The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast - Vintage Sci-Fi Short Stories

The Hanging Stranger by Philip K. Dick - A Corpse in the Square, and No One Cared

Feb 24, 2022
Dive into a chilling tale where Ed Loyce discovers a hanging body in a town filled with indifference. As dread grows, he realizes townsfolk are being controlled by insect-like creatures imitating humans. After a desperate escape, Ed warns his family but faces a horrifying attack from a mimic. The shocking truth unfolds— the body was bait, and betrayal lurks at every corner. A sense of paranoia and survival weaves through this haunting narrative, leaving listeners questioning reality and control.
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INSIGHT

Invasion Hidden By Perfect Mimicry

  • Ed realizes alien insects have disguised themselves as humans and infiltrated city hall.
  • Their mimicry and mind-control explain the town's indifferent behavior toward the corpse.
INSIGHT

Being Missed Reveals A Weakness

  • Ed recognizes he escaped control because he was in his cellar during the takeover.
  • The invaders' control has spatial limits, offering a rare vulnerability he can exploit.
ANECDOTE

Home Invasion By A Child's Disguise

  • Ed returns home to gather his family and encounters a baby insect disguised as his son Jimmy.
  • He kills the creature and then flees on foot to escape the town's controlled population.
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