Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? is a science fiction novel by American writer Philip K. Dick. First published in 1968, the book inspired the 1982 film Blade Runner.
The novel is set in a post-apocalyptic near future after a devastating nuclear war. Most animal species are endangered or extinct due to radiation poisoning. A popular post-war religion urges people to nurture their empathy by taking care of animals.
The main plot follows Rick Deckard, a bounty hunter who is assigned to "retire" six escaped androids. The androids allegedly lack empathy and thus must be killed. A secondary plot follows John Isidore, a man of low IQ who aids the fugitive androids. The novel explores how commonly empathy is subverted by other motives.