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The Dog Logic Triptych #1
Dog Logic: A Thystopian Satire, Book 1
"I laughed my tail off right up to the very last page, which I read in a local cemetery for just the right ambience. Hats off to you Tom Strelich." –Tom McCaffrey, author of The Claire Saga
That dystopian future they always warned us about?
It turns out we're already in it.
Hertell Daggett isn't what he used to be-he'd once been married, he'd once been a physicist, and he'd once been shot in the head. The doctors got the bullet out, but a few tiny specks of copper stayed behind, floating inside his brain, connecting parts that aren't connected in the rest of us, filaments of species memory going back to the beginning of time. He remembers the yodeling sound of dinosaurs and the rubbery smell of trilobites. He once had a future, but now he's the damaged caretaker of a failing pet cemetery where he discovers a lost civilization, well not lost so much as just misinformed-a time-capsule full of people living beneath his pet cemetery since 1963 due to some bad information they got about the end of the world.
But the world didn't end after all but had wobbled on, while that misinformed civilization stayed where it was, back in the world of 1963. Until Hertell finds them and leads the duck-and-cover civilization into our glorious, mystifying, but often dismaying world, and in the process finds a past he never quite remembered, a love he'd never quite lost, and a future he never quite imagined.
Book of the Year Winner - Humor/Satire - Independent Author Network
Book Of The Year Silver Winner - Science Fiction - Foreword INDIES
Bronze Winner - Literary Fiction - Readers' Favorite
That dystopian future they always warned us about?
It turns out we're already in it.
Hertell Daggett isn't what he used to be-he'd once been married, he'd once been a physicist, and he'd once been shot in the head. The doctors got the bullet out, but a few tiny specks of copper stayed behind, floating inside his brain, connecting parts that aren't connected in the rest of us, filaments of species memory going back to the beginning of time. He remembers the yodeling sound of dinosaurs and the rubbery smell of trilobites. He once had a future, but now he's the damaged caretaker of a failing pet cemetery where he discovers a lost civilization, well not lost so much as just misinformed-a time-capsule full of people living beneath his pet cemetery since 1963 due to some bad information they got about the end of the world.
But the world didn't end after all but had wobbled on, while that misinformed civilization stayed where it was, back in the world of 1963. Until Hertell finds them and leads the duck-and-cover civilization into our glorious, mystifying, but often dismaying world, and in the process finds a past he never quite remembered, a love he'd never quite lost, and a future he never quite imagined.
Book of the Year Winner - Humor/Satire - Independent Author Network
Book Of The Year Silver Winner - Science Fiction - Foreword INDIES
Bronze Winner - Literary Fiction - Readers' Favorite
337 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 15, 2017
1132 people are currently reading
2698 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 154 reviews
June 18, 2025
Dog Logic
by Tom Strelich
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this odd but wonderful book! This is like nothing I have ever read before. I have certainly read a lot of books in my time but not like this.
First, Hertell has been shot on the head. The damage caused him to be able to tap into the past memories as far back as dinosaurs. Of time before mankind. The hereditary memories are past down, or is it something else .
He then hears singing and voices. Some people come by and start asking strange questions.
This book sucked me in and held me. Is he crazy? The cops definitely think he is breaking the law. Everyone wants something from him. Even the people from the ground.
This was so good. Characters were excellent. Great suspense and world building.
Unusual ending, but I loved it. I bought his next book and can't wait to start it. Highly recommend this book for the pure novelty of it and the great story it unfolds.
by Tom Strelich
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this odd but wonderful book! This is like nothing I have ever read before. I have certainly read a lot of books in my time but not like this.
First, Hertell has been shot on the head. The damage caused him to be able to tap into the past memories as far back as dinosaurs. Of time before mankind. The hereditary memories are past down, or is it something else .
He then hears singing and voices. Some people come by and start asking strange questions.
This book sucked me in and held me. Is he crazy? The cops definitely think he is breaking the law. Everyone wants something from him. Even the people from the ground.
This was so good. Characters were excellent. Great suspense and world building.
Unusual ending, but I loved it. I bought his next book and can't wait to start it. Highly recommend this book for the pure novelty of it and the great story it unfolds.
February 27, 2018
Best book, ever!
Wait. What.
