Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?: Chapter 1 Summary & Analysis

In the year 2021, Rick Deckard wakes up to the sound of his Penfield mood organ, which he adjusts to a setting that makes him ready for the day. He stretches and notices his wife, Iran, lying in bed with her mood organ set to a depressive state. When Rick suggests she adjust her mood to something more positive, she refuses. She explains that she schedules periods of despair into her routine to feel connected to the grim reality of their world, which has been devastated by World War Terminus. Rick argues that such feelings are dangerous and urges her to join him in a shared, positive mood setting. Iran resists at first but eventually agrees, and Rick adjusts both their consoles—hers to instill admiration for his wisdom and his own to match the professional mindset he needs for work.

After a quick breakfast, Rick dresses in his protective gear and heads to the roof to care for his sheep. On the roof, he checks on the animal, a highly realistic electric replica of a real sheep, designed to mimic the behavior of a live animal. Bill Barbour, Rick’s neighbor, shows up to care for his Percheron horse and proudly announces that the mare is pregnant. Rick, envious of the valuable horse, asks if Bill would consider selling either the horse or the colt, offering a payment plan of $500 per month for 10 months. Bill refuses, explaining that Percheron horses are incredibly rare, and even inferior colts would not sell at catalogue value due to their scarcity. He recounts the lengths he went to acquire the horse, including flying to Canada and personally transporting her back to ensure her safety.

Frustrated, Rick reveals the control panel on his sheep, admitting that it is an electric model. He explains that his real sheep, Groucho, died from tetanus after stepping on a piece of wire left in the hay. Unable to afford a live replacement, Rick purchased the mechanical replica to avoid the social shame of not owning a live animal. He tells Bill how he puts just as much effort into caring for the fake sheep as he did for the real one but acknowledges that it is not the same. Bill expresses sympathy and assures Rick he will keep the secret, but also suggests Rick consider smaller, more affordable animals, such as a cat or mouse. Rick dismisses the idea, stating he wants a large animal like a horse or cow to restore his social standing.

As the conversation ends, Rick bitterly points out that Bill’s horse could die unexpectedly, just as his sheep did. As Rick storms away, Bill apologizes for offending him. Then, Rick walks to his hovercar, determined to start his day. His focus shifts to his job as a bounty hunter, where “retiring” rogue androids could provide him with the extra income that he needs to purchase another large animal.