Book:

"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. " Philip K. Dick

"An android", he said, "doesn't care what happens to another android. That's one of the indications we look for."
"Then", Miss Luba said, "You must be an android". That stopped him, he stared at her.

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Movie:

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Discussion questions:

1. The movie Blade Runner - based on Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep - was not an instant success when it came out in 1982. It was recognized much later as the cult movie of the eighties. Did you see Blade Runner? What did you think of it?

2. The book on which Blade Runner is based because famous because of the movie. Science Fiction books have never been highly appreciated in the literary world and the books by Philip K. Dick were no exception. What did you think of the book Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

3. Let's start with the setting of the story before we start talking about themes and characters. Philip K. Dick thought it was his duty to critize American mass society, like many other SF writers at that time. What are some of the themes they used?

4. The book - written in the sixties - is set in San Francisco, the movie - made in the eighties - in Los Angeles. Why do you think they changed the city?

5. People resort to watching television and admire Mercer - a mass media religion. Mercer says "You shall only kill the killers" and preaches the advantages of a agricultural and pastoral way of life. Does this lead to a more humane world in the book/movie? Why or why not?

6. Androids are created in order to help and entertain humans. What is an android according to you? How are androids portrayed in this book/movie? Do you know any other examples of androids in books and movies? What are they like?

7. One of the main themes is dehumanization. Explain. How do the Voigt-Kamf test and the Penfeld Organ fit in.

8. Strangely enough, love for animals is accepted. Why do you think the book is titled "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" and why is the title a question?

9. How does Rick Deckard fit in. Is he human or an android? Why?

10. As you have read in the biography, Philip K. Dick was a very unusual man whose life was marked by the dramatic events early in life (born prematurely, his twin sister died after 6 weeks and his parents divorced when he was just 5 years old). He was obsessed with the question: what is real and what is not real. This obsession is a recurring theme in his books and a theme in Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep. Describe what is real in Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep and what is not.

11. Do you think the story has a happy ending? Why or why not. Is there a difference between the book and the movie?

12. Ridley Scott changed quite a bit of the book for the movie. he left out Mercer, Buster Friendly, the Empathy Box and the Penfeld Organ. What do you think of this? Would you have done the same?

13. Many of the books by Philip K. Dick have made into movies. However, the directors almost always decided to change the title. "We Can Remember It for You Wholesale" was turned into "Total Recall", "Second Variety" became "Screamers", and "Do Androids dream of Electric Sheep?" was changed into "Blade Runner". Why do you think Ridley Scott chose a different title for his movie?

Do you want to discuss this book or others? Join the group.

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