cover - A reasonably contemporary rural scene, a road crossing with traffic lights, is brought into <BR> sharp relief by the vehicle rapidly approaching the lights. It appears to be a <BR> small space craft. Some might suggest that this epitomises one of Dick's writing <BR> strengths, namely, the juxtaposition of the mundane and the outlandish.

Pete Garden was a bindman. One of the finest Game-players this side of Titan. His skill had already won him halt of California and eighteen wives. 

But was he good enough to beat the fanatical Game-players of Titan? The telepathic Vugs had already won an interplanetary war that left the scattered remnants of humanity sterile owners of a wasteland.

 And in the greatest game of alt the stake was.. Earth.

Star Trek The Next Generation

Philip K Dick