the last dog on earth, Adrian j walker

the last dog on earth

by Adrian j walker

science fiction?

copyright 2017

read in April 2022

rated 6/10: read to pass the time

It's post-apocalypse but not settled enough to be dystopia.

It's a story of the end of civilisation -- not the end of the entire world. Possibly.

What has actually happened? We are not told.

Sure, there were bombs in London. Who set them off? no idea. Nuclear bombs? no idea, though no-one seems to worry about radiation.

Who are the two sides in the post-bombs battles? No idea, though we are given a glimpse at the possibility that one side may want to control everyone... well, so what, nothing new there.

I wonder if the author is hinting at internal revolution, with a strong influencer drumming up fake divisions and hatred. Certainly the them-and-us division is clearly shown to be fake.

So the story may be a fable to show the way in which people may be influenced, divided, driven to hatred... for no apparent reason.

Half of the book is from the last dog's point of view. That's fun.

The other half is by the dog's master, that is more an exploration of his various psychological problems. Not as bad as it sounds.

The overall approach is similar to Triffids: exploring a major disaster through a small number of "ordinary" survivors. With some action and adventure and fights to survive. Though with far less explanation of the disaster.

I did enjoy the book. It's quite clever. Sympathetic characters but not particularly likeable. If I see the other book by this author, I will read it. But I won't search for it. I suspect that I am currently looking for books with less depth and more fun.

Nick Lethbridge    /    Consulting Dexitroboper
Agamedes Consulting    /   Problems? Solved.
   ===


As Conan says: What does not kill you
does not kill you