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Echo
Like so many dogs before him, EK-230 dreams of a life outside the lab. But like so many dogs before him, he was never meant to leave.
After all, he’s just another project to the humans, worth little more than the results he gives them. Even his name is just a serial number, tattooed inside his ear for identification.
Things are changing, though. Strange humans have started visiting the lab in the dark of the night, humans that couldn’t be more different from the researchers. These new humans wear cameras and big white suits. They offer treats to EK-230 and his siblings. Best of all, they come with promises of rescue.
Only time will tell whether or not they can be trusted. Humans are humans, and as much as EK-230 wants to love them, humans are rarely good news for a dog like him.
This new novel from Aris Austin, "An Author for the Animals," is sure to have you hugging your dog tight. Told from the point of view of a dog being used in a research lab, Echo explores important themes of animal testing, animal care, and open rescue. An instant classic for both animal lovers and fans of LGBTQ+ fiction, this story of a Beagle and his rescuers is sure to earn an honored place in your heart and on your bookshelf.
Be sure to check out Aris Austin's companion novel to Echo, Shadow! Before there was Echo, there was Shadow. Learn about Annie’s past and the story of the shelter dog she loved so much. Available for Kindle and in print.
After all, he’s just another project to the humans, worth little more than the results he gives them. Even his name is just a serial number, tattooed inside his ear for identification.
Things are changing, though. Strange humans have started visiting the lab in the dark of the night, humans that couldn’t be more different from the researchers. These new humans wear cameras and big white suits. They offer treats to EK-230 and his siblings. Best of all, they come with promises of rescue.
Only time will tell whether or not they can be trusted. Humans are humans, and as much as EK-230 wants to love them, humans are rarely good news for a dog like him.
This new novel from Aris Austin, "An Author for the Animals," is sure to have you hugging your dog tight. Told from the point of view of a dog being used in a research lab, Echo explores important themes of animal testing, animal care, and open rescue. An instant classic for both animal lovers and fans of LGBTQ+ fiction, this story of a Beagle and his rescuers is sure to earn an honored place in your heart and on your bookshelf.
Be sure to check out Aris Austin's companion novel to Echo, Shadow! Before there was Echo, there was Shadow. Learn about Annie’s past and the story of the shelter dog she loved so much. Available for Kindle and in print.
168 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 11, 2018
127 people are currently reading
50 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 11, 2020
A realistic and heartwarming story. (Contains spoilers!)
5 solid stars*****
I absolutely loved this book. It was written concerning so many "hot button" issues in today's world that almost everyone seems to want to ignore or wishes would simply disappear.
The main plot point centers around the two protagonists, Annie and her transgender partner, Harley. They work together, with a few others, in performing daring rescues of animals from experimental laboratories and finding them good forever homes.
With each rescue, they face criminal charges and jail time, but they still carry on out of pure love for the animals and each other.
Echo and his three siblings were bred to to experimented on. No other purpose. They were Beagles, one of the gentlest and cutest breed of canines. (My humble opinion, having raised four of them.) Annie discovers their predicament and plans a rescue. But the lab where Echo is kept has very high security. The rescue takes months of planning to be certain the dogs can be rescued safely and Annie and her team do not get caught during the rescue.
Things take a dark twist after the CEO of the company paying for the testing for an improved clothes washing detergent is caught on one of Annie's hidden cameras stating he wants the testing completed by the following day and then to kill the dogs and dissect the them to verify the laboratory's findings.
This forces Annie to move ahead with the rescue that night. After an encounter with security, they manage to flee with all four Beagles and take them to a veterinarian. Then Echo's siblings are picked up and taken to their "forever" homes, were they slowly adjust and heal. Echo stays with Annie and Harley, who also have a large dog, two blind bunnies, a feline with brain damage and an exotic bird, all rescued by the MCs.
Echo adjusts slowly and this adjustment is written from his POV, which is wonderfully crafted by the author. His view of his new home, his "humans" and his take on what becomes a daily routine is brought together with amazing style and feeling that you can almost think you're inside Echo's mindset.
Much more occurs in the story, not all of it good. Harley has some rough times and the CEO is out for vengeance. This book deserves to be read by everyone who cares about how animals are treated and used in testing, mainly by cosmetic companies.
It imparts deep emotions, truthful facts and various controversial topics. I truly hope you will give this splendid story a chance.
5 solid stars*****
I absolutely loved this book. It was written concerning so many "hot button" issues in today's world that almost everyone seems to want to ignore or wishes would simply disappear.
