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Title: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? |
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Review of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
- "The most consistently brilliant science fiction writer in the world."
--John Brunner
THE INSPIRATION FOR BLADERUNNER. . .
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? was published in 1968. Grim and foreboding, even today it is a masterpiece ahead of its time.
By 2021, the World War had killed millions, driving entire species into extinction and sending mankind off-planet. Those who remained coveted any living creature, and for people who couldn't afford one, companies built incredibly realistic simulacrae: horses, birds, cats, sheep. . .
They even built humans.
Emigrees to Mars received androids so sophisticated it was impossible to tell them from true men or women. Fearful of the havoc these artificial humans could wreak, the government banned them from Earth. But when androids didn't want to be identified, they just blended in.
Rick Deckard was an officially sanctioned bounty hunter whose job was to find rogue androids, and to retire them. But cornered, androids tended to fight back, with deadly results.
"[Dick] sees all the sparkling and terrifying possibilities. . . that other authors shy away from."
--Paul Williams
Rolling Stone
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Comments for Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
- Posted on 2008-06-21
Competing Future Religions, Animal Life Extinction, Android Pets & More
Androids is my favorite sci-fi book of all time & is the inspiration for one of the best movies of all time, Blade Runner. The movie & book are very different. Androids deals with future competing religions, the extinction of all animal life & humanities' use of android pets, mood enhancing technologies & other aspects that Blade Runner does not even touch. However the "bad guy" Roy's character (played by Rutger Hower) is much more nuanced in the film; we genuinely empathize with this complex character, even while he is committing unspeakable acts. Finally, the cinematography & music of Bladerunner are unmatched.
Score: 5
- Posted on 2008-06-19
Enjoyable if abstract vision of the future
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? follows a bounty hunter working for the San Francisco police in the year 2021. This particular bounty hunter doesn't track down humans, but rather androids. If this sounds familiar at all, it might be because the book was adapted into the movie Blade Runner (Four-Disc Collector's Edition) starring Harrison Ford. For those who have seen the film version, do not expect much consistency between the book and movie. It's probably more accurate to say that Bladerunner was inspired by this book, rather than adapted from it.
Our bounty hunter, Rick Deckard, is assigned to track down a half dozen androids of a new and more intelligent type than any previously created. Along the way, his experiences cause him to question a good deal about himself including his profession.
After reading this book, I can see why Dick is sometimes compared to Kafka as a writer. There is an odd, surreal quality to the world he creates and a recitation of the entire plot would sound fairly absurd in parts. Yet, I found it a compelling read even if I didn't have a perfect literal understanding of every scene. I would compare this to an abstract painting that evokes an emotion from you even if you're not quite certain why. I found the book to be thought provoking and enjoyable but if you're looking for a straightforward action tale in a sci fi setting you are unlikely to happy with this tale.
Score: 4
- Posted on 2008-05-30
Quality Read
Having watched Blade Runner before reading this, I feel that my perspective throughout the book was a bit tainted, but I enjoyed it. It's a solid read if you enjoy science fiction, if I do say so myself.
Score: 4 - Posted on 2008-05-08
Hit me with a rock - this is NOT Blade Runner!
If you think you know what this book is about because you've seen the movie Blade Runner, you are mistaken. Only the character names and some of the settings / situations were lifted from this book for the movie. As in most books, there is a lot more going on here. Because the movie is so highly engrained in our (real?) memories, it is difficult to talk about one without contrasting it to the other, sadly. That said, this is a classic that any SF fan (philosophy major, medical student, or engineer) should read.
Blade Runner completely missed the invented religion / technology of Mercerism and the mood organ device. Later authors like William Gibson have PKD to thank for pioneering concepts such as these. How can a religion and technology be one?
In the book, Mercerism combined with nuclear fallout explain why animals are so expensive (and coveted) in the future. Why does an electric sheep exist (pride, vanity, religious devotion)? The mood organ usage contains references to the cold war (and presumed imminent nuclear war) - husband and wife "dialing up" the desire to win an argument at all costs.
The double yellow center line between human and androids is blurred often- taking the reader across into oncoming traffic. Did Deckard pass the VK test? Rachel and Pris are the same model android? What does it mean to have feelings? Why would an android seek revenge?
This was my first Kindle novel purchase. I no longer have a desire to dial 888 on my mood organ (desire to watch TV regardless of what is on). I'm going to dial up more PKD, Gibson, and others instead!
BTW, to get the "Hit me with a rock" reference, you have to read the book...
Score: 5 - Posted on 2008-04-10
good
Philip K Dick did very well on this book. I was a little dissapointed though in the fact that the retirement of the Nexus 6 was straight to the point and quick unlike the movie Blade Runner where there was more suspense. But with the exception of that it is a quick read and brilliant.
Score: 4