Philip Kindred Dick (December 16, 1928–March 2, 1982) was an American novelist, short story writer, essayist and philosopher whose published work is almost entirely accepted as being in the science fiction genre. Dick explored sociological, political and metaphysical themes in novels dominated by monopolistic corporations, authoritarian governments, and altered states. The story is set in the distant future, where humanity is at war with "Yuks", an alien life form which doesn't use mechanical spaceships nor constructions. Instead, it relies on life forms. The war has been going on for a long time, and humanity hasn't been able to come up with a solution against the life-form based ships and mines that the Yuks use. One day, a team of researchers led by Philip Kramer decide to build a spaceship which is powered by a human brain. They find the ideal candidate, Kramer's old professor, a dying man who volunteers to donate his brain to the project.