The Captain’s Log – dogs of war (Adrian Tchaikovsky)

Ahoy there mateys!  I have no idea where or how I first encountered this book but I knew I wanted to read it.  The problem was finding a copy as Amazon lists it as a “rare book.”  I had never read the author’s works before but then there was an eArc of walking to aldebaran on NetGalley and I was luckily approved.  I loved it and I was thus determined to find dogs of war.  I wanted a copy for me kindle but couldn’t get one so I finally broke down and bought a beautiful paperback version:

So what was it about this book got me attention back in day?  Well this novel is about a pack of bioform war dogs and the story is told from the perspective of the pack leader, Rex.  Now mind ye, Rex is a seven foot tall dog-beast with a scary voice and is bristling with weapons.  The rest of his pack is even weirder.  They are designed to always obey their Master.  But Rex is smart and something isn’t adding up.  Should Rex continue to follow his programming and be a “Good Dog ” or should he try and figure out the problem?

Now it be true that the beginning of this book is more of a military war story but that doesn’t last.  And that’s a good thing.  Partway through, the tone of the book shifts and the book delves into the legal and ethical ramifications of the bioforms and their programming with lots of social commentary.  Along the way ye follow Rex and how both he and society are changing.

It was weird and wonderful.  I absolutely loved Rex and the other members of the pack.  Not only was the book thought-provoking but I very much enjoyed the implications of the technology and the ending.  It was worth every bit of trouble to track down a copy of this book.  I will be reading more of the author’s works.  Arrrr!

Goodreads has this to say about the novel:

My name is Rex. I am a good dog.

Rex is also seven foot tall at the shoulder, bulletproof, bristling with heavy calibre weaponry and his voice resonates with subsonics especially designed to instil fear. With Dragon, Honey and Bees, he’s part of a Multiform Assault Pack operating in the lawless anarchy of Campeche, south-eastern Mexico.

Rex is a genetically engineered Bioform, a deadly weapon in a dirty war. He has the intelligence to carry out his orders and feedback implants to reward him when he does. All he wants to be is a Good Dog. And to do that he must do exactly what Master says and Master says he’s got to kill a lot of enemies.

But who, exactly, are the enemies? What happens when Master is tried as a war criminal? What rights does the Geneva Convention grant weapons? Do Rex and his fellow Bioforms even have a right to exist? And what happens when Rex slips his leash?

To visit the author’s website go to:

Adrian Tchaikovsky – Author

To buy the novel please visit:

dogs of war – Book

To add to Goodreads go to:

Yer Ports for Plunder List

Previous Log Entries for this Author

walking to aldebaran (On the Horizon – Sci-Fi eArc)