all Philip K. Dick stories I've reviewed:
Philip K. Dick stories are all about the same thing: anti-war, people mess with science or their world which ends up destroying them or backfiring (reminiscent of Frankenstein), and nature/anything-not-human is always smarter and wins every time.. These themes were very popular at least at the time he wrote these stories--maybe because of him--but they feel very dated and if you ever read a collection of his, they are overdone because every story is the same. I recommend just watching WALL-E -- it's better and is only 1 hr 45 min, but still asserts all humans are lazy slobs. Things can be improved if done properly--believe it or not, Phil.
What I like about his stories is the creativity and interesting worlds they take place in. I definitely want to give him a nod for the obvious influence he had on the creators of Star Craft (and many sci-fi tales). But few of his stories are better than two stars for me. Some of the better ones to consider are Second Variety, Beyond Lies the Wub, maybe Minority Report, and maybe We Can Remember It For You Wholesale.
I've included this on all Philip K. Dick stories I've reviewed:
Philip K. Dick stories are all about the same thing: anti-war, people mess with science or their world which ends up destroying them or backfiring (reminiscent of Frankenstein), and nature/anything-not-human is always smarter and wins every time.. These themes were very popular at least at the time he wrote these stories--maybe because of him--but they feel very dated and if you ever read a collection of his, they are overdone because every story is the same. I recommend just watching WALL-E -- it's better and is only 1 hr 45 min, but still asserts all humans are lazy slobs. Things can be improved if done properly--believe it or not, Phil.
What I like about his stories is the creativity and interesting worlds they take place in. I definitely want to give him a nod for the obvious influence he had on the creators of Star Craft (and many sci-fi tales). But few of his stories are better than two stars for me. Some of the better ones to consider are Second Variety, Beyond Lies the Wub, maybe Minority Report, and maybe We Can Remember It For You Wholesale.
April 18, 2020
I gave this a shot because of its hilarious title. It's a fairly run of the mill short story about a young boy (the eponymous Tony) whose family get caught up in the midst of an interplanetary war between human colonialists and the Pas-useti, a native insectoid race disparagingly referred to as 'beetles' by the more xenophobic humans (such as Tony's cookie cutter racist dad). Tony's (also cookie cutter) mother constantly 'flutters' for some reason. The story's fairly obvious moral message is basically 'colonialism, war and racism are bad'.
May 22, 2020
Really well written. The way a child experiences war is always an interesting perspective. Even if here the child is introduced to it and the rigidness it brings between people who where friends yesterday. The last few lines threw me off. The father is a militarist and colonialist, even in defeat he will stay his ground. But i doubt that the author shares his views. Creators and their creatures need to be judged separately.
April 4, 2024
This story is was a good depiction of what happens when the loosing party finally gets their leg up. Why would you expect the person you have been beating and killing for centuries to remain your friend once they get from under your boot.
April 11, 2018
A standard short story, not PDK's best, but still enjoyable!
December 7, 2019
Interesting allegory of racial conflict and colonialism.
January 25, 2020
Conquered territories and nations will be forever conquered and hostile towards conquerors, even thousands years of united existence won't help.
February 7, 2020
Great early yearn from PKD really quite enthralling and kept you thinking about what would happen next, great ending, such a well thought out story, PKD has been great so far.
PKD #5
PKD #5
April 25, 2020
Straightforward story but with a strong message.
April 26, 2020
I do love these little sci-fi adventures. This one the tables are turned, read it and see what I mean.
May 27, 2021
This sci fi story really caught me off guard. Seeing from a child view on how the power dilemma changes between the humans and the beetles really made it interesting.
Read
February 9, 2023Hooyah! This is kind of like starship troopers
August 1, 2023
Excellent short story
Interesting perspective of war and colonization. Of racism and oppression between groups. Worthy, but quick read.
Enjoy the read here.
Interesting perspective of war and colonization. Of racism and oppression between groups. Worthy, but quick read.
Enjoy the read here.
April 25, 2024
one of my many unpopular opinions is that colonization & imperialism is often kinda great & a big step forward for the colonized people.
this story was not great imo.
this story was not great imo.
April 13, 2025
Racism is universal.
August 4, 2025
For sure thought-provoking but classic science fiction is not my thing
November 27, 2016
a tour de force about colonisation/genocide
June 13, 2025
why are the aliens always insects
### **Tony and the Beetles by Philip K. Dick**
A **1953 science fiction short story**, *Tony and the Beetles* follows **Tony Rossi**, a young boy living on an alien planet, as he experiences **the collapse of human colonial rule** and learns a harsh lesson about **power and perception**.
---
### **Summary**
Tony has spent his entire life on **an alien world in the Orion system**, where humans have **dominated the native species**, the **Pas-udeti**, nicknamed **Beetles** due to their insect-like appearance. Tony believes the Beetles are **friendly**, unaware of the **resentment brewing beneath the surface**.
When a **Terran warfleet is defeated**, the Beetles **rise up against their oppressors**, and Tony is **shocked to find himself rejected** by his former friends. As he **flees for safety**, he realizes that **his people were never truly welcome**, and the Beetles **never saw him as an equal**.
---
### **Beginning**
The story opens with **Tony excited for the day**, unaware that **the war has turned against the humans**. He walks through the city, greeting Beetle children **B’prith and Llyre**, believing they are his friends. However, as news spreads of the **Terran defeat**, the Beetles **begin treating him differently**, making him **question everything he thought he knew**.
---
### **Expanded Timeline**
1. **Tony enjoys his daily routine**, believing the Beetles are friendly.
2. **News arrives that the Terran fleet has been defeated**, shifting the power dynamic.
3. **Tony notices the Beetles acting strangely**, sensing hostility.
