The Philip K. Dick Reader
His religions, psychoses, divorces, and drug use aside, Philip K. Dick  changed the face of American science fiction with his mind-bending writing.  There may be readers who have only heard of him as the mind behindBlade  Runner(based on his novelDo  Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?). But even casual PKD fans should take  a look at these 24 short stories, among them, "Second Variety," from which the  movieScreamerswas made, and "We Can Remember It for You Wholesale,"  basis of the Schwarzenegger filmTotal Recall. Other standouts include  "The Turning Wheel," "The Last of the Masters," "Tony and the Beetles," and "The  Minority Report." Readers will recognize PKD's trademark themes: capitalism and  the American dream run amok, a disquieting loss of ability to distinguish  friends from enemies, and humans versus machines.Since Philip K. Dick's heyday, and thanks in large part to his influence, the  contemporary science fiction short story has evolved into a form more  self-reflective and psychologically complex. This is a wonderful development, to  be sure. But don't regard the older stories in this collection as dated.  Instead, enjoy the peppery punch: PKD's stories provide plenty of plot twists  and surprise endings.--Bonnie Bouman