Philip K. Dick

A detailed Summary of Philip K. Dick

In the following essay, I will analyze Philip K. Dick's short story titled "Blade Runner". "Blade Runner" is a science fiction story about the not to distant future. In my analysis, I will use two non-fiction essays, Sonia Maasik's and Jack Solomon's "Interpreting Popular Signs" and Mike Nordberg's "Science Fiction: A Mirror to Our Universe". Both of the essays are about hidden messages in science fiction. Are there secret messages about the present in science fiction stories?

In "Science Fiction: A Mirror to Our Universe" Nordberg writes about many of the controversial issues that Star Trek addressed. Nordberg explains that Star Trek dealt with such issues as war, racism, poverty and greed. Nordberg says, "Producer Gene Roddenberry created a fantastic world where humankind has over come war, greed and poverty while still leaving room for a moral dilemma or two to creep in" (37). This is very true for Star Trek but is it the same for all science fiction?

The short story "Blade Runner" is set in the year 2021. In the beginning of the story, the main characters, Rick Deckard and his wife Iran, are awakened by their mood organ. The mood organ is a tool used to put it's user in good or bad moods. The user dials a number

There are secret message throughout "Blade Runner". That is why I believe there are secret messages in science fiction stories. The stories might not be true, but they certainly make you think much more about what will happen if "World War Terminus" happens. I believe that secret messages are in all science fiction stories. That is why, I think, our society has such an interest in science fiction stories. They make us think about what each of us would do if things like World War Terminus and everything else from "Blade Runner" and other science fiction stories came true. I think that is because the ideas in science fiction stories are not too far off from reality.

When I look at the "Blade Runner" story I can find a lot of real world anxieties. The one that worries me the most is "World War Terminus" (388). What was World War Terminus all about? As I looked over the essay I noticed that before Rick could go outside he had to grab his Ajax model Mountibank Lead Codpiece. That lead piece was worn over Rick's private part to ensure that he could still reproduce. Dick states that "Any month, however the exam by the San Francisco Police Department doctors could reveal otherwise" (389). To stay a "regular", everyone has to get an annual check-up. The procedure tries to determine if anyone has been exposed to "radioactive motes".

and gets the programmed mood. Rick is a bounty hunter who is hired by cops to kill "andys". Andys are computers that look like humans. Every day before work Rick heads up to the rooftop where his electric sheep is "grazing". Animals that are still around are considered very valuable since most died during "World War Terminus". So Rick just acts like nothing happened to his sheep. While Rick is checking on his sheep, his neighbor Bill Barbour also comes to the roof top to check on his animals before going to work. While Bill and Rick are talking about their animals, Bill tells Rick that

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1310
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English