"Upon the Dull Earth" is a fantasy short story by American writer Philip K. Dick, first published in November 1954 in Beyond Fantasy Fiction. Both the title and the protagonist's name are taken from Shakespeare's The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Act IV, scene ii: Then to Silvia let us sing, That Silvia is excelling; She excels each mortal thing Upon the dull earth dwelling; To her let us garlands bring Source: Wikipedia (en)