Robert J. Duperre, author of The Fall and Dead of Winter , now presents Silas , a contemporary fantasy novel.
Ken Lowery is a man at odds with his life. He hates his job, is disappointed in his marriage, and feels resigned to leading a mundane existence.
That all changes when his wife brings home a rambunctious Black Labrador puppy named Silas, who forges a remarkable connection with Ken and begins to heal his inner turmoil. When some neighborhood children start to go missing, he takes it upon himself to protect those around him and is thrust into a surreal world where monsters roam. Not everything is what it seems to be, he soon discovers, including his new best friend.
Born on Cape Cod and raised in northern Connecticut, Robert Duperre is a writer whose main ambition is to create works that defy genre. His first novel, "The Fall: The Rift Book I" is now available in paperback and for the Amazon Kindle.
Robert lives with his wife, the artist Jessica Torrant, his three wonderful children, and Leonardo, the super one-eyed Labrador.
A Greta Review This book is sooooooooo the Every-Man Manly Man I love my dog, I'm going through a midlife Crisis, Oh snap where did I wind up at, why is everything different, sort of fairytale.
ANd you know what kids?
Its da BOMB!!
Ken is going through a mid-life crisis. I mean, its not a bad thing. Well, it's kinda a bad thing but its understandable. He's 32, stuck in a rut, and his wife just brought home a puppy.
HOW DARE SHE ! ! ! !
But after a night of nacho indulgence (it isn't specified if nachos were the key but I like to believe they are) Ken has a health scare with the old ticker and is put on bed rest for a bit.
During that time he bonds with Silas, the new labrador puppy.
I can tell you as a strict lover of cats that I fell in love with Silas. I'm one of those people who can't stand the needy dog. I mean I like the dog on I am Legend, and I like the dog in Marley and Me, but can I like THIS dog? This dog that wants to be petted and is a puppy that gnaws on things and drools on shoes, and is just so clingy?!!
The answer is YES.... because dogs grow up and Silas is awesome!
But the story isn't just about how a man bonds with his dog. Well, ok... some of it is. Ken has been told his whole childhood that pets aren't needed because they just break your heart after they die. He never had a pet growing up because his Dad wouldn't allow them. I had a friend like this. He got his first dog when he was in his mid 20s. And you know what? Just like Ken he realized that there was something missing in his life... The love of a pet.
As Ken bonds with Silas and his life starts to get a bit better he soon finds that life isn't always rosebuds and flea collars. Some of those nasties from life before NACHO LAND are still around. You know... the part of the chips that have the hard cheese on them? We hate those!!
This is what spirals the LOVE SONG into a Marilyn Manson cover song.
DA DA DA DA DA DAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!
Because Ken is about to find himself in a land that is not his own. A land of holy batwing terror. A land that can only be described as a nightmare.
But the cool thing is... he still has his dog with him.
Greta's thoughts:
How would you describe this book? THe perfect manly man fairytale. IT had everything! I think any man would LOVE LOVE LOVE this book!
What fairytales does this book remind you of? Pinocchio Peter Pan The Jungle Book Lord of the Rings Planet of the Apes
Planet of the Apes isn't a fairy tale. Why would you say that? Because there aren't enough fairy tales for men in the world so movies and comic books have become them.
How is the imagery in the book? Oh My GAWD amazing!! YOu really feel like you are there!!! ITs told with just the right amount of description and not once do you have to know what stuff smells like, how things make you feel, and all that other oowy goowy touchy feely stuff that women dig.
Did you feel you got inside a man's head? Most definitely!! It was awesome to really hear a man's voice. I super loved it!
Who would you buy this book for? I think this would make the most awesome father's day gift. I also think this book is perfect for any animal lover (whether it be cats, dogs, or chickens... everyone will love this book).
How young of a person do you think could read this book? This is NOT a book for kids!! There isn't much cussing which I thought was fabulous. ITs amazing how women authors cuss and cuss and cuss but men authors seem to limit their swearing. I really dug that. And there really isn't much graphic nudity (there is a bit) but this is NOT your 8 year olds bedtime story. I think a mature thirteen year old or high schooler could definitely read this book without any problem. I would let my fourteen year old son read this but I wouldn't let my eleven year old cousin read it.
Were there parts that scared you? Oh hells to the yes!! There were most awesome creepy crawlies in this book that made me squirm but also made me go "WOAH!! THAT IS COOL!" Its the perfect mix of horror detail that I super loved.
If you could change anything about this book what would it be? THe cover! THe cover is dreadful and I do not like it!!! That is NOT how it should look. I mean, I guess that is KEN and SILAS on the cover but they look evil and zombie-like. That's not the way they are supposed to look at ALL!! IF I was to judge this book by its cover its quite possible I wouldn't pick it up.
Were you satisfied with the ending? Oh yes yes yes yes!! It was superb!! It had everything I wanted
Could there be a sequel? Not with Ken's story. I think where his ended is perfect and shouldn't be mucked with. Now, with the other characters he met along the way... they could totally get more added to the mix.
Who was your favorite character? Big Guy
Who is Big Guy? I can't tell you..... You have to read the book to find out ;)
In Closing THis is a most awesome book and I'm super glad that I read it. I think it would be a great plot for a movie and I hope one day it becomes just that!
I don’t think the blurb does this book any justice. There is so much more to “Silas” than the overview suggests. A supernatural thriller it definitely is, but it also borders on becoming a sci-fi novel. The whole time while reading it, all I could think of was how much I didn’t want the book to end.
“Silas” is an incredibly unique novel and one I’ll easily read again. It was unlike anything I’ve ever read before and apart from the adrenaline-pumping action, the extraordinary world it transports the reader to and the terror that keeps your heart beating at a frantic pace; the writing is very Dean Koontz-like, and the plot can be compared to one bled from the pen of Stephen King’s imagination, minus King’s well-known penchant for lengthy and dragging details.
The author’s superb writing takes the reader places where only the wildest of imaginations venture. The impression I got from reading the blurb was of a town terrorized by unseen forces preying on children. As true as this is, the story in actuality takes the reader to a parallel world similar to our own in the most miniscule of details. This parallel world is where most of the story and action takes place and also what made this such a remarkable read. Many times I was left in awe by the author’s creativity in the exceptional characters and creatures he created and how easy he makes it for the reader to immerse into this fantastical world.
This is truly an amazing adventure undertaken by a man and his loyal Labrador companion, and although the last few chapters had a very “Marley and Me” feel to it, the story ends on a high note, albeit an unanticipated one. “Silas” was an enjoyable, surprising read with a superbly crafted storyline and boatloads of suspense. Whether you’re a fan of the sci-fi genre or not this story, with its colorful settings and extraordinary canine protagonist, will appeal to readers all across the spectrum. Highly recommended!
Silas is a book that can be easily portioned into two parts. The first part is a real world mystery as Ken finds himself reluctantly, yet inexorably, drawn into the disappearance of several girls in his community and the surrounding area. The second part is where all hell breaks loose in spectacular, possibly crazy fashion.
In some ways this is not an easy book to read. The protagonist is an unhappy man. He's a jerk to his wife, he's depressed and folded in on himself and he acts more frequently like a child than a man. It can be hard to see the glimmers of good in Ken when he repeatedly does his best to make an ass of himself. Even when he meets Silas, the title character and the Labrador puppy his wife impulsively buys to infuse their marriage with some love, he's a complete jerk. He flat out refuses to have anything to do with the dog, scorning both the newcomer to his family and his wife in a stinging fashion.
Somehow though, Silas reaches past Ken's gruff exterior and connects with the true man within, the man his wife fell in love with, the man he could be if he would shake off the shackles of pessimism and stubborn pride. Reluctantly, Ken finds himself drawn more and more to Silas, who becomes a balm of sorts for Ken's soul.
But, as Ken and Silas become closer, Ken's life starts unraveling. And then something truly crazy occurs and Ken finds himself, with Silas, in a place that is clearly not Earth. In this other world, Ken has a mission to complete, one that will requires him to put the needs of others before his own. On this mission, he grows, learning the true value of the people and things in his life.
This journey takes Ken to some seriously disturbed places and there are some intensely scary events that occur. But no matter how horrifying and dangerous things get for Ken, I found myself enjoying how these trials by fire FINALLY push this man to be a better person.
At it's heart, this is a tale of growing up, learning to value others and one's self and focusing on the important things in life. I fully admit that I cried at the end.
Beyond the story, which is bizarre and fascinating, is the writing which I simply love. Rob cuts to the heart of the story with prose that pulls you in, making you, sometimes uncomfortably, part of the story. Even the way this story is written, as a story within a story, being told by an older, dying Ken to a hospital orderly, makes the reader feel present and a part of the tale.
