Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? 6

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? #6

by Philip K. Dick, Tony Parker (Illustrator)

The book that inspired the film Blade Runner comes to comics!

Worldwide bestselling science fiction writer Philip K. Dick's award-winning DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP? has been called "a masterpiece ahead of its time, even today," and served as the basis for the film Blade Runner. BOOM! Studios is honored to present the complete novel transplanted into the graphic novel medium, mixing all new panel-to-panel continuity with the actual text from the novel in an innovative, groundbreaking series. Volume 6 of 6.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Science Fiction, Fiction, Comic Book, Speculative Fiction, Dystopia

144 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2011

About the author

Philip Kindred Dick was a prolific American science fiction author whose work has had a lasting impact on literature, cinema, and popular culture. Known for his imaginative narratives and profound philosophical themes, Dick explored the nature of reality, the boundaries of human identity, and the impact of technology and authoritarianism on society. His stories often blurred the line between the real and the artificial, challenging readers to question their perceptions and beliefs.
Raised in California, Dick began writing professionally in the early 1950s, publishing short stories in various science fiction magazines. He quickly developed a distinctive voice within the genre, marked by a fusion of science fiction concepts with deep existential and psychological inquiry. Over his career, he authored 44 novels and more than 100 short stories, many of which have become classics in the field.
Recurring themes in Dick's work include alternate realities, simulations, corporate and government control, mental illness, and the nature of consciousness. His protagonists are frequently everyday individuals—often paranoid, uncertain, or troubled—caught in surreal and often dangerous circumstances that force them to question their environment and themselves. Works such as Ubik, The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch, and A Scanner Darkly reflect his fascination with perception and altered states of consciousness, often drawing from his own experiences with mental health struggles and drug use.
One of Dick’s most influential novels is Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, which served as the basis for Ridley Scott’s iconic film Blade Runner. The novel deals with the distinction between humans and artificial beings and asks profound questions about empathy, identity, and what it means to be alive. Other adaptations of his work include Total Recall, Minority Report, A Scanner Darkly, and The Man in the High Castle, each reflecting key elements of his storytelling—uncertain realities, oppressive systems, and the search for truth. These adaptations have introduced his complex ideas to audiences well beyond the traditional readership of science fiction.
In the 1970s, Dick underwent a series of visionary and mystical experiences that had a significant influence on his later writings. He described receiving profound knowledge from an external, possibly divine, source and documented these events extensively in what became known as The Exegesis, a massive and often fragmented journal. These experiences inspired his later novels, most notably the VALIS trilogy, which mixes autobiography, theology, and metaphysics in a narrative that defies conventional structure and genre boundaries.
Throughout his life, Dick faced financial instability, health issues, and periods of personal turmoil, yet he remained a dedicated and relentless writer. Despite limited commercial success during his lifetime, his reputation grew steadily, and he came to be regarded as one of the most original voices in speculative fiction. His work has been celebrated for its ability to fuse philosophical depth with gripping storytelling and has influenced not only science fiction writers but also philosophers, filmmakers, and futurists.
Dick’s legacy continues to thrive in both literary and cinematic spheres. The themes he explored remain urgently relevant in the modern world, particularly as technology increasingly intersects with human identity and governance. The Philip K. Dick Award, named in his honor, is presented annually to distinguished works of science fiction published in paperback original form in the United States. His writings have also inspired television series, academic studies, and countless homages across media.
Through his vivid imagination and unflinching inquiry into the nature of existence, Philip K. Dick redefined what science fiction could achieve. His work continues to challenge and inspire, offering timeless insights into the human condition a

Reviews

[Jenifaël · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Le silence. Il suintait littéralement des murs et des boiseries, envahissant Isidore avec une irrésistible puissance, comme généré par une meule gigantesque. Le silence s'élevait du sol à travers la veille moquette grise en lambeaux. Il s'échappait des appareils plus ou moins en état de marche qui équipaient la cuisine, des machines qui n'avaient jamais fonctionné depuis qu'Isidore vivait ici. Sortait de la lampe sur pied inutile du séjour, formait depuis le plafond constellé de chiures de mouches tout un réseau presque liquide de non-bruits, d'absences, qui s'étalait ensuite sur les murs."

[Alex E · Rating 4 out of 5]

During the entire run of the book, we saw the slow degradation of Rick Deckard's skills as an efficient bounty hunter. But as he lost that aspect of himself, his humanity grows. And the slow burn of how this all happened, was something that was very interesting and thought provoking.

