by Philip K. Dick
(New York: Ballantine Books, 1982)
(New York: Ballantine Books, 1982)
Paperback, 216 Pages, Fiction
ISBN: 9780345350473, US$4.95ABCD Rating: BACKLIST
From the Cover: It was January 2021, and Rick Deckard had a license to kill. Somewhere among the hordes of humans out there, lurked several rogue androids. Deckard’s assignment—find them and then … “retire” them. Trouble was, the androids all looked and acted exactly like humans, and they didn’t want to be found.
My Review: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, published in 1968, was a groundbreaking work. The novel innovated the sci-fi genre, bringing readers a vision of a post-apocalyptic world where the artificial and real could hardly be distinguished. Today, in our Internet age, it is remarkable to read a sci-fi book that so well predicted the coming artificiality of the future. Although we have not reached the technological level that we can produce androids, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? interestingly enough raises many of these modern day issues.
The novel takes place in 1992 after World War Terminus, on an Earth devastated by the nuclear annihilation brought on by the war, so much so that millions of species are extinct and mankind were forced to retreat to Mars. Not all the population could afford to leave for Mars, and so some remained on Earth with the radioactive dust. Because of the scarcity of animals, they became highly coveted creatures. Not everyone could afford one, and so companies emerged to build realistic robotic horses, birds, cats, sheep and even humans. With technology accelerating so rapidly, companies were finding ways to produce androids that were even more realistic, so much so that they began they were almost impossible to distinguish from the real population.
The government, in fear of these androids, commissioned bounty hunters to separate them from the population and eliminate them. Rick Deckard, the protagonist of the story, is a bounty hunter tracking the eight rogue androids that escaped from Mars and are hiding on Earth. The rewards are great; if Deckard captures them he possibly can afford to buy a highly coveted real animal. However, as a new android model is introduced, he finds out that “retiring” the androids may not be quite as simple as he expected. Philip K. Dick develops some complicated issues in this book. Although his writing style is incredibly simple, and clean, it is really the concepts introduced that allow his writing to shine.
Right from the beginning, the reader is thrust into the heart of the issue, a continual battle between the artificial and the real. For example, the characters in the first chapter can dial up what moods they want to feel using a Mood Device, anything from despair to peaceful gratification. The book questions whether humans are reaching that state of artificial reality, where our emotions are no longer genuine. Other issues he chooses to bring up are equally intriguing.
The future of his book has a unique religion called Mercerism. The meaning of this religion unfolds as the book’s plot develops. Although he never quite clearly states it, the ideas strongly tie into a modern day view of religion, as society begins to question “what is truth?” and seems to mirror the perspectives of a postmodernist society. The strength of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, lies most dominantly in its ability however to introduce these ideas without compromising the book’s main plot. The tension involved in finding out what happens to Deckard is always evident and finishes in a satisfying climax when Deckard faces off the androids at the end.
Even if the reader is not looking to read this book for the message that Dick has in mind, it is entertaining all by itself. Overall, as a sci-fi pioneer, it is a very satisfying, short novel with incredible insight on the future. I would compare it to George Orwell’s 1984. It is revolutionary in its material and actually gains pertinence as technology evolves. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? is a timeless sci-fi classic that has likely inspired may of the android sci-fi that exists today. Any sci-fi fan should consider adding this novel to their personal collection.
The novel takes place in 1992 after World War Terminus, on an Earth devastated by the nuclear annihilation brought on by the war, so much so that millions of species are extinct and mankind were forced to retreat to Mars. Not all the population could afford to leave for Mars, and so some remained on Earth with the radioactive dust. Because of the scarcity of animals, they became highly coveted creatures. Not everyone could afford one, and so companies emerged to build realistic robotic horses, birds, cats, sheep and even humans. With technology accelerating so rapidly, companies were finding ways to produce androids that were even more realistic, so much so that they began they were almost impossible to distinguish from the real population.
The government, in fear of these androids, commissioned bounty hunters to separate them from the population and eliminate them. Rick Deckard, the protagonist of the story, is a bounty hunter tracking the eight rogue androids that escaped from Mars and are hiding on Earth. The rewards are great; if Deckard captures them he possibly can afford to buy a highly coveted real animal. However, as a new android model is introduced, he finds out that “retiring” the androids may not be quite as simple as he expected. Philip K. Dick develops some complicated issues in this book. Although his writing style is incredibly simple, and clean, it is really the concepts introduced that allow his writing to shine.
Right from the beginning, the reader is thrust into the heart of the issue, a continual battle between the artificial and the real. For example, the characters in the first chapter can dial up what moods they want to feel using a Mood Device, anything from despair to peaceful gratification. The book questions whether humans are reaching that state of artificial reality, where our emotions are no longer genuine. Other issues he chooses to bring up are equally intriguing.
The future of his book has a unique religion called Mercerism. The meaning of this religion unfolds as the book’s plot develops. Although he never quite clearly states it, the ideas strongly tie into a modern day view of religion, as society begins to question “what is truth?” and seems to mirror the perspectives of a postmodernist society. The strength of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, lies most dominantly in its ability however to introduce these ideas without compromising the book’s main plot. The tension involved in finding out what happens to Deckard is always evident and finishes in a satisfying climax when Deckard faces off the androids at the end.
Even if the reader is not looking to read this book for the message that Dick has in mind, it is entertaining all by itself. Overall, as a sci-fi pioneer, it is a very satisfying, short novel with incredible insight on the future. I would compare it to George Orwell’s 1984. It is revolutionary in its material and actually gains pertinence as technology evolves. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? is a timeless sci-fi classic that has likely inspired may of the android sci-fi that exists today. Any sci-fi fan should consider adding this novel to their personal collection.
2 comments:
Very well written review.
One of my all-time favorite books, this, said the grammatically-challenged Muppet!
Beware of the J.W. Jeter sequels, they don't even come close to matching the greatness of Dick's "Androids".
Glad you reviewed this, may have to reread it... again. :)
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