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Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?: Dust to Dust #1
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?: Dust To Dust Vol. 1
John W. Campbell Award-nominee Chris Roberson (iZombie) writes the prequel to John W. Campbell Memorial Award-winner Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, one of the greatest science fiction novels ever published! Who hunted androids before Rick Deckard? Taking place immediately after World War Terminus ends, the problems with artificial life—androids—become apparent. The government decides they must become targets, hunted down, but who will do the dirty work? Two men are assigned: Malcolm Reed, a "special" human with the power to feel others' emotions, and Charlie Victor, who's the perfect man for the job... or is he? What secret does Victor hide? Meanwhile Samantha Wu, a Stanford biologist, fights to save the last of the living animals. Don't miss this science fiction milestone that fleshes out Philip K. Dick's world and Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? mythology!
112 pages, Paperback
First published November 24, 2010
About the author
Chris Roberson
554 books264 followersChris Roberson is the co-creator with artist Michael Allred of iZombie, the basis of the hit CW television series, and the writer of several New York Times best-selling Cinderella miniseries set in the world of Bill Willingham’s Fables. He is also the co-creator of Edison Rex with artist Dennis Culver, and the co-writer of Hellboy and the B.P.R.D, Witchfinder, Rise of the Black Flame, and other titles set in the world of Mike Mignola’s Hellboy. In addition to his numerous comics projects, Roberson has written more than a dozen novels and three dozen short stories. He lives with a teenager, two cats, and far too many books in Portland, Oregon.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
September 9, 2017
3*s for the story, but I thought the artwork suited it really well, so bumped it up to 4. This is the authorized prequel to the first Bladerunner movie with new characters, and it situates around the android replicant Charlie Victor, an empath named Malcom Reed, and a scientist by the name of Samantha Wu. Victor and Reed are together on the hunt for replicants, and Wu is on the hunt to find out the truth behind a religious cult. 'Dust' has claimed the city and most of what lives there, and the feeling of this graphic novel comes nicely close to the feel of the movie. As this is only the first volume, not a lot of nail biting action here, but the replicant intrigue still kept me interested, and I love being back in the Bladerunner world. CANNOT wait for the release of the new Bladerunner 2049 movie!
January 2, 2016
This is a prequel to DADOES, which is basically Blade Runner. The dust has just started falling and the animals are slowly dying off. The dust is also causing mutations in humans.
We are following an android hunting down other rogue androids. He's enlisted the aid of a human whose mutation allows him to sense the emotions of others. If he can't sense an emotion, it means he's sensing an android.
It's a good volume, with good art, but it's hard to rate because it's just half the story. Entertaining so far, though.
We are following an android hunting down other rogue androids. He's enlisted the aid of a human whose mutation allows him to sense the emotions of others. If he can't sense an emotion, it means he's sensing an android.
It's a good volume, with good art, but it's hard to rate because it's just half the story. Entertaining so far, though.
December 22, 2011
I have a confession. I sometimes pick up books just to read for sake of reading. On days when my head refuse to let any information in, I want books which are light, fun and forgettable. 'Forgettable' is the important part here. Read and forget about it. No staring at wall, trying to gather your feelings about the book. And when I find myself tired of reading those as well, I switch to Graphic Novels. Marvel at graphics and sometimes story, that's about it.
This week has been one of those. After 2 stars forgettable books, I turned my attention to Graphic section of library. I picked this one just because of the title. (Novel was already on my shelf, waiting to be read) And boy, did I pick right? Loved it. Adored it. Sat there, going through it again, Just to absorb it. I love it when any book surprises me. I thought it would be 3 stars, but now I find myself looking for vol2. So glad I picked it up and so thankful that it got me out of reading slump.
This week has been one of those. After 2 stars forgettable books, I turned my attention to Graphic section of library. I picked this one just because of the title. (Novel was already on my shelf, waiting to be read) And boy, did I pick right? Loved it. Adored it. Sat there, going through it again, Just to absorb it. I love it when any book surprises me. I thought it would be 3 stars, but now I find myself looking for vol2. So glad I picked it up and so thankful that it got me out of reading slump.