The main plot point centers around the two protagonists, Annie and her transgender partner, Harley. They work together, with a few others, in performing daring rescues of animals from experimental laboratories and finding them good forever homes.
With each rescue, they face criminal charges and jail time, but they still carry on out of pure love for the animals and each other.
Echo and his three siblings were bred to to experimented on. No other purpose. They were Beagles, one of the gentlest and cutest breed of canines. (My humble opinion, having raised four of them.) Annie discovers their predicament and plans a rescue. But the lab where Echo is kept has very high security. The rescue takes months of planning to be certain the dogs can be rescued safely and Annie and her team do not get caught during the rescue.
Things take a dark twist after the CEO of the company paying for the testing for an improved clothes washing detergent is caught on one of Annie's hidden cameras stating he wants the testing completed by the following day and then to kill the dogs and dissect the them to verify the laboratory's findings.
This forces Annie to move ahead with the rescue that night. After an encounter with security, they manage to flee with all four Beagles and take them to a veterinarian. Then Echo's siblings are picked up and taken to their "forever" homes, were they slowly adjust and heal. Echo stays with Annie and Harley, who also have a large dog, two blind bunnies, a feline with brain damage and an exotic bird, all rescued by the MCs.
Echo adjusts slowly and this adjustment is written from his POV, which is wonderfully crafted by the author. His view of his new home, his "humans" and his take on what becomes a daily routine is brought together with amazing style and feeling that you can almost think you're inside Echo's mindset.
Much more occurs in the story, not all of it good. Harley has some rough times and the CEO is out for vengeance. This book deserves to be read by everyone who cares about how animals are treated and used in testing, mainly by cosmetic companies.
It imparts deep emotions, truthful facts and various controversial topics. I truly hope you will give this splendid story a chance.
July 26, 2018
This was really an excellent story. I loved the way the author told the story through Echo.
January 10, 2020
This is a story about a dog and his siblings who are rescued from a lab. It is very disturbing what "man" does in the name of "science" to animals and I found it very hard to read some parts. Without going into any detail, it does have a happy ending. I loved the way it was written, from the dog's point of view. I hope she writes more books. This is a must read for anyone who does not know what goes on in those places.
November 24, 2020
Love this author!
I read the book Shadow by the same author, I loved that book, and this one didn't disappoint either! I'm a sucker for anything to do with animals, and the way this author writes, I never want to stop and put it down until the end, he is just a great story teller...and I can't wait to find more of his work!
I read the book Shadow by the same author, I loved that book, and this one didn't disappoint either! I'm a sucker for anything to do with animals, and the way this author writes, I never want to stop and put it down until the end, he is just a great story teller...and I can't wait to find more of his work!
September 11, 2018
Sad but wonderful!
What a sad but uplifting book. Everyone should read this book and support Animal free testing. This book was an eye opener.
What a sad but uplifting book. Everyone should read this book and support Animal free testing. This book was an eye opener.
September 7, 2019
Loved Echos story, and so glad it was happy for Echo
I was deeply moved and upset by Shadows story, and will never forget him-Now I will remember Echo as well
I was deeply moved and upset by Shadows story, and will never forget him-Now I will remember Echo as well
February 28, 2020
Good point of view of animal rescuers, as well as gay/transgender people as normal - you know just like everyone else, which I appreciate. I did, and do, have trouble referring to a transgender person as "they" and "them". I am a grammarian, and "they" is a plural pronoun. If you don't know a person's gender, you're now supposed to use "they". I just can't understand why we can't find a word for a person whose gender is unknown. Maybe "ind"? (A riff on the current use of "individual", rather than "person".) If we are now to refer to born as female and self-identifying as female as "cis", why can't we come up with something better than "they" for an unknown-gendered person? Don't they deserve something better than "they"?
I did very much like this book, and welcomed the look into the lives (fictional) of animal rescuers..
I did very much like this book, and welcomed the look into the lives (fictional) of animal rescuers..
June 28, 2021
Wonderful!
Thanks so much to Aris Austin for his wonderful way of looking at and speaking for Echo in his book about animal rescue from a testing lab. It was well written and moved along quickly. I love that his characters were from the LGBTQ community. My wife and I have three dogs, two are rescue dogs.
Thanks so much to Aris Austin for his wonderful way of looking at and speaking for Echo in his book about animal rescue from a testing lab. It was well written and moved along quickly. I love that his characters were from the LGBTQ community. My wife and I have three dogs, two are rescue dogs.
September 27, 2018
just ok.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews