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Perronautas
Ladito, Campeona, Bicho y Margarita son Perronautas, perros especialmente entrenados para ayudar a los astronautas en misiones espaciales. Ellos y la tripulación humana a bordo de la astronave Laika viajan por el Universo para formar una colonia espacial en un planeta distante.
Pero la misión se complica, y de repente los Perronautas se encuentran completamente solos en una nave gravemente dañada.
Las catástrofes se suceden y la supervivencia parece imposible. Pero estos valientes caninos son Perronautas, y los Perronautas siempre cumplen su misión.
* * *
Una historia de aventuras en el espacio tan emocionante como Misión rescate, y tan ingeniosa y divertida como Madagascar.
Pero la misión se complica, y de repente los Perronautas se encuentran completamente solos en una nave gravemente dañada.
Las catástrofes se suceden y la supervivencia parece imposible. Pero estos valientes caninos son Perronautas, y los Perronautas siempre cumplen su misión.
* * *
Una historia de aventuras en el espacio tan emocionante como Misión rescate, y tan ingeniosa y divertida como Madagascar.
220 pages, Tapa blanda con solapas
First published September 4, 2018
82 people are currently reading
4866 people want to read
About the author
Greg Van Eekhout
60 books385 followersGreg van Eekhout writes books. Some are for kids, some are for adults. He lives in San Diego.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews
September 30, 2018
4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2018/09/30/...
Middle Grade fiction isn’t an age category I typically go for, but I’m a big fan of Greg Van Eekhout and when I saw the premise of Voyage of the Dogs I just couldn’t resist. This book was just too darn cute!
Billed as The Incredible Journey set in space, the story follows a team of four scrappy and adorable canine Barkonauts as they travel aboard the colonization ship Laika as companions and specially trained helpers to the human crew. Thanks to technological advancements, the vocalizations and behaviors of dogs can be translated into human language, allowing communication between the two species. As a result, dogs can also be taught to do so much more. Our protagonist is a terrier mix named Lopside, who fought hard against the odds to make it into the Barkonauts program despite his small size. His team also consists of Daisy, the Great Dane puppy who is already as strong as an ox; Bug, the Corgi genius who helps in Engineering; and Champion, the captain’s loyal Golden Retriever who also serves as leader of the Barkonauts. The four of them are especially close to Roro, their human handler who recruited and trained them for their mission in space. Their destination is Stepping Stone, a planet far outside of our solar system where the Laika hopes to establish a colony by first seeding it with agricultural crops and livestock.
The book begins with the crew preparing to go into hibernation for the long journey. Lopside is nervous about going into cryosleep, but is comforted by Roro who tells him all will be well. But when the dogs wake up, they find that everything has gone wrong. The Laika is severely damaged, the ship empty save for the four of them. Food, water, and supplies are also low, yet they are still a long way off from reaching Stepping Stone. Any way you look at it, the situation seems hopeless, and indeed, command back home has already given up on them, declaring the mission a total loss. Still, Lopside is unwilling to accept defeat. Alone with just their wits, he and his fellow Barkonauts must work together to survive and find out what happened to the human crew. That’s because they are good dogs, and good dogs always complete their mission.
I have to say, despite initial reservations that this book would be too childish, I actually ended up enjoying it a lot. Yes, it is cutesy and has talking dogs, but I was also impressed with the story and many of its deeper and more poignant themes. Obviously, at the heart of it is the idea of Man’s Best Friend and the enduring relationship between humans and dogs. It’s a bond that has been around since the beginning of time, making me wonder why it isn’t featured more prominently in space colonization sci-fi. Dogs are our comfort and joy, our helpers and our family—of course people would want their canine companions along with them for their journey to a new life on a new world.
The story also acknowledges how humans and dogs have evolved together, a process which has shaped society and culture, so it was interesting to see that idea expanded to technology as well. Still, while the dogs here may be ultra-intelligent and highly anthropomorphized, I was glad to see them retain many of their doggie traits. Lopside does rocket science, but still dreams of chasing rats. The Barkonauts communicate verbally with each other, but still nothing beats a good butt sniff. These and many more examples are what gives this book its charm and humor, which I’m sure any dog lover will be able to appreciate.
Voyage of the Dogs was overall a feel-good read, with appeal to wide audiences while staying age-appropriate in the 8-12 range. A couple topics with the potential to be mildly upsetting to sensitive readers include Lopside’s backstory, which heavily implies he was abandoned by his previous owners. Fortunately, he is eventually rescued by Roro, who nominates him for Barkonauts training after witnessing his unfailing optimism and perseverance. Then there is the true story of Laika, the dog who was launched by the Soviets on a one-way trip to space aboard Sputnik 2 in the late 50s. While the book avoids going into all the sad details, the story is referenced at a crucial turning point for our dog characters to gain a new perspective. When all is said and done though, we do get a happy ending, along with what I thought was a beautiful tribute to Laika.
All in all, Voyage of the Dogs was a tail-wagging good time, one that I would not hesitate to recommend to readers of all ages, especially those who love dogs. I don’t often find myself taken with a lot of children’s books, but this is definitely one to bark about.
Audiobook Comments: If you have children in the targeted age range, this audiobook would be a good one to listen with them. Patrick Lawlor provides a good voice for Lopside, and when the dogs started doing Morse code, I almost got a cramp from laughing so hard at the “bark-bark-woofs!” A very entertaining listen overall.
Middle Grade fiction isn’t an age category I typically go for, but I’m a big fan of Greg Van Eekhout and when I saw the premise of Voyage of the Dogs I just couldn’t resist. This book was just too darn cute!
Billed as The Incredible Journey set in space, the story follows a team of four scrappy and adorable canine Barkonauts as they travel aboard the colonization ship Laika as companions and specially trained helpers to the human crew. Thanks to technological advancements, the vocalizations and behaviors of dogs can be translated into human language, allowing communication between the two species. As a result, dogs can also be taught to do so much more. Our protagonist is a terrier mix named Lopside, who fought hard against the odds to make it into the Barkonauts program despite his small size. His team also consists of Daisy, the Great Dane puppy who is already as strong as an ox; Bug, the Corgi genius who helps in Engineering; and Champion, the captain’s loyal Golden Retriever who also serves as leader of the Barkonauts. The four of them are especially close to Roro, their human handler who recruited and trained them for their mission in space. Their destination is Stepping Stone, a planet far outside of our solar system where the Laika hopes to establish a colony by first seeding it with agricultural crops and livestock.
The book begins with the crew preparing to go into hibernation for the long journey. Lopside is nervous about going into cryosleep, but is comforted by Roro who tells him all will be well. But when the dogs wake up, they find that everything has gone wrong. The Laika is severely damaged, the ship empty save for the four of them. Food, water, and supplies are also low, yet they are still a long way off from reaching Stepping Stone. Any way you look at it, the situation seems hopeless, and indeed, command back home has already given up on them, declaring the mission a total loss. Still, Lopside is unwilling to accept defeat. Alone with just their wits, he and his fellow Barkonauts must work together to survive and find out what happened to the human crew. That’s because they are good dogs, and good dogs always complete their mission.
I have to say, despite initial reservations that this book would be too childish, I actually ended up enjoying it a lot. Yes, it is cutesy and has talking dogs, but I was also impressed with the story and many of its deeper and more poignant themes. Obviously, at the heart of it is the idea of Man’s Best Friend and the enduring relationship between humans and dogs. It’s a bond that has been around since the beginning of time, making me wonder why it isn’t featured more prominently in space colonization sci-fi. Dogs are our comfort and joy, our helpers and our family—of course people would want their canine companions along with them for their journey to a new life on a new world.
The story also acknowledges how humans and dogs have evolved together, a process which has shaped society and culture, so it was interesting to see that idea expanded to technology as well. Still, while the dogs here may be ultra-intelligent and highly anthropomorphized, I was glad to see them retain many of their doggie traits. Lopside does rocket science, but still dreams of chasing rats. The Barkonauts communicate verbally with each other, but still nothing beats a good butt sniff. These and many more examples are what gives this book its charm and humor, which I’m sure any dog lover will be able to appreciate.
Voyage of the Dogs was overall a feel-good read, with appeal to wide audiences while staying age-appropriate in the 8-12 range. A couple topics with the potential to be mildly upsetting to sensitive readers include Lopside’s backstory, which heavily implies he was abandoned by his previous owners. Fortunately, he is eventually rescued by Roro, who nominates him for Barkonauts training after witnessing his unfailing optimism and perseverance. Then there is the true story of Laika, the dog who was launched by the Soviets on a one-way trip to space aboard Sputnik 2 in the late 50s. While the book avoids going into all the sad details, the story is referenced at a crucial turning point for our dog characters to gain a new perspective. When all is said and done though, we do get a happy ending, along with what I thought was a beautiful tribute to Laika.
All in all, Voyage of the Dogs was a tail-wagging good time, one that I would not hesitate to recommend to readers of all ages, especially those who love dogs. I don’t often find myself taken with a lot of children’s books, but this is definitely one to bark about.
Audiobook Comments: If you have children in the targeted age range, this audiobook would be a good one to listen with them. Patrick Lawlor provides a good voice for Lopside, and when the dogs started doing Morse code, I almost got a cramp from laughing so hard at the “bark-bark-woofs!” A very entertaining listen overall.
September 7, 2018
I'll just say this up front, because I'm one of the people for whom this is important: No dogs die in this book. We do get the story of Laika*, told by one of the dogs to the others so that, at a critical point, they can make an informed choice, but Greg Van Eekhout kills none of his fictional dogs in the course of this story.
Lopside, Bug, Daisy, and their pack leader, Golden retriever Champion, are Barkonauts, dogs specially trained and equipped to be part of the crew of Laika, the first Earth ship to head out to start a colony on an alien world in a distant solar system. There are four human crew as well, and we only meet two of them before one, Roro, helps the dogs into hibernation for the FTL portion of their travels.
When the dogs wake up, the humans are gone, having taken the lifepod, and the ship is badly damaged.
They're on the outskirts of their destination star system, but with with the ship's drives not working, too far from their destination planet, Stepping Stone. The dogs struggle to make repairs. They manage to redirect the communication antenna, and send a call for help to Earth.
They are good dogs, and they are Barkonauts. Barkonauts complete their missions, and their mission is to get to Stepping Stone.
There are real personalities at work. There is both conflict and cooperation among the dogs. Lopside, a little terrier mix, the only non-purebred, is our viewpoint character. From time to time he reminds us that unlike the others, he wasn't bred to please everyone. (Champion's a Golden, Bug is a Corgi, Daisy a Great Dane puppy. All bred to work with people, not to consider people's opinions and then make their own decisions.)
Looming over their efforts is the name of the ship, Laika. They know Laika was the first dog in space, the very first Barkonaut, but for some reason, her story is missing from The Great Book of Dogs, the book Roro read to them, full of the stories of heroic dogs. Lopside really wants to know that story. He's sure it would help inspire them to even greater heroism and ingenuity.
But with or without the story of Laika, these dogs love their people and their jobs, and are determined to succeed They don't quit. They don't fail.
This is a very satisfying story.
Recommended.
I bought this book.
*Considering how long it's been, and how much younger than me are the people raising young children today, I think I have to say outright what Laika's story is. She was the first dog in space, yes. She went up in Sputnik 2, on November 3, 1957. There was never a plan to bring her back, but she died within hours, when a malfunction caused the Sputnik cabin to overheat. This was the result of the Soviet space program taking barely four weeks to design Sputnik 2, and that wasn't enough time to make a reliable temperature control system for Laika. Laika's story is one of humans behaving badly. Greg Van Eekhout, on the other hand, is a good human, who gets well-deserved cuddles from his dogs.
Lopside, Bug, Daisy, and their pack leader, Golden retriever Champion, are Barkonauts, dogs specially trained and equipped to be part of the crew of Laika, the first Earth ship to head out to start a colony on an alien world in a distant solar system. There are four human crew as well, and we only meet two of them before one, Roro, helps the dogs into hibernation for the FTL portion of their travels.
When the dogs wake up, the humans are gone, having taken the lifepod, and the ship is badly damaged.
They're on the outskirts of their destination star system, but with with the ship's drives not working, too far from their destination planet, Stepping Stone. The dogs struggle to make repairs. They manage to redirect the communication antenna, and send a call for help to Earth.
They are good dogs, and they are Barkonauts. Barkonauts complete their missions, and their mission is to get to Stepping Stone.
There are real personalities at work. There is both conflict and cooperation among the dogs. Lopside, a little terrier mix, the only non-purebred, is our viewpoint character. From time to time he reminds us that unlike the others, he wasn't bred to please everyone. (Champion's a Golden, Bug is a Corgi, Daisy a Great Dane puppy. All bred to work with people, not to consider people's opinions and then make their own decisions.)
Looming over their efforts is the name of the ship, Laika. They know Laika was the first dog in space, the very first Barkonaut, but for some reason, her story is missing from The Great Book of Dogs, the book Roro read to them, full of the stories of heroic dogs. Lopside really wants to know that story. He's sure it would help inspire them to even greater heroism and ingenuity.
But with or without the story of Laika, these dogs love their people and their jobs, and are determined to succeed They don't quit. They don't fail.
This is a very satisfying story.
Recommended.
I bought this book.
*Considering how long it's been, and how much younger than me are the people raising young children today, I think I have to say outright what Laika's story is. She was the first dog in space, yes. She went up in Sputnik 2, on November 3, 1957. There was never a plan to bring her back, but she died within hours, when a malfunction caused the Sputnik cabin to overheat. This was the result of the Soviet space program taking barely four weeks to design Sputnik 2, and that wasn't enough time to make a reliable temperature control system for Laika. Laika's story is one of humans behaving badly. Greg Van Eekhout, on the other hand, is a good human, who gets well-deserved cuddles from his dogs.