Because in this final volume, we see that Rick has an abundance of what separates us from machine. It's what Rick himself uses to determine humanity. He has empathy. And at the end of the book, he has too much of it, as he finds himself contemplating the existence of androids themselves. Regarding them more than just machine at that point, and more along the lines of... a being. To further cement the point, Phillip K. Dick shows us how Rick "falls" for a toad that turns out to be an android toad. His love for, what he thought was a real toad, brings him back from the brink of an existential crisis. When he learns the truth, it drives home the fact that he can no longer do what a bounty hunter needs to do.

I'm only familiar with the movie, and of course its a great dissertation on the main themes of this book, but the book itself is more of a slow burn. It doesn't state things outright. It lets ideas manifest and ivy into your subconscious, slowly bringing you around to see things in a different light. Much like Rick, we may think some way about androids, but in the end, we may have a change of heart.

This volume itself was more of a 3 star book. The "climax", is anything but. It resolves quickly and a bit easily, and that was somewhat of a let down. But I gave 4 stars to the overall series/book, as I found its themes and ideas presented really interesting.

[Rocky Sunico · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's the big ending! And man, so many feelings. There's an inherent tragedy for everyone whether it's Decker or our Special, the androids, or even the darn goat.

I don't know if a comic book was the best approach for adapting this material given the relative weight of the subject matter. The art style across the books was a little rough, which I guess was done to convey a certain mood or feeling but times proved a little distracting for me. And the decision to include a LOT of the original text in the comic including annotations for the character speech balloons was also a little weird.

Still, the greater message of Dick's work - the importance of human empathy, is one that really rings true throughout the books and that's brilliant.

[Marcos Francisco Muñoz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Se agradece la intención.
Si bien hay dos o tres secuencias del libro que se ven traducidas perfectamente al plano gráfico, la poco constante descripción del Deckard ilustrado y muchas decisiones cuestionables en cuanto a la colorización de la obra completa hacen que el trabajo de Tony Parker no pueda cargar por completo con todas las connotaciones de la obra obra original. Los ensayos que acompañan cada número son adiciones muy bienvenidas la discusión de la obra y persona de Dick, sin que estos a su vez, se sientan como lectura obligatoria de cada volumen.
En resumen, cualquier fan de "Sueñan los androides..." disfrutará de esta adaptación (aunque al final, tal vez se quede con ganas de un poco más), pero es difícil no reconocer que gran parte del peso de la misa, recae en el gran trabajo de PKD con la novela.
Ahora debo de conseguir una edición del libro que no haga mención alguna de su relación con "Blade Runner".

[Jonathan Roberts · Rating 2 out of 5]

Whoa.....what a lame ending! I was super excited after trade five for a big knock down drag out fight by the main character and the three androids....but when that does not happen and we get an extended dream sequence? Or whatever it is....I just don't know? What a bummer! The series as a whole was fun I love the concept and the artwork. The last trade was sadly a disappointment

[Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collected edition revolved around pets. Kind of. But really, I'm too exhausted to write this review but kid you not, I've jotted all my thoughts in my review of the novel which I have linked below:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Jeff Mayo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Part 6 of the famed novel in graphic novel form. It was an incredible read for the first five volumes. This sputtered to an anticlimactic ending. Unlike in the movie based on the novel, Blade Runner, this didn't have an amazing speech at the end. In fact, Deckard dispatches of the last three androids with relative ease. But then it continued on in a pointless and rambling ending. It did give a brief preview of the sequel series, which I am not interested in.

[Andy Hickman · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?”

VOLUME 6

BOOK TWENTY-ONE:
[Pris (android) takes Isidore's spider]: “It probably won't be able to run as fast but there's nothing for it to catch around here anyhow. It'll die anyway.”
she reached for the scissors.
[Isidore]: “Please.”


BOOK TWENTY-TWO

The android slowly mutilates a spider.
J.R. Isidore tells Rick Deckard, “If I took it back up there she'd cut it apart again.
Bit by bit, to see what it did.”
Deckard: “Androids do that.”

BOOK TWENTY-THREE

“I'll be all right,” he said, and thought, and I'm going to die.
Both those are true, too.
He closed the car door, flicked a signal with his hand to Iran, and then swept up into the night sky.”

BOOK TWENTY-FOUR

“He got to his feet, stood painfully, his face drowsy and confused, as if a legion of battles had ebbed and advanced there, over many years.”
- - - -

“'I am a fictionalizing philosopher, not a novelist,' he writes in one EXEGESIS entry. 'My novel and story-writing ability is employed as a means to formulate my perception.'”
“Dick would merit recognition as a major theologian and moral philosopher, largely on the strength of DADOES?, which skillfully lays out fully-realized ethical system. His conception of the android and the human – ad the blurring of that distinction in a technological society – constitutes a compelling ethical challenge. Dick had long since settled the question of what defines the authentic human: empathy. (… he'd identify his conception of empathy with the New Testament concept of gape.)
(The excision of this religion and its prophet [Mercerism] from the story of BLADE RUNNER has always struck me as an enormous central lack in the film's world.) - Gabriel McKee.