January 31, 2012
I've not been this excited to start a series since, I don't know when. (:
October 4, 2022
Das es auch eine zweite Serie gab, war mir zunächst entgangen. DADOES-Dust to Dust ist auch bei BOOM! erscheinen. Die Story ist von Chris Roberson und die Zeichnungen vom polnischen Zeichner Robert Adler. Die Zeichnungen gefallen mir sehr gut. Bisher sind seit November 2010 nur zwei Bände erschienen. Band 1 hatte ich mir erst einmal bestellt und nun nachdem ich dieses verschlungen habe auch Band 2. Roberson geht hier bei seiner Story die Frage nach was vor den Ereignissen des Buchs passiert ist. Wer hat vor Deckard Androiden gejagt.Hier werden alle Elemente aus dem Buch wieder aufgegriffen. Der Staub nach dem dritten Weltkrieg, der die ganze Welt bedeckt und immer noch fällt. Der die "Elite" der Menschheit auf die ausserplanetarischen Kolonien auswandern lässt. Androiden mit kurzer Lebensdauer und ohne Emotionen, die im Krieg eingesetzt wurden und nun als sogenannte "Defekte" Androiden in den "Ruhestand versetzt" werden sollen. Die Tiere die wegen des Staubs auszusterben drohen. Und den Mercerantismus, diese seltsame Sekte mit ihren Messias Mercer.
Die Hauptfiguren sind Charlie Victor, der die defekten Androiden zur Strecke bringen soll. Er hat ein besonderes Gespür für Androiden, weil er selbst einer ist und im letzten Krieg gekämpft hat. Am Anfang der Story rekrutiert er Malcom Reed, der ein Mensch ist, aber eine besondere Gabe hat: Er ist ein Empath und kann die Gefühle anderer Menschen "lesen". Das macht ihn zu einen perfekten Androiden-Detektor, denn Androiden haben keine Gefühle und daher kann er sie erkennen. Die lebende Voight-Kampff-Maschine. Dann ist da Samantha Wu, eine Wissenschaftlerin die versucht zu erforschen warum der Staub den Großteil der Tiere tötet, aber nur wenige Menschen.
Victor und Reed jagen eine Gruppe von "defekten" Androiden. Von den wenigsten wissen sie wie sie überhaupt aussehen. Auch der Leser sieht immer nur dunkle Schemen, wen jene ins Bild kommen. Das schafft eine ähnliche Spannung wie bei BATTLESTAR GALACTICA. Nur Tallus wird gezeigt. Ein ehemaliger Offizier beim Militär, der die kleine Gruppe anführt. Brisant: Tallus war auch mal Victors Comander.
Die Geschichte setzt wirklich gut an der von Dick geschaffenen Welt an. Viktor scheint zwar nicht so "defekt" zu sein wie die Anderen, aber er wird hier so dargestellt, das man sich schon denken kann, das auch er anfängt Emotionen zu entwickeln. Trotzdem geht er seiner Aufgabe nach, die ihm erteilt wurde. Reed dagegen kämpft schon seit seiner Kindheit gegen seine Gabe, die mehr ein Fluch ist und ihn in jungen Jahren fast in den Wahnsinn getrieben hätte, bis er einen Medikament gegen seine Gabe bekommen hatte. Wenn er das Medikament nimmt, dann spürt er die Emotionen von anderen Menschen nicht mehr, aber auch eben seine eigenen nicht mehr. Emotional ist er selbst zu einen Androiden geworden. Nun da er die Medikation absetzen muss um seine Gabe nutzen zu können, bricht wieder alles auf ihn ein. Und er beginnt auch Dinge zu spüren und zu sehen, die es eigentlich nicht gibt. Bei denen er hofft das es sie nicht gibt!
Die Geschichte hat eine Menge Potential und das erste Band endet mit einen spannenden Cliffhanger. Kann Victor auf die Dauer wirklich seines Gleichen töten? Oder entwickelt er sich auch in die Richtung wie die sogenannten defekten Androiden? Was ist mit Reed? Eigentlich müsste er sich unter Androiden richtig wohl fühlen, denn da stürzen deren Emotionen nicht auf ihn ein? Und was hat es auf sich mit den Halluzinationen die er bekommt wenn er seine Medikamente nicht nimmt?
Ich hoffe das die Serie Fortgesetzt wird.
Die Hauptfiguren sind Charlie Victor, der die defekten Androiden zur Strecke bringen soll. Er hat ein besonderes Gespür für Androiden, weil er selbst einer ist und im letzten Krieg gekämpft hat. Am Anfang der Story rekrutiert er Malcom Reed, der ein Mensch ist, aber eine besondere Gabe hat: Er ist ein Empath und kann die Gefühle anderer Menschen "lesen". Das macht ihn zu einen perfekten Androiden-Detektor, denn Androiden haben keine Gefühle und daher kann er sie erkennen. Die lebende Voight-Kampff-Maschine. Dann ist da Samantha Wu, eine Wissenschaftlerin die versucht zu erforschen warum der Staub den Großteil der Tiere tötet, aber nur wenige Menschen.