September 4, 2018
ARC provided by Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review
REVIEW IN ENGLISH
This is was a fun and sometimes deep and emotional adventure.
Lopside is a barkonaut -a dog that has been trained to help and resolve problems on missions in space. He is part of a crew in the spaceship Laika that is going to a distant outpost. But something really bad happen and Lopside and his barkonaut friends: Daisy, Bug and the leader Champion should try to resolve the damage on the ship and survive at the same time.
At first I was really excited to read about dogs in space but as the story progressed I found myself really thinking about what could happen if a group of dogs and humans were really in trouble in space. Who could help them? Is there a way to survive after a fatal incident? So it really put me to think about the message this books was giving. I don't think you should sugarcoat what happens so I really appreciate it. I felt it more real and plausible.
All the barkonauts have personality and a rol to play here: Champion as the leader, Bug as the technician, Daisy as the strong and active and Lopside with intelligence to resolve problems. Also there's a human that is relevant to the story: Roro, the one that adopted Lopside when he was abandoned. I loved to read about the perspective of Lopside and their interaction with the pack. I think it's really well done.
The aspects of the technical matters of the spaceship are really well done and I don't think it's hard to understand at all. So kudos to the author for that. Emotional moments and stories of dogs are here too and it's a great addition. I really enjoyed this novel as an adult and I think kids will love it too.
******************************************
RESEÑA EN ESPAÑOL
Esta fue una aventura muy divertida pero también profunda y emotiva.
Lopside es un barkonauta, un perro que ha sido entrenado para ayudar y resolver problemas en misiones en el espacio. Es parte de un equipo en la nave espacial Laika que se dirige a un planeta distante. Pero algo malo sucede en el viaje y Lopside y sus compañeros, Daisy, Bug y la líder Champion deber resolver el problema y tratar de sobrevivir al mismo tiempo.
Al principio estaba muy interesada por leer un libro infantil con perros en el espacio. Lo primero que uno ve es que está bien escrita y no es tan infantil como parecía y a medida que avanzaba la historia me sorprendió las preguntas serias de la historia: ¿qué podría pasar si un grupo de perros y humanos se vieran atrapados en una nave en el espacio? ¿Quién podría ayudarlos? ¿Hay alguna manera de sobrevivir después de un incidente tan grave? Me hizo pensar en el mensaje que el libro da y me gustó también que fuera ameno y serio al mismo tiempo. Lo sentí más real y plausible, aunque si se tiene en cuenta que los perros "hablan" entre ellos y se comunican con los humanos por un microchip implantado en el cerebro.
Todos los barkonautas tienen personalidad y un rol: Champion, la lider y que planea con inteligencia, Bug como el experto en tecnología, Daisy como la perra fuerte y activa y Lopside, que es el protagonista, con su instinto para resolver problemas. También hay un humano que es relevante para la historia: Roro, una joven que adoptó Lopside cuando lo abandonaron. Me encantó cómo el autor narra desde la perspectiva de un perro y creo que está muy bien hecho.
Los aspectos de los asuntos técnicos de la nave espacial están muy bien hechos y no creo que sea difícil de entender en absoluto. Así que felicitaciones al autor. Los momentos emocionales y las historias de perros famosos se cuentan aquí y creo que es una super buena adición. Yo personalmente disfruté esta novela como una adulta y creo que a los niños también les va a encantar. Ojalá este libro sea traducido al español.
REVIEW IN ENGLISH
This is was a fun and sometimes deep and emotional adventure.
Lopside is a barkonaut -a dog that has been trained to help and resolve problems on missions in space. He is part of a crew in the spaceship Laika that is going to a distant outpost. But something really bad happen and Lopside and his barkonaut friends: Daisy, Bug and the leader Champion should try to resolve the damage on the ship and survive at the same time.
At first I was really excited to read about dogs in space but as the story progressed I found myself really thinking about what could happen if a group of dogs and humans were really in trouble in space. Who could help them? Is there a way to survive after a fatal incident? So it really put me to think about the message this books was giving. I don't think you should sugarcoat what happens so I really appreciate it. I felt it more real and plausible.
All the barkonauts have personality and a rol to play here: Champion as the leader, Bug as the technician, Daisy as the strong and active and Lopside with intelligence to resolve problems. Also there's a human that is relevant to the story: Roro, the one that adopted Lopside when he was abandoned. I loved to read about the perspective of Lopside and their interaction with the pack. I think it's really well done.
The aspects of the technical matters of the spaceship are really well done and I don't think it's hard to understand at all. So kudos to the author for that. Emotional moments and stories of dogs are here too and it's a great addition. I really enjoyed this novel as an adult and I think kids will love it too.
******************************************
RESEÑA EN ESPAÑOL
Esta fue una aventura muy divertida pero también profunda y emotiva.
Lopside es un barkonauta, un perro que ha sido entrenado para ayudar y resolver problemas en misiones en el espacio. Es parte de un equipo en la nave espacial Laika que se dirige a un planeta distante. Pero algo malo sucede en el viaje y Lopside y sus compañeros, Daisy, Bug y la líder Champion deber resolver el problema y tratar de sobrevivir al mismo tiempo.
Al principio estaba muy interesada por leer un libro infantil con perros en el espacio. Lo primero que uno ve es que está bien escrita y no es tan infantil como parecía y a medida que avanzaba la historia me sorprendió las preguntas serias de la historia: ¿qué podría pasar si un grupo de perros y humanos se vieran atrapados en una nave en el espacio? ¿Quién podría ayudarlos? ¿Hay alguna manera de sobrevivir después de un incidente tan grave? Me hizo pensar en el mensaje que el libro da y me gustó también que fuera ameno y serio al mismo tiempo. Lo sentí más real y plausible, aunque si se tiene en cuenta que los perros "hablan" entre ellos y se comunican con los humanos por un microchip implantado en el cerebro.
Todos los barkonautas tienen personalidad y un rol: Champion, la lider y que planea con inteligencia, Bug como el experto en tecnología, Daisy como la perra fuerte y activa y Lopside, que es el protagonista, con su instinto para resolver problemas. También hay un humano que es relevante para la historia: Roro, una joven que adoptó Lopside cuando lo abandonaron. Me encantó cómo el autor narra desde la perspectiva de un perro y creo que está muy bien hecho.
Los aspectos de los asuntos técnicos de la nave espacial están muy bien hechos y no creo que sea difícil de entender en absoluto. Así que felicitaciones al autor. Los momentos emocionales y las historias de perros famosos se cuentan aquí y creo que es una super buena adición. Yo personalmente disfruté esta novela como una adulta y creo que a los niños también les va a encantar. Ojalá este libro sea traducido al español.