“I had an appreciation for Philip K. Dick's use of science fiction to turn the volume up on the quintessential human questions. You can use the future to comment on the present. You can use something non-human as a metaphor to get to the essence of the truly human questions.” - David Mack

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is a really nicely done graphic novel presentation of the entire text of Philip K. Dick's "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep", which is the novel on which he film Blade Runner was based. This is my first reading of the novel, but i plan to return to it in its non-graphic format later this year. A great story which gives the reader much to think about related to what it means to be human. This is a beautifully done series.

[Brimstonevomit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having not even read the novel or watched Blade Runner before stumbling upon this series at my library, I went and checked a volume out, finding that I'd glossed over the part where it was volume 3. In my defense, the number was somewhat obscured by the library's bar code sticker on its lower spine.

After picking up the first two volumes to complement it, I sluggishly took it in. At first it was jarring, reading descriptors galore while the art panels could have (/should have) handled the action in the first place. But the art wasn't necessarily "complete," but rather a complementary manner of setting the mood of broader scenes. In truth, I think they sacrificed the quantity of panels needed to illustrate the activity for the quality of presentation. Rather vain, but in a good way, I think.

Upon finishing volume 3, I immediately tracked down the last 3 volumes. They read like a breeze, flowing wonderfully from the momentum that the first 3 volumes built. Oh sure, at times the pacing or focus of the characters and narrative itself was odd. It was far from nonsensical though. I recall seeing a "review" here on Goodreads for the novel, where someone complained about the disparity of attention Philip K Dick gave to the subjects of falling in love and purchasing a goat. It was the most natural formation, though, if one took themselves out of their own expectations and realized that love is a far more fleeting emotion compared to the nurturing of a living animal on a perpetually dying world.

Moreover, it needs to be said, the ending itself is anti-climactic. And I loved it to pieces. Such an anti-climax was the very thing that bridged me into its own little world. Because certainly, I can come to understand many of the concepts put forth. But nothing hit closer to home than the daily feeling of, "Today got pretty intense at work, but the climax is long-gone and I just want to go to bed with whatever dignity I can take with me."

'Cause isn't that the kicker? Life isn't an epic tale of heroism; it's just a string of triumphs, often more underwhelming than we'd like. But dammit all, we'll take 'em.

A truly wonderful read, or so I say.

[Carolina Casas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading all six volumes was fun. They were a great adaptation from Philip K. Dick's book by the same name. One of the things that Dick's science fiction presents that many others of his generation lacked was a not-so-positive outlook on the future. That is, a very grim outlook, almost completely bleak. The characters are in constant conflict not so much with the world as with themselves. There is also the elements of what is real, what is human, etc. In Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Philip K. Dick poses the questions what does it mean to be human? Does it extend biology. Are we human simply by being organic or born naturally, or human means to have feelings, empathy for other living (and non living) things? If so, what if an "Andy" is capable of imitating these emotions to the point that it can develop them all on its own thus forming its own identity independent of its programming. A detective set out to terminate the "Andys" the androids that are outside the law, has with his colleagues employed a device that measures human response by detecting empathy. One can detect who is android by knowing if it has empathy. Yet there is a disparity in this because the detective and his wife Iran use empathy machines and other humans themselves often describe themselves as unable to feel much anymore in a world gone mad. So the question comes back again: what does it mean to be human?
Twists and turns and great philosophical questions, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep is by far one of the best novels in science fiction.

[Jorge de la Vega · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, given how faithfully this series follows the source material, I will not get into specifics about the plot or themes or everything else we already know and love about the original novel, but rather regard the art style. Also, since I can't just review issue by issue, as they are part of a whole, I'll just copy/paste the following for each one. The art is, to put it simply, gorgeous, and in perfect harmony with the aesthetic Philip K. Dick attempted to imprint into his work through an, admittedly, rather stoic prose which left a lot of things open to interpretation (as envisioned by Ridley Scott's Blade Runner, my favorite movie of all time). The balance between color and shade, as well as the vivid representation of scenes we could only but interpret in the novel makes this dystopic future come alive in the best possible way while differentiating itself from the aforementioned movie adaptation. This is, indeed, a whole new way to experience and all-too-familiar story, revisit its themes and thought-provoking imagery, and appreciate it all over again. Thoroughly enjoyed this comic book adaptation, I really did.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

The final volume of the graphic novel adaptation of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep is just as strong as the first, and wraps things up just as they should be.

