India, Jan. 6 -- Philip K Dick's post-apocalyptic world is a result of World War Terminus, a nuclear war that makes Earth inhabitable for most life forms. The radioactive atmosphere is detrimental to human health and causes many animal species to go extinct. Most of humankind, who score well on the IQ test and have not yet lost the ability to procreate (the "regulars"), are incentivised to emigrate to other planet colonies. The incentive is Androids - humanoid robots - designed to serve humans on these colonies. The "specials", humans who cannot procreate and have a low IQ, form a sub-class of humans left on Earth to perish in their own time.
Mercerism is a spiritual/religious belief that has gained force on Earth. Its practices and belief...