Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
by: Philip K. Dick
genre: sci-fi
*read on my Sony Reader
Not that long ago I finished reading my first novel on my Sony Reader. I wanted to read something that suited such a device and while I was looking around for the perfect book I thought something Science Fiction, finally deciding Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick. I haven’t read anything by Philip K. Dick before and much of that has to do with the fact that I really have an aversion to the sci-fi genre. But I heard good things about this book so thought I would give it a go.
Now, after just saying I have an aversion to sci-fi I have to say that I loved this e-book. The story of rouge robots and robotic animals made this an interesting story. I particularly enjoyed the environmental aspects of this story. In essence Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? takes place after Earth has all but been abandoned (for life on Mars) and looks at the the reasons why people left this planet, as well as looking at what life is like for those left behind.
I cannot recall if it’s fully explained what has happened to Earth but we do know that there are very few species left. Due to so few animals remaining the cost to owning one is quite high and is sign of wealth. Not only is it a sign of wealth to have a creature but it seems to be vital for people to have an animal to call their own. So there are companies that build robotic animals that look like the real thing. And the main character has a robotic sheep and has to deal with electrical problems with his sheep.
It didn’t take very long to read this book and it kept my attention throughout. I must say I’m really glad that I decided to read this. It is a wonderful story and has me wanting to read more sci-fi (I cannot actually believe I wrote that). Because I’m not all that familiar with this genre could any of you suggest novels worth reading in this genre? And please don’t say Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card because it’s the last sci-fi I read and really did not like it.
Others that have reviewed this book include:
The Open Critic has a great discussion of this book.
http://theopencritic.com/?p=54
Fandomania looks at the book and the film version (Blade Runner).
http://fandomania.com/book-review-do-androids-dream-of-electric-sheep/
Steven Wu’s seems to have really enjoyed the book as well he gave it 9 out of 10 on Steven Wu’s Book Review.
http://www.scwu.com/bookreviews/h/DickPhilipKDoAndroidsDreamofElectricSheep.shtml
And remember if you’d like your review added just send me an email and I’ll add your review to the list. And it doesn’t matter if you liked it or not!
That's the Book! 
Ooh, I would totally love to give you a suggestion (I love scifi) but it so depends on what non-scifi books you are into. If you like YA, Feed by M.T. Anderson or House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer are TERRIFIC reads, and actually quite sophisticated for their supposed reading level.
And despite the weird subject matter, World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War is one of the most creative, original books I’ve read recently. It is a supposed look at the world after a zombie virus decimates the planet (turning almost everyone into you guessed it… zombies). The premise is that various survivors are sharing the story of how they lived through it, and the variety of perspectives and characters is pretty amazing.
If you liked Philip K Dick, I would recommend Ubik by him. It was extremely creepy, but totally kept me reading the whole way through.
For some just good kick ass adventures, anything by John Scalzi.
Okay I’ve blabbed on long enough. I hope that helps!
Lol, this is in my to-be-read pile. Too bad you don’t like Ender’s Game. I love sci-fi. Maybe you’d like to read A Plague of Change by L.Warren Douglas. It’s about how interstellar travel is slowly deteriorating because they’re all running out of fuel and outpost planets are slowly dying. Then there’s a race called psatla that the humans hate, but are integral to their survival.
Oh, and, where’d you get the ebook? I don’t have a copy. My TBR pile is more like a Wishlist.
I recommend checking out Octavia Butler. I red a collection of her short stories Blood Child and loved it and also read Wild Seed. I have pretty much all of her stuff at this point. I’ll get to them at some point.
and yeah…it’d be great if I could type too. LOL Love your blog btw!
I also have an aversion to science fiction, and was recommended this book by someone as an introduction to the genre. I’m pleased to see that you enjoyed it – I’ll have to more it further up the TBR pile.