Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

Books | Fiction / Science Fiction / Hard Science Fiction

4.3

(3.3K)

Philip K. Dick

A masterpiece ahead of its time, a prescient rendering of a dark future, and the inspiration for the blockbuster film Blade RunnerOne of The Atlantic’s Great American Novels of the Past 100 Years By 2021, the World War has killed millions, driving entire species into extinction and sending mankind off-planet. Those who remain covet any living creature, and for people who can’t afford one, companies built incredibly realistic simulacra: horses, birds, cats, sheep. They’ve even built humans. Immigrants to Mars receive androids so sophisticated they are indistinguishable from true men or women. Fearful of the havoc these artificial humans can wreak, the government bans them from Earth. Driven into hiding, unauthorized androids live among human beings, undetected. Rick Deckard, an officially sanctioned bounty hunter, is commissioned to find rogue androids and “retire” them. But when cornered, androids fight back—with lethal force. Praise for Philip K. Dick “The most consistently brilliant science fiction writer in the world.”—John Brunner “A kind of pulp-fiction Kafka, a prophet.”—The New York Times“[Philip K. Dick] sees all the sparkling—and terrifying—possibilities . . . that other authors shy away from.”—Rolling Stone

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More Details:

Author

Philip K. Dick

Pages

240

Publisher

Random House Worlds

Published Date

1996-05-28

ISBN

0345404475 9780345404473

Ratings

Google: 4

Community ReviewsSee all

"i love multiple-point-of-view books, this is one of them sometimes it makes you feel bad for the main character, and then you might think they’re a total dumptruck, but then you realize this book was written by a guy from that many years ago, so that probably concluded half of the main characters thoughts. it’s a short book, which i like- and is half the reason why i picked up. think of detroit: become human, this book is like that… but if we were actually smart enough to blast %97 percent of the animal kingdom into dust, and to colonize mars (finally!). i do recommend this book to people who like the game, though, and maybe fallout (though i barley have an idea what it is other than from my friends)… if you can tolerate the main character’s 1970’s mentality. "

mav

"Makes you think."

S Hughes

"Just as good as the movie if you can discern it responsibly. "

Astroneatly Books

"An existential crisis on how man-made life fits into society as less than human and how morals are shaped in the eyes of the individual while an oppressive governing force wants “defective” androids retired."

Taylor Kroeger

"The best thing about this book was the challenge for reading comprehension and thought. It has an interesting plotline, with characters that serve it decently. The focus on empathy takes place from a defeatist perspective, but brings up some interesting ideas surrounding humanity and social empathy. The worst thing about this book is the blatant misogyny, contradicting the emphasis on empathy. So much sexism. So, so much sexism. Even male characters were one dimensional. The “identity conflict” didn’t feel like true conflict. Some parts of the world weren’t explained?? No clue what snuff’s purpose was past an inhalant, or what Mercer was past an empathy allegory. The point/moral and conflicts within it felt shallowly explored. As if the author didn’t know where he fell in the thought and oscillated between chapters. Good reading experience, bad book. "

M —

Maisyn —

"Wow. I can see why this is a classic sci-fi and it is so much better than the movie. The depth is just amazing and some concepts really mess with your mind."

Ricki Marking-Camuto

"Writing was monotonous and, well, boring... had to force myself to finish the book"

juno (he/him)

"Maybe you had to be there. I dunno. I felt like It wasn’t telling me something and assuming I’d know what that thing is, in order to understand the plot, but just kept inferring I should know. "