Of the various books that Phillip K. Dick published over the course of his long and illustrious career, 1957's Eye in the Sky is among his lesser-known works. It tells the story of Jack Hamilton, the primary character in the book, and seven other people who are caught in a lab accident, which causes them to travel to a number of different alternate universes. In reality, these "alternate universes" are manifestations of everyones greatest fears and prejudices. In truth, though, Eye in the Sky is a commentary and critique on 50's and 60's McCarthyism.
At release, Eye in the Sky received solid, albeit unspectacular reviews. Writes critic Anthony Bouches of the novel: "[Eye in the Sky is] nicely calculated and adroitly revealed" and ["its] theme [is] handled with greater technical dexterity or given more psychological meaning." Jason Koornick thought similarly, writing that "Eye In The Sky is a perfect example of Dick’s brand of speculative fiction. It questions the stability of people’s belief system and shatters the trust placed in human senses. Philip K. Dick has created a masterpiece in Eye In The Sky. This novel should not be overlooked as one his important works."
