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Fantastic Stories Presents the Worlds of If Super Pack #1
Worlds of If was a three time winner of the Hugo Award for best science fiction magazine. Worlds of If discovered many talented writers who would go on to dominate genre fiction. Here are more than 250,000 words of some of the best stories ever published in its pages.
The Snowbank Orbit by Fritz Leiber The Victor by Bryce Walton Breeder Reaction by Winston Marks Turning Point by Alfred Coppel Masters of Space by Edward E. Smith & E. Everett Evans Cultural Exchange by Keith Laumer The Lonely Ones by Edward W. Ludwig The Kenzie Report by Mark Clifton The Very Secret Agent by Mari Wolf Irresistible Weapon by H. B. Fyfe In the Garden by R. A. Lafferty The Eyes Have it by James McKimmey, Jr. Trees Are Where You Find Them by Arthur Dekker Savage The Real Hard Sell by William W. Stuart Waste Not, Want by Dave Dryfoos The Last Supper by T. D. Hamm Letter of the Law by Alan E. Nourse Sweet Their Blood and Sticky by Albert R. Teichner The Last Place on Earth by Jim Harmon Quiet, Please by Kevin Scott Service with a Smile by Charles L. Fontenay Time Fuze by Randall Garrett The Skull by Philip K. Dick The Ordeal of Colonel Johns by George H. Smith Incident on Route 12 by James H. Schmitz Brink of Madness by Walt Sheldon Love Story by Irving E. Cox, Jr. Navy Day by Harry Harrison The Anglers of Arz by Roger Dee Assassin by J. F. Bone Probability by Louis Trimble Sjambak by Jack Vance Deadly City by Ivar Jorgenson The Mightiest Man by Patrick Fahy Mutineer by Robert J. Shea And That's How it Was, Officer by Ralph Sholto No Shield from the Dead by Gordon R. Dickson Seven-Day Terror by R.A. Lafferty I'll Kill You Tomorrow by Helen Huber Security Risk by Ed M. Clinton, Jr. Confidence Game by James Mckimmey, Jr.
The Snowbank Orbit by Fritz Leiber The Victor by Bryce Walton Breeder Reaction by Winston Marks Turning Point by Alfred Coppel Masters of Space by Edward E. Smith & E. Everett Evans Cultural Exchange by Keith Laumer The Lonely Ones by Edward W. Ludwig The Kenzie Report by Mark Clifton The Very Secret Agent by Mari Wolf Irresistible Weapon by H. B. Fyfe In the Garden by R. A. Lafferty The Eyes Have it by James McKimmey, Jr. Trees Are Where You Find Them by Arthur Dekker Savage The Real Hard Sell by William W. Stuart Waste Not, Want by Dave Dryfoos The Last Supper by T. D. Hamm Letter of the Law by Alan E. Nourse Sweet Their Blood and Sticky by Albert R. Teichner The Last Place on Earth by Jim Harmon Quiet, Please by Kevin Scott Service with a Smile by Charles L. Fontenay Time Fuze by Randall Garrett The Skull by Philip K. Dick The Ordeal of Colonel Johns by George H. Smith Incident on Route 12 by James H. Schmitz Brink of Madness by Walt Sheldon Love Story by Irving E. Cox, Jr. Navy Day by Harry Harrison The Anglers of Arz by Roger Dee Assassin by J. F. Bone Probability by Louis Trimble Sjambak by Jack Vance Deadly City by Ivar Jorgenson The Mightiest Man by Patrick Fahy Mutineer by Robert J. Shea And That's How it Was, Officer by Ralph Sholto No Shield from the Dead by Gordon R. Dickson Seven-Day Terror by R.A. Lafferty I'll Kill You Tomorrow by Helen Huber Security Risk by Ed M. Clinton, Jr. Confidence Game by James Mckimmey, Jr.
516 pages, Paperback
Published September 19, 2016
105 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Philip K. Dick
1,989 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 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 1, 2018
Not bad
Older stories, but still very good ones. Nice and long, you get your money’s worth. Good editing, think I found one or two typos, but overall very good.
Older stories, but still very good ones. Nice and long, you get your money’s worth. Good editing, think I found one or two typos, but overall very good.
September 22, 2019
Enjoyable reading
New plots, great character development. Interesting, enjoyable reading. Everything you need in a great book. One, two, three, four, five!
New plots, great character development. Interesting, enjoyable reading. Everything you need in a great book. One, two, three, four, five!
November 11, 2023
Some of the stories were subpar and others decent.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews