What do you think?
Rate this book
The Yak Guy Project
Imagine waking up in the desert with no idea what happened to you. You have clear memories of situations and places, but a complete loss in personal matters... like your own name. This situation is bad, and you have no idea how to get home.
When you're rescued by a talking yak, the situation gets exponentially worse. You've obviously lost your mind. The immediate needs of a ride off the salt pan and searing heat, along with a drink of water, outweigh the concerns about your mental state.
This is exactly what happened to the Yak Guy. In fact he's been placed in an alternate world and given a chance to start over in life.
Can this selfish, almost parasitic, young man learn to start over in a world where charity is hard to find? Life is brutal and short here, but he's going to have to adapt or perish.
The Yak Guy Project is loosely based around The Fool's Journey from the Tarot. Those with experience in Tarot will spot people and situations from the Major Arcana.
When you're rescued by a talking yak, the situation gets exponentially worse. You've obviously lost your mind. The immediate needs of a ride off the salt pan and searing heat, along with a drink of water, outweigh the concerns about your mental state.
This is exactly what happened to the Yak Guy. In fact he's been placed in an alternate world and given a chance to start over in life.
Can this selfish, almost parasitic, young man learn to start over in a world where charity is hard to find? Life is brutal and short here, but he's going to have to adapt or perish.
The Yak Guy Project is loosely based around The Fool's Journey from the Tarot. Those with experience in Tarot will spot people and situations from the Major Arcana.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 11, 2018
2 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
May 15, 2018
An unusual story that follows the path of a man who wakes up in the desert with no memory of who he is or how he came to be there. He’s befriended by a talking yak that becomes a quasi-guide in the journey to putting his life back together. The man has plenty of lessons to learn, aided along the way by an assortment of colorful and memorable characters. The problem is he doesn’t always want to learn and has to overcome his base nature in the struggle for survival.
This is inventive fiction at its best—quirky, strange, and highly imaginative. The world the author invented is filled with odd creatures, unusual people, and vivid landscapes. The reader gets to live the main character’s experiences through his eyes, and they are varied and as bizarre as the strange world he finds himself in.
If you enjoy imaginative fiction, adventure, and offbeat fantasy all rolled into one, this is one book you won’t want to miss!
This is inventive fiction at its best—quirky, strange, and highly imaginative. The world the author invented is filled with odd creatures, unusual people, and vivid landscapes. The reader gets to live the main character’s experiences through his eyes, and they are varied and as bizarre as the strange world he finds himself in.
If you enjoy imaginative fiction, adventure, and offbeat fantasy all rolled into one, this is one book you won’t want to miss!
September 7, 2021
“The Yak Guy Project” takes Ted on a spiritual journey in a strange world. Ted wakes up, not knowing what happened to him. A talking Yak becomes Ted’s guide as he learns his selfish ways of the past won’t work where he is. Ted was a character that I rooted for, but he also frustrated me with some of his decisions. I could see The Fool’s Journey from the Tarot in Ted like the author had compared him to. This story had me not only invested in whether Ted could learn and grow, but the world he found himself in captivated me. It was a place where technology had gone wrong many years before, and they were back to living on the land. There were many well-placed layers with life lessons, humor, war, and relationships that made this a read that I couldn’t put down.
February 21, 2021
Author C.S. Boyack builds from the foundation an alternate reality where a man gets another chance to live life. The character development of the nameless man who would grow into Ted starts from the ground up when he awakes in pain. This man has a few vague memories of where he came from but no specifics.
My favorite character was the Yak. Not just an ordinary Yak you see on a wildlife show, but a talking Yak. Yak helps this man relearn life by understanding and clarifying the difference between wants and needs. Yak insists this man start with the smallest choices for a useful life.
The writing is easy to read in that it allows the reader to take the journey along with Ted. Learning how to take care of himself as opposed to merely taking from society. Over time and hardship, with the simple guidance of Yak, Ted has the opportunity to see how his actions build on one another and reflect on the world around them. It is the matter-of-fact dialogue that captivates me.