February 25, 2019
The best word I can come up with to describe this one is sweet. These are four Very Good Dogs, doing whatever they can to complete their mission. They care about each other, just like they cared about their humans. I'm not sure exactly how van Eekhout did it, but he makes you want to reach into the book and give them all belly scritches and reassure them that yes, they're good dogs.
There are plenty of dangers - the ship is in bad shape, and the dogs don't know what happened to the humans. And there are parts where the dogs have to struggle with feeling abandoned, and with fears of what's going to happen to them. But the book never dwells on the darkness or lets the reader lose that sense of doggie determination.
I particularly loved the moments of dogness, like the way Lopside keeps wishing he could hunt a rat, or Daisy watching the viewscreen because it's the closest she can get to sticking her head out the window.
It's obvious van Eekhout loves dogs - it comes through in every bit of dialogue, in the personalities of the four Barkonauts, and in the stories sprinkled throughout the book of other heroic dogs from history. Not to mention his author photo.
This book was fun, hopeful, heartfelt, and just what I needed.
I'll be passing it on to my son, who's also a dog-lover. I expect him to completely adore this book.
There are plenty of dangers - the ship is in bad shape, and the dogs don't know what happened to the humans. And there are parts where the dogs have to struggle with feeling abandoned, and with fears of what's going to happen to them. But the book never dwells on the darkness or lets the reader lose that sense of doggie determination.
I particularly loved the moments of dogness, like the way Lopside keeps wishing he could hunt a rat, or Daisy watching the viewscreen because it's the closest she can get to sticking her head out the window.
It's obvious van Eekhout loves dogs - it comes through in every bit of dialogue, in the personalities of the four Barkonauts, and in the stories sprinkled throughout the book of other heroic dogs from history. Not to mention his author photo.
This book was fun, hopeful, heartfelt, and just what I needed.
I'll be passing it on to my son, who's also a dog-lover. I expect him to completely adore this book.
May 23, 2018
This is a fabulous concept for an MG adventure novel – dogs in space! Companion-dogs forced to rescue themselves when their humans go missing! – and it’s carried off SO well.
I actually know Greg, so I already knew that he had dogs of his own, but even if I hadn’t known him beforehand, I would have been certain that he’s a dog-owner just by how fantastically he writes from a dog’s point of view. It is so much fun to watch the barkonauts’ augmented intelligence mix with their laugh-out-loud spot-on dog priorities and behaviors. And the space adventure is really fabulous! As my 9-year-old was reading me a chapter (because we took turns reading it out loud to each other, one chapter at a time), he said: “I think I know what’s going to happen next, but I’m not going to tell you, because I think it’s going to be really exciting if I’m right!”
And he was. :) It was very exciting!
Recommended to all kids and adults who love dogs and outer space adventures.
I actually know Greg, so I already knew that he had dogs of his own, but even if I hadn’t known him beforehand, I would have been certain that he’s a dog-owner just by how fantastically he writes from a dog’s point of view. It is so much fun to watch the barkonauts’ augmented intelligence mix with their laugh-out-loud spot-on dog priorities and behaviors. And the space adventure is really fabulous! As my 9-year-old was reading me a chapter (because we took turns reading it out loud to each other, one chapter at a time), he said: “I think I know what’s going to happen next, but I’m not going to tell you, because I think it’s going to be really exciting if I’m right!”
And he was. :) It was very exciting!
Recommended to all kids and adults who love dogs and outer space adventures.
Read
April 16, 2018Literally Homeward Bound meets Gravity. So cute. But also wow, stressful. Kids are going to love it.
March 5, 2019
Reseña completa: https://goo.gl/4nF9VY
Un consejo antes de que se embarquen a leer este libro, corran por su mascota, la van a necesitar además de unos pañuelos.
Pospuse un tiempo la lectura de este libro pensando que sería una aventura palomera sobre viajes espaciales, con la novedad de que los protagonistas serían unos perritos. En apariencia es lo que promete el libro, sin embargo la trama se va oscureciendo a mitad de la travesía.
Greg Van Eekhout nos lanza un contundente mensaje sobre la ingratitud de la raza humana y el como se han explotado esos pequeños animalitos. Los humanos son crueles y a pesar de que el perro es considerado el mejor amigo del hombre, muchas veces es usado como una herramienta, accesorio o mera moda.
En Perronautas vemos que los perros cuentan con muchas mejoras genéticas y además pueden comunicarse perfectamente con los hombres. Por ello son excelentes opciones para los viajes espaciales y una pérdida poco significativa para algunos.
Fue inevitable soltar un par de lagrimillas y querer achuchar a Ladito, Campeona, Margarita y Bicho. Para todos aquellos que hemos tenido la fortuna de tener un amigo perruno, sabemos cuan amorosos, leales, agradecidos pueden ser, y la sonrisa sincera que ofrecen cada vez que te ven no tiene precio. Así que este libro me removió muchos sentimientos y creo que todo niño y joven debería leerlo. Necesitamos personas que respeten a los animalitos y que no los maltraten.
Frase matadora:
"Los humanos podían dar consuelo y ofrecer afecto, comunicar amor, mientras decían mentiras. Podían llamarte "buen perro" y enviarte a morir.Sabiendo eso, ¿cómo podía Ladito seguir siendo leal a los humanos?"
Un consejo antes de que se embarquen a leer este libro, corran por su mascota, la van a necesitar además de unos pañuelos.
Pospuse un tiempo la lectura de este libro pensando que sería una aventura palomera sobre viajes espaciales, con la novedad de que los protagonistas serían unos perritos. En apariencia es lo que promete el libro, sin embargo la trama se va oscureciendo a mitad de la travesía.
Greg Van Eekhout nos lanza un contundente mensaje sobre la ingratitud de la raza humana y el como se han explotado esos pequeños animalitos. Los humanos son crueles y a pesar de que el perro es considerado el mejor amigo del hombre, muchas veces es usado como una herramienta, accesorio o mera moda.
En Perronautas vemos que los perros cuentan con muchas mejoras genéticas y además pueden comunicarse perfectamente con los hombres. Por ello son excelentes opciones para los viajes espaciales y una pérdida poco significativa para algunos.
Fue inevitable soltar un par de lagrimillas y querer achuchar a Ladito, Campeona, Margarita y Bicho. Para todos aquellos que hemos tenido la fortuna de tener un amigo perruno, sabemos cuan amorosos, leales, agradecidos pueden ser, y la sonrisa sincera que ofrecen cada vez que te ven no tiene precio. Así que este libro me removió muchos sentimientos y creo que todo niño y joven debería leerlo. Necesitamos personas que respeten a los animalitos y que no los maltraten.
Frase matadora:
"Los humanos podían dar consuelo y ofrecer afecto, comunicar amor, mientras decían mentiras. Podían llamarte "buen perro" y enviarte a morir.Sabiendo eso, ¿cómo podía Ladito seguir siendo leal a los humanos?"
