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Silas

by Robert J. Duperre (Goodreads Author)

3.93 of 5 stars 3.93 · rating details · 134 ratings · 39 reviews

Robert J. Duperre, author of The Fall and Dead of Winter, now presents Silas, a contemporary fantasy novel.

Ken Lowery is a man at odds with his life. He hates his job, is disappointed in his marriage, and feels resigned to leading a mundane existence.

That all changes when his wife brings home a rambunctious Black Labrador puppy named Silas, who forges a remarkable connecti...more

Paperback, 308 pages

Published June 14th 2011 by Createspace (first published May 31st 2011)

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Aug 08, 2011 Greta is Erikasbuddy rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Animal Lovers

Recommended to Greta is Erikasbuddy by: Kismet Book Touring

Shelves: indie-author-love

A Greta Review
This book is sooooooooo the Every-Man Manly Man I love my dog, I'm going through a midlife Crisis, Oh snap where did I wind up at, why is everything different, sort of fairytale.

ANd you know what kids?

Its da BOMB!!

Ken is going through a mid-life crisis. I mean, its not a bad thing. Well, it's kinda a bad thing but its understandable. He's 32, stuck in a rut, and his wife just brought home a puppy.

HOW DARE SHE ! ! ! !

But after a night of nacho indulgence (it isn't specified if nacho...more

5 likes · like · see review

Jul 16, 2011 One Pushy Fox rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Silas is a book that can be easily portioned into two parts. The first part is a real world mystery as Ken finds himself reluctantly, yet inexorably, drawn into the disappearance of several girls in his community and the surrounding area. The second part is where all hell breaks loose in spectacular, possibly crazy fashion.

In some ways this is not an easy book to read. The protagonist is an unhappy man. He's a jerk to his wife, he's depressed and folded in on himself and he acts more frequently...more Silas is a book that can be easily portioned into two parts. The first part is a real world mystery as Ken finds himself reluctantly, yet inexorably, drawn into the disappearance of several girls in his community and the surrounding area. The second part is where all hell breaks loose in spectacular, possibly crazy fashion.

In some ways this is not an easy book to read. The protagonist is an unhappy man. He's a jerk to his wife, he's depressed and folded in on himself and he acts more frequently like a child than a man. It can be hard to see the glimmers of good in Ken when he repeatedly does his best to make an ass of himself. Even when he meets Silas, the title character and the Labrador puppy his wife impulsively buys to infuse their marriage with some love, he's a complete jerk. He flat out refuses to have anything to do with the dog, scorning both the newcomer to his family and his wife in a stinging fashion.

Somehow though, Silas reaches past Ken's gruff exterior and connects with the true man within, the man his wife fell in love with, the man he could be if he would shake off the shackles of pessimism and stubborn pride. Reluctantly, Ken finds himself drawn more and more to Silas, who becomes a balm of sorts for Ken's soul.

But, as Ken and Silas become closer, Ken's life starts unraveling. And then something truly crazy occurs and Ken finds himself, with Silas, in a place that is clearly not Earth. In this other world, Ken has a mission to complete, one that will requires him to put the needs of others before his own. On this mission, he grows, learning the true value of the people and things in his life.

This journey takes Ken to some seriously disturbed places and there are some intensely scary events that occur. But no matter how horrifying and dangerous things get for Ken, I found myself enjoying how these trials by fire FINALLY push this man to be a better person.

At it's heart, this is a tale of growing up, learning to value others and one's self and focusing on the important things in life. I fully admit that I cried at the end.

Beyond the story, which is bizarre and fascinating, is the writing which I simply love. Rob cuts to the heart of the story with prose that pulls you in, making you, sometimes uncomfortably, part of the story. Even the way this story is written, as a story within a story, being told by an older, dying Ken to a hospital orderly, makes the reader feel present and a part of the tale.

This is a fantastic book, full of good and bad people and events, that you will find hard to put down. And if you've ever had a treasured pet...prepare to fall in love, with Silas!(less)

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Sep 07, 2012 Books rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

I don’t think the blurb does this book any justice. There is so much more to “Silas” than the overview suggests. A supernatural thriller it definitely is, but it also borders on becoming a sci-fi novel. The whole time while reading it, all I could think of was how much I didn’t want the book to end.

