In Philip K. Dick's "Strange Eden," the narrator reflects on how the landscape would drastically change if it were nearer to Earth. The idyllic environment, characterized by its natural beauty, would be overwhelmed by the impacts of human activity. It paints a vivid picture of pollution, litter, and the degradation of nature that often accompanies human development.

The quote underscores a deep concern for environmental preservation and highlights the potential consequences of unchecked industrialization. It serves as a critique of how human presence often leads to the destruction of pristine areas, transforming them into overcrowded and polluted sites filled with garbage and unsightly structures. This contrast emphasizes the fragility of such untouched landscapes.