This is a fantastic book, full of good and bad people and events, that you will find hard to put down. And if you've ever had a treasured pet...prepare to fall in love, with Silas!
Ken Lowery is a thirty-something man with no children, a ho-hum marriage, and a mediocre job that isn't in the field he holds a degree in. Growing more dissatisfied with his life by the day, he's a jerk to just about everybody around him. When his wife buys a black lab puppy named Silas in an attempt to draw Ken out of his shell and to give herself someone to take care of, Ken openly despises the pup and his wife. But a unexpected heart attack leaves him vulnerable and at home for several weeks, and he soon grudgingly bonds with the lovable pup.
Ken and Silas are soon drawn into the investigation of a series of missing girls from his area, and as the man and his dog grow closer, Ken grows into a deeper depression as he fixates on the cases of the missing girls. As he finally hits rock bottom, the proverbial crap hits the fan and Ken and Silas find themselves in a parallel earth with a mission to perform. This requires Ken to put others before himself, and along the way he finally grows up, mans up, and discovers what has been missing in his life all along. And most importantly, what he needs to do once he makes it back to his earth, if he can make it back.
Robert Duperre's prose paints a vivid image of a broken man barely existing throughout the first half of the book. You can feel Ken's malaise, his dissatisfaction with how his life has turned out so far, and even his jealousy when his wife's life takes a turn for the better. The first part of the book even seems to drag a little because you feel so much of Ken's pain as if you were in his "it sucks to be him" shoes.
As more of a cat lover than a dog person, the transformation that Ken undergoes as a reluctant dog owner to proud dog dad is so believable and adorable. By the end of the book, and throughout the parallel world, Ken would kill for and sacrifice himself for Silas. Robert Duperre is obviously a dog lover because someone who doesn't love dogs and coexist with one on a daily basis wouldn't be able to nail all of the details with such clarity and finesse, or make such a clear emotional impact when putting those thoughts on paper.
The parallel world is described in enough detail that you can picture perfectly the sights, smells, even the temperatures. And the creatures are definitely creepy and strange, but you can imagine them easily. The journey Ken and Silas have to take is hard, dangerous, and tricky--but it's necessary to set things right in both worlds.
I give this one a five out of five. An unforgettable depiction of the good and bad of everyday life, and the special things ways that having a pet can make one's life better. This is a great contemporary fantasy novel that will stick with you for a long time. And it's another one that did make me cry at times.
The version I downloaded from Amazon was titled "Silas" A Supernatural Thriller." Had the title simply been "Silas," "Amazing Silas," "Unbelievable Silas," etc. I might have enjoyed the first hundred pages or so much better than I did. As it was, I was very impatient for the "thriller" part to kick in. At about that point, I found myself reading the first sentence in several paragraphs and then moving on rather than sitting back and enjoying the story as it unfolded. Yes, there is a sort of science fiction, thriller element to it. But really, at its heart, this is a story (fictional) of a man and his beloved black lab. As the story opens, Ken Lowery is on his deathbed, in a hospital, surrounded by his three daughters, all of whom love him dearly. His wife Wendy has been dead for ten years and it is obvious that Ken still misses her a lot. Visiting hours have just ended, the daughters have left, and a male nurse, JT has entered Ken's room on rounds. Ken, who has been very weak from his illness, feels a surge of strength. He knows that this kind of a surge is often soon later accompanied by death. He has an amazing story to recount and asks JT if he can sit for a while to hear the story. I am sure I would have liked this book more and rated it more highly if I hadn't been wondering just when the "thriller" part was going to kick in. During the first hundred pages (around a third of the book) we hear of Ken's problems with depression, his marital problems, and his reluctance but ultimate joy in dog ownership. By about page 120 or so, the sci-fi element kicks in and it's ok but really, the book might have been better if it just kept to the "real world" and kept the focus on Ken's love for Silas and how it basically healed a broken man. The last 60 pages or so of the book were sweet without being overly sentimental. As with many e-books, there were an annoying number of editing errors. If you like a "man and his dog" story, you might enjoy this book.
wow...Mr Duperre *really* has some imagination. Very original book. Lots of things I've often thought about. I would love to see the colors in the parallel world he describes. Not really my usual genre, but I have to really admire the imagination put into this one. Finally, yes, it is possible to love a dog that much....Thanks for reminding me of that, Mr Duperre. Sometimes we tend to take those things for granted....
Meh. An overwrought, poorly written story about a whiny 30-something guy and his great dog that slips into a fantastical world. If you want a well written, well plotted story in that genre read "Fairytale" by Stephen King or "Watchers" by Dean Koontz.
Dogs are a man's best friend. A though astutely established by Robert J. Duperre in his book, Silas.
Here is the summary of the book:
Robert J. Duperre, author of The Fall and Dead of Winter, now presents Silas, a contemporary fantasy novel. Ken Lowery is a man at odds with his life. He hates his job, is disappointed in his marriage, and feels resigned to leading a mundane existence. That all changes when his wife brings home a rambunctious Black Labrador puppy named Silas, who forges a remarkable connection with Ken and begins to heal his inner turmoil. When some neighborhood children start to go missing, he takes it upon himself to protect those around him and is thrust into a surreal world where monsters roam. Not everything is what it seems to be, he soon discovers, including his new best friend.
As I just stated Dogs are a man's best friend, so its the case here. As titled SILAS, is actually the name of the Labrador and who definitely plays a pivotal role with the plot.
The book begins with Ken Lowery who is well at odds with his life and well bidding his last days on a hospital bed. Ken knows he doesn't have long to live but he also desires closure. Closure with what had happened to him in the past. Him and his faithful companion, Silas. Who had walked with him through his toughest times and even had gone to hell and had come back with him.
Try not to get confused by all this though - SILAS may revolve around the dog of the same name but yes the story also part paranormal and part post apocalyptic and dystopic. How?....Well read on....
SILAS, the book can be divided into two parts. The first part deals with the ups and downs of Ken's life on present day Earth. And the second part deals with his adventures in what would be a futuristic alternative reality to Earth, a place suffering from apocalyptic scenario where horrid creatures rule the land.
SILAS is a very moving book. While I admit its a little long but it serves its purpose nonetheless. Not only does it enforce the fact that our pets - well gi-faht (read the book you'll know what i'm talking about here)(well primarily dogs) not only being cute but also form a close bond with their masters but it also makes us wonder - 'What if there is really an alternate reality?' - I definitely don't have an answer to that but yes what I do know is Time is one element that is like a vast to ocean - much is still left to be explored.
It goes to the credit of the author that he had me captivated until the very end. Every pain and every moment of joy clearly resonates with us. Not only the beginning with the end also speaks volumes. Well for one Ken Lowery it was - life is too short to be a jerk for the whole while. But at the heart its a tale of growing up, and learning what is important in life and to value it.
Ken is stuck in a rut. After all of his ambitious dreams in college, he's now stuck in a job he hates. His marriage has also become a shadow of it's former brilliance, and he battles with sometimes crippling depression. When his wife brings home a dog, Ken is furious. He doesn't have time for this. Things begin to change though, and soon Ken finds himself enamored with his new best friend. The dog, Silas, also proves to have the ability to sense danger. When Ken trusts Silas's instincts, he is able to save a family. He becomes reckless however, and ends up in a totally new world. Ken and Silas are soon on an amazing adventure in which they can save not only themselves, but several children as well. If they can survive that is.
This is really two stories in one. The first story takes place in our everyday world. Ken is struggling with his life. It's not what he always dreamed it would be, but shifting priorities in life forced him to do something vastly different than he had imagined. As his wife becomes more successful, the strain on their marriage becomes more apparent. Ken's only solace is found in Silas, a black lab who has become Ken's new best friend. Silas shows some special abilities, which leads Ken and Silas on to story number two. This one takes place in an entirely different world where monsters and feral people abound. Ken discovers he is part of something bigger than himself, and this gives him a new sense of purpose and direction. His life means something, and this shapes the rest of the story.
There were several interesting things in this book. The concept of your pet being like a child was beautifully expressed here. Ken loves Silas as much as a person can love anything. They are friends and companions, but more than that Ken sees Silas as a son. He trusts Silas with his life several times. Silas ends up giving Ken's life meaning in a very literal way. The fantasy aspects of the book were also very unique and interesting. I was often on the edge of my seat getting a real sense of danger for Ken. That's pretty great writing in my book. Overall I enjoyed this book very much.
We long for an affection altogether ignorant of our faults. Heaven has accorded this to us in the uncritical canine attachment. - George Eliot
Ken Lowery is a very unhappy man. he finds no fulfillment in his job and is frustrated with how his marriage is turning out. Ken's perspective, however, changes when his wife brings home a Black Labrador which she christens Silas. when Ken and Silas find themselves in pursuit of a dangerous and elusive serial killer, they embark on an adventure that will take them from this world to a parallel dimension where monsters lurk and nightmares are real. author Robert J. Duperre's writing tugged at my heart, made my pulse race and brought tears to my eyes. for me, this book was not just about marital difficulties, man-canine bonding and a trip to other realms. it was more than that. it is about living life, seizing the moment and being grateful for the little things that are always taken for granted. it is about celebrating the joys, enduring the difficulties, moving on and becoming a better and happier person in the end. if i were to compare this novel to a song, i would say this: it starts out with an unfamiliar tune, rises to a soulful melody, bursts into a haunting refrain and ends with a rousing chorus. this story is remarkable, endearing, highly recommended and a keeper for me!
Disclosure of Material Connection: i received a copy for review. i did not receive any payment in exchange for this review nor was i obligated to write a positive one. all opinions expressed here are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. this disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
At the beginning of the book we meet Ken at the end of his life. He suddenly gets a moment of clarity and decides to share his story with a orderly who is willing to listen. Ken's story, which seemly appears to be about a man going through a mid-life crises, is suddenly confronted with his wife's introduction to a new family member, a black lab pup. The story continues from this point on to one of a man who is taken over by the dog and starts to learn small lessons about life and the selfishness he has been indulging. Even so the main story takes on the remarkable sensitivity and affect Silas has on his human counterparts. Even to a child who was critically ill. Even though this might sound mundane, it is not. You are caught up within Ken's storytelling voice.
Suddenly the story takes an unusual turn. There is suspense building about kidnappings and killers but the outcome to that suspense was unexpected to say the least. And if you think I'm going to spoil it... you are sadly mistaken. *evil laugh* (ah I feel better now) I will say, however, that the story does turn into one that has a bit of sci-fi, a bit dystopian, a dash of paranormal, and a whole lot of adventure. The adventure is compelling and left me in a *gasp* from time to time. The adventure ends in a huge *bang* and then you are back to Ken's contemporary life. The life and character he is now transformed into; someone who values others and compassion above his selfishness.
In the end, I give this book a high 4 1/2 stars. It will make you look at your dog or the dog of someone you know a bit differently. ;) And if you want a good adventure that has you hanging on the edge of your seat, then give this book a try. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
WOW! I didn't think I would be able to add another book to the 'read' pile this year, but then I turned on the Kindle text-to-speech thingy to try it out using this book and OMG! 10 hours later, here's my review!
This book put me through the emotional wringer, man! It's called a supernatural thriller, but don't get that confused too much with horror. It does have some resemblance to the milder Stephen King stuff, but it also has a very sci-fi/fantasy feel to it. I'm not a big fan of dark stories so I would not normally pick this one up, but I'm glad I did because it is more intense than dark.
As the cover and blurb suggest, it is a story about a man and his best friend. But it's so so so much more than that. First you meet Ken, a man in his 30's whom I would call an emotional basket-case due to unrealized life goals and a marriage on the rocks. After the introduction of a black lab puppy named Silas, the real adventure begins. Silas has a knack, an instinct, that leads him and his master into the path of serial killer & kidnapper. But this bad guy is not simply a 'bad guy', he's actually from an alternate reality, and once Ken and Silas get pulled into it, that's when things start to get really rough! The journey cements an already close relationship between dog and man into an unbreakable bond while at the same time becomes a journey of discovery for Ken that forever changes his life and perspectives. The ending is an absolute gut wrenching emotional read for anyone who has ever had a cherished pet and had to let them go. Be warned of that before you pick this one up!
This one was an absolute surprise! I love it when that happens! I give it four stars and call it an Excellent Read.
First off, I'm not a dog lover. A couple of really naughty poodles have spoiled that experience for me, but I used to be. Reading, Mr. Duperre's fantastic novel of suspense and psychological drama has brought back a glimmer of what I used to love about our four-legged companions. But, don't get me wrong, this is not just a love letter to the canine order, this book is so much more. If anything, I might give this book a 4.5, because the casual reader might not know what they are getting into when they start the novel. There is so much genre overlap in this book, that it is hard to describe. In the middle of the novel the reader might be very confused and lost in the mix of sci-fi, suspense, fantasy, horror, and yes, poignant psychological drama of a man caught in a very nasty mid-life crisis. Then, you would be dragged right into the very experience of the narrator, thus revealing the book to be a genius piece of writing.
The way that Robert Duperre explores the narrator's pain and anguish, is fully detailed and truly sympathetic. His mystical journey essentially creates the perfect metaphor for what happens to any of us psychologically who enter this dark realm of the soul. I would say that the truly frightening "monsters" of this novel are not half as scary as the ennui and depression that the main character suffers in the first quarter of the novel.
There is also the promise of more, as it becomes evident that Duperre is creating a rich cosmology from which, hopefully, he will be pulling more threads into the skein of his stories.
Disturbing, hopeful, and rewarding, Silas is a wonderful achievement.
I downloaded this book a week or so ago, writing it on my "to be read soon" list and promptly forget the description written on the Amazon page. I finished Lucifer's Hammer and was looking for something different when I saw this book had a star beside it on my list. Picking it to be my next read, I was disappointed in the first chapter or so when it seemed to just be another book about a well-loved canine companion. While I don't mind books about wonderful family pets(I have one myself), I had expected better...because of course the star I had written next to the title would indicate so.
Well, I stuck with the story only to be drawn in(maybe thrust...pulled... into) an action packed story that I totally wasn't expecting....and totally thrilled about it. I have spent the whole day, aside from a couple of hours at church, reading feverishly. At one point, as the characters were paddling madly back across the lake, I found myself, unconsiously swinging my leg.....I guess in the effort to help paddle that dang leaky boat. :)
All in all, a great adventure, interesting characters and a wonderful dog story that is making me long to spend more time with my own four footed "daughter" and lavish all the love onto her that I can. Now, if I can just wait to hear more about Jacqueline's story. I don't know if I can wait til June.
This was rather an odd book. It started off as a typical drama - the story of a man dealing with relationship issues and his own self-confidence. Then it became a thriller, as Ken's discovery of a dead girl lead to him confronting the murderer. It was only after he drove off in pursuit of said murderer that things got very, very strange indeed. Suddenly Ken found himself in another dimension - a dimension of scary monsters and even scarier people, a dimension in which the world as he knew it had been overwhelmed by global warming. There were robots, and cannibals and some really very scary vine monsters. All these he faced, his beloved dog, Silas, by his side. And what a dog! The disjointed nature of the plot is quite disorientating which I would guess is quite intentional, but does make it feel a tad awkward. Still, I did enjoy it and am now curious to read the series that picks up from this one. Silas and Ken's story might be over, but I have a feeling the author has much more to tell!
As mentioned in some of the other reviews, this book can be cleanly divided into two parts: the part that takes place in our world, and the part that takes place in the world where Ken and his dog Silas are taken.
For me, the parts in the real world were much more interesting than the parts in the other world. I know it was supposed to be stunning and abrupt, but the sudden leap into the other world somehow felt out of place to me. Usually I am more than able to suspend by disbelief, but something about this book just made it impossible for me to appreciate the leap between the two worlds.
That gripe aside, I still read the book in about two days, and as an animal lover I dutifully reached for the box of tissues when the inevitable happened to Silas (straight out told in the opening scene of the book, but still a spoiler I suppose), and dutifully reached for another when the Ken and Silas were reunited. All and in all a decent book, but for my two cents, the switch between settings could have gone smoother.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I have mixed feelings on this book. It is the story of a man's life with his dog in his early 30s, as told/read from journals on his death bed to an apparent stranger. The tone of the book is a little strange and feels as though it is the voice of an old man, even though the story being told takes place decades before. The story itself is riveting and really interesting, but there are some weird word choices that yank you right out of the story. For example, at one point, the author refers to the dog as "an asinine dog" and at another says that the protagonist's esophagus felt thick so it becomes hard to breathe. I think there was a little too much reliance on a thesaurus and nobody said "hey, man, that's not what esophagus means..." Once or twice in the book wouldn't be too bad, but as it stands I noticed at least once per chapter that this happened. The word chosen wasn't always wrong, but it wasn't always a good or fitting choice.
This book reminded me a lot of the movie (haven't read the book) Marley and Me, but with a sci-fi setting. It was entertaining.
