Umair Gaines
'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?' is a 1968 science fiction novel by American writer Philip K. Dick. The novel explores the moral crisis of Rick Deckard, a bounty hunter who has to kill six escaped androids. The story is set in a post-apocalyptic San Francisco, where Earth's life has been greatly damaged by a nuclear global war. The novel served as the basis for the 1982 film 'Blade Runner' and its 2017 sequel 'Blade Runner 2049', which borrowed several of the novel's characters and themes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of first publication | 1968 |
| Author | Philip K. Dick |
| Genre | Science fiction |
| Sub-genre | Cyberpunk, dystopian |
| Setting | Post-apocalyptic San Francisco |
| Year the story takes place | 1992 (2021 in later editions) |
| Film adaptation | Blade Runner (1982) |
| Film adaptation director | Ridley Scott |
| Film sequel | Blade Runner 2049 (2017) |
| Audiobook | Released in 2007 by Random House Audio |
| Stage adaptation | Premiered in 2010 at the 3LD Art & Technology Center in New York |
| Comic book adaptation | Published by BOOM! Studios |
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What You'll Learn
The 1968 novel's influence on sci-fi
The 1968 novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick has had an extensive influence on the science fiction genre. The novel is set in a post-apocalyptic San Francisco, where Earth's life has been greatly damaged by a nuclear global war. It follows Rick Deckard, a bounty hunter who has to "retire" (kill) six escaped Nexus-6 model androids.
The novel is considered a founding document of the new wave science fiction movement and a basic model for its cyberpunk heirs. It has influenced generations of science fiction writers and works across other genres, including sci-fi-based metal from artists such as Rob Zombie and Powerman 5000.
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? explores the ethical dimensions of androids, specifically the question of what differentiates humans from androids. This exploration of human identity and society in relation to artificial creations has been a significant influence on other science fiction works. The novel's depiction of a dystopian, polluted, man-made setting has been particularly influential, with its themes and ideas reflected in numerous other works of science fiction.
The novel has also had a direct influence on specific works of science fiction. It served as the basis for the 1982 film Blade Runner, directed by Ridley Scott and starring Harrison Ford. While the plot and characterizations differ in some ways, many elements and themes from the novel were retained in the film and its 2017 sequel, Blade Runner 2049. The novel has also inspired a stage play, a radio drama, comic books, and an anime series.
In addition to its influence on popular culture, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? has also had a lasting impact on academic discourse. The novel has been the subject of critical analysis, with scholars such as Klaus Benesch examining its themes in relation to psychological theories, such as Jacques Lacan's essay on the mirror stage.
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The 1982 film adaptation, Blade Runner
The plot follows Rick Deckard, a "blade runner" who is called out of retirement to hunt down a group of fugitive replicants who have escaped to Earth seeking their creator. In the novel, Deckard is a bounty hunter tasked with "retiring" (i.e., killing) six escaped Nexus-6 model androids. While the film streamlines the story to focus on four replicants, it retains the novel's exploration of the moral crisis faced by Deckard as he confronts the almost-human nature of the androids.
The film's screenplay was written by Hampton Fancher and David Peoples, who made several changes to the novel's plot and characters. Despite this, the film retained many elements and themes from the novel, including the exploration of a dystopian, polluted, man-made setting and the moral implications of artificial intelligence. The film also featured innovative special effects and a critically acclaimed soundtrack by Vangelis, which was nominated for a BAFTA and a Golden Globe in 1982.
Blade Runner initially polarised critics and underperformed in North American theatres, but it has since become a classic of science fiction cinema, influencing many subsequent films with its imaginative world-building and thought-provoking exploration of what it means to be human. The film has spawned a franchise, including a 2017 sequel, Blade Runner 2049, which further explores the themes and story of the original film and its source novel.