"The water wasn't really cold, but it bit where it touched my sunburned skin. Blood washed out of my shirt for a long time, and I didn't stop scrubbing until the water wrung out clear. I hung my clothes over branches where the sun could work on them and returned to the fire wearing only my boots.
"You should put the soap away."
"That kind of thing is why I never call my mother. I'll get it later."
The yak burped up another wad and started chewing. "I certainly don't want to sound like your mother." His jaw made a few more revolutions before he added, "Right now, you are like a spark. We want you to become like the fire. It will take time and nurturing. You learned to dedicate time to your needs, then you addressed your wants."
This is my foray into the writings of C.S. Boyack. He is creative, practical, and unique in crafting a fanciful situation while conveying a life lesson. Many other supporting characters are delightful and add to the journey Ted takes. His evolution would be impossible without all of them.
I highly recommend this book to those who what to see life and living differently. The chance to take Ted's lessons and potentially apply them in part to how you treat others is there as well. A fun read. This author is a keeper!
My favorite character was the Yak. Not just an ordinary Yak you see on a wildlife show, but a talking Yak. Yak helps this man relearn life by understanding and clarifying the difference between wants and needs. Yak insists this man start with the smallest choices for a useful life.
The writing is easy to read in that it allows the reader to take the journey along with Ted. Learning how to take care of himself as opposed to merely taking from society. Over time and hardship, with the simple guidance of Yak, Ted has the opportunity to see how his actions build on one another and reflect on the world around them. It is the matter-of-fact dialogue that captivates me.
"The water wasn't really cold, but it bit where it touched my sunburned skin. Blood washed out of my shirt for a long time, and I didn't stop scrubbing until the water wrung out clear. I hung my clothes over branches where the sun could work on them and returned to the fire wearing only my boots.
"You should put the soap away."
"That kind of thing is why I never call my mother. I'll get it later."
The yak burped up another wad and started chewing. "I certainly don't want to sound like your mother." His jaw made a few more revolutions before he added, "Right now, you are like a spark. We want you to become like the fire. It will take time and nurturing. You learned to dedicate time to your needs, then you addressed your wants."
This is my foray into the writings of C.S. Boyack. He is creative, practical, and unique in crafting a fanciful situation while conveying a life lesson. Many other supporting characters are delightful and add to the journey Ted takes. His evolution would be impossible without all of them.
I highly recommend this book to those who what to see life and living differently. The chance to take Ted's lessons and potentially apply them in part to how you treat others is there as well. A fun read. This author is a keeper!
January 3, 2020
Overall, I'd say this book is exactly why Indie books exist. I feel like I got what I paid for, that I found an indie work with distinctive voice and niche feel that didn't compromise on quality. There were a few typos, as I've kind of come to accept in indie works, but that's all they were - clearly typos. Formatting was good and the work overall was well put together, so I can't complain. I'd suggest trying out a Boyack work yourself, if you're looking for something indie to read (or just something overall!).
I'm not going to lie, though, the book was weird. Something I think was a bold and strange choice that I still haven't made up my mind about was the main premise. I'll go over it in more detail in the spoilers portion, but suffice to say here that there were some weird bits that I wasn't sure if I really liked or really disliked. I think I'm going to lean towards liked, though, because they built on each other so well.
Next, I think this book contained a lot of metaphors and was intended to be didactic. Despite the action and growing political tension throughout, there's always an underlying theme of nature vs. technology that shined through. I think Ted's awakening in the desert was supposed to be a metaphor for finding oneself in an internet/technology dead zone. Ted had to find his way back into reality and into real relationships, which is what happens when one looses the ability to connect through technology.
An easier metaphor would have been "Millennials suck and need to learn to get a real life with real meaning," but as a millennial I'm going to hope that's not the case. :)
I'm not going to lie, though, the book was weird. Something I think was a bold and strange choice that I still haven't made up my mind about was the main premise. I'll go over it in more detail in the spoilers portion, but suffice to say here that there were some weird bits that I wasn't sure if I really liked or really disliked. I think I'm going to lean towards liked, though, because they built on each other so well.
