Tuesday, May 13, 2014

First Chapter, First Paragraph Tuesday Intros - The Dog Stars by Peter Heller





The Dog Stars

1

I keep the Beast running, I keep the 100 low lead on tap, I foresee attacks. I am young enough, I am old enough. I used to love to fish for trout more than almost anything.

My name is Hig, one name. Big Hig if you need another. 

If I ever woke up crying in the middle of a dream, and I'm not saying I did, it's because the trout are gone every one. Brookies, rainbows, brown, cutthroats, cutbows, every one.

The tiger left, the elephant, the apes, the baboon, the cheetah. The titmouse, the frigate bird, the pelican (gray), the whale (gray), the collared dove. Sad but. Didn't cry until the last trout swam upriver looking for maybe cooler water.

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Hig is one of the last people left. There was a flu pandemic, then another illness, and now humanity is down to its last people, mostly not nice ones according to Hig. He lives in a community of two with just his dog and a not very nice man named Bangley. They need each other to survive. Hig flies patrols and goes up to the mountains to get food. Bangley has a small arsenal of military supplies and does the dirty work that Hig would prefer not to do (shooting people who approach). 

I have almost had my fill of post-apocalyptic novels. I have checked this book out from the library 4-5 times at this point and always left it unread, but with Heller's new novel out now I thought it was time to give it a chance.


12 comments:

  1. Hope you enjoy it. Sounds unusual, though this genre is not my usual read.
    Harvee
    Book Dilettante

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  2. I ended up liking this one a lot. It reminded me of The Road but more optimistic. Which is weird because how can it be optimistic when there is nothing left.There is one part that rubbed me the wrong way but I won't share it here since you are still reading.

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  3. I have only heard a little about this one, but it does sound interesting. I have mixed feelings about post-apocalyptic novels. Some I've loved and others, not so much. I would keep reading. I hope you enjoy this one!

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  4. This is not my usual read, but I hope you enjoy it.

    Here's mine: “THE ARSONIST”

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  5. Wonderful Intro. But not my kind of book....

    Here is my Intro post!

    AND

    Here is my teaser post!

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  6. I'm not sure about this one…maybe a little too out there for me.
    Thanks for stopping by!
    Here's Mine: http://www.sarahsbookshelves.com/fiction/first-chapter-first-paragraph-tuesday-intros-bittersweet-miranda-beverly-whittemore/

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  7. I like Hig. I suppose it's lonely because the people are few and also eccentric.

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  8. I would have to read a bit more to decide.

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  9. I'm with you on the post apocalyptic novels i need a break so i would probably pass kelley—the road goes ever ever on

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  10. I think I would read more --I've been meaning to try this one --enjoy

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  11. The opening paragraph is certainly engaging. I can't believe I just said that because I don't normally like dystopian stories.

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  12. I actually quite like post-apocalyptic so would read this.

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