The Dog Stars

By: Peter Heller

Narrated by: Mark Deakins

Length: 10 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

A riveting, powerful novel about a pilot living in a world filled with loss - and what he is willing to risk to rediscover, against all odds, connection, love, and grace.

Hig survived the flu that killed everyone he knows. His wife is gone, his friends are dead, he lives in the hangar of a small abandoned airport with his dog, his only neighbor a gun-toting misanthrope. In his 1956 Cessna, Hig flies the perimeter of the airfield or sneaks off to the mountains to fish and to pretend that things are the way they used to be. But when a random transmission somehow beams through his radio, the voice ignites a hope deep inside him that a better life - something like his old life - exists beyond the airport.

Risking everything, he flies past his point of no return - not enough fuel to get him home - following the trail of the static-broken voice on the radio. But what he encounters and what he must face - in the people he meets, and in himself - is both better and worse than anything he could have hoped for.

Narrated by a man who is part warrior and part dreamer, a hunter with a great shot and a heart that refuses to harden, The Dog Stars is both savagely funny and achingly sad, a breathtaking story about what it means to be human.

©2012 Peter Heller (P)2012 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Richly evocative yet streamlined journal entries propel the high-stakes plot while simultaneously illuminating Hig's nuanced states of mind as isolation and constant vigilance exact their toll, along with his sorrow for the dying world.... Heller's surprising and irresistible blend of suspense, romance, social insight, and humor creates a cunning form of cognitive dissonance neatly pegged by Hig as an apocalyptic parody of Norman Rockwell...a novel, that is, of spiky pleasure and signal resonance." ( Booklist)

"In the tradition of postapocalyptic literary fiction such as Cormac McCarthy's The Road and Jim Crace's The Pesthouse, this hypervisceral first novel by adventure writer Heller ( Kook) takes place nine years after a superflu has killed off much of mankind.... With its evocative descriptions of hunting, fishing, and flying, this novel, perhaps the world's most poetic survival guide, reads as if Billy Collins had novelized one of George Romero's zombie flicks. From start to finish, Heller carries the reader aloft on graceful prose, intense action, and deeply felt emotion." ( Publishers Weekly)

"Leave it to Peter Heller to imagine a post-apocalyptic world that contains as much loveliness as it does devastation. His likable hero, Hig, flies around what was once Colorado in his 1956 Cessna, chasing all the same things we chase in these pre-annihilation days: love, friendship, the solace of the natural world, the chance to perform some small kindness, and a good dog for a co-pilot. The Dog Stars is a wholly compelling and deeply engaging debut." (Pam Houston, author of Contents May Have Shifted)

Poetically written post-apocalyptic fiction

What did you love best about The Dog Stars?

The relationship between Hig and Bangley

What did you like best about this story?

The poetic prose style of writing

Which scene was your favorite?

The scene at the Grandjunction airport

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Hig's dog died

Any additional comments?

Didn't care for the end. Specifically the insinuation that some middle eastern country destroyed America.

Feels Just Like a Post-Apocalyptic Wasteland

...which is unfortunately pretty boring. The author does a really good job making you feel the isolation and despair and the joy in the really small, everyday things. The narration is also really slow, which probably aids in the feel that this book was going for? But I had to listen to it at 2x speed. Parts of this books were amazing, but for the most part the action felt cursory, the shocking grotesque scenes felt out of place, and the interesting authorial style seemed to dissipate as the story progressed. All told, though, it's an interesting story of the apocalypse that focuses not on fending off zombies or fighting the elements but just on living. I recommend this if you like pastoral novels or don't appreciate the fast-paced hollywood-style of story-telling.

A great post-apocalyptic story

Would you listen to The Dog Stars again? Why?

Yes, I would. I really enjoyed the performance.

What other book might you compare The Dog Stars to and why?

"The Road", but not as dark.

What does Mark Deakins bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The voice differences of the characters made for good listening.

If you could rename The Dog Stars, what would you call it?

No, would not rename it.

Sad but hopeful story.

Where does The Dog Stars rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I think it's up pretty high up there.

What did you like best about this story?

The fact that it touched me so much. I laughed and cried. I loved the stark speech.

What does Mark Deakins bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He put heart and soul into this reading. He made Higg seem so realistic. He brought emotion to every word...even the stuff inside Higg's head.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes. I was very interested in how it was going to end. I would have liked to take a day off from work and family and just listened. I couldn't do that, but I did find myself sneaking in 5 or 10 minutes whenever I could. Walking to the mailbox, doing the laundry, during baby naps. I couldn't stop listening.

Any additional comments?

A lot of people are comparing this to The Road by Cormac McCarthy...but I found this book to be much better. It was more emotional, more sad, but also more hopeful.

Amazing story, beautifully written and read.

Don't let the theme of this book discourage you from listening to Dog Stars.
It's thought provoking, funny, and very entertaining.

What an ending; no, what ending?

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I really liked getting into this book. I thought it gave a different perspective on an End of Days scenario.

Would you be willing to try another book from Peter Heller? Why or why not?

I thought the writing was unique. It definitely was not a cookie cutter novel and I like how Peter was a bit out of the box literarily.

Which scene was your favorite?

I like the description between the relationship between the man and his dog. It could have gone deeper here but at the same time I think the book dragged in certain spots with the dog too.

Did The Dog Stars inspire you to do anything?

Uh, no. We're talking about a fictitious novel here. Not a trade skill manual or The Bible or some political mantra or something. What kind of question is this? It's a book for entertainment. I guess some books inspire me to fall asleep and The Dog Stars kept me entertained enough to stay awake. There's a positive!

Any additional comments?

No ending. No mention of a sequel that I can find but it doesn't matter because this does not qualify as a standalone book. Many questions left unanswered and not simple stuff like, "will they live happily ever after"? Serious plot twists were left out in the open before you heard, "Audible hopes you have enjoyed this program."

Eh

The writer was very descriptive which drew you into the story. I enjoyed the story but craved more action. His attachment to his dog was something I could relate to. The chapter
on his sexual desires for a women was too long for my taste and almost caused me to be bored. But overall worth my free point and I listened to the whole thing in 3 days.

Maybe wait till this pandemic is over.

Excellent book with beautiful descriptions of the natural world and the deep bond humans and dogs can have. The timing for me was bad I had to put the book down for a couple of weeks. I’m glad I didn’t abandon it. The ending is worth the wait.

Couldn't Wait to Get in the Car to Listen

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I would recommend this book to a friend because it was they type of story that is sometimes intense, sometimes thoughtful but always interesting and moved along at a nice pace.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Dog Stars?

When the main character went into the woods with his dog.

What does Mark Deakins bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Just the right inflections to make him believable as the main character.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The main character's relationship with his dog, like when they slept at night.

Dark and engrossing

This was very well written. It's dark and funny and will stay with you for a while.