December 9, 2018
"A sad story could be like a gentle scritch behind the ears. It told him that he was not alone."
So so so enjoyed this book.
So so so enjoyed this book.
February 18, 2019
RESEÑA EN EL BLOG ➜ https://goo.gl/2X7WZR
Ladito (llamado así por su orejita que se va de lado) fue seleccionado junto a varios otros perros para ser parte de la misión Laika, misión que pretende llevar vida a otro planeta. La misión particular de Ladito es asegurarse que las ratas no estropeen las cosas vitales para los humanos y él es extremadamente bueno en esa tarea, razón por la cual todos en la nave lo adoran. El sentimiento es mutuo pues para él no hay mayor logro que ayudar al bienestar de los humanos.
Pero para que la misión Laika resulte con éxito, los perros deben de dormir en las cámaras de hibernación por seis meses ya que el viaje es extremadamente largo y de no hacerlo los suministros serán insuficientes.
Ladito y los demás perros entran en hibernación confiados en que los humanos estarán ahí para cuidarlos, pero cuando despiertan descubren que la nave está en estado crítico y que no hay ningún humano en ella. Ahora, si quieren sobrevivir tendrán que arreglárselas para averiguar qué fue lo que pasó mientras ellos dormían.
… a donde los humanos fueran, los perros irían también.
Para comenzar esta reseña debo contarles algo, yo amo a los perros con todo mi negro corazón (por eso tengo cinco) y para mí no hay ser más hermoso y puro que un perro, es por ello que soy la persona más chillona del mundo cuando se trata de una historia protagonizada por ellos ya sea feliz o sea triste (justo antes de escribir esta reseña estaba llorando porque vi el reencuentro de un perro con su dueño después de dos años… así que sí, me convierto en una cosa llorona) así que comencé este libro esperando llorar un poco y no estaba tan equivocada, pero la historia ha sido tan bonita que lloré con mucho gusto.
Perronautas es una novela muy pequeñita que se lee en un abrir y cerrar de ojos pero pese a ser muy pequeña es una novela que transmite mil sentimientos.
A lo largo del libro el autor explora a fondo el lazo que une a los perros y a los humanos, un lazo de amor que puede llegar a ser agridulce en varios momentos ya que mientras los perros dan amor incondicional, hay veces que los humanos no lo hacemos tanto y hacemos de menos a los animales precisamente por eso, por tacharlos de meros animales.
De verdad que me parece inconcebible que haya gente que sólo vea a los perros como un “algo” sin sentimientos y en este libro conoceremos una historia que ejemplifica eso de una manera de verdad lamentable y muy triste (y aquí lloré y lloré y volví a llorar). Pero al pasar de las hojas los Perronautas descubrirán que hay humanos capaces de abrir su corazón y amarlos como a sus iguales.
En resumen, Perronautas es una novela preciosa que nos enseña a valorar el inmenso amor incondicional de un perro.
April 25, 2021
Works for Anna's 'cute animals' thread in SFFBC and my 'no bad guys' thread there and Listopia.
Adorable, of course. Fairy tale, though, def. juvenile... the dogs don't have hands or anything after all. They're not even actually uplifted, just very very smart.
Less a science fiction story than a story about how every member of the pack has a place, can make important contributions. That's an important theme. But I guess I wanted a bit more science, even hand-wavium, and so I have to round down from my 3.5 rating.
Still, I do recommend the book, and would be glad to read a sequel or more by the author.
Adorable, of course. Fairy tale, though, def. juvenile... the dogs don't have hands or anything after all. They're not even actually uplifted, just very very smart.
Less a science fiction story than a story about how every member of the pack has a place, can make important contributions. That's an important theme. But I guess I wanted a bit more science, even hand-wavium, and so I have to round down from my 3.5 rating.
Still, I do recommend the book, and would be glad to read a sequel or more by the author.
November 21, 2018
Really freaking cute and perfect for kids wanting to try a mild sci-fi book. Also, anything with Barkonauts will be easy to hand to nervous readers.
This was recommended to me by a 3rd grade girl and her dad who both read and loved it. So glad I listened.
This was recommended to me by a 3rd grade girl and her dad who both read and loved it. So glad I listened.
July 26, 2020
I loved this book. It was adorable, sweet, and sad. It was a really great story of determination and survival. The pack of dogs that the story surrounded, were all great characters that were very well developed. I particularly adored the main character, Lopside who is a super loyal and endearing dog. Another thing I loved is how much the dogs in this book acted like dogs. Dog body language and behavior was really well shown throughout the book and I can tell that the author truly loves dogs. This was also one of the few books that has caused me to genuinely worry about the outcome. The story was fraught with danger as the dogs faced more and more catastrophes. I also think this book did a really great job at bringing up some tough topics in the relationships between people and dogs. While it does celebrate our relationships with dogs, it also doesn’t shy away from discussing some of the negative and sometimes selfish relationships people have with dogs. I know this book is going to stay with me for a long time and it is a truly touching story.
March 27, 2023
I'm starting to get ready for elementary school visits, and I discovered a book that was nearly lost to the pandemic. I read it in the summer of 2019 for a kids bookclub and it was the first book on my list to talk about in May/June 2020. But then stuff happened, and as far as I can tell, I never actually wrote a booktalk for it. Fortunately, our library system still has 8 copies of it so I'm bringing it back in 2023!
Five dogs are specially selected to join a space expedition. But they wake up from hibernation to discover that their ship was struck by an asteroid, their humans are gone, and they are alone on the ship in Space.
I avoid dog books if I'm at all nervous about them being too tragic, but this steered clear of my special sensitivities. It's kind of like Homeward Bound in space.
Five dogs are specially selected to join a space expedition. But they wake up from hibernation to discover that their ship was struck by an asteroid, their humans are gone, and they are alone on the ship in Space.
I avoid dog books if I'm at all nervous about them being too tragic, but this steered clear of my special sensitivities. It's kind of like Homeward Bound in space.
August 31, 2018
If you love dogs and love desperate voyages of a handful of survivors on board a crippled spacecraft who never give up hope but keep on doing their best because they are Good Dogs gosh darn it...and even though I don't care that much for dogs in general I am a sucker for any sort of character who keeps doing all they can for pack and for mission because the alternative, giving up, is not conceivable. These are Good Dogs indeed, and their good dogness made me teary quite a few times.
Soiler, because some people don't like books where horrible things happen to dogs--no horrible thing happened that made me teary. Just Good Dogs being Good Dogs.
Soiler, because some people don't like books where horrible things happen to dogs--no horrible thing happened that made me teary. Just Good Dogs being Good Dogs.
November 23, 2018
Lopside, Champion, Bug, and Daisy are the Barkonauts and they will finish their mission.