Admittedly, I was traveling. In a foreign country that had once been behind the "curtain." The food wasn't all 'that' to write home about. There was, however, lots of beer and plenty of wine. Of course, as it so often happens, I was sleep deprived and ill--chest cold and sinusitis--my fear was to run out of tissues. I was "out of my mind." And in the midst of this international discomfort DOG LOGIC arrived. Holy shit. The axis of my world shifted...a new tilt on life.
"What are you laughing at?" 'Tom's book.' "Go to sleep!" 'I'll just read a bit more.' Later, "What are you laughing about, Tom's book? You're still reading it? Is it really that funny?" 'It's pretty f***ing funny.'
I was Robin Williams-style laughing until I wasn't. The "logic" became nearly unbearable...but then it became 'real.' "You're not laughing anymore?" 'No, it's getting too real.' "What do you mean?" 'I mean it's going off the tracks, it's become sorta crazy, I think he's lost it.' "But you're still reading it?" 'Oh, yeah.' "Go to sleep!" 'I'll just read a bit more...'
I've been reading forever, been writing forever, too. Been busy forever. But this, this "Dog Logic" helped me re-align my spine, my thoughts, my philosophy of life--intelligence matters!
Geology. Geo-physics. Physics. Government. Government spending. Lies. Deception. Redaction. Is there anything not touched upon by this genius? Igneous. Metamorphic relationships. Bearings. Planetary alignment. Love.
Best book, ever? It's in the conversation.
Wait. What.
Admittedly, I was traveling. In a foreign country that had once been behind the "curtain." The food wasn't all 'that' to write home about. There was, however, lots of beer and plenty of wine. Of course, as it so often happens, I was sleep deprived and ill--chest cold and sinusitis--my fear was to run out of tissues. I was "out of my mind." And in the midst of this international discomfort DOG LOGIC arrived. Holy shit. The axis of my world shifted...a new tilt on life.
"What are you laughing at?" 'Tom's book.' "Go to sleep!" 'I'll just read a bit more.' Later, "What are you laughing about, Tom's book? You're still reading it? Is it really that funny?" 'It's pretty f***ing funny.'
I was Robin Williams-style laughing until I wasn't. The "logic" became nearly unbearable...but then it became 'real.' "You're not laughing anymore?" 'No, it's getting too real.' "What do you mean?" 'I mean it's going off the tracks, it's become sorta crazy, I think he's lost it.' "But you're still reading it?" 'Oh, yeah.' "Go to sleep!" 'I'll just read a bit more...'
I've been reading forever, been writing forever, too. Been busy forever. But this, this "Dog Logic" helped me re-align my spine, my thoughts, my philosophy of life--intelligence matters!
Geology. Geo-physics. Physics. Government. Government spending. Lies. Deception. Redaction. Is there anything not touched upon by this genius? Igneous. Metamorphic relationships. Bearings. Planetary alignment. Love.
Best book, ever? It's in the conversation.
October 18, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for the ARC! I’m not the type of person who needs to care about the characters in a book to enjoy it, but damn, I do care about the characters in this book. The characters were diverse and conversation felt real. The ensuing chaos made the last 40% unputdownable. This book is a great read and humorous, as well as every adjective under the sun for weird. Will definitely be reading the next sequel.
January 3, 2021
Dog Logic by Tom Strelich is just about one of the funniest reads I have read in years. Now I want to make it very clear that I am a firm believer that the American sense of humor suffered a miserable death right after the original "Not Ready For Prime Time Players" of the 70's.
Tom's book "Dog Logic" is a marvelous breathe of fresh air with a sense of humor and scary reality that had me from the start to the finish.
The story revolves around Hertell Daggett whose life is no longer what it use to be and finds himself as the caretaker for a pet cemetery. He one day finds a forgotten experiment living under the pet cemetery.
A terrific cast of characters and a well written story makes this one hard to put down. Like a Marvels' "What If" Comic Tom brings together the past and the present and builds a world that has us wondering "What if" or I'm sure there are some who might be thinking "I bet somewhere this is true".
With the relatable humor of a Dave Barry as well as the razor sharp humor of Vonnegut, the author does not fail to make us laugh at the possibilities of a government that has lost it's mind and a people so convinced of what they know that they can not see what is.
Tom Strelich's use of words is amazing not only in describing the circumstances and atmosphere, but in giving his characters dialog that is skillfully funny and poignant.
