Whilst searching for more information about Blade Runner I came across a reference to the book "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep" that claims to be the basis for the film "Blade Runner" . It is true that the main character in the film is the same as in the book and indeed he is a bounty hunter whose task is to 'retire' (kill) androids. Other characters from the book appear but it could not be claimed that the film bears any close relationship to the book.
The book presents Decker as human with a wife and an electric sheep and the book provides a much more rounded character than that portrayed by Harrison Ford in the film. We see a number of sides of him most strikingly his doubts about his work particularly after he had made love to one of the androids. He portrays as human with all the weaknesses of the species as well as the strengths. For me he was much more believable as a character.
The book also presents the androids (called replicants in the film) in greater detail. Most strikingly they are aware of their status, their strengths and their weaknesses. We are offered the resignation with which they accept death whether it is sudden, as in being retired by a bounty hunter, or as a result of the limit of their lives that is four years. They have no empathy so cannot put themselves in the position of another whether it be another android or a human. It is one characteristic that distinguishes them from most human beings thus allowing them to be recognised. Sometimes it is easy to feel sorry for them insofar as they hunted down to be retired, or 'die' after only four years of existence, treated as slaves on the colonies (Mars and other planets settled by the humans escaping from the devastation caused by a nuclear world war), or hunted down if they manage to escape their bondage.
I much preferred the book to the film, the latter being more like a violent video game. At least the book is populated by characters that have 'souls' and self awareness.
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