This story was so amazingly adorable I wanted to hold up the book and wave it around in a room full of book enthusiasts and say "YOU MUST READ THIS!" Kids will love it, but so will adults who can still deal with a reasonable amount of cuteness. Each of the dogs has its own distinct personality. I adored Daisy, the Great Dane puppy who bounds all over the place, always with her squeaky ball, but ends up partly saving them all. There is a surprising amount of tension - parts where I actually worried about what would come next. It definitely has a Happy Ever After, but the dogs have to work to get there. They are Good Dogs. And Good Dogs complete their mission.
This story was so amazingly adorable I wanted to hold up the book and wave it around in a room full of book enthusiasts and say "YOU MUST READ THIS!" Kids will love it, but so will adults who can still deal with a reasonable amount of cuteness. Each of the dogs has its own distinct personality. I adored Daisy, the Great Dane puppy who bounds all over the place, always with her squeaky ball, but ends up partly saving them all. There is a surprising amount of tension - parts where I actually worried about what would come next. It definitely has a Happy Ever After, but the dogs have to work to get there. They are Good Dogs. And Good Dogs complete their mission.
July 18, 2019
Meet Lopside, a mutt with a big heart, Champion the golden retriever, Bug the corgi, and Daisy, the Great Dane puppy! Their dogs in space, but can these barkonauts survive without the astronauts, their human companions?
With relatively short chapters, fans of dog stories or those looking for a read aloud about space will like this one.
With relatively short chapters, fans of dog stories or those looking for a read aloud about space will like this one.
May 14, 2020
Okay, Okay, it's puppies in space AND there's a corgi named Bug AND the dogs have to try and get themselves to safety on a doomed ship called the Laika? Come on. This is everything I love. It's a short sweet little sci-fi novel about a rescue mutt named Lopside who is part of a team of...I kid you not, Barkonauts, who when their people go missing, must try and navigate their doomed ship through an asteroid field to their final destination. It was equal parts silly and tense, with tons of sweetness and faith in humanity from Lopside who is an eternal optimist when it comes to humans and dogs.
November 25, 2022
This was sweet and funny, and I liked it! Good length as for middle grade read.
All the dog lovers, this is a must read!
All the dog lovers, this is a must read!
February 7, 2019
Reseña completa---> http://bit.ly/2UKVeah
Frases de Libros---> http://bit.ly/2CigOtm
¿De qué trata Perronautas? La historia nos habla sobre 4 maravillosos perros, primero tenemos a Ladito , llamado así por su orejita que siempre cae de lado, un perrito mestizo que alguna vez fue abandonado pero que ahora se ha convertido en un fantástico perronauta y que va a todos lados con su mochilita de herramientas para ayudar en el mantenimiento de la nave Laika. Después tenemos a Campeona una adorable y valerosa Golden Retriever que es la líder de la manada de perros y encargada de tomar las decisiones que otros no puede, también tenemos al buen Bicho, un Corgi, inteligente y entrenado para ayudar al mantenimiento técnico de la nave, finalmente esta Margarita, una Gran Danesa, sumamente fuerte que ayuda a mover objetos y construcción dentro de la nave. Estos 4 perros, junto a su entrenadora y amiga Roro, forman lo que Ladito denomina como “La Manada”, más que una familia de sangre, una familia de honor, entrelazada por el trabajo y el cariño y sustentada en la fidelidad. Ladito, Campeona, Bicho y Margarita son los Perronautas que viajan en la nake Laika, junto a una tripulación humana, para poblar un nuevo planeta, sin embargo algo sale terriblemente mal y de repente nuestros peludos amigos se topan con que la tripulación humana ha abandonado la nave y los ha dejado a su suerte, de ellos depende sobrevivir a esta travesía y cumplir su misión como los “buenos perros” que son. ¿Por qué los han abandonado?, ¿Lograrán llegar a su destino?
Frases de Libros---> http://bit.ly/2CigOtm
¿De qué trata Perronautas? La historia nos habla sobre 4 maravillosos perros, primero tenemos a Ladito , llamado así por su orejita que siempre cae de lado, un perrito mestizo que alguna vez fue abandonado pero que ahora se ha convertido en un fantástico perronauta y que va a todos lados con su mochilita de herramientas para ayudar en el mantenimiento de la nave Laika. Después tenemos a Campeona una adorable y valerosa Golden Retriever que es la líder de la manada de perros y encargada de tomar las decisiones que otros no puede, también tenemos al buen Bicho, un Corgi, inteligente y entrenado para ayudar al mantenimiento técnico de la nave, finalmente esta Margarita, una Gran Danesa, sumamente fuerte que ayuda a mover objetos y construcción dentro de la nave. Estos 4 perros, junto a su entrenadora y amiga Roro, forman lo que Ladito denomina como “La Manada”, más que una familia de sangre, una familia de honor, entrelazada por el trabajo y el cariño y sustentada en la fidelidad. Ladito, Campeona, Bicho y Margarita son los Perronautas que viajan en la nake Laika, junto a una tripulación humana, para poblar un nuevo planeta, sin embargo algo sale terriblemente mal y de repente nuestros peludos amigos se topan con que la tripulación humana ha abandonado la nave y los ha dejado a su suerte, de ellos depende sobrevivir a esta travesía y cumplir su misión como los “buenos perros” que son. ¿Por qué los han abandonado?, ¿Lograrán llegar a su destino?
September 8, 2018
This is a perfect book.
Addendum a few hours later: I miss reading this book... It was totally absorbing, and if I'd read it when I was twelve, it would have unquestionably been my favorite book.
Addendum a few hours later: I miss reading this book... It was totally absorbing, and if I'd read it when I was twelve, it would have unquestionably been my favorite book.
October 9, 2018
★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up)
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
I guess this is technically a "Middle Grade" book -- but forget about that. Call it All-Ages instead -- that way, adults and YA readers and . . . everyone can enjoy this SF guilt-free. I should also include this line from The Big Idea post Van Eekhout wrote on Scalzi's blog: "Spoiler: I don’t kill off any of the dogs in this book. Why not? Because I’m not a monster, that’s why not." It's important to get that out of the way.
Let's start with this: the rationale to bring dogs along on a spaceship. It's brilliant. It also points to one of the biggest problems with Starfleet, the Colonial Battle Fleet, the Serenity, etc. A lack of animals. Sure, NCC 1701-D had pets (not that we saw them often), but they were sealed up in cabins. And Firefly's episode "Safe" had cattle, but that was an oddity. The animals aboard Laika are there for purposes -- like the main character, Lopside. He's there to hunt rats -- where there are humans and cargo, there are rats. Something small and fast -- and with a good nose -- is needed to hunt rats down.
The book will do a better job explaining the roles of the other three dogs and what advances in breeding have led to dogs being capable of being more than the dogs we have today -- while still remaining dogs -- to become Barkonauts.