An excellent read, worthy of sitting on anyone's shelf that will be read over again each time revealing something new.
Tom's book "Dog Logic" is a marvelous breathe of fresh air with a sense of humor and scary reality that had me from the start to the finish.
The story revolves around Hertell Daggett whose life is no longer what it use to be and finds himself as the caretaker for a pet cemetery. He one day finds a forgotten experiment living under the pet cemetery.
A terrific cast of characters and a well written story makes this one hard to put down. Like a Marvels' "What If" Comic Tom brings together the past and the present and builds a world that has us wondering "What if" or I'm sure there are some who might be thinking "I bet somewhere this is true".
With the relatable humor of a Dave Barry as well as the razor sharp humor of Vonnegut, the author does not fail to make us laugh at the possibilities of a government that has lost it's mind and a people so convinced of what they know that they can not see what is.
Tom Strelich's use of words is amazing not only in describing the circumstances and atmosphere, but in giving his characters dialog that is skillfully funny and poignant.
An excellent read, worthy of sitting on anyone's shelf that will be read over again each time revealing something new.
March 7, 2019
Yes!! What a reward for my random browsing of sci-fi/fantasy ebook titles!
Tom Strelich's mastery of the English vocabulary was a wow-factor. Much like my compact, but oh so powerful vacuum cleaner, this story sucked me into a perpetual stronghold. Not entirely what the title might suggest, this tale revolves around Hertell Daggett, a quirky, yet extraordinary man who unearths a community of selected subjects, part of an abandoned 1963 JFK era government project established to preserve western humankind, under the threat of supposed nuclear destruction. In their underground, small-town, Americana halidom, the uncontaminated, faith based, free thinking collective, referred to as the "Generations", have thrived undetected for over 50 years, below Daggett's Lil'Pal Heaven pet cemetery, until now. What unfolds is a witty aggregate, part societal reaction to the newcomers as conveyed via media spin, part examination of values and beliefs, transparency and love, part misunderstanding, control and complicit political dogma. And there's so much more I've not even touched on here. Oh, and you'll never think about walking through a door in quite the same way. Five well earned stars.
Tom Strelich's mastery of the English vocabulary was a wow-factor. Much like my compact, but oh so powerful vacuum cleaner, this story sucked me into a perpetual stronghold. Not entirely what the title might suggest, this tale revolves around Hertell Daggett, a quirky, yet extraordinary man who unearths a community of selected subjects, part of an abandoned 1963 JFK era government project established to preserve western humankind, under the threat of supposed nuclear destruction. In their underground, small-town, Americana halidom, the uncontaminated, faith based, free thinking collective, referred to as the "Generations", have thrived undetected for over 50 years, below Daggett's Lil'Pal Heaven pet cemetery, until now. What unfolds is a witty aggregate, part societal reaction to the newcomers as conveyed via media spin, part examination of values and beliefs, transparency and love, part misunderstanding, control and complicit political dogma. And there's so much more I've not even touched on here. Oh, and you'll never think about walking through a door in quite the same way. Five well earned stars.
October 2, 2023
Great book! The audio version is read by the author which in this case is a good thing. The narration rivals other great audio book narrators.
March 22, 2020
By all rights, as one of the first certified owners of this marvelous book, I should have filed this proclamation eons ago. But the truth is, I just couldn’t. Here’s why.
With apologies to vegans and vegetarians alike, the best way I can approximate the myriad delights dancing from literally every page of Dog Logic is to compare its consumption to that first moment of non-transitory bliss, just after you’ve wrapped your lips around the tender segment of the very best rib bone on Earth – and then bitten down – enraptured by every second of sensory delight that comes next.
This, friends, is Dog Logic. Once you start it, you simply cannot let it go.
Author Strelich, a credentialed, lauded playwright whose works include BAFO, Neon Psalms, and yes, the stage version of Dog Logic (same main character, different story), makes the break to novelist with decided aplomb: in this book he never falters. In fact, he completely delivers along every front: Dog Log has great characters, witty, melt-in-your mouth dialogue, and a narrative – a world – which I simply wanted to disappear into.
Strelich’s story of people living in a world beneath our world – one where people are able to connect in a way that brings contentment and purpose to their world – is balm for any soul living in today’s troubling times.
