OK maybe i was cheating rolling in a wee short story volume rather than a full novel, but i was just one away from my 2013 challenge and wasn't in the mood for something longer.Lovely little bit of old school sci-fi here, one the battle front between the yanks and the soviets the battle is almost over, thanks to the use of 'claws' - little robots invented by the yanks that hunt down and kill soviets. But the soviets send a runner across with a message, they want to talk, maybe theu have had enough, there can't be many of them left, they ask the yanks to send someone across, is it a trap? Only one way to find out...The end was a little predictable, but i was willing to be proved wrong with some smart twist, but not, it was exactly as i thought by about the halfway point, still enjoyable getting there though. Classic paranoid and creepy sci-fi, that is more of a social commentary about us and our technology.It is a slow moving mystery that is hypnotizing. You don't read this (or really any Philip K. Dick work) for the tech or fight scenes. You read it for discovery of the story and yourself.This short story gives brings out a creepy paranoid feel in who do you trust? Your enemy, your ally, or anyone? Movies like Carpenter's The Thing or Invasion of the Body Snatchers come to mind obviously. But what those did with images and sound, Dick doesn't with words and imagination. He gives just enough hints that leads the reader down the path but you doubt yourself at almost every step.The end of course is where the big revile and it is fun ride there.I've seen the 1985 film, but it was forgettable for the most part. There you remember the "screamers" here you remember the story. I feel this kind of story far is more suspenseful and delivers a clearer message with its ending.
What do You think about Second Variety (2000)?
Thoroughly enjoyed. The perfect link of short science-fiction and one of Dick's better tellings.
—Anna
Great read, I rated it with 4 stars because it was a bit too long and became predictable.
—Rosita
Really enjoyed this short story....bit Terminator like.
—salim
