The Skull

The Skull is a science fiction short story by Philip K. Dick, first published in the September 1952 issue of If: Worlds of Science Fiction.

The story follows Conger, a prisoner offered his freedom in exchange for a dangerous mission. He must travel two centuries into the past and assassinate a mysterious religious leader whose teachings will eventually transform society and threaten the technological world of the future.

Armed with the man's skull so that he can identify his target, Conger travels back in time and begins his search. But as he gets closer to completing his mission, he makes a disturbing discovery about the identity of the man he has been sent to kill. The story develops into a clever exploration of time travel, fate, and the paradox of trying to change history.

"What is this opportunity?" Conger asked. "Go on. I'm interested."

The room was silent; all faces were fixed on Conger—still in the drab prison uniform. The Speaker leaned forward slowly.

"Before you went to prison your trading business was paying well—all illegal—all very profitable. Now you have nothing, except the prospect of another six years in a cell."

The Skull is in the public domain in the United States. It was published in 1952, and extensive research has found no evidence that its U.S. copyright was renewed.