"The Trouble With Bubbles" is a 1953
science fiction
Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel unive ...
short story by American writer
Philip K. Dick
Philip Kindred Dick (December 16, 1928March 2, 1982), often referred to by his initials PKD, was an American science fiction writer. He wrote 44 novels and about 121 short stories, most of which appeared in science fiction magazines during his l ...
. The story first appeared in ''
If'' magazine, September 1953, and was first printed in book form in ''Second Variety'', volume two of the five-volume ''
The Collected Stories of Philip K. Dick
''The Collected Stories of Philip K. Dick'' is a collection of 118 science fiction stories by American writer Philip K. Dick. It was first published by Underwood-Miller in 1987 as a five volume set. See Philip K. Dick bibliography for informatio ...
'', in 1987.
Plot summary
The story is set in a future where mankind has attempted to reach other intelligent lifeforms through space exploration, and found nothing. In light of this yearning to connect with other lifeforms, people can buy a plastic bubble known as a ''Worldcraft'', the tagline of which reads "Own Your Own World!". The owner of the ''Worldcraft'' is able to create a whole universe, controlling all the variables inherent to its development. Within the universe, lifeforms just like humans exist.
In the story we see Nathan Hull, the protagonist, attending a contest to judge who has created the best ''Worldcraft'' universe. A contestant subsequently smashes and destroys her bubble after being announced the winner. Hull, feeling the immorality of the control owners have over the lives within the bubbles, works to have laws passed against creating any more ''Worldcrafts''. At the end of the story, Hull is about to drive through a newly built tunnel to Asia when an earthquake breaks it up, implying his world is a ''Worldcraft'' as well.
See also
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Simulated reality
The simulation theory is the hypothesis that reality could be simulated—for example by quantum computer simulation—to a degree indistinguishable from "true" reality. It could contain conscious minds that may or may not know that they live i ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Trouble With Bubbles, The
Short stories by Philip K. Dick
1953 short stories
Works originally published in If (magazine)
Fiction about virtual reality
Works about automation