Philip K. Dick

“The Eyes Have It” is a science fiction short story by Philip K. Dick, published in June 1953 in Science Fiction Stories. The narrative follows a man who finds an abandoned book on public transportation. Reading it at home, he believes he has uncovered evidence of a conspiracy in which a race of alien beings, hiding among humans, is stealthily invading Earth. As his paranoia grows, the protagonist grapples with the uncertainty of whether to share what he has discovered or keep it secret.

“The Pre-Persons” is a controversial short story by Philip K. Dick, published in October 1974 in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. Set in a dystopian future where abortion is legal up to the age of twelve, a boy flees when he sees the truck that collects unwanted children to take them to a state institution, where an algebra test determines whether or not they have a “soul.” Although his mother tries to calm him with legal arguments, the fear persists. In this tale, Dick presents a disturbing premise where the right to life and human dignity are subjected to bureaucratic and arbitrary criteria.

The Impossible Planet is a science fiction story by Philip K. Dick, published in October 1953 in the magazine Imagination. The story follows Captain Andrews and his crew, who receive an unusual request from a 350-year-old woman: to travel to Earth, the mythical planet believed to be the cradle of humanity. Although science has ruled out that the Earth ever existed, the older woman is willing to pay a large sum to fulfill her dream, which awakens Andrews’ greed.

In “We Can Remember It For You Wholesale,” Philip K. Dick explores the limits of reality and identity through the story of Douglas Quail, an ordinary man who longs for an extraordinary life. Tired of his monotonous existence, Quail buys implanted memories of a trip to Mars. However, when the memories emerge, Quail discovers that his life may not be as ordinary as he thought. This story, which inspired the movie Total Recall, raises profound questions about memory, perception, and the nature of reality.