Next, I think this book contained a lot of metaphors and was intended to be didactic. Despite the action and growing political tension throughout, there's always an underlying theme of nature vs. technology that shined through. I think Ted's awakening in the desert was supposed to be a metaphor for finding oneself in an internet/technology dead zone. Ted had to find his way back into reality and into real relationships, which is what happens when one looses the ability to connect through technology.
An easier metaphor would have been "Millennials suck and need to learn to get a real life with real meaning," but as a millennial I'm going to hope that's not the case. :)
May 15, 2018
Who doesn’t love fiction with memorable characters, strong plot, vivid settings, and distinctive voice? Of course I loved THE YAK GUY PROJECT — it had all of those things and then some.
Boyack is a master at taking a common situation, flipping it on its head, and showing the world a slice of life that is both originally inventive and completely relatable. In this case, the main character is a lazy mooch — probably someone we all know. But instead of real-life drama, we watch him learn his lesson in an alternate reality. The yak is part Jiminy Cricket, part Gandalf. He’s a guide, he’s a sage, he’s a moral compass. His wisdom and sardonic wit kept me entertained throughout.
I mention the guy because he’s the main character and the yak because he’s my favorite, but there are several other fascinating characters, too, each as important and impactful as the last. I don’t want to talk about them all and give too much away, though. Suffice it to say, this book has quite a cast!
So many lessons to learn, so many chances at redemption. An opportunity to form romantic and community bonds, too. All while embarking on a fantastic, potentially life-altering journey. This book has it all. If you’re looking for a fresh, strong voice and a darn good story, this is the one for you.
Boyack is a master at taking a common situation, flipping it on its head, and showing the world a slice of life that is both originally inventive and completely relatable. In this case, the main character is a lazy mooch — probably someone we all know. But instead of real-life drama, we watch him learn his lesson in an alternate reality. The yak is part Jiminy Cricket, part Gandalf. He’s a guide, he’s a sage, he’s a moral compass. His wisdom and sardonic wit kept me entertained throughout.
I mention the guy because he’s the main character and the yak because he’s my favorite, but there are several other fascinating characters, too, each as important and impactful as the last. I don’t want to talk about them all and give too much away, though. Suffice it to say, this book has quite a cast!
So many lessons to learn, so many chances at redemption. An opportunity to form romantic and community bonds, too. All while embarking on a fantastic, potentially life-altering journey. This book has it all. If you’re looking for a fresh, strong voice and a darn good story, this is the one for you.
June 23, 2018
This book introduces you to a man who gets a second chance and to a yak.
With The Yak Guy Project, C. S. Boyack presents us with an entertaining and sometimes pretty funny dystopian story. The story is skillfully elaborated and has a great flow. Ernest Hemingway once stated “When writing a novel a writer should create living people; people not characters. A character is a caricature.” C. S. Boyack shows this masterly with this story – he created living people (and an amazing yak) instead of mere characters; even if the yak is not human - it has personality. I was drawn into the story right away, very close to the man and - the yak. The protagonists' personalities are complex, the others of sufficient depth according to their relevance. Protagonists who grow with their tasks and a yak as a moral guide will take you on an unforgettable journey. I could easily envision the characters and locations. I had a wonderful time reading The Yak Guy Project; it is a highly entertaining read.
This is for you if you like great story-telling, dystopian stories, interesting personalities to cheer on, as well as thought-provoking, and fun moments.
This is a book to read again. Highly recommended!
With The Yak Guy Project, C. S. Boyack presents us with an entertaining and sometimes pretty funny dystopian story. The story is skillfully elaborated and has a great flow. Ernest Hemingway once stated “When writing a novel a writer should create living people; people not characters. A character is a caricature.” C. S. Boyack shows this masterly with this story – he created living people (and an amazing yak) instead of mere characters; even if the yak is not human - it has personality. I was drawn into the story right away, very close to the man and - the yak. The protagonists' personalities are complex, the others of sufficient depth according to their relevance. Protagonists who grow with their tasks and a yak as a moral guide will take you on an unforgettable journey. I could easily envision the characters and locations. I had a wonderful time reading The Yak Guy Project; it is a highly entertaining read.
