Friday, May 29, 2026

Strange New Words - May 2026 - Remember, remember...

Hello sci-fi fans! | "We Can Remember It for You Wholesale" by Philip K Dick | Questions to think on while reading about Mars
Created for znamenski.spacecom@blogger.com | Web Version
 
May 29, 2026
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Hello sci-fi fans!
After a brief hiatus, we're back, and this month Strange New Words dived into the wild world of "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale" by Philip K. Dick. You might know it better as the story that inspired the 1990 Arnie action hit "Total Recall."
 
You can now see our full video discussion of the story here: Strange New Words: Space's sci-fi reader's club | May 2026 | Space

If you’re just joining our sci-fi readers club, you can still read "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale" below and see the discussion questions we have pondered.

In our newsletter, you'll also find: 
🌌 A short video roundtable with Ian, Brett, and Ant, where we compare the story to the classic movie, question whether we'd want to implant fake memories, and discuss that ending. 
🗳️  A poll to help choose next month’s story (be sure to get your vote in before June 1)
📚 A few bonus sci-fi book recommendations
🧠 Plus: quizzes and our latest sci-fi coverage

Be sure to let us know your thoughts on this story on our website and social media channels: @spacedotcom! 
 
As a reminder, ‘Strange New Words’ usually lands in your inbox on the first and last Wednesdays of each month (we've been a bit out of sorts this month; normal service will resume). Add spacestrangenewwords@smartbrief.com to your contacts so our transmission doesn’t get zapped by your laser guns (aka spam folder).
 
Thanks for joining us, and we'll see you out there!

— Ian Stokes (Entertainment Editor)

P.s. I mispoke in the video discussion; it's "The Star" by Arthur C Clarke in this month's vote, "Poetry Cloud" by Cixin Liu will be part of July's vote.
 
 
 
 
This Month's Short Story
 
"We Can Remember It for You Wholesale" by Philip K Dick
"We Can Remember It for You Wholesale" by Philip K Dick
A thrilling tale about the power of memories — both real and fake.

First published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction in April 1966, it's a fascinating dive into the concept of memory alteration. How can you discern truth from fiction when you can't trust your own memories?

Your memories and experiences are what make you, you. They're the cornerstone of your identity, so what happens when you can't trust them?
 
 
 
 
Discussion Questions
 
Questions to think on while reading about Mars
Reading is only half the fun — we're here to talk about the stories too, and we did just that in this month's video discussion. You can find the questions we pondered below, and the video itself on our Strange New Words roundup page.
  1. If you could get a fake memory implanted, would you?
    • If so, what fake memory would you get?
  2. Likewise, if you get a memory removed, would you?
  3. Does the twist ending work?
  4. How did the story compare to the 1990 movie?
See our full video discussion here.
 
 
 
 
Vote For Next Month's Story
 
Here are the story options for June
Be sure to vote before the end of the month!
Vote "The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas" by Ursula K. Le Guin
Vote "I have no mouth and I must scream" by Harlan Ellison
Vote "The Star" by Arthur C. Clarke
 
 
 
 
Other Sci-Fi Reads
 
Andy Weir's 'The Martian' just got a deluxe edition to celebrate the book's 15-year anniversary, and it's a stunner
Space.com
Before 'Project Hail Mary,' Weir wrote the quintessential space saga now being given a stunning makeover 
 
'Voidverse' is a seriously weird space fantasy novel from 'The OA's' Damien Ober (interview)
Space.com
'For the atmosphere and world of 'Voidverse' to work, I needed the characters and the prose to meld with the setting.'
 
 
 
 
Space.com Staff Speak Sci-Fi
 
Strange New Words: Space's sci-fi reader's club (May 2026)
Space.com
Join Space.com's monthly, virtual reading community where we enjoy science fiction one short story at a time.
 
Read More
 
 
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