By the time you are at the end of your remarkable journey with Strelich and his fine, fine wit (and all the memorable characters populating this wholly satisfying tale), you, too, will continue to gnaw away at that very good rib bone, and it will hold you and stay with you – as much as you may think you’re the one who has it.
As for vegans and vegetarians, well, Dog Logic is not simply an ordinary lentil loaf: it’s a whole vegetable garden of Eden.
So, dig in. The reward of this special harvest will be magnificent indeed.
With apologies to vegans and vegetarians alike, the best way I can approximate the myriad delights dancing from literally every page of Dog Logic is to compare its consumption to that first moment of non-transitory bliss, just after you’ve wrapped your lips around the tender segment of the very best rib bone on Earth – and then bitten down – enraptured by every second of sensory delight that comes next.
This, friends, is Dog Logic. Once you start it, you simply cannot let it go.
Author Strelich, a credentialed, lauded playwright whose works include BAFO, Neon Psalms, and yes, the stage version of Dog Logic (same main character, different story), makes the break to novelist with decided aplomb: in this book he never falters. In fact, he completely delivers along every front: Dog Log has great characters, witty, melt-in-your mouth dialogue, and a narrative – a world – which I simply wanted to disappear into.
Strelich’s story of people living in a world beneath our world – one where people are able to connect in a way that brings contentment and purpose to their world – is balm for any soul living in today’s troubling times.
By the time you are at the end of your remarkable journey with Strelich and his fine, fine wit (and all the memorable characters populating this wholly satisfying tale), you, too, will continue to gnaw away at that very good rib bone, and it will hold you and stay with you – as much as you may think you’re the one who has it.
As for vegans and vegetarians, well, Dog Logic is not simply an ordinary lentil loaf: it’s a whole vegetable garden of Eden.
So, dig in. The reward of this special harvest will be magnificent indeed.
September 10, 2018
The novel Dog Logic by Tom Strelich is rather like life, harrowing in places, funny in others, occasionally uplifting and sometimes unutterably sad. It concerns the life and adventures of Hertell Daggett, the owner-operator of the Li’l Pal Pet Cemetery, who discovers a long-lost secret experiment dating from the Kennedy era buried deep below the graves. Initial confusion, where the local police launch a raid on what they believe to be a drug production facility, is replaced by an increasingly manic scramble by a huge variety of government agencies to become involved. Hertell Daggett was once a top-flight physicist but after accidentally being shot in the head, his thought processes follow their own independent paths - paths which do not necessarily merge with those of the many officials and organisations which have quite suddenly arrived on his land. When the President of the USA also becomes involved, things quickly start to spiral out of control to produce ever more dangerous, sometimes ludicrous scenarios and leading to an astounding denouement.
Dog Logic has its origins in the play of the same name by Tom Strelich and works very well as a book. The narrative moves at a steady pace introducing little nuggets of information at just the right times to keep one engaged. Hertell is a solid well-drawn character whom you cannot help but like - you will find yourself siding with him and urging him on as he struggles against the forces of Big Government. Well-written by a talented storyteller, you will also find that the novel will invoke a wide range of emotions, from outright laughter to shock, indignation and everything in between. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and hope to see more novels from Mr Strelich in the future.
Dog Logic has its origins in the play of the same name by Tom Strelich and works very well as a book. The narrative moves at a steady pace introducing little nuggets of information at just the right times to keep one engaged. Hertell is a solid well-drawn character whom you cannot help but like - you will find yourself siding with him and urging him on as he struggles against the forces of Big Government. Well-written by a talented storyteller, you will also find that the novel will invoke a wide range of emotions, from outright laughter to shock, indignation and everything in between. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and hope to see more novels from Mr Strelich in the future.
December 28, 2018
A SIMPLE MAN'S REVIEW:
Bait and switch! The first paragraph of the description offered by the publisher talks about a man who can remember all of history, including back to the dinosaurs and trilobites. This is due to a few pieces of copper in his brain that link parts that are no longer linked in the rest of us. Whoa, this could be an incredible book, right? Wrong. The whole "memory thing" is an excuse for the protagonist to have a few holes in his memory and for the reader to wonder if he is actually sane. The idea is completely abandoned within the first part of the book.
Okay, what about the next part of the description that talks about people from the past emerging from the ground? Yes, that part is true, but it follows the typical "people suck" trope that so many dystopian futures are based on. How many ways can people can screw it up? Plenty.
