The Hanging Stranger
The story follows Ed Loyce, a man living in a small town in the near future. One day, he notices a strange figure hanging from a lamppost in the town square. He soon discovers that the figure is a mannequin, and that the townspeople have been living in fear of a mysterious hanging stranger. As Ed investigates the mystery, he discovers that the townspeople are hiding a dark secret. He soon finds himself in a race against time to uncover the truth before the townspeople can cover it up. The Hanging Stranger is a classic example of Philip K. Dick's exploration of themes such as paranoia, identity, and the power of technology. It is a gripping and thought-provoking story that will leave readers questioning the nature of reality.
By Philip K. Dick · First published 1953 · Genre: Science Fiction, Mystery, Horror · 6,797 words
First lines
Ed had always been a practical man, when he saw something was wrong he tried to correct it. Then one day he saw "it" hanging in the town square.
Five o'clock Ed Loyce washed up, tossed on his hat and coat, got his car out and headed across town toward his TV sales store. He was tired. His back and shoulders ached from digging dirt out of the basement and wheeling it into the back yard. But for a forty-year-old man he had done okay. Janet could get a new vase with the money he had saved; and he liked the idea of repairing the foundations himself!
What this Textopian page supports
The Hanging Stranger is listed on Textopian as a novel by Philip K. Dick, dated 1953 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Philip K. Dick
- Date: 1953 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Science Fiction, Mystery, Horror
- Length: 6,797 words
- Structure: 1 section, 206 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Hanging Stranger by Philip K. Dick
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Hanging Stranger?
- How does this novel by Philip K. Dick fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Science Fiction first become important in the reading?
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- A Guest Of Ganymede by C. C. Macapp
Genres
- Science Fiction — The Hanging Stranger is a science fiction short story by Philip K. Dick, which follows the protagonist, Ed Loyce, as he discovers a mysterious figure hanging from a lamppost in his small town. The story explores themes of paranoia, technology, and the unknown, making it a classic example of science fiction.
- Mystery — The Hanging Stranger is a mystery story as Ed Loyce attempts to uncover the identity of the mysterious figure hanging from the lamppost. The story is full of suspense and intrigue as Ed attempts to solve the mystery, making it a classic example of a mystery story.
- Horror — The Hanging Stranger is a horror story as Ed Loyce is confronted with the mysterious figure hanging from the lamppost. The story is full of suspense and dread as Ed attempts to uncover the truth, making it a classic example of a horror story.
Tags
Science Fiction · Short stories · around · away · back · body · bus · car · commissioner · dark · door · ed