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A Maze of Death by Philip K. Dick tells the story of a group
of 14 colonists who believe they inhabit an off world colony. Through the 216 pages, the reader is thrown
into the lives of this dysfunction group with all its in-fighting including murder
and suicide, chaos and mayhem.
The 14 finally awaken to the realization that they are in
fact from earth and the crew of a spaceship circling a dead star with no hope
of rescue. What they “experienced” is actually a virtual reality program in
order for them to pass the time before their eventual death.
One member decides to kill them all rather than remain in a
simulated hell. He is then removed from the program with the other members
unaware of his departure or existence. The crew then again fall into another
hallucination which plays exactly the same as the previous only without the 14th
crew member.
Remind you of anything?
The story is considered one of Dick’s darkest as it explores
reality, perception and death themes.
Rod Serling’s Twilight Zone also broached this subject in several
episodes including “And When the Sky Was Opened” and “Third from the Sun”.