4. **B’prith and Llyre reject Tony**, revealing their true feelings.
5. **Tony is chased by a mob**, realizing he is no longer safe.
6. **He flees home**, understanding that humans were never truly welcome.
7. **Final reflection** – Tony learns a painful lesson about colonialism and perception.
---
### **Major Characters & Their Interactions**
- **Tony Rossi (Protagonist)** – A naive human boy who learns the truth about colonial rule.
- **B’prith & Llyre (Beetle Children)** – Initially friendly but reveal their resentment.
- **Joseph & Leah Rossi (Tony’s Parents)** – Represent the human colonists, unaware of the growing hostility.
- **Beetle Mob (Antagonists)** – Turn against Tony as their species regains control.
---
### **Minor Characters & Their Roles**
- **Terran Soldiers** – Their defeat signals the collapse of human rule.
- **Other Beetle Citizens** – Show increasing hostility toward Tony.
---
### **Ending**
Tony **escapes the angry mob**, returning home **shaken and disillusioned**. He realizes that **his people were never truly accepted**, and the Beetles **always saw humans as invaders**. The story closes with **a powerful reflection on colonialism, power, and perception**.
---
### **Why You Might Like It**
- **Classic Philip K. Dick themes** – Colonialism, perception, and shifting power dynamics.
- **Psychological depth** – Explores how privilege blinds individuals to resentment.
- **Fast-paced storytelling** – A short but impactful read.
- **Thought-provoking ending** – Leaves readers questioning human arrogance and history.
### **Tony and the Beetles by Philip K. Dick**
A **1953 science fiction short story**, *Tony and the Beetles* follows **Tony Rossi**, a young boy living on an alien planet, as he experiences **the collapse of human colonial rule** and learns a harsh lesson about **power and perception**.
---
### **Summary**
Tony has spent his entire life on **an alien world in the Orion system**, where humans have **dominated the native species**, the **Pas-udeti**, nicknamed **Beetles** due to their insect-like appearance. Tony believes the Beetles are **friendly**, unaware of the **resentment brewing beneath the surface**.
When a **Terran warfleet is defeated**, the Beetles **rise up against their oppressors**, and Tony is **shocked to find himself rejected** by his former friends. As he **flees for safety**, he realizes that **his people were never truly welcome**, and the Beetles **never saw him as an equal**.
---
### **Beginning**
The story opens with **Tony excited for the day**, unaware that **the war has turned against the humans**. He walks through the city, greeting Beetle children **B’prith and Llyre**, believing they are his friends. However, as news spreads of the **Terran defeat**, the Beetles **begin treating him differently**, making him **question everything he thought he knew**.
---
### **Expanded Timeline**
1. **Tony enjoys his daily routine**, believing the Beetles are friendly.
2. **News arrives that the Terran fleet has been defeated**, shifting the power dynamic.
3. **Tony notices the Beetles acting strangely**, sensing hostility.
4. **B’prith and Llyre reject Tony**, revealing their true feelings.
5. **Tony is chased by a mob**, realizing he is no longer safe.
6. **He flees home**, understanding that humans were never truly welcome.
7. **Final reflection** – Tony learns a painful lesson about colonialism and perception.
---
### **Major Characters & Their Interactions**
- **Tony Rossi (Protagonist)** – A naive human boy who learns the truth about colonial rule.
- **B’prith & Llyre (Beetle Children)** – Initially friendly but reveal their resentment.
- **Joseph & Leah Rossi (Tony’s Parents)** – Represent the human colonists, unaware of the growing hostility.
- **Beetle Mob (Antagonists)** – Turn against Tony as their species regains control.
---
### **Minor Characters & Their Roles**
- **Terran Soldiers** – Their defeat signals the collapse of human rule.
- **Other Beetle Citizens** – Show increasing hostility toward Tony.
---
### **Ending**
Tony **escapes the angry mob**, returning home **shaken and disillusioned**. He realizes that **his people were never truly accepted**, and the Beetles **always saw humans as invaders**. The story closes with **a powerful reflection on colonialism, power, and perception**.
---
### **Why You Might Like It**
- **Classic Philip K. Dick themes** – Colonialism, perception, and shifting power dynamics.
- **Psychological depth** – Explores how privilege blinds individuals to resentment.
- **Fast-paced storytelling** – A short but impactful read.
- **Thought-provoking ending** – Leaves readers questioning human arrogance and history.
November 10, 2019
Tony Rossi lives with his father Joseph Rossi and mother Leah Rossi in the Sun of Betelguese. Meanwhile at Orion, the earthlings are waging a fierce battle for power with the beetle fleet. When the tide of hostilities turn against the colonisers from earth, Toni's world begins taking a turn for the worse.
December 26, 2022
Tony was born on a planet orbiting Betelgeuse, a planet the Earthlings took from the Beetles. But now the Beetles are winning battles and suddenly the children of the Earth forces are finding out that their "Beetle" friends are not as friendly as they used to be.
I'll probably listen to this audiobook again.
I'll probably listen to this audiobook again.
January 3, 2015
A new and characteristically imaginative setting of an all too familiar tale. The sci-fi elements are more forward-looking than is first obvious.
June 28, 2015
It's interesting that humans are always the oppressors in Dick's stories of human-alien conflict.
November 15, 2025
ترجمهٔ داستان را میتونید در «فضای استعاره» بخونید. خوب و بدش رو خودتون تصمیم بگیرید:
https://metaphorspace.com/tony-and-th...
https://metaphorspace.com/tony-and-th...
March 30, 2015
"War... war never changes." This quote from Fallout greatly describes the point of this story.
December 16, 2015
It is depressing to read about that lowest level hate and fear that never disappears. Nice story
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews