A Boy and his Dog at the End of the World
As seen:
By C. A. Fletcher
avg rating
1 review
THE MOST POWERFUL STORY YOU’LL READ THIS YEAR.
’Fletcher’s suspenseful, atmospheric tale imagines a near future in which our world is in ruins . . . an adventure saga punctured by a gut-punch twist’
Entertainment Weekly
’You’ll remember A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World long after you finish reading’
Peng Shepherd, author of The Book Of M
‘Truly engrossing . . . brings hope and humanity to a cold and scary world’
Keith Stuart, author of A Boy Made of Blocks
‘I promise you’re going to love it’
Louisa Morgan, author of A Secret History of Witches
‘Epic in scope, enthralling, and full of human warmth’
M. R. Carey, author of The Girl with all the Gifts
THE WORLD HAS ENDED. AT LEAST WE STILL HAVE DOGS.
My name’s Griz.
I’ve never been to school, I’ve never had friends, in my whole life I’ve not met enough people to play a game of football. My parents told me how crowded the world used to be, before all the people went away, but we were never lonely on our remote island. We had each other, and our dogs.
Then the thief came.
He told stories of the deserted towns and cities beyond our horizons. I liked him – until I woke to find he had stolen my dog. So I chased him out into the ruins of the world.
I just want to get my dog back, but I found more than I ever imagined was possible. More about how the world ended. More about what my family’s real story is. More about what really matters.
‘This un-put-down-able story has everything – a well-imagined post-apocalyptic world, great characters, incredible suspense, and, of course, the fierce love of some very good dogs’
Kirkus (starred review)
‘A story that is as heart-warming as it is heart-breaking’
Fantasy Hive
‘A stunningly gorgeous read: masterful storytelling, searingly beautiful prose, and a world so meticulously rendered you’ll forget there’s a real one going on beyond the pages. A book of the year contender – in any year’
Micah Yongo
‘Extraordinary and quite magnificent . . . 10/10’
Starburst
A Boy and his Dog at the End of the World is the most moving apocalypse story you’ll ever read. Perfect for readers of Life of Pi, The Girl with all the Gifts or Station Eleven – Griz’s tale mixes sadness and hope in one unforgettable character’s quest amid the remnants of our fragile civilisation.
TweetReviews
This is an apocalyptic tale set in a future Great Britain – a country where no humans exist anymore. It’s an intriguing story; thought-provoking, intricate and exciting. No wonder it won an Alex Award in January for being one of the 10 best adult books that appeal to teen audiences. If you’re looking for something really interesting and different to read, you really should try to get your hands on a copy.
The story is told in diary form by Griz, who lives in the Outer Hebrides, on a remote island with its back to the Atlantic. A century earlier occurred something which became known as ‘The Gelding’. For no reason that anyone could find, people suddenly stopped having children. The last generation grew up, grew old and then there were none left, or almost none. In the last days before the end, the remaining scientists calculated that of the world’s 7.5 billion people about 0.0001% were still fertile. So, worldwide, there would now be maybe 7.000 people left.
On the island Griz lives with two older siblings, a father, a brain damaged mother, Griz’s two dogs and no-one else. One day 'the thief' comes, seemingly to trade. He drugs them and takes one of Griz’s dogs – a vanishingly rare bitch. Impetuously, Griz jumps into a boat and, accompanied by the other dog, sets off in pursuit. What follows is Griz’s journey across a Britain where no humans exist anymore.
This is an intriguing story. Griz is a good central character, resourceful and brave and with a well-educated mind, from reading books rescued from abandoned homes on other islands. It’s also a pretty grim in parts. I liked the way it is written, thoughtful, almost philosophical. And the descriptions of the echoing silence of the empty land almost reaches us, as does the anger, fear and loneliness Griz feels, mixed with a guilty excitement at seeing this new and wondrous world. And be prepared, there is a very big twist at the end! I give this 4-stars. Do read it if you can.
Review by Freyja
