#86 Oh, to be a Blobel!- Philip K. Dick
George was a spy during the war between humans and Blobels,
large amoeba-like single celled creatures occupying Mars, and Titan. To become
this spy, he was converted into Blobel form. Since the war he has not been able
to stop the uncontrolled conversions and remains a Blobel for almost half his
existence.
“…for almost twelve hours a day, he reverted…to his old
war-time Blobel shape. To a formless unicellular-like blob, right in the middle
of his own apartment.”
Because of this, he is unable to live a normal human life.
His homeostatic robot psychoanalyst has a great idea and recommends that George
get together with Vivian. She is a Blobel and spied on humans during the war,
and like Gorge converts to her spy form uncontrollably. Since they are the same
form 7 hours a day and are equally outcasts in their community, the pairing
makes sense.
Both of them “are outcasts in either civilization; both of
[them] are stateless and hence gradually suffering a loss of ego-identity.”
They marry, and have 4 children…one full Blobel, one full
human and two hybrids. The tension on their marriage and their burgeoning
business is immense. The end has a great vintage O.Henry twist to it.
Notable Passage: “Pete, I cant go on. I have a gelatinous blob
for a child.”
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