For Rick Deckard an escaped humanoid robot, which had killed its master, which had been equipped with an intelligence greater than that of many human beings, which had no regard for animals, which possessed no ability to feel empathetic joy for another life form’s success or grief at its defeat — that, for him, epitomized The Killers.
(from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, page 32)
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, published in 1968, is a post-apocalyptic, science fiction novel on which the movie Blade Runner (which I haven’t seen) was based. Set in 2021, Philip K. Dick imagines a world in which war has decimated the human and animal populations, most people have emigrated to Mars to escape the toxic dust, and owning an animal of any kind is a status symbol. Animals have become so rare, so coveted, and so expensive that many people purchase more affordable electric versions that are so similar their neighbors can’t tell the difference.
The novel covers a day in the life of Rick Deckard, a bounty hunter with the San Francisco police who makes most of his money “retiring” androids that have escaped their lives of servitude on Mars to live among the few remaining humans on Earth. Deckard has been given the impossible task of retiring six androids in a single day, and he hopes to put the money he earns toward the purchase of a real animal to live alongside his electric sheep. The biggest difference between a human and an android (which looks like, acts like, and thinks like a human) is empathy. Deckard uses a test that gauges the level of empathy exhibited by the subject based on a series of questions, and he kills those that fail to pass it. He has no problem killing androids…until he finds himself attracted to one.
While Deckard is out hunting androids, John Isidore lives a lonely existence in an empty apartment building. He is a “chickenhead” barred from emigrating due to the effects of the toxic dust on his intelligence. His life consists of his job as a driver for an electric-animal repair shop, a television tuned to a single channel, and an empathy box that lets the user be one with the Christ-like Mercer being pelted with rocks on his grueling uphill climb and share the thoughts and feelings of other Mercerites. When a trio of androids takes up residence in the building, Isidore finally feels accepted.
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? was my book club’s June selection (read Serena’s review for a recap of our meeting) and a book I never would have read otherwise. It’s difficult to describe since there is so much going on. It’s a novel about a civilization in decay, but it doesn’t explain much about the war that occurred years before. The world is technologically advanced, given the human-like androids, the ability to travel to Mars, and the use of hovercars, but I wanted more details about the empathy boxes and especially the “mood organ” that lets users dial up whatever mood they want to be in that day. The parts about the religion of Mercerism are confusing and somewhat out of place, yet the story line about the bounty hunters and the androids overshadows everything else and is actually the most interesting.
I was surprised by how much I liked this book. It was very readable, and despite wanting more details and world-building, I found it hard to put down. There is one scene in a police station that had me on the edge of my seat; I was suddenly unsure of everything I thought I knew, and I like being kept on my toes like that. It made a great book club selection, as it is very thought-provoking. What does it mean to be human? Does it really boil down to empathy? When do humans cross the line into inhumanity? Despite living in a far different world than Deckard and Isidore, Dick makes it possible to understand them to a certain extent. Surely we can understand the characters’ love of animals and the desire to care for them; we see today how many people view their pets as part of the family.
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? reminds me why I need to read outside my comfort zone every once in awhile. I was fascinated by the various story lines, even when they confused me. I felt Deckard’s exhaustion when I thought about how the whole book takes place in one day. I was second-guessing every character (are they human or android?) and was more invested in the characters than I imagined I would be. I didn’t care for the ending so much because it felt a bit rushed and almost like Dick didn’t know where to go with the story (and with so many plot lines, I wouldn’t be surprised if he confused himself), but I appreciated how much the book made me think about humanity and how I would act in these characters’ shoes.
Disclosure: I borrowed Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? from the public library.
© 2013 Anna Horner of Diary of an Eccentric. All Rights Reserved. Please do not reproduce or republish content without permission.
It’s good to read out of your comfort zone 😉
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Yes! And our August book club book is a fantasy novel with dragons, and that’s not something I’d normally read either.
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I loved Blade Runner. But I’ve never read the Philip K Dick novel. I’ve been meaning to for years but I’ve never gotten around to it. it interesting what you say about the ending because I thought the same about the movie. Great review!