Victor und Reed jagen eine Gruppe von "defekten" Androiden. Von den wenigsten wissen sie wie sie überhaupt aussehen. Auch der Leser sieht immer nur dunkle Schemen, wen jene ins Bild kommen. Das schafft eine ähnliche Spannung wie bei BATTLESTAR GALACTICA. Nur Tallus wird gezeigt. Ein ehemaliger Offizier beim Militär, der die kleine Gruppe anführt. Brisant: Tallus war auch mal Victors Comander.
Die Geschichte setzt wirklich gut an der von Dick geschaffenen Welt an. Viktor scheint zwar nicht so "defekt" zu sein wie die Anderen, aber er wird hier so dargestellt, das man sich schon denken kann, das auch er anfängt Emotionen zu entwickeln. Trotzdem geht er seiner Aufgabe nach, die ihm erteilt wurde. Reed dagegen kämpft schon seit seiner Kindheit gegen seine Gabe, die mehr ein Fluch ist und ihn in jungen Jahren fast in den Wahnsinn getrieben hätte, bis er einen Medikament gegen seine Gabe bekommen hatte. Wenn er das Medikament nimmt, dann spürt er die Emotionen von anderen Menschen nicht mehr, aber auch eben seine eigenen nicht mehr. Emotional ist er selbst zu einen Androiden geworden. Nun da er die Medikation absetzen muss um seine Gabe nutzen zu können, bricht wieder alles auf ihn ein. Und er beginnt auch Dinge zu spüren und zu sehen, die es eigentlich nicht gibt. Bei denen er hofft das es sie nicht gibt!
Die Geschichte hat eine Menge Potential und das erste Band endet mit einen spannenden Cliffhanger. Kann Victor auf die Dauer wirklich seines Gleichen töten? Oder entwickelt er sich auch in die Richtung wie die sogenannten defekten Androiden? Was ist mit Reed? Eigentlich müsste er sich unter Androiden richtig wohl fühlen, denn da stürzen deren Emotionen nicht auf ihn ein? Und was hat es auf sich mit den Halluzinationen die er bekommt wenn er seine Medikamente nicht nimmt?
Ich hoffe das die Serie Fortgesetzt wird.
March 3, 2024
This is how you build a futuristic post-apocalyptic world. Solid characters, smart dialogue and a detective story to tie everything together. It feels well thought out, with no useless bells and whistles. Humanity is already dying out and there are other threats out there. Very much like the crazier humans, some sentient rogue androids take grim pleasure in seeing organics die. They await the moment when the world will be theirs for the taking. A sneak peek into volume 2 reveals it's even cooler than this one.
The world is slowly dying. The radioactive Dust is killing all organic life. Most of the humans have been killed during World War Terminus, while the ones left behind are struggling to survive. Samantha Wu is researching a way to make animals immune to Dust. Meanwhile Talus is a rogue android and the leader of a group of androids wanted by the federal government. An android calling himself Charlie Victor is hunting the rogue androids down. He enlists the reluctant help of Malcolm Reed who has been enhanced by Dust - he is an empath, so he can tell androids from humans based on their emotions.
The world is slowly dying. The radioactive Dust is killing all organic life. Most of the humans have been killed during World War Terminus, while the ones left behind are struggling to survive. Samantha Wu is researching a way to make animals immune to Dust. Meanwhile Talus is a rogue android and the leader of a group of androids wanted by the federal government. An android calling himself Charlie Victor is hunting the rogue androids down. He enlists the reluctant help of Malcolm Reed who has been enhanced by Dust - he is an empath, so he can tell androids from humans based on their emotions.
April 28, 2023
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?: Dust To Dust Vol. 1 (#1-4)
PKD launched a fascinating story that framed an emergent universe. This book is an addition to that cosmos. ****
#1 - The clock tells you it's time to wake up. One machine giving instructions to another.
#2 - All of the people passing by, every last one of them, is a raging maelstrom of emotion.
#3 - "These EMPATHY BOXES are at the heart of the Mercerist sacrament. How do they work?"
#4 - How COULD you trust your senses when you saw things, heard things, that couldn't POSSIBLY exist. How can you know what's REAL?
PKD launched a fascinating story that framed an emergent universe. This book is an addition to that cosmos. ****
#1 - The clock tells you it's time to wake up. One machine giving instructions to another.
#2 - All of the people passing by, every last one of them, is a raging maelstrom of emotion.
