David J. Kelly is an English instructor at several colleges in Illinois, as well as a novelist and playwright. In the following essay, he compares Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? to Blade Runner, the popular movie that was adapted from it.

It is awkward to tell friends that you are reading Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? The title is long and complex, and besides, few people outside of the small, particular community of science fiction fans are familiar with it. Much easier is to tell friends that you are reading the book that Blade Runner is based on. Why not? The publisher even uses this shorter title on the paperback reissue editions, remembering to include Philip Dick's original title only in parentheses. The 1982 movie Blade Runner was a critical success upon its release, and its reputation has grown since then. Special effects technicians point to...