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The 2017 sequel, Blade Runner 2049
Blade Runner 2049 received acclaim from critics, who praised the cast's performances, directing, cinematography, and its faithfulness to the previous film. The film grossed $267.5 million worldwide and received several accolades, including Academy Awards and British Academy Film Award nominations for Best Cinematography and Best Visual Effects.
The film's deliberate pace may confuse some viewers, but it allows the audience to appreciate the immensity of the images. It stands on its own as a sequel, adding new layers to the question of "What makes us human?". It also explores why replicants are designed to be vulnerable, walking along the same noirish paths that made the original so gripping.
Blade Runner 2049 was Alcon's second collaboration with director Denis Villeneuve. The production design modernized the original film's retro-futuristic onscreen world, which was seen as imperative for an authentic story. The film faced initial challenges due to licensing issues and changes in the director's role, but it eventually premiered in Los Angeles, California, on October 3, 2017, and was released in the United States on October 6, 2017.
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The novel's philosophical themes
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? explores several philosophical themes, including the blurred lines between humans and androids, the nature of reality, empathy and humanity, consumerism, religion, and artificiality.
Firstly, the novel interrogates the nature of reality, suggesting that reality is a projection of the mind. The plot and setting of the novel serve as a literary device to explore this theme, with characters inducing mental states through technology, blurring the boundaries between the organic and the artificial.
Secondly, the novel engages with the classic science fiction theme of questioning the humanity of artificial intelligence. The androids in the novel are biologically almost identical to humans, yet they lack certain key traits, such as empathy. The novel suggests that empathy is the defining trait of humanity, contrasting it with the emotional detachment of androids. This theme is closely tied to the concept of Mercerism, a shared religious experience that allows people to unite and feel mutual suffering, further exploring the idea of shared human experience.
Thirdly, the novel critiques consumerism as a defining force in a fragmented, dystopian society. The desire to acquire and display status through material possessions, such as real animals, reflects how consumer culture persists even in the face of environmental and societal collapse.
Finally, the novel explores the theme of artificiality, as seen in the ending when Iran accepts and cares for an artificial toad, blurring the boundaries between real and artificial. This ending reveals a complex relationship with technology and a potential future where the animate environment is indistinguishable from reality.
Despite these intriguing themes, some critics argue that the philosophical themes of the novel are poorly executed and that the plot falls flat, particularly in the action/detective elements. However, others find the novel enjoyable and thought-provoking, prompting questions about the nature of humanity and the role of empathy.
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Philip K. Dick's inspirations
The 1968 novel "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick is set in a post-apocalyptic San Francisco, where Earth's life has been greatly damaged by a nuclear global war. The novel explores the ethical dimensions of androids and the nature of humanity, empathy, and identity.
Dick's inspiration for the novel came from reading the diaries of Gestapo officers while researching his novel "The Man in the High Castle". In a letter to Peter Fitting dated June 11, 1970, Dick acknowledged the influence of L. Ron Hubbard's work, particularly the novel Fear. Dick also drew inspiration from Theodore Sturgeon's novel "More Than Human", a surrealistic story of humanity broken into different tiers, with one tier controlling another through telepathic means.
In the novel, Rick Deckard, a bounty hunter, is tasked with "retiring" rogue androids who are nearly indistinguishable from humans. Deckard's character is well-established in the book, and readers get to see into his psyche. His empathy and admiration for an opera singer, his contempt for another bounty hunter, and his growing lust towards Rachel, an android, and the way she changes his views towards androids, are all explored.
The novel has influenced generations of science fiction writers and has become a founding document of the new wave science fiction movement. It has also inspired other genres, such as sci-fi-based metal from artists including Rob Zombie and Powerman 5000.
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Frequently asked questions
The novel was released on September 3, 1968.
The 1982 film 'Blade Runner', directed by Ridley Scott and starring Harrison Ford, was inspired by the novel.
No, the novel was neither widely reviewed nor commercially successful upon its initial publication.
Set in a post-apocalyptic San Francisco, the novel follows Rick Deckard, a bounty hunter who has to kill six escaped androids.
