Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep? is a science fiction novel published in 1968 and set in 1992, on a post-apocalyptic Earth. It served as the basis for the movie Blade Runner, and comics were also released by Marvel and BOOM! Studios.
The novel alternates between two intertwining plot lines. One involves Rick Deckard, a bounty hunter who's job is to retire rogue androids. The latest model, Nexus-6, can only be differentiated from humans through use of a psychological testing machine that measures the levels of empathy; which is the one thing that androids lack. The other plot revolves around John JR. Isadore, a special (someone who has, due to the radioactivity, sub-normal intellect). He works for the Van Ness Pet Hospital, which serves people who own electric animals. This is a very important service, due to the high status surrounding the ownership of an animal, as they're almost completely wiped out.
This book explores the differences between reality and fantasy by probing the differences between man and machine (which can be almost indistinguishable). As well as the background themes of religion with the constant clash between Mercerism and Buster Friendly.
Mercerism is the following of one man, Wilbur Mercer, and his struggle which you can relive through an Empathy Box.
Buster Friendly is a TV presenter who's approach to everything is far more realistic compared to Mercer. He spends a great deal of time recording with multiple guests often discrediting Mercer as a fraud. It's shown that Friendly and his guests are in fact androids, thus blurring the lines between human and machine even further.
There are also many moments where human nature is questioned. Such as when the difference between living, or not, starts and ends. This continuing theme is constantly revisited thanks to Deckard's exploits, mostly in his infatuation with Rachel, the Rosen Corp. android who purposefully incites these emotions in him and entices him to indulge in highly illegal forms of contact with androids.
A sort of 'what goes around comes around' idea shadows Deckard, he takes life in the form of androids who are someone's friends, in this case their Rachel's friends. And his choice to spare Rachel led to the death of his beloved goat.
In contrast to the rather philosophical reactions to Do Androids Dream..?, I personally found it sightly humorous, in a relatively cynical fashion. Simply because of the year it was set; 1992. I'm sorry but some of the best things to come out of the 90's was The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air and Tamagotchis, not hovercars sadly. However, there was no World War 3, so I suppose I should count my blessings and baggy neon trousers.
But on a more serious note, I found the story thoroughly enjoyable and thought provoking, perhaps even difficult in parts, but because of the changing and merging plots, it became a truly intriguing read that pushed the boundaries of my own empathy towards others. It made me think and relate the themes of this novel back into my own life, which could be viewed, perhaps as an important element to enjoying and understanding it, maybe which was the entire point.
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