A Maze of Death

A Maze of Death

Cover of first edition (hardcover)
Author	Philip K. Dick
Country	United States
Language	English
Genre	Science fiction novel
Publisher	Doubleday
Publication date	1970
Media type	Print (Hardcover & Paperback)
Pages	216 pp

A Maze of Death is a 1970 science fiction novel by Philip K. Dick. Like many of Dick's novels, it portrays what appears to be a drab and harsh off-world human colony and explores the difference between reality and perception. It is, however, one of his few to examine the human death instinct and capacity for murder and is one of his darkest novels.

The plot revolves around fourteen colonists of the planet Delmak-O. They are: Betty Jo Berm, a linguist; elderly Bert Kostler, settlement custodian; Maggie Walsh, a theologian; Ignatz Thugg, who oversees thermoplastics; Milton Babble, a physician; Wade Frazer, a psychologist; Tony Dunkelwelt, a geologist; Glen Belsnor, who specialises in telecommunications; Susie Smart, a typist; Roberta Rockingham, a sociologist; Ben Tallchief, a naturalist; Seth and Mary Morley, a marine biologist couple; and Ned Russell, an economist.

The colonists travel in one-way rockets consecutively to Delmak-O to take part in an unknown colonization project. After all landed, their assignment should be communicated via satellite. However, the communication system fails, leaving the colonists without contact to the outside word. Thus, the colonists try to identify their task and explore Delmak-O.

Delmak-O seems to be inhabited by both real and artificial beings and enormous cube-shaped, gelatinous objects ("tenches") that duplicate items presented to them and give out advice, in anagrams reminiscent of the I Ching. In addition, various members of the group report sightings of a large "Building." As various calamities continue to befall each character, part of the group ventures out to find the mysterious structure. Each member of the group perceives the Building's entrance motto, and thus its purpose, differently.