We Can Build You

In 1982, Louis Rosen runs a musical instrument company with his business partner Maury Rock. The pair shift their focus to creating androids, specifically replicas of historical Civil War figures Abraham Lincoln and Edwin M. Stanton. The story follows Rosen's efforts to sell the android technology to Sam K. Barrows, a businessman involved in lunar colonization ventures. As the plot progresses, Rosen becomes entangled with Maury's daughter Pris Frauenzimmer and discovers complexities in both human and artificial relationships. At its core, this novel explores questions of authenticity, mental illness, and the increasingly blurred line between artificial beings and their creators. The work stands as one of Philip K. Dick's most personal examinations of consciousness and identity.

Readers note this book differs from Dick's typical science fiction, focusing more on mental illness and relationships than technological themes. Many reviewers describe it as a character study that happens to involve simulacra. Readers appreciate: - The realistic portrayal of mental health struggles - Complex character interactions - Dark humor throughout - The blend of mundane business dealings with surreal elements Common criticisms: - Abrupt ending that leaves plots unresolved - Slow pacing in middle sections - Less sci-fi content than expected from Dick - Some find the protagonist hard to empathize with Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (3,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.0/5 (120+ ratings) "The first half is brilliant but it loses direction halfway through," notes one frequent reviewer on Goodreads. Another reader on Amazon describes it as "a deeply personal story masquerading as sci-fi." Many readers recommend it for Dick completists but suggest newcomers start with his other works.

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick A bounty hunter pursues artificial beings while questioning the nature of empathy and what separates humans from machines.

I, Robot by Isaac Asimov A series of interconnected stories about robotic psychology and the relationship between robots and their human creators.

The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson A nanotech engineer creates an interactive book that raises questions about artificial intelligence and education in a neo-Victorian future.

Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro An artificial friend observes human nature while serving as a companion to a sick child, exploring the boundaries of consciousness and love.

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro The story of manufactured beings who discover their purpose while examining what makes someone human.

🤖 The novel was originally titled "The Lincoln Simulator" before being changed to "We Can Build You" 🏛️ Dick's portrayal of Abraham Lincoln as an android was influenced by his lifelong fascination with the Civil War president, about whom he had extensively read 💭 The book was written in 1962 but remained unpublished for a decade, finally reaching readers in 1972 🎹 The protagonist's profession as a musical instrument maker reflects Dick's own interest in classical music and his brief experience working in a record store 🌗 The lunar colonization subplot in the novel was inspired by the Space Race of the 1960s, during which Dick wrote several stories incorporating space exploration themes