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Of Withered Apples
Something was tapping on the window. Blowing up against the pane, again and again. Carried by the wind. Tapping faintly, insistently.
8 pages, ebook
First published July 1, 1954
About the author
Philip K. Dick
1,933 books23k 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 wor
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 wor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
March 8, 2020
A tapping at Lori's window is an adulterous summons from something non-human. She is compelled to leave her husband and visit an abandoned orchard in the hills. I know PK Dick likes to include twists (especially in his short fiction). The writing is fine here; however, I'm not sure enough is done to explain the twist that is the ending and, as a result, I didn't find this story satisfying. 2.5 stars
July 9, 2019
“Of Withered Apples” was first published in Cosmos Science Fiction and Fantasy (July 1954), but if Philip’s wife Kleo’s memory is correct, it may date back as early as 1950. With a few other Dick stories of this period--”Beyond the Door” and “Out in the Garden” come to mine—it takes for its consequences a young unhappily married woman who is drawn toward a sexual relationship with something other than human. Here that something is an old apple tree.
The story is simple enough on the surface (and perhaps a little too gimmicky in its ending), but what sticks with the reader is the woman’s profound frustration, the comic dull stupidity of her husband and father-in-law, and the way nature itself calls, through her many manifestations, to the unquellable sensuality in all of us.
Not quite perfect, but close. This is a story that sticks with me.
April 3, 2018
Tree-Hugging and More
I don’t know what this tells you about PKD but Of Withered Apples reminded me strongly of two other short stories I’ve come across during my slow but steady pilgrimage through the tales of PKD, namely Out in the Garden and Beyond the Door. All these three stories concentrate on an unhappy marriage, where an emotionally frustrated wife tries to flee from drab everyday life and an unsympathetic husband by getting involved with … well.
Of Withered Apples tells the story of Lori, who feels herself drawn, apparently against her wishes, but then also yielding to fascination and lust, to an old apple tree, the sole, but dying, survivor of a grove. The apple tree uses its leaves to summon and entice Lori, whereas her husband and her father-in-law do not really care where the young woman goes as long as dinner is ready at the appointed hour. The language is full of innuendo, e.g. here:
Or here:
Dick manages to conjure up an eerie and threatening atmosphere, with nothing of the absurdity of Beyond the Door, and the ending of Withered Apples is also much darker and ambiguous than the silly twist in Out in the Garden so that there is little doubt that this story is the superior one of the whole set. Although I rather prefer science fiction topics when turning to PKD, Of Withered Apples most certainly gave me the creeps and intrigued me.
I don’t know what this tells you about PKD but Of Withered Apples reminded me strongly of two other short stories I’ve come across during my slow but steady pilgrimage through the tales of PKD, namely Out in the Garden and Beyond the Door. All these three stories concentrate on an unhappy marriage, where an emotionally frustrated wife tries to flee from drab everyday life and an unsympathetic husband by getting involved with … well.
Of Withered Apples tells the story of Lori, who feels herself drawn, apparently against her wishes, but then also yielding to fascination and lust, to an old apple tree, the sole, but dying, survivor of a grove. The apple tree uses its leaves to summon and entice Lori, whereas her husband and her father-in-law do not really care where the young woman goes as long as dinner is ready at the appointed hour. The language is full of innuendo, e.g. here:
”The dry leaf broke and dug hungrily into her.”
Or here:
”She smiled mischievously, her red lips curling. ‘It tapped and tapped, trying to get in. I ignored it. It was so — so impetuous. It annoyed me.’”
Dick manages to conjure up an eerie and threatening atmosphere, with nothing of the absurdity of Beyond the Door, and the ending of Withered Apples is also much darker and ambiguous than the silly twist in Out in the Garden so that there is little doubt that this story is the superior one of the whole set. Although I rather prefer science fiction topics when turning to PKD, Of Withered Apples most certainly gave me the creeps and intrigued me.
