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An amazing start:

“It was quite by accident I discovered this incredible invasion of Earth by lifeforms from another planet. As yet, I haven’t done anything about it; I can’t think of anything to do. I wrote to the Government, and they sent back a pamphlet on the repair and maintenance of frame houses.”



This story is 100% classic PKD, but that first para is just outstanding.


As a non-native English speaker it took me a few paragraphs to get the punny core of the story. However, I still don't get this part:

"I wrote to the Government, and they sent back a pamphlet on the repair and maintenance of frame houses"

I have the feeling that there is also pun in this sentence but I can't find it.


As a non-native English speaker I just took that line to be a hilarious version of form letter response. "Your business is important to us" replies have been around forever.

If you want to stretch it a bit there could be a pun involving frame-up but I doubt it.


It sounds like the government might have understood it as a termite invasion.


I think that's exactly what the author of the story meant.


I see, that kind of makes sense!


No, this is just an observation on the competence of government, a common theme of Dick’s.




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