What about the title? Surely there are a plethora of dogs? Nope, the title is based on one conversation about the death of the protagonist's father, and why there isn't a dog in the book. Sure, since much of the book takes place at a pet cemetery, technically there are dogs buried there. But none that play a role in the story.
I was generous with two stars since the main idea about the buried population was a good one, but unfortunately, it was executed poorly. I had to suffer through far too much to get far too little.
Skip it!
Bait and switch! The first paragraph of the description offered by the publisher talks about a man who can remember all of history, including back to the dinosaurs and trilobites. This is due to a few pieces of copper in his brain that link parts that are no longer linked in the rest of us. Whoa, this could be an incredible book, right? Wrong. The whole "memory thing" is an excuse for the protagonist to have a few holes in his memory and for the reader to wonder if he is actually sane. The idea is completely abandoned within the first part of the book.
Okay, what about the next part of the description that talks about people from the past emerging from the ground? Yes, that part is true, but it follows the typical "people suck" trope that so many dystopian futures are based on. How many ways can people can screw it up? Plenty.
What about the title? Surely there are a plethora of dogs? Nope, the title is based on one conversation about the death of the protagonist's father, and why there isn't a dog in the book. Sure, since much of the book takes place at a pet cemetery, technically there are dogs buried there. But none that play a role in the story.
I was generous with two stars since the main idea about the buried population was a good one, but unfortunately, it was executed poorly. I had to suffer through far too much to get far too little.
Skip it!
April 16, 2025
3.5. Dog Logic was a wildly uneven ride—sometimes so dull that I found myself reading on autopilot, other times so engrossing I couldn’t put it down. The inconsistency made for a frustrating experience, but ultimately, there were moments that really worked.
For a book marketed as heavily Sci-Fi, there’s a lot of politics and bureaucracy woven into the narrative. Normally, this would lose me, but its approach—reminiscent of Doctor Strangelove and Catch-22, where the establishment is made up of idiots obsessed with optics and numbers—actually saved it for me.
Even more striking is how eerily relevant the book’s consequences feel within the current state of America. Is it up there with the Sci-Fi greats? No. But honestly, I’m surprised it hasn’t received more attention—because in my opinion, it deserves it.
For a book marketed as heavily Sci-Fi, there’s a lot of politics and bureaucracy woven into the narrative. Normally, this would lose me, but its approach—reminiscent of Doctor Strangelove and Catch-22, where the establishment is made up of idiots obsessed with optics and numbers—actually saved it for me.
Even more striking is how eerily relevant the book’s consequences feel within the current state of America. Is it up there with the Sci-Fi greats? No. But honestly, I’m surprised it hasn’t received more attention—because in my opinion, it deserves it.
April 13, 2018
I first knew of Tom Strelich as the Artistic Director of Carolina Actors Studio Theatre (CAST) in Charlotte. I had only read the first scene of his play, Neon Psalms before I knew we HAD to produce it! I didn't think he could write any better until I collared a copy of DOG LOGIC!!!
I started reading the book with the intention of completing a Chapter or two before bed but was way laid by his writing style! (Yet again!!!)
I couldn't wait for the next chapter and the next .... anxious / excited / anticipatory squirming to find out what was coming next. Tom teased and tantalized - The book is off the leash!
The only frustrating part was life/work/sleep getting in the way. The next morning I let DOG LOGIC take priority and I still find myself smiling months after.
I started reading the book with the intention of completing a Chapter or two before bed but was way laid by his writing style! (Yet again!!!)
I couldn't wait for the next chapter and the next .... anxious / excited / anticipatory squirming to find out what was coming next. Tom teased and tantalized - The book is off the leash!
The only frustrating part was life/work/sleep getting in the way. The next morning I let DOG LOGIC take priority and I still find myself smiling months after.
July 14, 2018
Ah, Bakersfield! Tom Strelich's tale echoes the Eastwood character in the "Every Which Way..." films, roaming the desert with an orangutan in tow. Dog Logic's Hertell Daggett does his roaming on multiple levels, accompanied by little copper brain-shard leftovers from an accidental head-wound. The effects are similar -- experiences that begin with solid foundations soon go off-level in fascinating, sometimes troubling, ways. Is it science or fiction, or something transcendent? It's history, brought forward close to today's pleasures and challenges, with an ending that isn't, really.
