Reading Between The Lines: Book or movie? Do Androids Dream vs. Blade Runner

A lot of us are familiar with Ridley Scott's Blade Runner, one of the most acclaimed sci-fi movies to ever come out, and a film that has been polarizing audiences ever since it was released. Some praised it for its exploration of some interesting philosophical talking points... what truly defines human? Are we truly who we think we are? Others criticized the movie for its slow pace and heavyhanded romance. Nevertheless, the film has made an impact on popular culture, with its amazing set and prop design, and continues to inspire designers.

Naturally, most are aware that the film is an adaptation of Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (which, interestingly enough, had a movie tie-in edition sold as Blade Runner in some markets), and are quick to discount reading it in fear of it being too similar to the movie. After all, watching Blade Runner is around two or three hours (depending on which edition of the film you decide to watch) of your time, but the book is a much bigger investment.

Truth be told, it doesn't matter whether you've seen Blade Runner, because DADoES is really its own thing. While the book and the film possess some fairly superficial similarities, like character names and locations, the two couldn't be any more different. In fact, the basic premise that Rick Deckard is an LAPD bounty hunter who is assigned to hunt down escaped androids (or 'andies') is really the only similarity that exists.

While Blade Runner's characters are given more room for exploration than its universe, DADoES dedicates enough time for both, and as a result, explores some more of Philip K. Dick's philosophical chestnuts besides the ones seen in Blade Runner; the true existence of self, the deceptions brought on by the hands of established authority, not to mention a dissection of the reason for said deceptions being needed. To explain what content of the book discusses the above would be giving away too much, to say the least.

It honestly would be difficult to write this article without comparing the book to its movie cousin, but selling the differences between them is unfortunately what will get most to read this book. While the 1968 publication date might have some people finding some of events in the book quaint or dated, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? is nevertheless a truly unique novel that cannot be properly experienced in any other adaptation. Any avid reader should have this book on their to-do list; I trust the avid sci-fi readers have already finished it.

Reading Between The Lines explores books that you may have missed out on that are worth your while. If you have a book to suggest, email Eshaan at e_gupta@fanshaweonline.ca.