The Minority Report: 4/5
We can remember it for you wholesale: 2.5/5
Paycheck: 3/5
Second variety: 4/5
The eyes have it: 4/5 (super short)

This book contains several of Dick's stories that have been adapted to film: The Minority Report, We Can Remeber it for You Wholesale (Total Recall) , Paycheck, Second Variety (Terminator).

The themes and concepts in Philip K Dick continue to be compelling in today's world. His stories about a technological future continues to be relevant because they address human psychology and culture rather than the specifics of technology. I think this is what makes Mr. Dick's novels so good for adaptation to film and television. One can change the specifics of characters' situations to reflect modern realities without changing the fundamental nature of the stories.

Dick tries to explore these worlds through the everyday man (and when I say man, I mean male protagonist). Reading these stories takes you on a trip through the mind of a so-called intellectual progressive man coming of age in the 1950s and 60s. It is interesting (and not surprising) to see the prevalance of sexism, racism and provincialism that populate his stories. His stories about the future, seem to also be a direct commentary on society at the time of the writing. His writings as progressive as they are, are an example of how prevalent the acceptance of these concepts were and still are.

Those who enjoy this book should take a look at the modern adaptation of Dick's short stories "Electric Dreams" on Amazon Video.

I have found that many of PKD's stories have not aged well. But I was curious about this collection since it included a number of stories that were adapted to films. "Minority Report" film was much better than the story. "Pre-Crime" was the same in both but the end of the story was much different in the film. "We Can Remember It for You Wholesale" was interesting but rather different from both the film versions "Total Recall". In the story Douglas Quaid (spoiler alert) was really a spy like in the film but does not go back to Mars. Instead there is another real memory involving stopping an alien invasion buried even deeper that the spy on Mars memories. I can't compare "Paycheck" the story with the film of the same name because I have never seen film. But in the story the owner of company talks about how when his daughter marries there will be someone to take over the company (because a woman could never run a company). Likewise I can't compare the story "Second Variety" with the film version "Screamers" because I have not seen the film. But the story, with its UN vs Russia post apocalyptic storyline is very dated. And the plot twist ending was obvious before it happened. The last story "The Eyes Have It" was shortest and I think has kept its edge. As far as I know it was not made into a film. And I would say it could not be because it is too dependent on misinterpreting idioms like "the eyes have it".

My favorite was probably "Second Variety" but there are a lot of good ones. "Minority Report" and "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale" (the story that Total Recall is based on) are good but I think I actually prefer the movies in both cases. "Paycheck" was good up until the ending and "The Eyes Have It" was just cute in a creepy way.