The Dog Stars

By: Peter Heller

Narrated by: Mark Deakins

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)

Stars Shine Bright

My reading list includes very few stories with post-apocalyptic settings. I have high regard for "On the Beach" and "Alas Babylon" but those were of another era. I wasn't sure I would enjoy "The Dog Stars." It was almost an impulse purchase.
I was very pleased with my purchase. Peter Heller has written a very well rounded novel. The overall melancholy and the episodes of violent encounters were there, as I expected, but it was the description of introspective thoughts and emotions which made the novel stand out for me.
Heller does an excellent job of introducing story threads into the novel and then following and expanding them with great attention to details and overall pacing of the tale. Nothing gets shoved into a corner or suddenly dropped in the next chapter.
Heller's writing of Hig's relationship with his dog Jasper touched me most of all, and a man's love for his dog is something that's as timeless as the constellations in the sky.

Betting this is a better listen than a read

What made the experience of listening to The Dog Stars the most enjoyable?

I really enjoyed this audiobook. I am a fan of apocalyptic literature, and this did not disappoint. However, I think the apocalyptic scenario was more the background, against which played out themes of trust and faith in oneself and others. It delves into the basic dependence we must have on others to survive, and is very thoughtful. I think if I had read this, I would have skimmed over much of the internal dialogue the main character has with himself. I tend to do that when trying to get to the action. I am glad I listened to this book instead - I would have missed so much had I skimmed over some of those parts. Thought provoking and it stays with you. The reader was great.

Awesome post-apocolytic story based in CO!! But...

What did you love best about The Dog Stars?

Being a Colorado native, I was a huge fan of the detailed descriptions of the land and use of actual geography! Thank you Mr. Heller. I'm excited to read your next book, sound like a good one too!

What did you like best about this story?

Post-apocolyptic stories are always good, and this is a new take on that genre. I enjoy the introspection the protagonist endures.

Did Mark Deakins do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

I am not pleased with how the narrator read this one. It makes me want to purchase, if not just peek in at the bookstore, to note if there are ellipsis' after every sentence. The book is read like a poem, with just-to-long-of-a-break between each sentence. It drove me nuts, but the storyline made up for that oddity. I do not think I will purchase another book that Mark Deakins has narrated, unless it is the book, not the narration.

Disappointing. Summary sounded great. Plodding.

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

No, after listening to it, my reaction was disappointment. I had looked forward to it after reading summary. There was not enough action. Too much intra and retrospective thinking by story teller. Main character went back in his thoughts so often in the story that it was easy to lose track of where you were in the real time of the story. When there was action it was well written and enjoyable. Liked the relationship and contrast between the two characters who lived at the air strip. All characters were extremely well written. Story is scary in its reality.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Mentioned above more action and less going back in time to tell the story from different time periods. Some of this is fine, but to go back and back and back again was confusing. I generally love and read complex books.

Which scene was your favorite?

Hig's return with the 2 deer in the sled and his defense against the attackers.

Could you see The Dog Stars being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

A movie and/or TV series would be possible with a less complex story, i.e, not so much retrospective thinking. Several interesting possiblities for Hig in movie role would be: James Franco, Matt Damon, or Will Smith. TV might be someone like: Joshua Jackson.

Any additional comments?

Would like to see a sequel to this book. With more action.

Yes! Amazed how much I cared about these people.

Yes. Yes yes yes. This book succeeds in every way The Road failed for me. Set in Colorado after disease has wiped out most of the population, Hig has learned how to keep a small bit of his humanity while reluctantly doing what it takes to survive. Others aren't so reluctant, including Bangley, with whom he's formed an uneasy partnership.

The story hooks you from the beginning and builds nicely to the end, and Heller does a great job of developing characters you really care about. Then there's Jasper, Hig's beloved old dog, who made me come home and hug Garth every day after listening on my commute. I was, at the end, amazed how much I cared about these people (and dogs) and the bonds they formed. The writing is superb. About the only negative I can think of is the writing style Heller uses: Somewhat fragmented, perhaps the way inner dialog streams through our protagonist’s head. I barely noticed it while listening, but did see some reviews that a few readers were somewhat frustrated by it in the beginning, but after they stuck with it for a while it flowed naturally and worked well.

Things for my own remembrance follow.

*

(On constellations): I name one for a scrappy, fish-loving dog.

*

I still dream Jasper is alive. Before that, my heart will not go.

*

My favorite poem, the one by Li Shang-Yin:

When Will I Be Home?

When will I be home? I don't know.
In the mountains, in the rainy night,
The Autumn lake is flooded.
Someday we will be back together again.
We will sit in the candlelight by the West window.
And I will tell you how I remembered you
Tonight on the stormy mountain.

Heavenly

Would you listen to The Dog Stars again? Why?

I would listen to The Dog Stars again just to hear the beautiful descriptions of the Colorado wilderness. The main character embodies a true naturalists view of the Rockies even in a post apocalyptic world. So many books of this genre fail to show any beauty in the world when we humans mess it up.

What did you like best about this story?

The first person narrative can feel very narrow in a story but this author balances both story and character in a way rarely heard. Kudos to the author, I hope to read/listen to more of his work in the future.

Which scene was your favorite?

Early in the story when the character goes into the mountains to hunt for food and reminisces about the trout that he used to catch. It set the tone for a survivor who is not totally destitute but realizes that the world will never be the same. The wistfullness of his memories felt very real.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

I would just put a high profile actor, ie. Decaprio, Tatum, you get the idea on the poster. I think this story would be a beautiful role for any male actor.

Beautiful.

I spent every night for weeks with this book. Refusing to revisit it at any other time other than bedtime, in the dark and under my covers. This could be the greatest narration of any book I’ve ever purchased here on Audible. A perfect match. The combination of Mark Deakins performance and of course Peter Heller’s writing transporter me into that world with the characters. Heller’s writing is different. He has a way of keeping things slow, often making a single word a sentence, and I loved it. A little slow moving at the start I thought but then as I became invested in things it was a story I looked forward to returning to. There were really no weaknesses here. His descriptions were dazzling and not overdone, he didn’t waste any of my time. It might’ve felt that way to some but only until they realize how rich his words really are. From then on you find yourself enjoying every detail. I will def be looking into more from Peter. Great story! The same can be said for the narrator Mark Deakins. What a perfect union this was. Like Brady and Edelman! If you’re looking into picking this book up I think it will scratch that itch your looking for. It’s not action-packed, but you’ll feel you’re along for the ride for sure.

Must read

Any additional comments?

This is one of the very best of the recent disaster novels. Don't miss it if you like the genre at all.

Wonderful "read"

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

In the top 20%

What did you like best about this story?

Love stories about survival after the near end of the world - this one delved deeply into the human emotional side

Which character – as performed by Mark Deakins – was your favorite?

The protagonist

Who was the most memorable character of The Dog Stars and why?

The protagonist - his self reflection and evolution as a survivor

Any additional comments?

The author should pay more attention to having an editor review the manuscript for logical errors - any character this clever would not have made some of the mistakes in the book

Remarkable story telling

I really liked this book from the start! Very copmpelling story line and characters. I have read and thourougly enjoyed another Peter Heller book, "The River ".