This was rather an odd book. It started off as a typical drama - the story of a man dealing with relationship issues and his own self-confidence. Then it became a thriller, as Ken's discovery of a dead girl lead to him confronting the murderer. It was only after he drove off in pursuit of said murderer that things got very, very strange indeed. Suddenly Ken found himself in another dimension - a dimension of scary monsters and even scarier people, a dimension in which the world as he knew it had been overwhelmed by global warming. There were robots, and cannibals and some really very scary vine monsters. All these he faced, his beloved dog, Silas, by his side. And what a dog! The disjointed nature of the plot is quite disorientating which I would guess is quite intentional, but does make it feel a tad awkward. Still, I did enjoy it and am now curious to read the series that picks up from this one. Silas and Ken's story might be over, but I have a feeling the author has much more to tell! ( )

Touching and sweet, with enough action and fantasy that many will appreciate the story
Read my review at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2LWKKWACSJASN
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Ken is stuck in a rut. After all of his ambitious dreams in college, he's now stuck in a job he hates. His marriage has also become a shadow of it's former brilliance, and he battles with sometimes crippling depression. When his wife brings home a dog, Ken is furious. He doesn't have time for this. Things begin to change though, and soon Ken finds himself enamored with his new best friend. The dog, Silas, also proves to have the ability to sense danger. When Ken trusts Silas's instincts, he is able to save a family. He becomes reckless however, and ends up in a totally new world. Ken and Silas are soon on an amazing adventure in which they can save not only themselves, but several children as well. If they can survive that is.

This is really two stories in one. The first story takes place in our everyday world. Ken is struggling with his life. It's not what he always dreamed it would be, but shifting priorities in life forced him to do something vastly different than he had imagined. As his wife becomes more successful, the strain on their marriage becomes more apparent. Ken's only solace is found in Silas, a black lab who has become Ken's new best friend. Silas shows some special abilities, which leads Ken and Silas on to story number two. This one takes place in an entirely different world where monsters and feral people abound. Ken discovers he is part of something bigger than himself, and this gives him a new sense of purpose and direction. His life means something, and this shapes the rest of the story.

There were several interesting things in this book. The concept of your pet being like a child was beautifully expressed here. Ken loves Silas as much as a person can love anything. They are friends and companions, but more than that Ken sees Silas as a son. He trusts Silas with his life several times. Silas ends up giving Ken's life meaning in a very literal way. The fantasy aspects of the book were also very unique and interesting. I was often on the edge of my seat getting a real sense of danger for Ken. That's pretty great writing in my book. Overall I enjoyed this book very much.

Book provided for review. ( )