#3 - "These EMPATHY BOXES are at the heart of the Mercerist sacrament. How do they work?"
#4 - How COULD you trust your senses when you saw things, heard things, that couldn't POSSIBLY exist. How can you know what's REAL?
March 3, 2017
This is a heavy handed prequel. If you're a fan of the original book, don't read this graphic novel.
I don't see how this could be "by PKD" as listed. Dick died in 1982 and this was published in 2011. The inside cover copywrites are attributed to PKD's children. The graphic novel may be authorized and inspired, but it is not PKD. It takes a number of ideas from the book, dumbs them down, and then beats them to death. If you a fan of PKD, better to skip this.
I don't see how this could be "by PKD" as listed. Dick died in 1982 and this was published in 2011. The inside cover copywrites are attributed to PKD's children. The graphic novel may be authorized and inspired, but it is not PKD. It takes a number of ideas from the book, dumbs them down, and then beats them to death. If you a fan of PKD, better to skip this.
May 7, 2022
Good story and very good art. Read the book and watched two movies and this has the Blade Runner look/style with a different story.
January 22, 2016
Philip K. Dick, Chris Roberson and Robert Adler are the authors of the fictional book Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep 1CDust to Dust 1D. The genres of this book are science fiction and action. I did not really choose to read this book, we had a event at our school were you HAD to pick a random book rapped in paper and read it. That is why I read this book.
This story takes place in the future during a devastating world war that leaves the planet in ruins. The main characters are a person who has the special ability to read peoples emotions named Malcolm Reed. And second a android who is tracking down 1Crouge androids 1D and his name is Charlie Victor. Reeds challenge is that when he reads the emotions of others he can 19t control it and he almost goes crazy with pain. Charlie 19s challenge is that he has to stay on the human 19s side and not join the rouges. The general plot is that androids (robots) malfunction and try to take out the rest of the human population or a least see its end. Charlie and Reed have to find them and destroy them. The only problem is, they can 19t find them.
This story is exciting and full of action so it makes you feel kind of jumpy. As I said before the plot was exciting but definitely not believable (it 19s science fiction). There kind of a few funny bits but not really. I didn 19t really have a favorite part of the book. I liked this book but not a ton because I think it needed more background. I think the recommended reading age is 10 + and rate it 7 out of 10.
This story takes place in the future during a devastating world war that leaves the planet in ruins. The main characters are a person who has the special ability to read peoples emotions named Malcolm Reed. And second a android who is tracking down 1Crouge androids 1D and his name is Charlie Victor. Reeds challenge is that when he reads the emotions of others he can 19t control it and he almost goes crazy with pain. Charlie 19s challenge is that he has to stay on the human 19s side and not join the rouges. The general plot is that androids (robots) malfunction and try to take out the rest of the human population or a least see its end. Charlie and Reed have to find them and destroy them. The only problem is, they can 19t find them.
This story is exciting and full of action so it makes you feel kind of jumpy. As I said before the plot was exciting but definitely not believable (it 19s science fiction). There kind of a few funny bits but not really. I didn 19t really have a favorite part of the book. I liked this book but not a ton because I think it needed more background. I think the recommended reading age is 10 + and rate it 7 out of 10.
August 17, 2016
A precursor to "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" with a similar plot. This time, one former combat android is chosen to hunt down other rogue combat androids, for some reason or another. Our chosen android enlists the help of an empath who can feel emotion, to detect the androids who don't give off emotion.
Meanwhile a scientist named Samantha Yu investigates the unknown 'dust' that is killing of all organic life on earth. She is eventually led to investigate the cult religion Mercerism, known for it's empathy boxes that allow users to feel and empathize with the struggle of Mercer.
Besides a brief flash of action near the end, most of this volume gives more life to this new world, affected by dust. I'm not sure if this stands on it's own. I would definitely recommend reading "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" first to get more background on the androids and Mercer. As an addition, it's disappointing that the bounty hunter plot seems to be exactly the same, but the world ends up making for it in the end. The book does not properly present the threat presented by the 'rogue' androids, so you're left to wonder which side is really the right side to cheer for.
Meanwhile a scientist named Samantha Yu investigates the unknown 'dust' that is killing of all organic life on earth. She is eventually led to investigate the cult religion Mercerism, known for it's empathy boxes that allow users to feel and empathize with the struggle of Mercer.