PKD's writing has withstood the test of time and change of medium - the conclusion to DADOES? will blow your mind if you're not expecting it. Even having read the book a couple times, I still had forgotten some of the intricacies and was reminded with force as they popped onto the page.

The art is still great, as it has been throughout the series. I'm really not sure what else there is to say, other than it captures the book perfectly.

If you're reading this, you've probably read at least one of the other volumes - and to you I say, "stop waiting, just go read the rest already!" It's a must-read for any science fiction or comic fan, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a thought-provoking story.

[Ashleigh Mattern · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the visualization of the world in this unabridged graphic novelization of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep. It captures my inner vision of Philip K. Dick's world much better than Blade Runner did, and often goes beyond the text in surprising ways that still fit with the story. The novel also works incredibly well as a comic -- most of the time. When the introspection of characters goes on too long, it's hard to read a wall of comic-style all-caps text. Each volume includes essays about Dick, written by people who knew him or were inspired by him. While the essays might be of interest to certain hardcore Dick fans, as a casual reader, I did not find them interesting, and even found some of them rather poorly written (though maybe that was simply in comparison to the masterful book I was reading!). I gave the novel 5 stars when I first read it in 2012, and I stick with that rating for the book, but because of the occasional readability issues and the essays, I give this graphic novelization 4 stars.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the final volume in BOOM! Studios' graphic novelization of P.K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?. I thought there were more volumes, and I'm still confused about that, actually, since Goodreads shows covers for volumes 7, 8, and 9. But I'm pretty sure the book ends here.

As with every other volume, this doesn't disappoint. The art adds wonderfully to the unexpurgated text without distracting from it. I can't recommend this series highly enough, especially if you're a fan of the original novel. If you've only watched Blade Runner and think you know the story, you owe it to yourself to pick up the novel or this graphic novel version. It's a real treat.

[Carl Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic conclusion to the series. The final volume doesn't disappoint, capturing all the intricate threads of Philip K. Dick's themes and uniting them. It's been a long time since I read "DADoES?" and I have forgotten the emotional impact of the conclusion and Deckard's choices.

As a series, this is one of the best adaptations from the written word that I have read. Narrative text is skillfully blended into dialog, preserving much of Dick's evocative prose. The artwork is always complementary, blending bold lines and subdued colors. The story itself is complex and layered. Highly recommended.

[Wils Cain · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was our bookclub selection and having already read the story and seen Bladerunner which is based off this story (but not really the same story), I decided to revisit the story through a different artistic interpretation - the graphic novel. It was really beautiful and the artist purposefully did not keep the aesthetic similar to the movie version. 6 volumes to tell the story. Every word from Philip K Dick's book is in the graphic series.

[Rob Hermanowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the sixth and final volume of this outstanding graphic novel adaptation of the classic Philip K. Dick sci-fi novel that inspired the classic sci-fi film "Blade Runner" (also brilliant, but very different from the book). Dick's book is very well-represented in this format - ideal for anyone interested in delving into his particular sort of dystopic, metaphysical speculative fiction.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

graphic novel.
Saw it on the new books shelf at the library and brought it home. Didn't realise it was volume 6 of a graphic novel series until I sat down with it. Read it anyways. And remembered that a) it has been forever since I read the novel and b) the novel was a bit hard to read and follow.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

A faithful adaptation of the story... actually, I believe the story is written word-for-word as PKD had scripted it.
add to that some very nice artwork in graphic novel style and you merge two of my favorite things. PKD + G.N.

[Antje · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh, don't make me say anything! Just read this now to be able to help answering a question for school. It's poorly written, outdated, post-nuclear apocalyptic crap. Why are they still reading this for school? No wonder teenagers don't like to read - especially not after this!

[Robert Hudder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have pulled out a bunch of food themes and musings from these arcs and I am going to blog about them. The relation of food to human/not human. Kinda of what it means to eat and socialize. Really enjoyed this series.

[Joseph Young · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perhaps, having seen Blade Runner, I was hoping for some sort of emotional verbal fight where the 2 sides would pit their ideas against each other. Instead with the quick death of one side, the conversation was one-sided. Slightly disappointing end to a great series.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read individual issues 21-24.

[Lost Planet Airman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic rendition of the series!

[Mark CC · Rating 5 out of 5]

The art really pushes it into 5 Star territory. It greatly adds to the mood.

[Poiboy · Rating 4 out of 5]

great style and great end to a very well assembled graphic novel series.

[Scott · Rating 2 out of 5]

Extremely anti-climatic finish. If Ridley Scott had done a straight-up adaptation of the book instead of crafting Blade Runner out of this nonsense, his career might be over.

[Tom Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

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