9
Jan162011
From Page to Screen: ‘Do Androids Dream of Electric Sleep’ by Philip K. Dick & ‘Blade Runner’
by Carolyn • Posted in Authors A-D, Book Reviews, From Page to Screen, Guest Review, Science Fiction
‘From Page to Screen‘ is a brand new feature which has been in the pipeline for quite a while. BCC’s guest reviewer, Jo, will be reading a book followed by watching a movie adaptation and then writing a review about both. This feature will be posted once a month.
This month’s page to screen is ‘Do Androids Dream of Electric Sleep‘ by Philip K. Dick and ‘Blade Runner‘ starring Harrison Ford!
Guest Review by Jo
Ever since I first sat down and watched Blade Runner, I have been a little obsessed with it. I think it is brilliant, on so many levels. The performances are out of this world (I’m pointing at you, Rutger Hauer!) and it’s a film I can watch over and over. Wait for the but…
…But I had never read the original novel, “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?”
I did feel that this made me some sort of leper in sci-fi-dom, because shouldn’t I have read one of the most famous sci-fi novels if I declare to love the film adaptation so much? Probably, but my love of the film overwhelmed the need to read the original text. Until now…. (I love dramatic pauses!)
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
In a dystopian world where war has ravaged Earth, Rick Deckard is a bounty hunter who tracks down renegade androids, who are living as humans. Because androids have adapted so well, Deckard uses a test to determine humanity. After being tasked with ‘retiring’ a group of androids, Deckard soon finds himself questioning all he has known.
I was in awe of this novel. You are given so many questions and there is a running sense of humans becoming emotionless entities. For instance, you can actually set your own mood by using a Mood Organ. In one section, Deckard is arguing with his wife and he is looking for the right ‘tune’ to set his mood. He can set it to either win the argument, or to suppress his anger. In another, he even set his mood organ to schedule a mood of ‘despair’ twice a month.
There is a huge amount of detail in this book and can be confusing at times. A lot of the book deals with Deckard’s need to own a ‘real’ animal too, since they have become extremely rare and therefore expensive. There is also Racheal, an android who seems so human that Deckard falls for her.
All of this detail really comes down to Deckard’s confusion over what is real and what is not. He questions his own actions – killing androids who are not ‘real’ is still killing, but is fake life still life and therefore worth preserving? Ouch, my brain hurts.
The ending is bittersweet, yet hopeful. Overall, it’s a pretty depressing book but I loved it. It’s so intelligent and mind-blowingly clever, full of philosophical questions regarding humanity and empathy. Compelling, funny, and fascinating, it reads like pulp fiction and taking away all the issues it raises, it’s really a very fun read.
Blade Runner
(I watched ‘The Final Cut’ version)
After reading the book, it’s easy to note the differences, but it follows the same plot. Rick Deckard is a bounty hunter given the task to track a group of Replicants, and retire them
The film is a design masterpiece. Looming towers, floating billboards, flying cars and neon lights everywhere – it looks amazing and a far cry from the book’s deserted Earth.
Harrison Ford is handsome as always, yet he doesn’t seem to fit the character of the book but does make it his own. There is one scene where he roughly kisses Racheal (Sean Young) and you can see he desires her but she is what he has been killing and his internal struggle is so prevalent it makes for a really good scene. One of my favorites in the movie.
The androids are all well cast, but the standout performance is Rutger Hauer as Roy Batty. Wow. If you have seen the film, then you know the scene I am talking about. It’s giving me goosepimples just writing about it and it’s such a wonderful, magical moment of a ‘man’ fully embracing his destiny.
Depending on the version you watch, the ending differs. I have seen them, and there is not one I can choose. Just like the book, the films endings leaves you with questions and so it is really up to you what you make of Deckard and the whole feeling of what is real and what is not and how much it matters.
Summary
The book and the film are not the same thing, yet are the same thing. A lot of themes are missing from the film such as Deckard’s wife, religion, and fertility/sterile issues. However, to experience both will only give you a further respect for this fascinating story.
The androids differ from the book’s unfeeling, selfish and cruel robots to the films more sympathetic replicants, who are intelligent, with the ability to become “more human than human”. The character of Racheal in the book is more of a femme fetale, which keeps with the pulp fiction feel and the films’ Racheal is a serious love interest. There are a few more difference but I feel these are the most noteworthy.
The film may not be a faithful adaptation but is an unbelievable visual treat yet it does lack a certain narrative feel. The book gives you details in bucket loads and offers more thought provoking questions. Philip K Dick himself even said that two reinforce each other.
It’s difficult to choose the book or the film now that I have encountered both. I cannot see the film without thinking of the book and vice versa. The film however is not only a feast for your eyes, but it’s full of moments of genius whether it be the actor’s performances or the directors style. The book is a surprise, I wasn’t expecting it to be funny and the ending was slightly bleak but wonderful. You can see how I’m continually going back and forth because for me now, they have become like one.
This was a really cool experience. Philip K. Dick raises questions and makes you think, and it’s this reason why I love this story so much and the book has just reinforced my reason for enjoying the film so much.
9 Comments
Thanks so much for a wonderful review. Your enthusiasm for both shines through – you make me want to read the book and watch the movie!
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I have never seen Blade Runner but after your review I'm wondering what I've been missing out on. I'm definitely going to get my mitts on both the film and book. A wonderful review – your enthusiasm is ceratinly infectious.
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Fantastic review. I have always wanted to know the story behind the film.
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I read the book during a sci-fi/fantasy lit class in Uni, and loved it. I didn't get around to watching the film until much later, and thought it was wonderful (though you're right, quite different). Personally, though, I still prefer the book =) Great review, I really enjoyed reading your thoughts on both!
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What a fab feature
Back a few years (not thinking about how many now lol!) I studied 'Blade Runner' as part of my Media Studies A Level, it's a fascinating on so many levels – the question around what makes a human, human can have you running around in circles.
However, I've never read the book. My husband is a huge sci-fi fan and I actually can see if sitting on the self, but it sounds as though it develops this theme even further.
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Thanks for all your kind comments, I was very nervous about this and if I could do it justice.
*group hug!*
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Excellent review. I too saw the movie, but unlike Jo have not read the book.
Rutger Hauer is a feast for the eyes!
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Again I have seen the movie but not read the book. I did not even know about the existence of this book. I am a sci-fi fan so I think I will pick this book sometime
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Again I have seen the movie but not read the book. I did not even know about the existence of this book. I am a sci-fi fan so I think I will pick this book sometime
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