Hi everyone! I hope you’re all well. Today is Friday, and it’s time for another review. This week, I am reviewing Philip K. Dick’s short story The Hanging Stranger.
The Hanging Stranger was initially published in Science Fiction Adventures Magazine in December 1953 and is 32 pages long.
The Plot
The story follows Ed Loyce, an unassuming shop owner who suddenly witnesses a horrific sight: a stranger hanging from a lamppost in broad daylight. Even more worrisome is that no one else in town appears to notice—or care. As Ed investigates why this grotesque scene goes unremarked, he realizes the familiar world around him is eerily off-kilter.
Characters
Ed Loyce
Ed is not your typical sci-fi hero; in fact, he’s remarkably ordinary. That ordinariness is what makes him such a compelling protagonist. His horror at seeing the hanged man reflects a natural, instinctive reaction that any of us might have in his place. He’s not equipped to deal with mind control or alien invasions, but he acts out of raw human decency in the face of apathy.
Ed’s Wife and Family
Though briefly mentioned, Ed’s wife and children serve as a grounding force for him. They represent what he feels he’s protecting by uncovering the truth, even as his world crumbles around him.
The Townspeople
Perhaps the real villains of the story aren’t the aliens but the seemingly ordinary townsfolk who act like nothing is wrong. They mill about the hanging corpse, chatting, shopping, sipping coffee, and carrying on as though everything is fine. It’s like an eerie social experiment where you’re the only one who sees the grotesque abnormality staring you in the face, which ends up being the point.
Writing Style
What I admire most about Dick’s style in this piece is how it balances accessibility with depth. You don’t need to be a hardcore sci-fi reader to get what he’s going for, and there’s enough nuance that you could easily reread this story several times and pick up on new details each time. For example, on a surface level, it’s a thriller about an alien takeover. But dig deeper, and you’ll find allegories about conformity and propaganda.
The story moves along briskly, but there’s enough detail to keep you gripped and invested. You feel Loyce’s confusion, fear, and frustration in each scene, and Dick doesn’t have to spell things out; he lets the tension seep in naturally through the dialogue and descriptions.
One thing this story delivers in spades is atmosphere; even before you fully understand what’s going on, you feel the oppressive dread creeping in. It’s in how people “politely” ignore the extraordinary, the hollow small talk Ed’s neighbours make, and the subtle but growing sense that Ed is utterly alone.
Philip K. Dick’s short fiction is always layered with thought-provoking ideas, but this story, in particular, feels hauntingly relevant. It’s less about literal aliens and more about the ones we face daily—conformity, apathy, and the fear of making waves.
Final Thoughts
It’s almost hard to believe a story written 70 years ago can feel this chilling and relevant today. But that’s the magic of Philip K. Dick. With The Hanging Stranger, he reminds us of the dangers of complacency, the fragility of individuality, and the vulnerabilities of the human mind—wrapped, of course, in a sci-fi bow.
What really stuck with me reading it was the broader questions it raises; if you saw something horrific that no one else acknowledged, how would you respond? Would you fight it like Loyce does, or would you follow the crowd and pretend everything was all right? It’s a story that feels unsettlingly timely, given the state of the world we’re living in these days.
If you’re new to Dick’s work and wondering where to start, this is an excellent introduction. And if you’re already a fan of his more famous works, like The Man in the High Castle, this is a perfect chance to explore one of his lesser-known gems.
I’m giving The Hanging Stranger a 7/10.
Have you read The Hanging Stranger? I’m curious to know what you think.
Thank you, as ever, for stopping by to read my review.
Until next time,
George
© 2025 GLT
Categories: Book Reviews, Reading
GEORGE L THOMAS 
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