November 1, 2012
A short, and very strange, story from the BBC Radio archives. This was originally transmitted in 2008 on Radio 7 but was available from the BBC's Radio iPlayer now that Radio 7 is Radio 4extra. A departure for Dick – known much more for his science fiction – this is a spooky tale of an apple tree that is determined to survive. It does so by ensnaring a local woman into a sort of relationship – she certainly feels controlled by the tree and it's presented as a sort of abusive relationship – and somehow using her life-force to reinvigorate itself.
As an audio reading, William Hootkins has a fantastic voice for horror, able to push a fair amount of suspense into his over-dramatic style. Perfect for that slightly campy horror style. However, I struggle with audiobooks in general in that I just fail to maintain concentration. A couple of times this didn't quite keep me listening and I had to suddenly switch back into listening rather than thinking about something else.
As an audio reading, William Hootkins has a fantastic voice for horror, able to push a fair amount of suspense into his over-dramatic style. Perfect for that slightly campy horror style. However, I struggle with audiobooks in general in that I just fail to maintain concentration. A couple of times this didn't quite keep me listening and I had to suddenly switch back into listening rather than thinking about something else.
November 18, 2009
A very strange, whimsical horror story with erotic undertones for the relationship between a woman and an apple tree. I feel there's more to the symbolism in this story -nature will find a way to survive, no matter what? evil can't be rooted out? ...love always wins, even if it takes the life of one of the lovers after dubious consensual sex? ...giving birth can kill you? I don't know.
Look, there's an apple tree in this story, and there's dubious con involving the tree, and.. and it's a strange story. But it's interesting and fun, so there you have it. Don't.. don't date trees?
Look, there's an apple tree in this story, and there's dubious con involving the tree, and.. and it's a strange story. But it's interesting and fun, so there you have it. Don't.. don't date trees?
February 8, 2017
I've arranged my thoughts into a haiku:
"It's a deadly fruit,
Eve and the tree together,
Forlorn in man's world."
"It's a deadly fruit,
Eve and the tree together,
Forlorn in man's world."
June 28, 2023
A simple early story, this is one of the first serious attempts at a short story. We know this because Kleo - Phil's second wife said it was one of the ones he showed her when they met. Very simple weird tale.
December 15, 2012
I listened to Julie Davis's reading of this story in preparation for an SFF Audio Readalong that we will be recording soon.
This story is visceral and disturbing. Gut-wrenching agony. I have been deep in thought about it ever since, about what may have happened before, and the more I think about it, the more disturbing it gets. The discussion should be interesting; I'll come back and post a link.
This story is visceral and disturbing. Gut-wrenching agony. I have been deep in thought about it ever since, about what may have happened before, and the more I think about it, the more disturbing it gets. The discussion should be interesting; I'll come back and post a link.
July 15, 2021
This story was pretty good. It felt as if I was watching a classic Twilight Zone episode. Great plot and short, good, proper rhythm.
December 7, 2012
An intriguing short story that left me with several questions ... chiefly among them, was this supposed to be riffing on a specific story or only alluding to the many common elements one could almost grasp and that then slipped away. I read this aloud for SFFaudio and will be discussing it with them soon.
March 6, 2014
Saturday R4x
As a beautiful woman picks its last apple, a dying ancient tree is determined to survive.
Yep - DON'T DATE TREES is the profound lesson here.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 13, 2022
What a bizarre book. Is she having an encounter with a tree? This has funky adam and eve parallels with the sickly, withered apples. I like the likely unintentional connection between women and the natural world. There is this unusual cyclical aspect of the orchard and the women with these sacrificial, magical, ecstatic experiences between the women and these trees. It's a semi sensual/forbidden, but also escapist. I like this uncomfortable futurism that is presented. It's not the clean space suits or space western style that we see with some of Dick's contemporaries. This feels closer to Kurt Vonnegut Jr.'s ideas of the future that we see in works like 2BR02B. There is an implicit discomfort and general misery. The characters are not in the bright futures they imagined and all have a sort of bitterness about it --the world around them is dry, but not quite dystopic. It just feels sterile and barren.
