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Blade Runner: A Story of the Future is a 1982 book by Les Martin. It is a novelization of Blade Runner, which itself was loosely based on Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick.

Development[]

Dick himself had initially been offered $400,000 from Simon & Schuster to pen a novelization of the film, but he refused, preferring a re-release of his novel and having no desire to write an "El Cheapo" version of his book.[1] Simon & Schuster alternatively gave Dick a $7,500 offer to publish his novel The Transmigration of Timothy Archer, which he accepted, as opposed to the more lucrative novelization deal.[2]

Eventually, Les Martin was hired to pen the novelization. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? has since been reprinted, often under the title Blade Runner, with the original title used as a subtitle.

Differences from film[]

Many of the following differences originally appear in a draft of the film's script, dated February 23, 1981.

  • The scene of Holden performing a Voight-Kampff test on Leon is only mentioned.
  • The Off-world colonies blimp's message differs from the film's, instead saying: "Attention, all who want a better life for yourself and your children! Attention, everyone who can meet our simple standards of health, age, and ability! We offer you the ultimate in opportunity! Top pay! Automatic advancement! A completely controlled California-style climate! Fabulous, fun-filled recreation areas! And now, as a very special bonus, we offer you absolutely free of charge the newest and finest generation yet of our marvelous man-made labor force. Yes, you can be the proud and happy owner of your very own Tyrell Corporation Nexus replicant in the size, color, and sex of your choice, to serve your every want and need in our great new Dominguez and Shimata space colonies..."
  • Gaff's cityspeak is implied to be heavily accented English rather than a combination of multiple languages.
  • More dialogue is added in some scenes, some with alternative dialogue. Some scenes are shortened considerably, only being summarized. Similarly, Deckard's voiceovers are not reproduced.
  • Gaff leaves Bryant's office when he brings in Deckard.
  • The colony the six renegade replicants escaped from is identified as the Dominguez colony.
  • Like the theatrical and Director's Cut versions, but unlike the Workprint and Final Cut, Bryant says that one replicant died while breaking into the Tyrell building.
  • The footage in the replicants' data files is described differently than seen in the film. Pris is said to have spiky hair. Roy performs hundreds of one-armed pushups and bashes down a steel post with his bare hands.
  • Like the comic adaptation, Roy's war campaigns are described in more detail.
  • Rachael states the owl (described as being white) at the Tyrell headquarters to be real rather than artificial. She further states that there are fewer than a dozen owls still living.
  • Only the last question in Rachael's Voight-Kampff test is mentioned.
  • Tyrell directly states that Rachael's memories belong to his sixteen-year old niece.
  • The scene of Deckard and Gaff investigating Leon's apartment is omitted, though Leon is described watching them briefly.
  • Roy dips his hand in freezing liquid instead of Leon. Roy also tears off Hannibal Chew's coat instead of Leon, who breaks an aquarium full of eyes.
  • J.F. Sebastian is said to live in Sector Six, whereas the film states the Bradbury Apartments to be in the ninth sector.
  • The book describes Roy and Leon leaving Chew as he freezes solid.
  • Sebastian is aged twenty rather than twenty-five.
  • Deckard encounters Rachael at his apartment after learning the scale at Leon's apartment was from a snake.
  • The Abdul Ben Hassan scene is omitted.
  • The book describes days passing throughout, while no such indication is given in the film.
  • Zhora is described as wearing an elaborate wig for her act, while the film only shows her hair being slicked back.
  • Deckard knocks on Zhora's dressing room door rather than accompanying her into it. She immediately attacks him, with no conversation occurring.
  • Zhora is shot once by Deckard and dies after being hit by a bus.
  • Leon gives his incept date as April 19, 2015 instead of the film's April 10, 2017.
  • When Rachael returns to Deckard's apartment after Leon's death, she admits that she is beginning to have feelings for Deckard.
  • The book mentions Deckard and his ex-wife having a child and that they traveled Off-world.
  • Bryant calls Deckard at his apartment to report Hannibal Chew's death.
  • The "love scene" is absent. Instead, Deckard continues his investigation.
  • Deckard calls Tyrell's head of security, Dr. Hermann Schlect to learn about J.F. Sebastian.
  • Sebastian does not run away when Roy kills Tyrell. Roy bids him farewell, but the book does not state that he kills Sebastian.
  • The book skips Pris ambushing Deckard and being killed. Instead, it skips from Roy killing Tyrell to him encountering Deckard standing over Pris's corpse.
  • Roy is described as stripping down to a loincloth.
  • Roy smears Pris's blood onto himself.
  • The "tears in rain" monologue is completely absent along with Roy's death, though Deckard describes the scene to Rachael.
  • Gaff does not come to the rooftop and Deckard is not said to find the origami unicorn.

Appearances[]

References[]

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