Warning: There is accordion music.
Bigger warning: DO NOT page-ahead! There lie big spoilers!
Warning: There is accordion music.
Bigger warning: DO NOT page-ahead! There lie big spoilers!
February 17, 2018
The first half of the book is a light hearted comedy that is fun to read. Then, the book makes a gradual shift to provide an incredibly insightful commentary on our present culture. It feels almost like reverse dystopian future book at times, and I found myself taking a thoughtful look at our culture and especially the things I take for granted.
October 31, 2017
Tom Strelich is the author of several plays, and this is his debut novel. A few years ago, I directed one of his plays at a local theatre and made contact with Tom. We traded a few emails about his play and that was that, until a book showed up in my mailbox. An advance copy of Tom's novel. Based loosely on one of his plays. He asked me to consider writing a blurb for it. My thought was, "Oh, I hope it doesn't suck."
I'm happy to report it does not suck. As I wrote in my blurb, I found it a mordant romp on the fault lines of American progress, and Strelich is here a first-class American fabulist.
I'm happy to report it does not suck. As I wrote in my blurb, I found it a mordant romp on the fault lines of American progress, and Strelich is here a first-class American fabulist.
January 22, 2018
I loved this book - it's smart, funny and whimsical. The style initially reminded me of Tom Robbins and Kurt Vonnegut, but less self-obsessed than the former and kinder than the latter. I felt like I knew and liked the characters, especially Hertell, and the world the Generations built is so intriguing that I want to know more. Recommended!
November 24, 2018
Very clever book that kept me engrossed until the end.
April 29, 2022
Hertell is special on account of being shot in the head and still having some copper pieces of it lodged in his head. He runs a pet cemetery. Then one day, he finds a group of people that have been living under the soil for decades. The clash of 'the old' and 'the outside new' doesn't work out well...
The comparison to "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" really got my expectations up. Unfortunately, it couldn't deliver.
This book started out funny and nice. I like when books turn weird, and I liked the idea of Hertell being able to observe things differently because of literal different wiring in his brain.
That is where the good things stop though... because this book turned out to be shallow.
Now, maybe I'm just not the audience for this book, since I wasn't raised religiously, and neither were most of the people around me. So all this christianity stuff is pretty foreign to me. But still...
This book just hangs on to the idea that 'old' and 'very religious' is the good thing, and the world as we have it now is just bonkers and bad. Disappointing.
The concept could have turned into something so much more interesting!
Other stuff I didn't like:
- glorifying people who practice religion and don't question anything
- anti-abortion rhetorics (sigh)
- anti-trans / anti-non-binary ranting
("men are men and women are women")
- painting off Native Americans as just wanting to landgrabb and build casino's everywhere
Very disappointing.
The comparison to "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" really got my expectations up. Unfortunately, it couldn't deliver.
This book started out funny and nice. I like when books turn weird, and I liked the idea of Hertell being able to observe things differently because of literal different wiring in his brain.
That is where the good things stop though... because this book turned out to be shallow.
Now, maybe I'm just not the audience for this book, since I wasn't raised religiously, and neither were most of the people around me. So all this christianity stuff is pretty foreign to me. But still...
This book just hangs on to the idea that 'old' and 'very religious' is the good thing, and the world as we have it now is just bonkers and bad. Disappointing.
The concept could have turned into something so much more interesting!
Other stuff I didn't like:
- glorifying people who practice religion and don't question anything
- anti-abortion rhetorics (sigh)
- anti-trans / anti-non-binary ranting
("men are men and women are women")
- painting off Native Americans as just wanting to landgrabb and build casino's everywhere
Very disappointing.
February 5, 2018
Simply put, this is the best work of fiction I've read in decades. This is one of those books that leaves you sitting in silent contemplation long after you've completed it. I purchased the audio book, so I had the added benefit of Mr. Strelich's narration and sound effects, which greatly enhanced the experience. Without giving away the plot, or denying you the opportunity to discover every wonderful detail for yourself, I would best describe this book as a modern day Catch 22 (Joseph Heller), only more relevant to our modern world and much more funny. I recommend you drop everything else and make this the next book you read.
