In this mischievously masterful short of just under 20 pages, which was his best length other than the short novel, Dick explores the implications of suspending human consciousness in a cryonic system designed for star travel.
As the automated starship is heading off on its ten year journey it monitors the state of the 60 cryonically stored humans under its care, and discovers that one is conscious!
What does the ship do?
The ship says, “Shit!”
The ship has an operating system that is essentially a problem solving entity without a great store of knowledge of interest to humans. Once it opens communications with the human, which is “person nine,” that person discovers that he may not be allowed to access the exterior of his sub-zero packing crate, as there is nothing for him to breath, eat, or do. The ship must come up with a plan to keep this man’s mind occupied for ten years so that he will not either go insane or become a vegetable.
The remaining 16 pages of the story is a shining example of the craft of speculative fiction, which, in the hands of Dick, has the ability to make you think, and even prevent you from falling sleep.
Could you tell us where (or in what book) this story is found? I (very) vaguely recall something similar and have read Philip K Dicks books when I was in my 20's but I just might be confusing 2001 A Space Odyssey and The Planet of the Apes (the original with Charlton Heston).
I'd like to read it just to refresh a (Ahem!) failing memory! >};o)
I Hope I Shall Arrive soon is the final selection in Selected Stories of Philip K Dick edited by Jonathan Lethem.
Thanks for the heads-up (is that a pun?)—hadn't heard of it.
That plot would aptly describe the plight of most people under the age of 40 if the internet was switched off. Or, more broadly, the existential dilemma confronting any sentient being.
PKD's imagination was galactic.
In my opinion Dick was our must existential writer, followed by Wolfe.
Great observation.