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Thanks, Ryan! I don’t feel any pressing need to watch the movie, but I probably will at some point.
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This was a great discussion book. I liked it, but there were too many loose ends and not enough to keep me as invested in this book. I liked the movie better with this one, which is a rare thing for me.
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I agree there were some loose ends, but they actually didn’t bother me in this book.
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I have heard of this book but this is the first review I’m reading of it. I like dystopian novels. They show how the world could be if certain things are not checked. They may not necessarily be realised just as Orwell’s 1984 has not been realised though we are almost three decades beyond it. But they give indications. For instance, today there are several surveillance programmes and phone tapping (except that today it is secret but in 1984 it wasn’t).
Also Curiosity is today exploring Mars already. So some of these might come to pass, if not entirely.
Thanks for sharing.
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Yes, I agree that some things in science fiction could become reality one day. I haven’t read 1984…so sad!
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The fact that both you and Serena enjoyed this book makes me consider looking for it. I bet my guys would enjoy it!
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I honestly was surprised I enjoyed it. I started the book expecting not to like it at all, even though I know I should keep an open mind. Thankfully, it turned out to be a great reading experience and a great book club discussion.
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This is on my eventual to-read list, but I didn’t realize Blade Runner was based on it.
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I knew because it was mentioned at the book club meeting when we chose the book, but I was glad I hadn’t watched the movie because I had no expectations, other than expecting not to like it because it’s sci-fi and not something I’d normally read.
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I’m glad you found this one readable. I’ve kind of held off of it even though I’m intrigued because I was afraid it might be a slog or just over my head.
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There are times when it’s confusing or vague, but I just kept going. I didn’t find it too over my head or intimidating, so you shouldn’t either. 😉
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I had watched the film Blade Runner long before I gave the book a go. I have to admit they are very different entities. The main thing that stays the same is the idea of what it is that makes us human. I actually love both the film and the book though.
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I have heard they are very different. I’m not much of a movie person, so I don’t feel a need to watch it and look for the differences, but I might watch it at some point.
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I have never heard of this book, but I think I would like it. I like reading out of my comfort zone once in a while too.
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I hope you give it a try. I need to remind myself more often to try other genres.
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Great review, Anna! This is one of those books I would like to read one day and you review definitely makes it sound much more interesting. You are right, it is good to get out of our reading comfort zones. Whenever i do I usually end up being pleasantly surprised!
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Thanks, Iliana! My book club has definitely broadened my reading horizons.
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Glad you liked it. P.K. Dick wrote some very interesting stuff. The movie was good too, but a little different from the book. I thought Deckard was human and then in the end I wasn’t sure what to think.
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There are parts that really make you second-guess what you believe. And I agree the book was very interesting. I’d give another of his books a try for sure.
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You might actually like the movie as it focusses exactly on those aspects that you liked – the bounty hunter part – and the androids are likable in a weird way.
I agree it’s a very thought provoking book, like most Sci-Fi. I dont read a lot of science fiction but every time I do and post a review, there is a very lively conversation. It’s seems that people who read sci-fi, really love a good discussion.
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Sci-fi books definitely give you a lot of food for thought. Glad to hear that what I liked about this book is part of the movie.
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[…] get all of it. So if you’d like to know more about those aspects here is the reviw. And here another review from […]
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This is definitely outside of your regular reading – mine, too! It is good for us to step outside of our zone sometimes, even if only to be reminded why we love our zone so much!
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That’s very true! I might read different things once in awhile, but I’ll always come back to the genres that I love.
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This is on my list of “Books To Read Before I Die” – I’m glad to see you enjoyed it!
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I hope you get to it soon!
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[…] (Wedding Night)59. Susanne~LivingToTell (Woman’s Study Bible NIV)60. Becky (unChristian)61. Anna @ Diary of an Eccentric (Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?)62. Anna @ Diary of an Eccentric (City of Hope)63. 5 books on my future reading […]
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Even though this isn’t something I would read, I’m glad that you enjoyed it and found that stepping outside your comfort zone wasn’t so bad!
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Yeah, that really helps since my book club has such eclectic tastes!
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