The zap gun - Philip K Dick

Mind-controlling governments which use ersatz media reality to fool the populace is the theme of this hilarious and wildly brilliant novel, written in the mid-sixties when Dick was at his most insanely productive.

ALIEN SATELLITES CIRCLE THE EARTH - AND MAN'S ONLY HOPE IS A MAD CARTOONIST!

THE ZAP GUN - a Philip K. Dick science fiction extravaganza extraordinaire, featuring: Mr. Lars Powderdry - the West's foremost weapons fashion designer, hallucinogenitor and misfit; Miss Lilo Topchev - the East's greatest day-tripper and weapons conjurer.

The terrifying arms race roared on. Daily, East and West produced more dreadful weaponry. And, daily, yesterday's weapons were turned into toys, souvenirs, egg beaters, furniture. and never, never used as weapons. Which was just as well, since they wouldn't have worked.

It may have looked crazy, but it kept the 21st Century world peaceful and its population securely under the domination of the monstrous, ubiquitous security agencies.

But then the Sirius Slavers arrived from outer space. Whole cities began to disappear. The world was defenceless - and the race for an Ultimate Weapon was on, for real this time.