Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep? (2011) - Plot & Excerpts
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep is my favorite Philip K Dick novel. More than that, really. It's probably one of my favorite novels in general. One of the foundation stones of the genre. So I was curious about this graphic novelization. I read an increasing number of comics these days. And I've been approached by people who wanted to adapt my books into graphic novels. I like to see how different adaptations are done, so that when I do decide to let someone adapt mine, I can do it in a smart way... The interesting thing here is that this adaptation is using the full text of the novels. Which, technically, probably makes it an elaborately illustrated novel. Rather than a graphic novel adaptation. In general, I think this was a mixed success. Mind you, I'm not damming with faint praise here. It is interesting, and the thought of keeping the full text is an interesting one. It shows respect, even veneration for the original story. That's a good thing. But the result is something that's neither fish nor fowl. It's not a comic and it's not a novel. And it suffers because of that. Chained to the original text, this adaptation couldn't take full advantage of the strengths of the comic medium. The text of what was a short, sharp, clever novel becomes a rather long, boggy, texty comic. What's more, you're committing to buying six pricey comics to get the whole story that you could ordinarily buy in a 7 dollar paperback. So. This adaptation is interesting, but not stunning. And it transforms what I consider a six-star book into a 3.5-4 star comic. I am reviewing for 1 -3 in this series. Number one on it's own would probably got only two stars.It pains me to rate anything at all related to Philip K Dick as less than awesome but this trade was only just ok.Artwork: The almost monochromatic, very digital style graphics suited the subject matter but was overall more than a bit grim. Numbers two and three improved, with more variation allowing for the story to low a bit better and to really use the strengths of graphic images to enhance the story, but that artistic fluidity was lacking in the first novel.I will say though, the cover art and the whole page art such as chapter starters, was brilliant and I could have done with more of it.Text: Seems to be word for word PKD's text and while there are strengths to that (Don't you hate it when they cut your favourite bit) it is a bit redundant at times. After all, the point of a graphic novel is that the graphics are there to SHOW you what the text would otherwise have to implant in your mind. For example, "He pondered, plucking at his disarrayed beard"! Why do you need those words in front of an image plucking at his beard?Anyway, it was ok. If they appear in front of me I will read the rest of them but I will not go seeking it past number three, which I already have.
What do You think about Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep? (2011)?
This is such a great way to experience PKD! It totally makes up for all the bad movie adaptations.
—peewoo
liked it - interesting presentation and art -- and really like having the full text of the story
—bbismah
Enjoy the story, but as a graphic novel, this is super text heavy.
—halibug
A GN adaptation of the classic work by Philip K. Dick.
—feodosiya
