Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick

Extended Synopsis

Set in a dystopian post-World War landscape where millions have perished, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? portrays an Earth driven to the brink of ecological collapse. With entire species extinct and the majority of mankind migrating off-planet, owning a living creature has become an extreme luxury. For those left behind in the irradiated dust, highly sophisticated simulacra—artificial horses, birds, and sheep—must suffice.

However, the technological apex of this era is the creation of human simulacra. These incredibly advanced androids, built to serve Mars immigrants, are indistinguishable from true humans and are strictly banned from Earth due to the danger they pose. Driven into hiding, rogue androids dwell undetected among the remaining human population. Enter Rick Deckard, an officially sanctioned bounty hunter tasked with tracking down and "retiring" these unauthorized synthetic beings. But as Deckard corners his prey, he realizes that these machines will fight back with lethal force, forcing him into a perilous moral labyrinth where the line between human empathy and artificial programming blurs entirely.