This is for you if you like great story-telling, dystopian stories, interesting personalities to cheer on, as well as thought-provoking, and fun moments.
This is a book to read again. Highly recommended!
May 20, 2018
Near to death, with no idea of where he is or why he is there, a hapless survivor meets a yak in the desert.
This opening chapter is a corker!
I loved the yak from the get-go, with his sensible advice, observations and his sense of humour. With the help (and patience) of this yak, the survivor will learn the difference between need and want, beginning a massive learning curve for him.
In many ways, this story reminded me of The Pilgrims Progress by John Bunyan, in which a traveller encounters many challenges on his journey through life. Another story about destiny and fulfilment leading to wisdom.
Elements of the Major Arcana from the Tarot appear in the people and situations our survivor finds, creating a thoroughly fascinating insight as we travel the road with him.
The Yak Guy Project is a highly unusual and entertaining story, just what we have come to expect from the author, Craig Boyack.
I loved every person the survivor meets and every lesson he learns, and I can highly recommend The Yak Guy Project to everyone.
This opening chapter is a corker!
I loved the yak from the get-go, with his sensible advice, observations and his sense of humour. With the help (and patience) of this yak, the survivor will learn the difference between need and want, beginning a massive learning curve for him.
In many ways, this story reminded me of The Pilgrims Progress by John Bunyan, in which a traveller encounters many challenges on his journey through life. Another story about destiny and fulfilment leading to wisdom.
Elements of the Major Arcana from the Tarot appear in the people and situations our survivor finds, creating a thoroughly fascinating insight as we travel the road with him.
The Yak Guy Project is a highly unusual and entertaining story, just what we have come to expect from the author, Craig Boyack.
I loved every person the survivor meets and every lesson he learns, and I can highly recommend The Yak Guy Project to everyone.
August 7, 2018
I've read several books by this author, and his extensive imagination astounds me. A yak teaching a man basic survival skills and how to become a better person? Definitely a unique concept.
Generally, coming of age stories apply to teens, but it's an apt description of the Yak Guy (Ted) in this book. He comes from a life where he takes advantage of others, doing almost nothing to support himself, earn his way, or take on responsibility. The yak teaches Ted some valuable, but hard-learned life lessons in a new world that lacks the luxuries he's accustomed to. Not how to live with a lower thread count - more like how to survive life or death situations, and find food, water, and shelter.
As with all this author's books, there are some quirky and memorable characters along the way, as well as a thrilling adventure. I especially enjoyed the Yak with his practical, no-nonsense approach to life, and sarcastic wit.
I highly recommend this to fans of offbeat, innovative sci-fi/dystopia with characters that will stick with you long after reading.
Generally, coming of age stories apply to teens, but it's an apt description of the Yak Guy (Ted) in this book. He comes from a life where he takes advantage of others, doing almost nothing to support himself, earn his way, or take on responsibility. The yak teaches Ted some valuable, but hard-learned life lessons in a new world that lacks the luxuries he's accustomed to. Not how to live with a lower thread count - more like how to survive life or death situations, and find food, water, and shelter.
As with all this author's books, there are some quirky and memorable characters along the way, as well as a thrilling adventure. I especially enjoyed the Yak with his practical, no-nonsense approach to life, and sarcastic wit.
I highly recommend this to fans of offbeat, innovative sci-fi/dystopia with characters that will stick with you long after reading.
May 29, 2018
The Yak is a great ride!
I stayed up late reading this book for several nights. I just couldn't put it down. Yak Guy is intriguing and engrossing, taking an original approach. C. S. Boyack has done another excellent job of story-telling and I particularly like how he portrayed the main character, Ted, and the Yak. The two characters had a good, running dialogue that worked well. You really cannot go wrong with this book.
I stayed up late reading this book for several nights. I just couldn't put it down. Yak Guy is intriguing and engrossing, taking an original approach. C. S. Boyack has done another excellent job of story-telling and I particularly like how he portrayed the main character, Ted, and the Yak. The two characters had a good, running dialogue that worked well. You really cannot go wrong with this book.
May 27, 2019
This is an unusual and fast-paced story, with a variety of colourful and memorable characters. I especially love the talking yak who acts as the main character's guide during his journey of self-discovery and self-improvement. If you love imaginative and quirky tales, and are looking for a quick fantasy style read, you should definitely give this one a try.
September 17, 2018
Wonderful, wonderful story!
This is the story of a man who gets a second chance. All his life, he has sponged of others now he must learn to become a better man. I cried at the end. Such a great story!
This is the story of a man who gets a second chance. All his life, he has sponged of others now he must learn to become a better man. I cried at the end. Such a great story!
October 20, 2021
I have read several books by this author and each one is unique and entertaining. The Yak Guy Project had me hooked from page one. When Ted wakes up in a desert, in an alternate reality, he's sure he's done for. That is until a talking Yak rescues him. The journey this man embarks on is full of insane situations. It is obvious that Ted has been shot and most likely died in his other world.
And, the ultimate goal now is for Ted to grow from a disgusting selfish parasitic person into a caring and more spiritual man. The Major Arcana from the Tarot cards comes into play with various situations and characters Ted encounters.
One of my favorite characters (besides the talking Yak) was Snark. I also love how throughout the story there is an admonition to always watch out for the lions. Somehow this translates into an ironic paradox that I could relate to. Sort of like watching out for the sharks (the human ones).
The author's description of the land, the people, the animals, and most of all the interactions between them take the reader right into the story with them.
The need to survive is strong and Ted will do anything for another chance to live. I enjoyed this dystopian story with all its nuances. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to be entertained!
And, the ultimate goal now is for Ted to grow from a disgusting selfish parasitic person into a caring and more spiritual man. The Major Arcana from the Tarot cards comes into play with various situations and characters Ted encounters.
One of my favorite characters (besides the talking Yak) was Snark. I also love how throughout the story there is an admonition to always watch out for the lions. Somehow this translates into an ironic paradox that I could relate to. Sort of like watching out for the sharks (the human ones).
The author's description of the land, the people, the animals, and most of all the interactions between them take the reader right into the story with them.
The need to survive is strong and Ted will do anything for another chance to live. I enjoyed this dystopian story with all its nuances. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to be entertained!
July 28, 2018
When I picked up The Yak Guy Project, I was very familiar with Craig Boyack’s work. He has impressed me with his creative stories that tend to cause a reader to join in the action willingly. I have always been impressed with the creativity, as well as, quality of the writing. It is no exception with The Yak Guy Project. This is a very creative story of a lost civilization and a lost individual who is a refugee from that previous time. The blurb on Amazon tells you that the refugee woke up in the desert with no knowledge of how he got there. The story is much deeper than that. The guy has been shot in the head and has the bullet with him. He also knows the previous civilization but has none of the skills needed to take advantage of the knowledge he has. All he can do is bitch about not having a cell phone, the internet, and what he considers modern conveniences.
On this backdrop enters a talking Yak. The Yak was sent to help the Yak Guy learn what is essential in life. The Yak makes it clear there will be no more laying around expecting others to serve him. The guy will need to learn to survive. Also, there is one other little lesson for him to learn and that is to think of others before himself.
As you can imagine the lessons come hard, and that is the beauty of the book. There are no freebies as far as the Yak Guy is concerned. He is thrown several curveballs, and he must adapt or die. He also falls head over heels in love, and one gets the idea that this is the first time. Without going any further and risking spoilers let me say this book has adventure, thrills, love, redemption and a terrific conclusion. There is more than enough for any reader not just fans of dystopian science fiction fantasy works. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a page-turner that will keep you thinking about the story long after you have finished it.
