Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

1. Inspiration for "Blade Runner"

1.1. also about Rick Deckard, bounty hunter, faced with retiring 6 Nexus-6 androids

1.1.1. deeper level: investigates defining qualities separating humans from androids

2. seeting: post-apocalypse, nuclear war, World War Terminus

2.1. most animals endangered/extinct from radiation

2.1.1. owning animals=status

2.1.1.1. many own fake animals instead

3. what defines humanity?

3.1. empathy

3.1.1. empathy humans experience towards an animal

3.1.1.1. Deckard towards his electric sheep (replacement for his real one-which died)

3.1.2. the title "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep" highlights if Androids can empathize, if they also experience empathy towards animals (as humans do)

4. Rick lives with depressed wife "Iran"

4.1. Mercerism (main religion)= Empathy Boxes, connect users into Wilbur Mercer's suffering

4.1.1. a man who walks up a mountain & stones are thrown at him (pain of the users share)