The Gun by Philip K. Dick

Boom.

I wasn't planning for a Philip K. Dick double feature today, but sometimes that's just how it works out. The Gun is classic pulp sci-fi through and through. It grabs hold of a well-worn genre trope and still manages to keep it fresh and fun: an expedition crew touching down on a post-nuclear wasteland.

Before they can properly land, the crew’s ship is blasted out of the sky by a surprise anti-aircraft gun. So much for a friendly welcoming party. Stranded and shipwrecked, a team heads off to explore the ruins, hoping to find a way to take down this mysterious weapon before they all become permanent residents.

The story moves at a good clip, delivers some cool mystery vibes, wrapping up with a twist ending that I won’t spoil here because it’s part of the fun. Is this mind-blowing, philosophical, reality-bending PKD? Not quite. This one’s more popcorn entertainment than paradigm shift. But if you’re in the mood for a quick and entertaining sci-fi romp, The Gun is right on target. 

Bullseye.