<P> In post-apocalyptic 1992 ( 2021 in later editions ) , after `` World War Terminus '' , the Earth 's dirty atmosphere leads the United Nations to encourage mass emigrations to off - world colonies to preserve humanity 's genetic integrity , with the incentive of free personal androids : robot servants identical to humans . On Earth , owning real live animals is a status symbol , because of mass extinctions and the cultural push for greater empathy that has motivated a technology - based religion called Mercerism . Poor people can only afford realistic - looking electric animals . Deckard , for example , owns a robotic black - faced sheep . Mercerism uses `` empathy boxes '' to link users simultaneously to a collective virtual reality of communal suffering , centered on a martyr - like character , Wilbur Mercer , who eternally climbs up a hill while being hit with crashing stones . </P>
<P> In post-apocalyptic 1992 ( 2021 in later editions ) , after `` World War Terminus '' , the Earth 's dirty atmosphere leads the United Nations to encourage mass emigrations to off - world colonies to preserve humanity 's genetic integrity , with the incentive of free personal androids : robot servants identical to humans . On Earth , owning real live animals is a status symbol , because of mass extinctions and the cultural push for greater empathy that has motivated a technology - based religion called Mercerism . Poor people can only afford realistic - looking electric animals . Deckard , for example , owns a robotic black - faced sheep . Mercerism uses `` empathy boxes '' to link users simultaneously to a collective virtual reality of communal suffering , centered on a martyr - like character , Wilbur Mercer , who eternally climbs up a hill while being hit with crashing stones . </P>
what is mercer in do androids dream of electric sheep
what is mercer in do androids dream of electric sheep
eternally climbs up a hill while being hit with crashing stones
eternally climbs up a hill while being hit with crashing stones