Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?: Dust to Dust Vol. 2

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?: Dust to Dust #2

by Chris Roberson, Robert Adler (Illustrator), Philip K. Dick

Who hunted androids before Rick Deckard? A GLOBAL SCIENCE FICTION PUBLISHING EVENT! John W. Campbell Award-nominee Chris Roberson 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!

THE PREQUEL TO ONE OF THE GREATEST SCIENCE-FICTION NOVELS EVER PUBLISHED! Volume 2 of John W. Campbell Award-nominee Chris Roberson’s prequel to John W. Campbell Memorial Award-winner Philip K. Dick's DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP?. 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?'s mythology.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Science Fiction, Dystopia, Graphic Novels Comics, Fiction

112 pages, Paperback

First published March 29, 2011

About the author

Chris 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.

Reviews

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This ended up being pretty good. Unlike the original Electric Sheep, this story was more a traditional sci fi story without the existential elements of its predecessor. I think this would be more a matter of taste than anything else.

In this one, we have another group of escaped androids, but in this case, they want to exterminate the entire human race. They come up with a plan, but another android is hunting them down.

I think some people will enjoy this one for its simpler, faster paced storyline. Others will be expecting the deeper story of the original, and may not enjoy it. I think I liked them both equally to be honest. I don't mind having to think about a story, but sometimes I just want to let my brain relax and enjoy the explosions too.

[47Time · Rating 5 out of 5]

That ending sure is swift and to the point, but is also practical and logical. Charlie is a good Terminator-type character. The mission comes first. Gotta love that dedication, though it's in his programming.

Malcolm is taken to the rogue androids' hideout where Talus considers what to do with him. His ability threatens their existence, but may also be helpful. Charlie gets Samantha to help him identify Faith in exchange for satisfying her scientific curiosity regarding android psychology and physiology.

During the war Talus developed a disdain for humanity's weaknesses. Now he just wants them dead and has loyal followers armed to the teeth to defend against the authorities. Afterwards they will set their sights on the remaining humans.

Charlie tracks Talus down and intentionally springs his trap to gain knowledge of his plans. Samantha uses a device that makes him feel emotions strong enough that he is brought to tears. Charlie takes advantage of the distraction to disarm the rogues and have two more of their number return from their mission to install Dust bombs in the city - their first step in the culling of the city's human population. With the rogues together in one place, Charlie detonates the bomb in his body to complete his mission.

[Michael Scott · Rating 1 out of 5]

+/- Graphics: interesting style, credible and well-inked, but very dark and without truly special features.

+ Diversity of visuals used to depict the androids, which are of different 'races'.

--- Story and characters: Merely using the name Philip K. Dick, but missing all the big questions and the light touch. The androids are just advanced robots, having none of the issues of exploring reality in the original Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep. The humans are even worse - - lacking any sense of doubt about meaning and, most importantly, difference between the thinking and living of humans and androids. What's left is a dull, Hollywood-like showdown with guns, in which some of the protagonists happen to be described as androids, and the others happen to be described as humans.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fast read and a pretty simple story. I did not go through Volume 1 (issues 1-4) before jumping in here, but I don't think I missed any essential plot points. There's enough back story/retread here to be up to speed.
I felt a little cheated on story here. I know its the second half of a two volume set, but it still felt light on story and impact. The contained story just felt like it should be a brief event for maybe one issue, not four.
The art is good, but I wouldn't say great. Nothing that really grabs your attention (for the better or worse).
I was hoping for more.

[Stardustlyricer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Schade es scheint doch keine Serie zu sein, denn mit dem zweiten Sammelband ist die Geschichte abgeschlossen worden. Somit gab es also 8 Hefte. Die Story hat mir sehr gut gefallen und hat auch ein cooles Ende. Das hätte ich auch gerne als Buch gelesen.

[Sam Nicholson · Rating 4 out of 5]

7/10

[Kcjones · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't think the art was that great.

[Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anti-climactic and feels unfinished. I was expecting more from the second volume of this series. I hope that the writers unravel more of this period of Blade Runner's world.

[Andy Hickman · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?: Dust To Dust” Vol.2

Appropriate homage to PKD's incredible DADOES.

Book 5
“Years without experiencing a single emotion, and now you were feeling EVERYTHING from EVERYONE around you – all of the joy and fear and rage and lust and on and on.
The people who the dust simply KILLED, you considered the LUCKY ones.” – Malcolm Reed

“The android is the pinnacle of creation, a PERFECT marriage of mind and body. To shackle ourselves to the whims of frail humanity is an obscenity, a willful denial of our obvious purpose.” – android Talus.

Book 6
“You remember an explanation that you heard years ago, about the difference between neurosis and psychosis.
A neurotic would see a red light but would keep driving anyway, but a PSYCHOTIC would see the red light as green and not even slow down.
How far gone would you have to be not to see the traffic light at ALL?” – Malcolm Reed

Book 7
“From what I’ve seen, feelings cause nothing but TROUBLE.” – android Charlie.
“Emotions are humans’ GREATEST weakness.” – android TALUS.

Book 8
Sensational conclusion. “I think maybe I’ll get one of those electric pets.”

[Periklis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I admire Roberson's intent on merging P.K. Dick's book, with Boom Comics' adaptation, and Blade Runner (its film-adaptation), in this original prequel series. While the conclusion didn't work for me (the replicants felt more like cyborgs or army grunts, than the stoic clones of Dick's book or Ridley Scott's film), the art was wonderful and this comic-book deserves to be read. On the positive side, the themes on Dick's novel are present and the human characters are ambiguous and tormented (like a typical P.K.Dick character). There are hints of the Mercer cult/religion from the novel, and latent psychic abilities play an integral part on the plot.

[Cameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

While very good, chapter 5-8 didn't quite maintain the level of interest as the first volume. Elements that count agaisnt it are 2 significant chase action sequences (well done by ordinary standards) that take up pages but don't reqally add anything new to world.

The last half chapter is a bit of cop out and leaps over potentially interesting development. It reminded me of Star Wars Episode III, closing out characters and just introducing enough elements to get you up to established start of the seies.

There is no chance of felshing out the andies furhter but there might be another short sequel to this going a bit further into mercerism, mood organs oand off-world colonies.

Handles right, this series flehsed out could also be a good Blade Runner prequel.

[Joseph Young · Rating 2 out of 5]

They finish off the story but don't add anything amazing. The main plot here talks about living without emotions vs living with emotions and some of the pitfalls of both. However, it seems quite shallow in comparison to the previous volume. Perhaps if I had not read the original series some of the stuff would be quite good; but again, they feel like shallow throwbacks (eg a Penfield machine), as opposed to in depth discussion as to how it affects humanity. The main draw seems to be action scenes, which are serviceable, but not the series strong point. Overall, disappointed. Would have been better off just reading the first volume.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a fan of the original book, I feel this concludes a nice story to give me my DADoES fix. It fits in nicely with the world, showing us how things were when animals were still around and the dust was just beginning to affect the planet. I'm glad my library purchased this. I'll be looking into buying my own copies.

[Rick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't quite pay off on the set up of the first volume. This volume really boils down to a chase to find the rough Android faction. It's pretty standard sci-fi fare with a few nods to Dick's concepts tossed in.

[Paul · Rating 3 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.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nowhere near as good as DADOES.

[Petalbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent. I'm fearful that Hollywood will make a movie of DADOES DTD and ruin it. Hollywood, plese don't? Thanks!

[c wylie misselhorn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good premise, good writing, dark artwork. Prequel to Dick's "Do Androids..."

[Robert Hudder · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are worth reading. They may even be worth searching out.