Piper in the Woods by Philip K. Dick Episode #64

Philip K. Dick | March 21, 2023

Piper in the Woods by Philip K. Dick Episode #64
Philip K. Dick

PIPER IN THE WOODS

Episode #64 · Written by Philip K. Dick · Narrated by Scott Miller

A young corporal stationed on a quiet asteroid insists he has turned into a plant—and he’s not the only one. As more soldiers refuse to work and spend their days basking in the sun, the mystery leads to whispers of strange beings in the woods known only as The Pipers.

On a remote asteroid garrison, something inexplicable begins to happen. Trained officers abandon their duties and sit silently in the sun, insisting they are no longer human in the usual sense. They claim they have become plants, dependent on light, stillness, and contemplation.

Doctor Henry Harris is called in to diagnose what looks like mass delusion. As cases multiply, his investigation leads him beyond medical charts and shock tests, into the alien forest surrounding the outpost. There, among native inhabitants and whispered legends, Harris uncovers a psychological force powerful enough to dismantle discipline, ambition, and social order.

Piper in the Woods explores the quiet rebellion against modern life. It examines exhaustion, buried longing, and the seductive pull of a simpler existence. Rather than explosions or invasions, the danger comes from within—an idea that spreads because it feels true.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Philip K. Dick was a master of turning inner conflict into science fiction. He specialized in stories where systems break not from external attack, but from human doubt and desire. His work consistently asks whether society shapes people—or consumes them.

Born in 1928, Dick wrote more than one hundred short stories and dozens of novels. Many of his ideas later inspired major films and television series, but his short fiction remains the clearest expression of his themes. In stories like this one, Dick reveals how fragile certainty can be when confronted with the promise of escape.

LISTEN TO THE STORY

Listen to Piper in the Woods by Philip K. Dick — a vintage science fiction mystery about soldiers who believe they’ve become plants and the strange force behind it.

ABOUT THE LOST SCI-FI PODCAST

The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast is the most listened-to vintage science fiction podcast in the world. Ranked #1 in 33 countries and heard in more than 190 countries, the show has surpassed 3.2 million listens, introducing classic science fiction to a global audience of devoted fans.

Each episode features carefully selected stories from the Golden Age of science fiction, professionally narrated. Timeless storytelling the way it was meant to be heard.

What listeners are saying:

★★★★★ “Five Thousand Stars. This is the BEST podcast I’ve ever heard.”
— TronnyDump

★★★★★ “Great choices and narration. This podcast has excellent stories told well.”
— Archoneponymous

Vintage science fiction. Professionally narrated. Carefully curated.