Worm Book Club discussion

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book definitely made my top 5 cut! I was initially inspired to read it because of the movie, Blade Runner, which is loosely based on the novel. After reading, I understand why they say loosely! If you have seen the movie, don't go into the book expecting the same storyline. While the world retains the same type of fascinating toxicity as it does in the movie, the characters and events differ quite a lot. As it outlines in the intro, Philip K. Dick has an incredible knack for spinning fictional worlds. If you like Sci-Fi novels, this is a must read (I would also point you toward his book, Man in the High Castle). My only qualms about this book is that the ending is rather confusing. You get the sense as you read it that everything is laden with meaning that you are not always able to decipher immediately, if at all. Overall, would recommend!

Ooooh I've never seen Blade Runner and I also didn't know it was based on a book! Do you think the book or the movie sells the world better? Like you said they're very different in other ways but they have similar worlds, so which way of showing the world do you like better?

I preferred the novel depiction of the book. While the movie has a really cool 80s depiction of the future, it has a totally different tone. Think neon lights and perpetual night and smog and overpopulation. In the book, the world is emptying out as people leave to colonize other planets as earth is inhospitable. I think the silence and decay of the world in the book is a little more compelling and makes more sense logically.