These poor, brave dogs go into the hibernation state just before the humans do to complete the voyage to a nearby star system as part of human exploration and colonization, the first mission like this humanity has tried. But when the dogs wake up, they notice something's wrong -- part of the ship is missing, as is the crew.
They're too far into the mission to turn around, too far away for a rescue mission to reach them. At this point, Lopside and the others have to try to salvage what they can and limp along to their final destination.
Lopside is a terrier mix, he's brave, he has (understandably) abandonment issues -- which are not helped at all by the absence of the humans. He's a little scatter-brained (like a good terrier) and he's incredibly loyal and has a great heart. The other barkonauts are as well-drawn and lovable.
Van Eekhout is clearly a dog-lover and it comes out in his characters. He's also a pretty good story-teller, because even with that spoiler, I was invested in the outcome and really wasn't sure how he was going to pull things off in a way that was satisfying and that wouldn't reduce semi-sensitive 5th-graders across the globe to quivering balls of tears (a lesson Wilson Rawls could've used, I have to say -- no, I'm not still torn up about Old Dan and Little Ann, why do you ask?). He does succeed in that -- although some might get a bit misty at a point or two. It's a fun and creative story, and takes some oft-repeated SF tropes and deals with them in a refreshing way.
Ignore the stars -- I can't bring myself to give it more, I don't know why. Pay attention to what I have said above and this: read the book. It'll warm your heart, it'll make you make you a little sad, it'll give you something to grin about -- and it tells a good story, too. What more do you want?
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
Of course, the humans couldn't go alone. There had to be dogs. Because wherever humans went dogs came along. Like rats, only more helpful. Dogs would herd livestock. Dogs would keep watch against the unknown. And, more importantly, dogs would keep the human crew company during the long spaceflight, and on their new home, far away from Earth.
But first they had to get there.
I guess this is technically a "Middle Grade" book -- but forget about that. Call it All-Ages instead -- that way, adults and YA readers and . . . everyone can enjoy this SF guilt-free. I should also include this line from The Big Idea post Van Eekhout wrote on Scalzi's blog: "Spoiler: I don’t kill off any of the dogs in this book. Why not? Because I’m not a monster, that’s why not." It's important to get that out of the way.
Let's start with this: the rationale to bring dogs along on a spaceship. It's brilliant. It also points to one of the biggest problems with Starfleet, the Colonial Battle Fleet, the Serenity, etc. A lack of animals. Sure, NCC 1701-D had pets (not that we saw them often), but they were sealed up in cabins. And Firefly's episode "Safe" had cattle, but that was an oddity. The animals aboard Laika are there for purposes -- like the main character, Lopside. He's there to hunt rats -- where there are humans and cargo, there are rats. Something small and fast -- and with a good nose -- is needed to hunt rats down.
The book will do a better job explaining the roles of the other three dogs and what advances in breeding have led to dogs being capable of being more than the dogs we have today -- while still remaining dogs -- to become Barkonauts.
These poor, brave dogs go into the hibernation state just before the humans do to complete the voyage to a nearby star system as part of human exploration and colonization, the first mission like this humanity has tried. But when the dogs wake up, they notice something's wrong -- part of the ship is missing, as is the crew.
They're too far into the mission to turn around, too far away for a rescue mission to reach them. At this point, Lopside and the others have to try to salvage what they can and limp along to their final destination.
Lopside is a terrier mix, he's brave, he has (understandably) abandonment issues -- which are not helped at all by the absence of the humans. He's a little scatter-brained (like a good terrier) and he's incredibly loyal and has a great heart. The other barkonauts are as well-drawn and lovable.
Van Eekhout is clearly a dog-lover and it comes out in his characters. He's also a pretty good story-teller, because even with that spoiler, I was invested in the outcome and really wasn't sure how he was going to pull things off in a way that was satisfying and that wouldn't reduce semi-sensitive 5th-graders across the globe to quivering balls of tears (a lesson Wilson Rawls could've used, I have to say -- no, I'm not still torn up about Old Dan and Little Ann, why do you ask?). He does succeed in that -- although some might get a bit misty at a point or two. It's a fun and creative story, and takes some oft-repeated SF tropes and deals with them in a refreshing way.
Ignore the stars -- I can't bring myself to give it more, I don't know why. Pay attention to what I have said above and this: read the book. It'll warm your heart, it'll make you make you a little sad, it'll give you something to grin about -- and it tells a good story, too. What more do you want?
December 22, 2020
Lopside, Champion, Daisy, and Bug are the four dogs that were selected to be companions to humans settling a new planet. They also have jobs to do on the ship, and the humans on their voyage have been equipped with the special ability to communicate with the dogs. They are on their way to their new home when the dogs wake from hibernation to find that the humans have abandoned ship in the lifepod, there's severe damage to the ship, and they are still a ways from their new home. Can four space dogs make it to the new planet on their own?
This reads like a smart space survival story, just with dogs as the main characters instead of humans. I like that the dogs like listening to stories of true dog heroes as inspiration in their down time. Readers get to learn about several real dog heroes through the retelling of those stories. I also appreciated that Van Eekhout kept the science smart and pretty realistic even if dogs are the main characters. Lopside is a very fun main character to follow around. He's got a plucky attitude, but is still very much dog. This is the perfect read for dog lovers who are scifi fans.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. There are perilous situations but the worst injury the dogs face is . The dogs do discover that the humans.
This reads like a smart space survival story, just with dogs as the main characters instead of humans. I like that the dogs like listening to stories of true dog heroes as inspiration in their down time. Readers get to learn about several real dog heroes through the retelling of those stories. I also appreciated that Van Eekhout kept the science smart and pretty realistic even if dogs are the main characters. Lopside is a very fun main character to follow around. He's got a plucky attitude, but is still very much dog. This is the perfect read for dog lovers who are scifi fans.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. There are perilous situations but the worst injury the dogs face is . The dogs do discover that the humans.
December 27, 2020
An enjoyable enough story but not very memorable. Lopside, Champion, Bug & Daisy are genetically modified dogs aboard the Laika, which is on its way to colonize HD 24040. They awake from their hibernation berths to find the humans have abandoned the ship and they're adrift in space.
It's up to them to repair the ship and complete the mission...
As I said, it's a fine, quick read with enjoyable characters but it's not that impactful. I never connected with any of the dogs, and the one conflict that may have made the book more than just another feel-good dog story - the dogs eventually find out what happened to the ship's namesake & ask themselves if humans are worth it - is brought up and resolved in a page (spoilers? - humans are "worth it").
More than two stars but couldn't quite make the three-star bar. Recommended for the lower end of the young-reader spectrum (I can easily see parents reading this to their kids before bed).
It's up to them to repair the ship and complete the mission...
As I said, it's a fine, quick read with enjoyable characters but it's not that impactful. I never connected with any of the dogs, and the one conflict that may have made the book more than just another feel-good dog story - the dogs eventually find out what happened to the ship's namesake & ask themselves if humans are worth it - is brought up and resolved in a page (spoilers? - humans are "worth it").