Besides a brief flash of action near the end, most of this volume gives more life to this new world, affected by dust. I'm not sure if this stands on it's own. I would definitely recommend reading "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" first to get more background on the androids and Mercer. As an addition, it's disappointing that the bounty hunter plot seems to be exactly the same, but the world ends up making for it in the end. The book does not properly present the threat presented by the 'rogue' androids, so you're left to wonder which side is really the right side to cheer for.
January 26, 2023
Drawn back to the World of Blade Runner.
I thought there was nothing more to explore in the post-apocalyptic world of Blade Runner. I've finished all the graphic novels, have watched the original film and the most recent movie starring Ryan Gosling. Oh, I even backed the recent Blade Runner RPG on Kickstarter!
But man! Oh, man! This prequel is such a treat! Before witnessing Deckard expire truant androids, the story shows us how it was back then -back when there were more humans on Earth and androids are just recently being employed. Mercerism was still a growing cult. The story was set at a time of chaos, an intervening period between World War Terminus and the migration of Humans to space. It was a time before Human Blade Runners.
I do not want to give any detailed review on the events that happened in the story so as not to spoil your experience in reading the book. Nevertheless, I'm giving this a 5 not because I am biased towards the lore of Blade Runner but because this graphic novel serves as an important account between the war and the migration. Hope you like it as much as I did.
I thought there was nothing more to explore in the post-apocalyptic world of Blade Runner. I've finished all the graphic novels, have watched the original film and the most recent movie starring Ryan Gosling. Oh, I even backed the recent Blade Runner RPG on Kickstarter!
But man! Oh, man! This prequel is such a treat! Before witnessing Deckard expire truant androids, the story shows us how it was back then -back when there were more humans on Earth and androids are just recently being employed. Mercerism was still a growing cult. The story was set at a time of chaos, an intervening period between World War Terminus and the migration of Humans to space. It was a time before Human Blade Runners.
I do not want to give any detailed review on the events that happened in the story so as not to spoil your experience in reading the book. Nevertheless, I'm giving this a 5 not because I am biased towards the lore of Blade Runner but because this graphic novel serves as an important account between the war and the migration. Hope you like it as much as I did.
October 5, 2011
Taking place before the events of Do Androids Dream, Dust to Dust covers the ground before the prevalence of Mercerism and empathy for all remaining animals (and the need to show empathy by caring for the highly-sought-after creatures).
I love that this, even in this world, still explores the need to retire rogue andys and the emergence of specials (even making use of them in more action). Very welcome extension to a book I adored, and true to the original story (unlike Bladerunner).
Excellent story. Thoroughly enjoyed. Eager to get hands on next volume.
I love that this, even in this world, still explores the need to retire rogue andys and the emergence of specials (even making use of them in more action). Very welcome extension to a book I adored, and true to the original story (unlike Bladerunner).
Excellent story. Thoroughly enjoyed. Eager to get hands on next volume.
June 18, 2012
This is an interesting extension of Dick's novel in prequel form. This is only half of the prequel, however, with volume 2 picking up the rest. As this gets you to the midway point of the story, I am intrigued and looking forward to hopping into the next volume. However, it should be noted that this isn't quite as deep or thought-provoking as DADOES was, but it has some good elements that go beyond your usual run-of-the-mill sci-fi graphic novel tropes.
July 14, 2010
Everything I expected it to be. Yes it's a prequel, once you get past that though the story was interesting enough. The use of someone with psychic powers instead of the Voight-Kampff machine is a nice twist, we are apparently starting the story before it's invention. It made me want to order the next issue, and really, isn't that the point?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2014
This is the first graphic novel I have really read, apart from Manga, and I actually enjoyed it, although found some of it a bit confusing. It might have been a good idea to start with the original comic adaptation and then move onto the prequel.
Moving onto the second prequel volume, hopefully it will be just as good :)
Moving onto the second prequel volume, hopefully it will be just as good :)
March 11, 2012
Chapters 1-4 of this prequel to DADoES really grabbed me and immerse me. It fleshes out with out adding significatnly to the background elements. It fits equally well with the book and Bladerunner film.
I have moved stright on to Volume 2.
I have moved stright on to Volume 2.
October 20, 2012
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.
add to that some very nice artwork in graphic novel style and you merge two of my favorite things. PKD + G.N.
December 9, 2014
Better adaptation that Blade Runner. Much clearer representation of Dick's writing. I'm going to be all over these. They are excellent. Nature of feelings, humanity and frailty of life, reality and sanity.
October 29, 2010
Quite a good yarn that is reaching a fantastic climax. Not as cerebral of Dick's novel (on which this is based) but a good fit within the universe, nonetheless.
May 25, 2015
intriguing concepts.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews