Roog
Encyclopedia
Philip K. Dick
sold approximately fifteen short stories
himself before becoming a client of the Scott Meredith Literary Agency. "Roog" was his first sale but not his first published
story.
named Boris, who observes his master's carefully stored food in containers outside of their house day after day. Unbeknownst to the dog, these are the human's trash cans for garbage. The dog is later horrified to witness some food being 'stolen' by other humans--trash collectors or garbage men. The dog comes to know these thieves as 'Roogs', and tries to warn his masters of each 'theft' with cries of 'Roog!' 'Roog!'. The humans, unable to comprehend the hound's message think the dog is just being rowdy. Thus they attribute the sound the dog makes to be the sound that all dogs make when they are excited: 'Roog!' 'Roog!' The tale concludes with the animal being somewhat distraught, barking "ROOG!" very loudly at the garbagemen before they make off once more with trash in their garbage truck.
November, 1953 without illustration. During this time Dick worked in a record store. In an essay prefacing a collection of his short stories published in 1978, Dick recalled the story's gestation, as well as discussing its plot, its general themes and his reaction at the time. Dick relates that he contacted Anthony Boucher
, a sci-fi/fantasy publisher, editor and fellow writer whom Dick recalls as a kind friend. Dick wrote, "Without [Boucher's] help I'd still be in the record business. I mean that very seriously." As a young man, Dick was very pleased with the publication, and wondered if he could quit his job at a record store and work full-time as an author
, while the older Dick (27 years on) dismissed that aspiration as delusional.
Soon after "Roog"'s original publication, Boucher attempted to get it published once more, in a sci-fi anthology being compiled by a person Dick refers to as "Ms. J.M." (Judith Merrill Interview with Lupoff http://www.philipkdick.com/media_sfeye87.html). However, she disliked the story, finding it obscure and hard to understand. She also criticized Dick's description of the garbagemen as inaccurate, apparently unable to see that the description is from the protagonist dog's perspective. Despite Dick explaining the story in a letter to J.M. regarding the themes of the work, she rejected the story. Anthony Boucher
, however, proceeded to publish it, and it remains in print today, at one time even appearing in a high school literature
textbook.
Philip K. Dick
Philip Kindred Dick was an American novelist, short story writer and essayist whose published work is almost entirely in the science fiction genre. Dick explored sociological, political and metaphysical themes in novels dominated by monopolistic corporations, authoritarian governments and altered...
sold approximately fifteen short stories
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
himself before becoming a client of the Scott Meredith Literary Agency. "Roog" was his first sale but not his first published
Beyond Lies the Wub
"Beyond Lies the Wub" is a science fiction short story by Philip K. Dick. It was his first published story, originally appearing in Planet Stories in July, 1952.-Plot:...
story.
Story
"Roog" tells the story from the point of view of a dogDog
The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...
named Boris, who observes his master's carefully stored food in containers outside of their house day after day. Unbeknownst to the dog, these are the human's trash cans for garbage. The dog is later horrified to witness some food being 'stolen' by other humans--trash collectors or garbage men. The dog comes to know these thieves as 'Roogs', and tries to warn his masters of each 'theft' with cries of 'Roog!' 'Roog!'. The humans, unable to comprehend the hound's message think the dog is just being rowdy. Thus they attribute the sound the dog makes to be the sound that all dogs make when they are excited: 'Roog!' 'Roog!' The tale concludes with the animal being somewhat distraught, barking "ROOG!" very loudly at the garbagemen before they make off once more with trash in their garbage truck.
Publication
"Roog" was written in November 1951 and appeared in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science FictionThe Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction
The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction is a digest-size American fantasy and science fiction magazine first published in 1949 by Mystery House and then by Fantasy House. Both were subsidiaries of Lawrence Spivak's Mercury Publications, which took over as publisher in 1958. Spilogale, Inc...
November, 1953 without illustration. During this time Dick worked in a record store. In an essay prefacing a collection of his short stories published in 1978, Dick recalled the story's gestation, as well as discussing its plot, its general themes and his reaction at the time. Dick relates that he contacted Anthony Boucher
Anthony Boucher
Anthony Boucher was an American science fiction editor and author of mystery novels and short stories. He was particularly influential as an editor. Between 1942 and 1947 he acted as reviewer of mostly mystery fiction for the San Francisco Chronicle...
, a sci-fi/fantasy publisher, editor and fellow writer whom Dick recalls as a kind friend. Dick wrote, "Without [Boucher's] help I'd still be in the record business. I mean that very seriously." As a young man, Dick was very pleased with the publication, and wondered if he could quit his job at a record store and work full-time as an author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, while the older Dick (27 years on) dismissed that aspiration as delusional.
Soon after "Roog"'s original publication, Boucher attempted to get it published once more, in a sci-fi anthology being compiled by a person Dick refers to as "Ms. J.M." (Judith Merrill Interview with Lupoff http://www.philipkdick.com/media_sfeye87.html). However, she disliked the story, finding it obscure and hard to understand. She also criticized Dick's description of the garbagemen as inaccurate, apparently unable to see that the description is from the protagonist dog's perspective. Despite Dick explaining the story in a letter to J.M. regarding the themes of the work, she rejected the story. Anthony Boucher
Anthony Boucher
Anthony Boucher was an American science fiction editor and author of mystery novels and short stories. He was particularly influential as an editor. Between 1942 and 1947 he acted as reviewer of mostly mystery fiction for the San Francisco Chronicle...
, however, proceeded to publish it, and it remains in print today, at one time even appearing in a high school literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
textbook.
Trivia
- The dog in "Roog," Boris, was based upon a real dog called Snooper, who belonged to a neighbor of Dick. Snooper became very alarmed every time the garbagemen arrived to pick up trash, and this inspired Dick to write the short story.
- Dick regarded "Roog" as "quite a serious story," despite its superficial humor. Dick explained in the introduction to The Collected Stories of Philip K. Dick that "Roog" "tells of fear, it tells of loyalty and of obscure menace."