More than two stars but couldn't quite make the three-star bar. Recommended for the lower end of the young-reader spectrum (I can easily see parents reading this to their kids before bed).
December 2, 2018
Where there are humans there are dogs, also where there are humans there are rats, or so Lopside has been led to believe but on the Spacecraft Laika he hasn't seen a single rodent.
The Spacecraft Laika is traveling to a new world to start a human colony; it holds many crew, some farm animals in deep sleep, a variety of eggs, and five dogs. Lopside, Champion, Daisy, and Bug are important members of the crew, they are the Barkonauts.
Dad suggested I read this book knowing that I have a condition when reading about animals when they are protagonists; he told me to read it anyway and I am very happy with the outcome.
Voyage of the Dogs is a lovely, heartwarming read of human kinds link with canines. Set in the future there have been advances in science to elongate canine lives and to help with communications between dogs and humans (resulting in the humans having an implant that translates the dog's manners, body language, and barks so they can communicate both ways).
The book follows Lopside the only non-purebred dog on the ship. Lopside helps with engineering; he carries multiple tools on his harness and is known by all the human crew. Champion is a golden retriever; she is in charge of the Barkonauts. Bug is a corgi; he helps with engineering. And then there's Daisy a great dane puppy, once she is fully grown on their desired planet she will help move heavy loads. Each of the Barkonauts is known through the crew, but they all love and respect Roro. Roro helps the Barkonauts; she maintains the bio-dome and the flora inside it.
Roro is the most involved human when it comes to the Barkonauts; she makes them toys from spare pieces throughout the Laika and she tells them stories of hero dogs throughout history.
Space travel is full of perils, even the best laid out plans can go wrong Voyage of the Dogs explores what happens when this happens. The Barkonauts wake from their hibernation chambers and find that all the humans are gone and the Laika is failing.
A repeating theme through the book is that connection between humans and dogs, and that Barkonauts always complete their mission. Definitely one that I will reread time and time again.
The Spacecraft Laika is traveling to a new world to start a human colony; it holds many crew, some farm animals in deep sleep, a variety of eggs, and five dogs. Lopside, Champion, Daisy, and Bug are important members of the crew, they are the Barkonauts.
Dad suggested I read this book knowing that I have a condition when reading about animals when they are protagonists; he told me to read it anyway and I am very happy with the outcome.
Voyage of the Dogs is a lovely, heartwarming read of human kinds link with canines. Set in the future there have been advances in science to elongate canine lives and to help with communications between dogs and humans (resulting in the humans having an implant that translates the dog's manners, body language, and barks so they can communicate both ways).
The book follows Lopside the only non-purebred dog on the ship. Lopside helps with engineering; he carries multiple tools on his harness and is known by all the human crew. Champion is a golden retriever; she is in charge of the Barkonauts. Bug is a corgi; he helps with engineering. And then there's Daisy a great dane puppy, once she is fully grown on their desired planet she will help move heavy loads. Each of the Barkonauts is known through the crew, but they all love and respect Roro. Roro helps the Barkonauts; she maintains the bio-dome and the flora inside it.
Roro is the most involved human when it comes to the Barkonauts; she makes them toys from spare pieces throughout the Laika and she tells them stories of hero dogs throughout history.
Space travel is full of perils, even the best laid out plans can go wrong Voyage of the Dogs explores what happens when this happens. The Barkonauts wake from their hibernation chambers and find that all the humans are gone and the Laika is failing.
A repeating theme through the book is that connection between humans and dogs, and that Barkonauts always complete their mission. Definitely one that I will reread time and time again.
June 29, 2019
First - no dogs died, there was a point 150 pages in that i couldn't figure a way out for them and had to read the last chapter before i could continue. Van Eekhout put the dogs in a terrible situation And figured out a way to get his characters out it, v. impressive.
The other thing about this book, the ship is called the Laika and anyone familiar w/what happened to the dog the Soviets sent into space knows what happened, i kept expecting doom for the ship, the explanation for naming the ship after that great hero is explained well, as is the reason for not telling the dogs who Laika was.
Wish the final chapter had been a half dozen pages longer.
This will become a goto gift book.
The other thing about this book, the ship is called the Laika and anyone familiar w/what happened to the dog the Soviets sent into space knows what happened, i kept expecting doom for the ship, the explanation for naming the ship after that great hero is explained well, as is the reason for not telling the dogs who Laika was.
Wish the final chapter had been a half dozen pages longer.
This will become a goto gift book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 15, 2018
I need to get over bad or incomplete science in books for middle graders. I mean, this was a good, solid space adventure starring dogs for goodness' sake and all I'm worrying about is who tested all the flora and fauna on Stepping Stone to ensure they were safe to eat. Like, seriously, the stuff on Stepping Stone was maybe 10% of the book and I'm letting it ruin my enjoyment of the whole book. Suspension of disbelief, woman. Suspension. Of. Disbelief.
Sigh. My problem, not the book's.
But can we talk about the dead astronauts..?
Sigh. My problem, not the book's.
But can we talk about the dead astronauts..?
May 17, 2020
OMG! Good dog! This was not what I expected, it was so much better! While the premise of the book is fantastical, the author makes it feel really believable that dogs are as much the assistants to astronauts as they are to so many other workers. I was fighting back tears for the last two-thirds of the book and was drawn in to the "pack" and their struggle to survive. Highly recommend - I've already added it to my list of books to buy for my school library in the fall.
Note: I won a copy of the ebook from Goodreads to review.
Note: I won a copy of the ebook from Goodreads to review.
September 29, 2020
Voyage of the Dogs was recommended to me by my daughter and she hit this one out of the park. Greg Van Eekhout has written a middle-grade classic that is witty, funny, exciting, entertaining, and most of all touching. The adventures of the Barkonauts is up there with The Martian, and Lost in Space in creating a world that surrounds you with its reality even as things get more and more dangerous for the pack of unlikely heroes. I can't recommend this story enough. Great work, Mr. van Eekhout!
September 30, 2019
This book might be for kids, but it doesn't flinch from discussing humanity's sometimes selfish relationship with dogs. It also works in a lot of the science behind life on a spaceship without ever being boring or sounding like it's talking down to its readers. This is an exciting adventure with believable dog heroes! I loved it.
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September 21, 2018This is a lovely little book about a group of Very Good Dogs. On a spaceship.
They got left behind by the humans on the ship, but they're determined to complete their mission.
This is a middle-grade book, but if you need a pick-me-up or a unicorn chaser in these dark times, read (or listen) to this book. You won't regret it.
They got left behind by the humans on the ship, but they're determined to complete their mission.
This is a middle-grade book, but if you need a pick-me-up or a unicorn chaser in these dark times, read (or listen) to this book. You won't regret it.
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