The Electric Ant, Philip K. Dick: Summary & Analysis

‘The Electric Ant’ is a compelling short story crafted by the renowned American author Philip K. Dick (1928-1982). Written in 1968, it was subsequently published in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction in October of the following year. The narrative revolves around an ‘electric ant’ or robot that has always perceived itself as human. Upon uncovering its true nature, the protagonist embarks on a journey to manipulate the reality surrounding it. Plot Summary of The Electric Ant, Philip K. Dick To better understand the story, here is a concise summary of the plot of ‘The Electric Ant’: Garson Poole is introduced as the owner of Tri-Plan Electronics. After suffering an injury from a squib explosion, Poole is devastated to discover that he is not a human being but rather an electric ant—essentially a robot—whose organic exterior conceals electric currents and complex circuitry. Medical professionals inform him that they cannot provide treatment for his injuries and advise him to seek a r…

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