An influential post-apocalyptic novel, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? was written in 1968 and was the basis for the cult classic 1982 movie Blade Runner, by Ridley Scott. Set in San Francisco in 2021, World War Terminus has left the planet devoid of almost all life except for humans and some pets. The ownership of pets is highly coveted by the remaining humans, and extremely expensive, so many turn to owning electric animals. Richard Deckard owns one of those electric animals, and is also a bounty hunter called to “retire” androids that have escaped from Mars and have returned to Earth. Since the androids have become increasingly like humans, Deckard must use skillful questioning to determine if they have empathy, one of the last traits that distinguishes humans from androids. The novel offers readers a reflection on the meaning of human life, the role of artificial intelligence, our responsibility for the environment, and what is real or artificial.
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