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FIRST PUBLICATION

•   Galaxy, Dec 1959 {cover. by Emsh}

 HISTORY:

    PKD sent one more short story to the SMLA in 1958, the manuscript for "Diversion" reaching them on Oct 31, 1958. Even though the sub-agent didn’t think much of it, rating it as "better than G but not much," it was eventually accepted by Galaxy and published in the Dec 1959 issue as "War Game".

    There is some doubt about when "War Game" was actually written. In our chronology I've placed it in 1955 {See: 'A Question Of Chronology'}

    After that, it was chosen for THE PRESERVING MACHINE (1969) and two anthologies before finding its final resting place in THE COLLECTED STORIES OF PHILIP K. DICK (1987).

    "War Game" tells the tale of an uneasy economic battle between Earth and the Jupiter moons. Earth suspects the Ganymedeans of trying to infiltrate weapons into Terra in the guise of toys so every Ganymedean import must be tested by the Bureau of Standards. One game in particular causes concern: a war game in which miniature soldiers attack a miniature citadel. But while the Bureau of Standards is concentrating on this what else is slipping by?

    "War Game" rates ó ó ó ó

Other Magazine and Anthology appearances         More Cover Pix here:

1960		GALAXY #77 {UK}
1969		THE PRESERVING MACHINE And Other Stories
1979		THE 13 CRIMES OF SCIENCE FICTION, Doubleday, hb, ?, 455pp, $12.50 (?) {Ed. Asimov, Greenburg, Waugh} 0-385-15220-5
1984		ROBOTS, ANDROIDS AND MECHANICAL ODDITIES, SIUP, hb, ?, 1984, ?,? (?) {Ed. Warrick}
1987		THE COLLECTED STORIES OF PKD, Vol.4
1997		SCI-FI PRIVATE EYE, Roc, pb, ?, Mar 1997, 346pp, $5.99 (?) {Ed. Waugh, Greenberg} 0-451-45592-4

NOTES:

TTHC 263

    Dick's sub-agents at Scott Meredith felt free to comment on Dick's work as they received it. Some of the stories are rated: "G" for "Good," "G plus" for better. Sometimes there are just comments, {...}
"Diversion" (published as "War Game") was "better than G but not much."

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Collector’s Notes

Ken Lopez: "War Game" in Galaxy, Dec 1959 (1^st). NF. . Signed by the author and also by Robert Bloch and Robert Sheckley. Spine creasing; else near fine in wrappers. A very nice copy. $185

Alibris: "War Game" in Galaxy, Dec 1959 (1^st). G-VG. Faint crayon front cover and spine split back cover. $3.95

Ebay (Sep 2002): "War Game" in THE 13 CRIMES OF SCIENCE FICTION {Ed. Asimov, Greenburg, Waugh}, Doubleday, hb, 1979. VG+/VG+. Stated First Edition. This anthology is normally seen in the BCE, but this is the true first and not a book club. This book is in VG+ condition with the only flaw being the former owner's blind stamp on the front end paper. DJ is in VG+ condition with faint wear to the lower edges. 0 bids. No price.

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