The Defenders Audiobook, by Philip K. Dick Play Audiobook Sample

The Defenders Audiobook

The Defenders Audiobook, by Philip K. Dick Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: Chris Lutkin Publisher: Dreamscape Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 0.67 hours at 1.5x Speed 0.50 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: October 2017 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN: 9781520089928

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

1

Longest Chapter Length:

59:48 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

59:48 minutes

Average Chapter Length:

59:48 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

74

Other Audiobooks Written by Philip K. Dick: > View All...

Publisher Description

In "The Defenders", the Soviet and American survivors of a nuclear holocaust have created vast underground tunnels, so as to continue the war on the surface via remote control robots. When a robot from the surface is found not to be radioactive, a team of American scientists returns topside to investigate this anomaly. Expecting to see massive devastation, the scientists are unprepared for the shocking truth that awaits them.

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"very predictable in places, but overall a story i quite liked, especially considering the socio-historical and political circumstances under which this has been written. Despite the cheesy ending (PATHOS!!) I'm rating this 4* because of the thought process it's stirred in me."

— Anna (4 out of 5 stars)

The Defenders Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 3.52 out of 53.52 out of 53.52 out of 53.52 out of 53.52 out of 5 (3.52)
5 Stars: 2
4 Stars: 10
3 Stars: 12
2 Stars: 1
1 Stars: 0
Narration: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Good tale by one of the masters. "

    — Jeff, 2/18/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Roughly written, but it works as a short story. "

    — Angie, 1/29/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " Yeah but no. "Classic" science fiction story about world destruction via nuclear arms, Russia, robots, and moral lessons. Nothing intriguing now, and I can't imagine that the story was anything groundbreaking at its time of publication either. When people say PK Dick is hit or miss, they're using stories like this in the 'miss' category. "

    — Kevin, 1/24/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " All right, a positive book about robots! Sure, they're against us, but it's for our collective good, really. A truly thought-provoking short story. "

    — dejah_thoris, 1/10/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " 59/100 An average book, with average characters, with an average story. The book is about man living underground during a nuclear war. Robots, called "Leadys" go out on to the radioactive surface and wage war with the soviets. When a couple of leadys come back underground with no radiation particles on them, man begins to suspect something sinister is going on. I won't ruin the ending, but personally, I'd just give this story a miss. "

    — Hayesy, 12/31/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I like reading "classic" science-fiction, whatever people mean by classic. Some of it ages very well, and some doesn't. Unfortunately, most of the stories in this collection (The defenders and other stories) did not age well. Some of the heavy-handed tone gets boring quickly, and there is a bit too much of the "all-knowing" explaining the good and bad. Still, it's always interesting to read these tales now to get a better glimpse of what sci-fi writers and society were concerned about at the time. "

    — Serge, 12/29/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " A clever story about atomic Armageddon. It could very well be turned into a very good movie. "

    — Cristobal, 12/25/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " A fast read with an interesting plot. If you're into alternative futures you'll like this one. I read it as "The Defenders". "

    — Alessandro, 12/3/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " My first short story by Dick. I'm excited, like I just discovered Asimov for the first time. "

    — George, 11/4/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Optimistic, but naive. Not a bad read, although it lacked some of the PKD humor I've come to associate with his work. "

    — Velma, 7/9/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Also very clever. This time, mankind builds robots to continue the war after a nuclear exchange makes the surface uninhabitable. Humanity retreats underground and the robots seal them there while they 'restore' the planet, realising that the war is pointless. "

    — Peter, 5/2/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Written about 10 years before The Penultimate Truth, which covers some similar ground, this one is worlds stronger. It does in 40 pages what that couldn't in 250. "

    — James, 3/27/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Another great fiction by a great author. I had high expectations for this one, but it was rather good. "

    — Rakan, 12/29/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " A little long for the one-shot theme. And the librivox volunteer reader pronounces 'leady' as I would say 'Luddie.' Otherwise, though, she's fine, and if you're looking for fun classic SF, or easy & free audio shorts, be thankful with me for librivox and the readers! "

    — Cheryl, 9/17/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Love knocking out some short sci-fi now and then, he's one of the best "

    — Nicholas, 9/11/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Your good old basic sci-fi about war, east vs west. "

    — Antti, 6/1/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Good enough for short story. "

    — Johan, 2/28/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Good little short story. Predictable ending by the 5th page, like much of PKD's early works, but it is so well written that it does not detract from the reading experience. "

    — Michael, 2/1/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Great morality short story about man's inability to be civil unless trapped into it. "

    — Jim, 5/30/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " A great utopia short story by a master. fun to read. "

    — David, 5/8/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " My first short story by Dick. I'm excited, like I just discovered Asimov for the first time. "

    — George, 4/4/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " My first short story by Dick. I'm excited, like I just discovered Asimov for the first time. "

    — George, 4/4/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Good enough for short story. "

    — Johan, 12/15/2010
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " A fast read with an interesting plot. If you're into alternative futures you'll like this one. I read it as "The Defenders". "

    — Alessandro, 11/27/2009
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " A fast read with an interesting plot. If you're into alternative futures you'll like this one. I read it as "The Defenders". "

    — Alessandro, 11/27/2009

About Philip K. Dick

Philip K. Dick (1928–1982) published thirty-six science fiction novels and 121 short stories in which he explored the essence of what makes man human and the dangers of centralized power. Toward the end of his life, his work turned toward deeply personal, metaphysical questions concerning the nature of God. Eleven novels and short stories have been adapted to film, notably Blade Runner (based on Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?), Total Recall, Minority Report, and A Scanner Darkly. The recipient of critical acclaim and numerous awards throughout his career, Dick was inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame in 2005, and in 2007 the Library of America published a selection of his novels in three volumes. His work has been translated into more than twenty-five languages.

About Chris Lutkin

Chris Lutkin has been in and around the business of acting for more than twenty-five years. A member of Ensemble Studio Theater for twenty years, his proud moments include being directed by Jerry Zaks in a play called Buddy-Pals and working with Horton Foote on his play Lily Dale playing Horace, and putting in more than four hundred off-Broadway performances in a Perfect Crime.