On this backdrop enters a talking Yak. The Yak was sent to help the Yak Guy learn what is essential in life. The Yak makes it clear there will be no more laying around expecting others to serve him. The guy will need to learn to survive. Also, there is one other little lesson for him to learn and that is to think of others before himself.
As you can imagine the lessons come hard, and that is the beauty of the book. There are no freebies as far as the Yak Guy is concerned. He is thrown several curveballs, and he must adapt or die. He also falls head over heels in love, and one gets the idea that this is the first time. Without going any further and risking spoilers let me say this book has adventure, thrills, love, redemption and a terrific conclusion. There is more than enough for any reader not just fans of dystopian science fiction fantasy works. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a page-turner that will keep you thinking about the story long after you have finished it.
July 14, 2018
I have read a few of Craig Boyack’s books and I really enjoy his writing. I found this story particularly enjoyable.
The nameless hero of the story wakes up in the middle of a desert with a bullet in his head and no memory of what happened to him and how he got there. He is rescued by a talking Yak who is there to help him learn to become a useful part of society. Our unusual hero has lived a life of laziness and has spent his days sponging off his friends and anyone else who comes along.
Our hero sets off on an usual journey in a post apocalyptic world where war has destroyed the sophisticated and technologically advanced societies that lived there previously. The hero meets a prototype, a human like creature that teaches him a lot about the art of survival such as identifying edible plants and other useful natural resources. The prototypes salvage food and other recyclable materials from the remains of the destroyed cities, villages, aeroplanes and vehicles that scatter the country side. The prototype also teaches the hero the importance of reflection and thinking about what you want from life and how your individual actions impact on the natural world.
When the hero reaches a point in his emotional development where he is ready to re-join his own kind, the Yak reappears and they set off together to find one or other of the survivals who have formed themselves into rival groups. The hero still has lessons to learn about love, loyalty and teamwork.
I really enjoyed the hero and found his personal journey from a selfish and spoilt man-child to a reliable and resourceful man very interesting. The story was fast paced and entertaining and I enjoyed the fantasy world that the writer created.
The nameless hero of the story wakes up in the middle of a desert with a bullet in his head and no memory of what happened to him and how he got there. He is rescued by a talking Yak who is there to help him learn to become a useful part of society. Our unusual hero has lived a life of laziness and has spent his days sponging off his friends and anyone else who comes along.
Our hero sets off on an usual journey in a post apocalyptic world where war has destroyed the sophisticated and technologically advanced societies that lived there previously. The hero meets a prototype, a human like creature that teaches him a lot about the art of survival such as identifying edible plants and other useful natural resources. The prototypes salvage food and other recyclable materials from the remains of the destroyed cities, villages, aeroplanes and vehicles that scatter the country side. The prototype also teaches the hero the importance of reflection and thinking about what you want from life and how your individual actions impact on the natural world.
When the hero reaches a point in his emotional development where he is ready to re-join his own kind, the Yak reappears and they set off together to find one or other of the survivals who have formed themselves into rival groups. The hero still has lessons to learn about love, loyalty and teamwork.
I really enjoyed the hero and found his personal journey from a selfish and spoilt man-child to a reliable and resourceful man very interesting. The story was fast paced and entertaining and I enjoyed the fantasy world that the writer created.
December 16, 2022
I enjoy Boyack’s stories and this one was no exception. It kept my attention throughout with laughter, concern, and thrills. One of Boyack’s trademarks is to take the ordinary, put it into the extraordinary, and open the eyes of the reader to other possibilities or solutions. These elements are interwoven throughout this book.
Who could have imagined a talking Yak? I couldn’t have, but the story is such that this creature becomes beloved. In this science fiction fantasy, there’s action, danger, romance, and always – choices. Who knows, the talking Yak just might help clarify some of your decisions.
Who could have imagined a talking Yak? I couldn’t have, but the story is such that this creature becomes beloved. In this science fiction fantasy, there’s action, danger, romance, and always – choices. Who knows, the talking Yak just might help clarify some of your decisions.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews