The document discusses theories about science fiction put forth by Damien Broderick, including that SF became popular in the 19th-20th centuries in response to massive cultural, scientific, and technological changes. It emphasizes technology, materials, and symbolic objects over character development. The document also provides context about Philip K. Dick's 1968 novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? including its themes of artificial intelligence and the contrast between ordered human evolution through technology versus entropy on Earth. It defines key terms from the novel like simulacrum and provides background on Dick and adaptations of his works.