World War Terminus had left the Earth devastated. Through its ruins, bounty hunter Rick Deckard stalked, in search of the renegade replicants who were his prey. When he wasn't 'retiring' them with his laser weapon, he dreamed of owning a live animal - the ultimate status symbol in a world all but bereft of animal life. Then Rick got his chance: the assignment to kill six Nexus-6 targets, for a huge reward. But in Deckard's world things were never that simple, and his assignment quickly turned into a nightmare kaleidoscope ...
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World War Terminus had left the Earth devastated. Through its ruins, bounty hunter Rick Deckard stalked, in search of the renegade replicants who were his prey. When he wasn't 'retiring' them with his laser weapon, he dreamed of owning a live animal - the ultimate status symbol in a world all but bereft of animal life. Then Rick got his chance: the assignment to kill six Nexus-6 targets, for a huge reward. But in Deckard's world things were never that simple, and his assignment quickly turned into a nightmare kaleidoscope of subterfuge and deceit-- and the threat of death for the hunter rather than the hunted...THE AUTHOR Philip K Dick (1928-82) was born one of twins and lived most of his life in California. He wrote more than fifty books in a career of prodigious productivity and achievement. The films BLADE RUNNER and TOTAL RECALL were based on his stories.
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A fast read that takes you through a journey. If you've seen Blade Runner, then the premise is almost the same, however the characters and some events are quite different. This is a book that you will read again, and if you go nuts for Blade Runner, you will want to read it that much more. If you've seen the 1982 original film, then I highly recommend putting the original soundtrack "Blade Runner Blues" on and some other fan made soundtrack loops while reading to enhance your experience. A great Sci-Fi book!
miakc
Jan 13, 2011
bought this as a gift and receipient was delighted with it
Sidewinder
Apr 30, 2009
Outstanding
Blade Runner is one of my favorite scifi movies, but a movie absolutely faithful to this book should also be made. I rarely read a book twice within a short period, but I did, this one. Dick is a superstar.
KareninsSmile
Apr 26, 2009
A Great Read
It took me a while to warm to this book. At first I found is quite distant and Deckard was difficult to relate to. However, as the chapters went on, I became completely enthralled in it. The world which Phillip K. Dick (P.K.D) has greated is so bizarre and so twisted that you begin to develop a rather peculiar fascination for it.
The characters can seem quite harsh and difficult to empathise with, but I was gradually sucked into the world of radiation and illegal androids and electric animals.
The earth has become barren, with radioactive fallout always hanging in the air. Many animals have died and those who are alive are valuable commodities. Humans must protect and care for an animal of their own..thus displaying empathy. Animals have become status symbols.
Most people have re settled on Mars, where there are androids to help the people with menial tasks. On Earth, there are only the chickenheads - people who have been damaged by the radiation and are not allowed to leave; and those who are too stubborn to leave. Deckard is stubborn. He is a bounty hunter who captures and "retires" androids on earth, as they are not allowed to live and work masquerading as human.
The main difference between android and Human is empathy. Deckard issues a VoigtKampf test to those who he suspects to be androids. This measures emotional responses to moral and ethical questions.
Because of their lack of empathy, Deckard detests androids... however, he is also the owner of an electric sheep. This moral dilemma is behind many of Deckards actions and problems in the novel. He knows that he is a fraud, and he covets a real animal above all else.
I don't want to go into further detail for fear of giving too much away. The book is a fantastic read and draws you into a terrifying carriacature of life on earth. It has much more happening in it than the film and will certainly give you something to think about.