A very interesting story, which is on one hand a companion story of a man and his dog and, on the other hand, also a crazy supernatural, post-apocalyptic sort of tale complete with unseen overlords, monsters, and robots.
The writing was well done to my taste and the story was both ludicrous and interesting. I felt that the pacing was decent and I didn't really feel bored at any point during the story. I grew attached to Silas and, to a lesser extent, his owner--though, I feel like I should have cared for him more since he was the protagonist.
I was reading the kindle version and--though I'm not sure if it would have been this way in the printed book--I found several typos which were distracting and slowed me down like little bumps in the sidewalk that I was constantly tripping over. I guess the editor hadn't had enough coffee that day.
Having said that, I would definitely read more of Mr. Duperre's work if it were to cross my path.
The book started out with an old man dying in a hospital bed telling his life story to the night janitor. Turns out he had quite the life...
The story that unfolds felt very much like a self-help/inspirational story as it was very reflective on the things he had done wrong in his relationship as well as his views on life as he progressed. One day his wife brings home a dog that he was very much opposed to at first, and of course become best friends. The story progresses in the direction of the typical "man and his dog" genre until a pedophilic serial killer goes on a rampage.
At that point the author begins channeling his inner Jules Verne, Edgar Rice Burroughs and Dean Koontz and spins an interesting and unbelievable story of adventure and friendship that ends up being a good read and reminding us of the important things in this life.
I'm not going to lie. This book is a bit odd, but it is so well-written (both in character development and in description) that I really couldn't put it down!
Silas is the story of a man who is in a very dark place in his life. His marriage is on the rocks, and he is deeply depressed. Silas is an adorable puppy who bounds into the scene -- and, in him, Ken finds companionship, love, and understanding that helps to heal the holes in Ken's life.
Ken's life has just darkened again when Nick Goodman begins stalking the little girl next door. Ken and Silas become the girl's guardian, an act which leads them (literally) to an entirely new world. It's up to Ken and Silas to rescue a handful of kidnapped children and, in so doing, thwart a mysterious and corrupted government.
Wow. Just wow. I finished reading this book this morning and absolutely was fully engrossed in a tale worthy of such writers as Stephen King or Dean Koontz. Mr. Duperre is a master storyteller, who is able to pull you in and immerse you into his tale. I laughed, I felt anxious, I felt awe in what I saw. And I cried, yes I did cry. I was able to feel the emotions and bond between the two main characters, Ken and Silas his dog. I cannot recommend this book highly enough for those who appreciate this genre, suspense/sci-fi. I wholly expect to see a movie of this one day and would be first in line to buy tickets. I look forward to reading more from this author. Any author who can evoke emotion with their writing, is worth the time committed in escaping into their world.
A very original novel with elements of both science fiction and fantasy. The look started incredibly slow. I almost stopped reading it. There was way too much story build up that seemed almost repetitious. But then something changed, Ken Lowery and his dog Silas found a the body of a kidnapped child. The story took off with a bang into an intense fantasy world that had horrors beyond comprehension. There were some interesting elements to the conclusion of the novel, but I thought the overall ending was sort of weak and drawn out more than necessary. Due to the originality of the story I would recommend it.
This was one of those books that start off with you thinking "oh boy, goodread". That's how it was for me but then at about 40% I started to lose interest when it started going from a good thriller to a ok fantasy, but I know you can't judge a book unless you read it to the end and I'm glad I did because like many books I've read that seem to go south in the middle the end brought it all together. I ended up giving this book a five at least in part I know because I'm a dog lover but mainly because it was a book which I'm glad I was lucky enough to find and read. Books take us places and the place this book takes you is worth getting to.
Loved it. An amazing plot with real life and sci-fi genres entwined, and more going on than it first seems. Flawed, but likeable characters are interesting to watch grow and change throughout the book. The connection between Silas and his owner, Ken, is one that can be related to by any dog owner. Well worth reading.
Edited to add: I read this yeeeears ago, but I've been thinking about this book today (25/7/23). The heart of this book has certainly stayed with me.
liked that he wasn't happy she gotten the dog, but he started to really care for Silas! an awesome dog, he watched and took care of him and when they were on in the other area, so cool he was a boy, and how his attitude change for him was touching, how they worked together was great! great the gotten back together and with all the kids! was so sad when Silas gotten so sick and he had to make the decision, I read between the tears on that(made me think of when we had to do that to our dog Nikki) so through the tears I finished the book! that part was so heartbreaking!