October 7, 2018
I have this on my Kindle, so my initial sit down with this book was limited by my battery. I finished the book standing at my kitchen counter with my Kindle plugged into the charger. Realizing that a well written book will evoke a variety of emotions, I must admit, this book certainly did that! I am a huge Dean Koontz fan, and have my favorite Koontz titles. This book (struggling not to be overly fulsome with my praise) is as good as one of Koontz' books! Strelich gets the technical details right, the politics ring true, and the psychology of the plot twists are outrage provoking and believable. All in all, a book I will be recommending to friends
March 2, 2018
Dog Logic is a book you can't put down! It is intriguing and humorous. The story line is very unique filled with unexpected twists You will love the characters and how they are developed throughout story. The book is filled with nostalgia that will cause a chuckle. If you lived through the Cold War, you have to read Dog Logic.. I can't wait for Tom's next book.
March 2, 2018
Intriguing, thought provoking, interesting characters and development of plot. Bakersfield location descriptions realistic. I enjoyed it so much I actually listened to the audio book twice. The sound effects were awesome.
May 7, 2018
Dog Logic is great satire that leads to out-loud laughing on a plane like a great Christopher Buckley romp. Poking fun at the cold war, our duck-and-cover fears, and national media attention deficit disorder, Tom takes us through the parched fields of Bakersfield to find buried treasure.
January 24, 2018
Thought provoking
Very good, didn't put down until I finished the book. This would be a great book club selection and would stimulate interesting conversation.
Very good, didn't put down until I finished the book. This would be a great book club selection and would stimulate interesting conversation.
December 2, 2019
This was a book club choice or I wouldn't have finished it. Too much religious stuff and anti abortion stuff and some anti Indian stuff. Ugh.
November 5, 2025
First time reading this author. Didn't know what to expect, no real idea what the book was about. When I finished reading it I realized it is about Everything (regarding us humans) brilliant observations on current life fed with subtlety. No sex in it and I didn't even miss it! Planning on reading book 2 after a bit of a break.
August 15, 2020
If you like quirky characters and critiques of our current society and the people who run our government, this novel is for you. The main character is a man who suffered a bullet in the head from zealous revelers demonstrating their excitement and/or drunkenness by shooting weapons at the sky. The bullet damage removes our hero from a lauded academic career in physics to a new career as the owner of a failing pet cemetery. He, Herbert, then discovers hundreds of people living below his land in a town-sized equivalent of a 1960's bomb shelter. The found people are at first welcomed by the public. The welcoming ends when a real estate deal and a presidential candidate are rebuffed. The scorned retaliate egregiously, and the lives of every single member of the underground town are threatened under the guise of protecting the cave-dwelling children--protection by death. Very sad, but the author ends the novel with a statement that offers the reader some hope.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 28, 2020
An amazing commentary on our society, politics, media, and where we're headed versus where we've been. On the surface, a quirky story about a physicist who's been shot in the head and now runs a pet cemetery. He discovers an underground bunker filled with people from the early 1960's who think they've escaped the nuclear war post Kennedy assassination. As he tries to acclimate them to the changed world they left, he is changed as well. This isn't a fable about how much better things were in the olden days, although the underground group does seem to be running fairly well. There's an undercurrent of religious belief as well although it's more the feeling of common decency that holds them together.
December 16, 2020
I am glad that I persevered because the first 20 pages had me questioning if I should return the book. I am so happy that I finished it. I can tell you that I have never once read a book anything like this. There was so much going on with this book. I enjoyed the subtle humor and the relatable events of an over-reaching government. I will be honest; I have so many questions that have been left unanswered. I feel like there were statements from characters that were never elaborated on.
February 2, 2021
Really like the imagination. At several points, I was concerned that it would fall into muddy TV movie type dribble. Fortunately, the author didn't take those shortcuts. The last quarter seemed to drag as I kept expecting a disappointing conclusion and felt I was wading through some filler detail. It did turn out to be a little expected so could have moved a little faster, however, the story had good threads that would tie in throughout the book and had a reasonable decent ending.
September 24, 2022
This began with a lot of promise. Reminded me of Denis Johnson, at first, but it goes downhill fast. Amazingly fast. It stops being funny almost immediately. Stupid people being stupid - you know what? I get enough of that in real life. Page 80 and I'm still waiting for the lost people to be found. Finally, mental health is not a joke, and this book relies on it to make the protagonist "interesting." Bailing now before I get to the anti-women's rights and Xtian bull.
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