After the end of the edition of the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? that I happened to read is the following quote from Erik Davis, "If the '70s and '80s...belonged to William Burroughs, the millenium belongs to Philip K. Dick." It's an interesting observation about an author who has transcended the often modest goals of scifi to write profound, witty and biting yet human social commentary couched in the inventive world(s) he creates. Other than a few short stories (e.g., "The Eyes Have It") this was my first foray into one of those inventive worlds. All I can say is that I now understand how influential Philip K. Dick has been for many contemporary writers, such as Jonathan Lethem and Steven Alyett. Do Androids... is a very readable and even riveting tale that gets into the interiority of the inhabitants of the dystopian, environmentally-poisoned world of 2025 San Francisco. The borders between organic and artificial, reality and imagination, human and non-human are constantly blurred in very interesting ways. The book, written in 1968, is said to be the inspiration for the movie "Blade Runner." It's a great introduction to this influential and very entertaining writer.
For a review of the book from The Guardian, click here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/apr/29/do-androids-dream-electric-dick-review
For a review of the book from The Guardian, click here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/apr/29/do-androids-dream-electric-dick-review
