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Second Variety by Philip K Dick
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Second Variety (edition 1953)

by Philip K Dick

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Excerpt: ...unfastened one of her boots. She kicked the boot off, onto the floor. "Major, do you want to go in the other room? I'm sleepy." "It's going to be a problem, the four of us here. It's going to be hard to live in these quarters. Are there just the two rooms?" "Yes." "How big was the cellar originally? Was it larger than this? Are there other rooms filled up with debris? We might be able to open one of them." "Perhaps. I really don't know." Tasso loosened her belt. She made herself comfortable on the cot, unbuttoning her shirt. "You're sure you have no more cigarettes?" "I had only the one pack." "Too bad. Maybe if we get back to your bunker we can find some." The other boot fell. Tasso reached up for the light cord. "Good night." "You're going to sleep?" "That's right." The room plunged into darkness. Hendricks got up and made his way past the curtain, into the kitchen. And stopped, rigid. Rudi stood against the wall, his face white and gleaming. His mouth opened and closed but no sounds came. Klaus stood in front of him, the muzzle of his pistol in Rudi's stomach. Neither of them moved. Klaus, his hand tight around his gun, his features set. Rudi, pale and silent, spread-eagled against the wall. "What-" Hendricks muttered, but Klaus cut him off. "Be quiet, Major. Come over here. Your gun. Get out your gun." Hendricks drew his pistol. "What is it?" "Cover him." Klaus motioned him forward. "Beside me. Hurry " Rudi moved a little, lowering his arms. He turned to Hendricks, licking his lips. The whites of his eyes shone wildly. Sweat dripped from his forehead, down his cheeks. He fixed his gaze on Hendricks. "Major, he's gone insane. Stop him." Rudi's voice was thin and hoarse, almost inaudible. "What's going on?" Hendricks demanded. Without lowering his pistol Klaus answered. "Major, remember our discussion? The Three Varieties? We knew about One and...… (more)
Member:Sergeirocks
Title:Second Variety
Authors:Philip K Dick
Info:Wildside Press
Collections:Your library
Rating:****
Tags:None

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Second Variety [short story] by Philip K. Dick

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After the Soviet Union starts a nuclear war, the Americans create self-repairing robots "claws" to fight across the ruined landscape. After six years, the Soviet Union is nearly wiped out by the claws while the United Nations government has moved to a Lunar Moon Base, leaving soldiers behind. When the claws start creating their own advanced android designs indistinguishable from humans to complete their mission to "exterminate all human life", the war is truly fulfilled.

Major Joseph Hendricks goes to negotiate with a Soviet command center, he finds only three soldiers still alive. Hendricks learns of two android varieties: I-V, a Wounded Soldier, and III-V, David the boy with the teddy bear. Whoever, II-V—the "second variety"—remains unknown. When the Soviets return with Hendricks to the U.N. lines, he learns there are more than just three types -- moments after the Second Variety tricks him. As he dies, Hendricks understand the evolution of new claw types, and is somewhat ironically comforted that the androids are actually designing weapons to kill other types of androids. ( )
  ktoonen | Feb 22, 2016 |
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This is the short story/novelette "Second Variety". There is a story collection by the same author also titled "Second Variety". Do not combine these.
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Excerpt: ...unfastened one of her boots. She kicked the boot off, onto the floor. "Major, do you want to go in the other room? I'm sleepy." "It's going to be a problem, the four of us here. It's going to be hard to live in these quarters. Are there just the two rooms?" "Yes." "How big was the cellar originally? Was it larger than this? Are there other rooms filled up with debris? We might be able to open one of them." "Perhaps. I really don't know." Tasso loosened her belt. She made herself comfortable on the cot, unbuttoning her shirt. "You're sure you have no more cigarettes?" "I had only the one pack." "Too bad. Maybe if we get back to your bunker we can find some." The other boot fell. Tasso reached up for the light cord. "Good night." "You're going to sleep?" "That's right." The room plunged into darkness. Hendricks got up and made his way past the curtain, into the kitchen. And stopped, rigid. Rudi stood against the wall, his face white and gleaming. His mouth opened and closed but no sounds came. Klaus stood in front of him, the muzzle of his pistol in Rudi's stomach. Neither of them moved. Klaus, his hand tight around his gun, his features set. Rudi, pale and silent, spread-eagled against the wall. "What-" Hendricks muttered, but Klaus cut him off. "Be quiet, Major. Come over here. Your gun. Get out your gun." Hendricks drew his pistol. "What is it?" "Cover him." Klaus motioned him forward. "Beside me. Hurry " Rudi moved a little, lowering his arms. He turned to Hendricks, licking his lips. The whites of his eyes shone wildly. Sweat dripped from his forehead, down his cheeks. He fixed his gaze on Hendricks. "Major, he's gone insane. Stop him." Rudi's voice was thin and hoarse, almost inaudible. "What's going on?" Hendricks demanded. Without lowering his pistol Klaus answered. "Major, remember our discussion? The Three Varieties? We knew about One and...

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