As with many things Dick, the author puts in his usual marital discontent. It's like the only friendly relationships are between men and men. Very PKD. Is he as sexist as say Robert A. Heinlein? No, but there is a bitterness toward women that tinges everything he writes. Of course you see it in his longer works like Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? 1, but it is present in shorter fiction like this story.
As with many things Dick, the author puts in his usual marital discontent. It's like the only friendly relationships are between men and men. Very PKD. Is he as sexist as say Robert A. Heinlein? No, but there is a bitterness toward women that tinges everything he writes. Of course you see it in his longer works like Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? 1, but it is present in shorter fiction like this story.
August 29, 2020
“Of Withered Apples” by Philip K. Dick
Spooky horror of ‘possession’. Similar to Dick’s other works in that an ordinary household has a ignorant preoccupied inattentive husband unaware of the strangely supernatural pull that is alluring his wife (likened to ‘Eve’?) to a sacred haunted place, and her grizzly end as a vehicle for the trees ongoing reproduction. ***
Spooky horror of ‘possession’. Similar to Dick’s other works in that an ordinary household has a ignorant preoccupied inattentive husband unaware of the strangely supernatural pull that is alluring his wife (likened to ‘Eve’?) to a sacred haunted place, and her grizzly end as a vehicle for the trees ongoing reproduction. ***
January 12, 2022
Beckoned by a leaf on the wind, a young, bored housewife named Lori leaves her country home one evening to visit an apple tree in the middle of an abandoned orchard. After warning the tree that she will never return, that their relationship is over, it presents her with a deceptively innocent parting gift.
June 3, 2023
I wanted to read a Philip K. Dick novel and this short story is the only one that was available at the time. I find Dick's stories very interesting and I will be reading more. This short story was good but too brief to fully satisfy my appetite at the time. If I was a high school English teacher and wanted to introduce my class to this author, I think this would be a good one to use.
November 12, 2018
Confusing. The erstwhile main characters reactions when confronting the tree, especially the laughter, seemed so out of place. The history between them? Not enough information to put it all together. Still, decent strange-fi.
December 4, 2023
Man, I am struggling with these early Philip K. Dick. This is another one where I didn't quite get what was happening until I went online and looked it up and then it was obvious.
It's decently written, I think this is horror more than Sci-Fi.
But also very short without too much development.
It's decently written, I think this is horror more than Sci-Fi.
But also very short without too much development.
April 26, 2018
Four stars. On the surface this is an odd and dry story. But, it was so "out-there" especially for 1950, that once I read commentary on the story, I was able to appreciate it much more.
December 12, 2018
short and bitter sweet
August 2, 2020
I like the prose in this one. Very descriptive. It feels like a very mystical story with a hidden mental power.
November 21, 2020
Kind of dumb but also... kind of proto-Clive Barker?
February 3, 2023
Massive Waste Of Time... Sorry PKD...
September 12, 2023
Weird little book
May 13, 2026
Scifi, short story by a master,well done!!
February 20, 2019
Overly strange without purpose. I love strange. Usually strange is a compliment coming from me, but oddness for the sake of oddness is just off putting. I am a big PKD fan, I would rate Ubik and TTSOPE six stars if I could, but sometimes even brilliant authors have tepid works.
January 11, 2013
I enjoy this author and am a big fan of well-written short stories, but I was left with way too many questions near the end. Perhaps this is a story to read multiple times to understand? With tons of other PKD stories available, long and short, there's a good chance it'll be a few years until I return to the Withered Apple.
August 25, 2013
Philip K. Dick moves into horror for this one, and I think he should stick with his mastery in scifi. It was kind of predictable and lack luster. As short horrors go, it wasn't really horrifying I thought it may take a different direction than it did, but once it took the route it's ending was pretty much exactly what I thought it would be.
February 27, 2012
after apple tree hunts the woman,it gets the color of red.somehow became alive again.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews