Trystan Casey
Published in 1968, Philip K. Dick's novel 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?' is a dystopian science fiction work set in a post-apocalyptic San Francisco, where Earth's ecology has been devastated by a nuclear global conflict. The story follows Rick Deckard, a bounty hunter tasked with retiring (i.e. killing) six fugitive Nexus-6 model androids. The novel explores themes of empathy, identity, reality, and the impact of technology on human existence, blending speculative elements with philosophical depth. It has influenced various genres, including science fiction literature and cinema, and sparked discussions about the nature of consciousness and the role of technology in shaping human identity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of Publication | 1968 |
| Author | Philip K. Dick |
| Genre | Dystopian Science Fiction |
| Themes | Empathy, Machine Intelligence, Hypocrisies of Human Existence, Chaos, Entropy |
| Setting | Post-apocalyptic San Francisco, 1992 (2021 in later editions) |
| Plot | Bounty hunter Rick Deckard must "retire" six escaped Nexus-6 model androids |
| Secondary Plot | John Isidore, a man of sub-par IQ, aids the fugitive androids |
| Film Adaptations | Blade Runner (1982), Blade Runner: 2049 (2017) |
| Comic Book Adaptation | Published by BOOM! Studios, illustrated by Tony Parker |
| Narrative Style | Noir fiction, hard-boiled investigator |
| Symbolism | Animals (real or electric), mood organs, empathy boxes, androids, Mercer, Buster Friendly show |
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![By Philip K. Dick - Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (2012-02-16) [Paperback]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51s+NVQ6atL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
What You'll Learn
Rick Deckard, bounty hunter
Rick Deckard is a bounty hunter and the protagonist of Philip K. Dick's 1968 novel, 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?'. The story is set in a post-apocalyptic San Francisco, where Earth has been devastated by a nuclear global war, and most animal species are now endangered or extinct. In this world, Deckard is tasked with "retiring" (i.e. killing) six escaped Nexus-6 model androids.
Deckard is described as a loner who doesn't seem to like other people, including his wife. He is a man of few words, and his professional connections appear to be limited to those he works with. Deckard's character serves as a vehicle for exploring the novel's central theme: the nature of humanity and the role of empathy in defining what it means to be human. Androids, in the story, are portrayed as lacking empathy, which is seen as a key differentiator between them and humans. This is exemplified in the way androids are willing to betray one another without a second thought, while the escaped androids in the story stick together and rely on each other for survival.
As a bounty hunter, Deckard grapples with moral choices and ambiguities. He questions the value of his work, especially when faced with androids that contribute positively to society, such as the opera singer Luba Luft. Deckard's journey culminates in an epiphany of sorts, as he realises that he, like everyone else, is missing something crucial in his life. This void is filled with artificial substitutes, such as electric pets, mood organs, and even the androids themselves.
The character of Rick Deckard embodies the complexities and anxieties of the era in which the novel was written, grappling with questions of identity, morality, and the increasing influence of technology on human existence.
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Voigt-Kampff test
The Voigt-Kampff test is a test used to determine whether an individual is a replicant or a human. It was originally conceived by Philip K. Dick in his 1968 novel, "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" and was later featured in the 1982 film adaptation, "Blade Runner", and its 2017 sequel, "Blade Runner 2049".
The test is strongly reminiscent of a polygraph test, or lie detector, which measures physiological responses such as respiration, heart rate, blushing, and pupillary dilation in response to emotionally provocative questions. The Voigt-Kampff test typically requires between twenty and thirty cross-referenced questions to detect a Nexus-6 replicant, though in some cases, it can take over one hundred questions to determine the nature of the individual being tested.
The test is named after its creator, Cal Moreaux, who was the first Blade Runner for the LAPD's Blade Runner unit. The unit was formed in 2009, and Moreaux asked Asa to create a version of the test to be used on Blade Runner candidates. The Voigt-Kampff test was then utilised by the Blade Runner unit to assist in identifying replicants.
One example of the test in practice is when Dave Holden conducted the Voigt-Kampff test on the Nexus-6 replicant Leon Kowalski in November 2019. During the test, Leon became violent and shot Holden. Another example is when Rick Deckard was ordered to perform the test on Rachael, a Nexus-7 replicant with implanted memories, at the Tyrell Corporation.
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Rachael Rosen, an android?
Rachael Rosen is a character in Philip K. Dick's 1968 novel, 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?'. In the novel, Rachael is a Nexus-6 android housed at the Rosen Association, referred to as Eldon Rosen's niece. She was created around 1990/2019, but was given memories that showed she was born aboard the Salander 3 around 1974/2003 and came to Earth fourteen years later.
