The Gun by Philip K. Dick Episode #77

Philip K. Dick | June 26, 2023

The Gun by Philip K. Dick Episode #77
Philip K. Dick

THE GUN

Episode #77 · Written by Philip K. Dick · Narrated by Scott Miller

A dead planet fires back, and a stranded crew realizes something down there is still watching the skies. What they discover challenges every assumption about war, survival, and what civilizations choose to protect.

A distant planet shows every sign of total destruction. Its surface is fused into gray slag, its atmosphere poisoned by atomic fire, and no life appears possible. But when an exploratory ship enters orbit, it is suddenly attacked with terrifying accuracy. Whatever destroyed this world has not finished fighting.

Forced to land, the crew explores the ruins of a once-advanced civilization. They find shattered cities, silent machinery, and evidence of a war that erased an entire species. As they search for supplies and answers, they uncover a weapon still performing its duty long after its creators vanished. The discovery forces them to confront an unsettling truth about fear, defense, and how civilizations choose to protect what matters most.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Philip K. Dick was born in Chicago in 1928 and became one of the most original voices in science fiction. Over his career, he wrote more than forty novels and well over one hundred short stories. His work frequently explored authoritarianism, artificial intelligence, paranoia, and the moral consequences of technology.

Though many of his novels became famous later, Dick’s short stories laid the foundation for his influence. Stories like The Gun reveal his early fascination with automated systems, impersonal violence, and societies trapped by their own assumptions. His ideas would later inspire films such as Blade Runner, Total Recall, and Minority Report, securing his legacy as one of science fiction’s most enduring and prophetic writers.

LISTEN TO THE STORY

Listen to The Gun by Philip K. Dick — a crisp vintage sci-fi tale of a ruined city, an automated guardian, and the moral cost of salvaging a lost culture.

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:

★★★★★ “Best thing since sliced bread!! My absolute favourite podcast! I love science fiction, this podcast gets me through long days at work, Scott’s narration really brings these stories to life and fires my imagination.”
—Alec in the Scottish Borders

★★★★★ “Si-Fi King. First class stories beautifully performed. Scott, you are the vintage Si-Fi king.”
—mopea

Vintage science fiction. Professionally narrated. Carefully curated.