Relatively short novels like this (and, similarly, novellas) can have an appeal all of their own, and this is a fantastic example of how much can be achieved without needing vast page counts. Rex and his fellow Bioforms offer a threat to the status quo, and alongside his personal development he inspires an exploration of how humanity treats things that it considers ‘lesser’, and the impact that technology has on this never-ending debate. There’s more to this than just one character’s development though, and as visceral combat is gradually exchanged for legal wrangling and political maneuvering the personal stakes are joined by a wider sense of global impact.

Rex’s voice and point of view take a bit of getting used to, and there’s a fair bit of world-building to absorb early on, but once you settle into the flow of the story – helped by a couple of slightly less unusual POV characters – it quickly becomes clear that Rex’s canine perspective actually offers an incredible insight into a very human character’s growth.Īs the story develops and Rex is forced to grow beyond his initial viewpoint, as he becomes increasingly self-aware and able to think for himself, his world broadens out and becomes richer…but at the same time becomes more complicated and more painful for him. Take high-concept technology (biomechanical control mechanisms and distributed intelligences), the animal kingdom (mostly dogs, but not exclusively), complex ethical questions (amongst others: dilemmas of choice technological responsibilities what qualifies as humanity?) and a relatable world, add a compelling protagonist with a unique voice, and in Tchaikovsky’s hands you get a sci-fi tale that’s powerfully human. When faced with the freedom to follow his own path and make his own decisions, however, Rex learns that being a Good Dog isn’t always easy. He leads his pack (including Honey the bear, Dragon and Bees) into combat following the orders of his Master, his obedience rewarded by his feedback chip, and all he wants is to be a Good Dog. Seven feet tall and capable of astonishing feats of violence, Rex is a Bioform – a biotechnical hybrid of dog and man – engineered solely for war.

With his novel Dogs of War, prolific SFF author Adrian Tchaikovsky explores questions of ethics, free will and what it means to be human, wrapped up in an enthralling story about genetically engineered animal soldiers.

Adrian tchaikovsky dogs of war