Rachael is a popular model of android—so popular that she is the mirror image of another android in the novel, Pris Stratton. Rachael is bold and self-assured but possesses the same emotional flatness as the other androids. However, she is also able to invoke empathy in others, despite feeling little herself. This is seen when she manipulates Rick Deckard, a bounty hunter, into having sex with her by expressing interest in him. She also manipulates other bounty hunters into sparing her life. Towards the end of the novel, she kills Rick's goat, perhaps as an act of revenge, suggesting that the way Rick treated her hurt her.
Rachael's character plays a key role in exploring the novel's themes of empathy and machine intelligence. She grapples with the true nature of empathy, as her job seducing bounty hunters depends on her ability to invoke it in them. In this way, she is similar to electric animals, as they are both "fake" beings that can evoke a very real sense of empathy in humans. Rachael's character thus raises questions about the nature of humanity and the dangers of humans becoming "mechanical".
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Escaped Nexus-6 models
In Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick, bounty hunter Rick Deckard is tasked with "retiring" (i.e., killing) six escaped Nexus-6 model androids. The androids have killed humans to escape Mars and flee to Earth, and Deckard must track them down.
The novel is set in a post-apocalyptic future, after a global war that has rendered Earth's atmosphere highly radioactive and endangered or extinct most animal species. In this world, it is considered important to own live animals, and those who cannot afford them settle for electric ones. The escaped androids, meanwhile, seem to lack empathy for animals, with Priss cutting the legs off a spider and Rachael throwing a goat off a roof.
The androids also seem to lack empathy for each other, as one character suggests that an android would sell out another without a second thought. However, the escaped androids do stick together as a group and rely on each other to some degree. For example, Luba Luft calls other androids to help her when she is close to being caught, and they do help her, even though it makes their connections visible to bounty hunters.
The novel explores themes of empathy, machine intelligence, and the impact of technology on human lives. It questions what makes humans unique and whether androids can acquire human traits like empathy and the desire to understand the meaning of life. Dick's novel also imitates noir fiction styles, featuring a hard-boiled investigator dealing coldly with a brutal world full of corruption and stupidity.
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Empathy and machine intelligence
In Philip K. Dick's 1968 novel, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, the theme of empathy and machine intelligence is central to the story. The novel is set in a post-apocalyptic world, sparsely populated by humans and androids, and explores the question of what makes humans unique.
The novel's protagonist, Rick Deckard, is a bounty hunter tasked with "retiring" (i.e., killing) escaped androids. Deckard himself is something of a loner, seemingly lacking empathy for his fellow humans, including his wife. This lack of empathy is contrasted with the behaviour of the androids, who, despite being programmed without it, display a capacity for empathy and even work together to avoid detection. For instance, Luba Luft, a leading opera singer, calls other androids to help her when she is in danger of being caught, and they do so even though it increases the risk of their own capture.
The novel also explores the idea that empathy is not limited to humans. The androids' lack of empathy is most evident in their treatment of animals, with Priss cutting the legs of a spider and Rachael throwing a goat off a roof. However, Deckard himself is disappointed to learn that his toad is a machine, and his wife knows that he will eventually form a bond with it, just as he did with his electric sheep and the androids. This suggests that empathy is not unique to humans and that humans can also lack empathy, as seen in the fellow cop who doubts his own humanity due to his inability to feel it.
The novel further questions the role of socialism in an android world and whether self-aware androids would seek to destroy anything that threatened their existence or tried to control their thoughts (i.e., programming). It also explores the impact of technology on human lives, echoing the ideas found in works such as Isaac Asimov's I, Robot and Aldous Huxley's Brave New World.
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? presents a complex and thought-provoking exploration of empathy and machine intelligence, blurring the lines between humans and androids and challenging the notion that empathy is what defines humanity.
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Frequently asked questions
The novel is set in a post-apocalyptic San Francisco, where Earth has been devastated by a nuclear war. It follows Rick Deckard, a bounty hunter tasked with "retiring" (i.e. killing) six escaped Nexus-6 model androids. The novel explores themes of empathy, machine intelligence, and the impact of technology on human lives.
The novel was written by American science fiction author Philip K. Dick and was published in 1968.
Empathy is the central theme of the novel. It explores the distinction between humans and androids, with empathy being a key characteristic that separates the two.
The Voigt-Kampff test is used to identify androids by showing that they lack empathy. It is a test of empathy, and Rick Deckard uses it to determine whether Rachael Rosen, an apparent human, is an android.
'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep' served as the basis for the 1982 film 'Blade Runner', directed by Ridley Scott. The film's 2017 sequel, 'Blade Runner 2049', also retains many themes from the novel. Some later printings of the novel were titled 'Blade Runner: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?'.
