4 of 8
By Philip K. Dick
400 pp.; Citadel Press

This series is based on the prolific science fiction master Philip K. Dick's stories from the 1950s. Much of the fun in watching is seeing how well Dick anticipated the present decades ago. "The Hood Maker," for instance, reveals the lengths people will go to avoid surveillance, while "The Commuter" is a quirky, relevant commentary on the enduring challenges of suburban life. The original stories, however, reveal the lean style of Dick's writing. Though the trappings of old-school hard science fiction appear—vibro-rays and spaceships and intelligent robots—he is an author with a knack for weaving in sly, smart observations. "There's always some group that wants to lead mankind," one character says in "The Hoodmaker." "For its own good, of course." (Date to be announced, Amazon)