“Silas” is an incredibly unique novel and one I’ll easily read again. It was unlike anything I’ve ever read before and apart from the adrenaline-pumping action, the extraordinary world it transports t...more

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Jun 16, 2012 BJ Haun rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Sep 16, 2011 L_manning rated it 4 of 5 stars

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 a...more 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.
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Sep 13, 2011 aobibliophile™ rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

We long for an affection altogether ignorant of our faults. Heaven has accorded this to us in the uncritical canine attachment. - George Eliot

Ken Lowery is a very unhappy man. he finds no fulfillment in his job and is frustrated with how his marriage is turning out. Ken's perspective, however, changes when his wife brings home a Black Labrador which she christens Silas. when Ken and Silas find themselves in pursuit of a dangerous and elusive serial killer, they embark on an adventure that will t...more

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May 20, 2012 Angela Oliver rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, dystopia, kindle-self-published, thriller

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...more

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May 20, 2012 Marti rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: science-fiction

The version I downloaded from Amazon was titled "Silas" A Supernatural Thriller." Had the title simply been "Silas," "Amazing Silas," "Unbelievable Silas," etc. I might have enjoyed the first hundred pages or so much better than I did. As it was, I was very impatient for the "thriller" part to kick in. At about that point, I found myself reading the first sentence in several paragraphs and then moving on rather than sitting back and enjoying the story as it unfolded. Yes, there is a sort of scie...more The version I downloaded from Amazon was titled "Silas" A Supernatural Thriller." Had the title simply been "Silas," "Amazing Silas," "Unbelievable Silas," etc. I might have enjoyed the first hundred pages or so much better than I did. As it was, I was very impatient for the "thriller" part to kick in. At about that point, I found myself reading the first sentence in several paragraphs and then moving on rather than sitting back and enjoying the story as it unfolded. Yes, there is a sort of science fiction, thriller element to it. But really, at its heart, this is a story (fictional) of a man and his beloved black lab. As the story opens, Ken Lowery is on his deathbed, in a hospital, surrounded by his three daughters, all of whom love him dearly. His wife Wendy has been dead for ten years and it is obvious that Ken still misses her a lot. Visiting hours have just ended, the daughters have left, and a male nurse, JT has entered Ken's room on rounds. Ken, who has been very weak from his illness, feels a surge of strength. He knows that this kind of a surge is often soon later accompanied by death. He has an amazing story to recount and asks JT if he can sit for a while to hear the story. I am sure I would have liked this book more and rated it more highly if I hadn't been wondering just when the "thriller" part was going to kick in. During the first hundred pages (around a third of the book) we hear of Ken's problems with depression, his marital problems, and his reluctance but ultimate joy in dog ownership. By about page 120 or so, the sci-fi element kicks in and it's ok but really, the book might have been better if it just kept to the "real world" and kept the focus on Ken's love for Silas and how it basically healed a broken man. The last 60 pages or so of the book were sweet without being overly sentimental. As with many e-books, there were an annoying number of editing errors. If you like a "man and his dog" story, you might enjoy this book. (less)

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Sep 06, 2011 Melissa rated it 5 of 5 stars

At the beginning of the book we meet Ken at the end of his life. He suddenly gets a moment of clarity and decides to share his story with a orderly who is willing to listen. Ken's story, which seemly appears to be about a man going through a mid-life crises, is suddenly confronted with his wife's introduction to a new family member, a black lab pup. The story continues from this point on to one of a man who is taken over by the dog and starts to learn small lessons about life and the selfishness...more

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Apr 15, 2013 Tena rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013, fiction, speculative-fiction, science-fiction

I have mixed feelings on this book. It is the story of a man's life with his dog in his early 30s, as told/read from journals on his death bed to an apparent stranger. The tone of the book is a little strange and feels as though it is the voice of an old man, even though the story being told takes place decades before. The story itself is riveting and really interesting, but there are some weird word choices that yank you right out of the story. For example, at one point, the author refers to th...more

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Jan 15, 2012 Ciscokid rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I downloaded this book a week or so ago, writing it on my "to be read soon" list and promptly forget the description written on the Amazon page. I finished Lucifer's Hammer and was looking for something different when I saw this book had a star beside it on my list. Picking it to be my next read, I was disappointed in the first chapter or so when it seemed to just be another book about a well-loved canine companion. While I don't mind books about wonderful family pets(I have one myself), I had e...more

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Jan 01, 2012 T.L. Barrett rated it 5 of 5 stars

First off, I'm not a dog lover. A couple of really naughty poodles have spoiled that experience for me, but I used to be. Reading, Mr. Duperre's fantastic novel of suspense and psychological drama has brought back a glimmer of what I used to love about our four-legged companions. But, don't get me wrong, this is not just a love letter to the canine order, this book is so much more. If anything, I might give this book a 4.5, because the casual reader might not know what they are getting into when...more

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Jun 19, 2012 Andrea rated it 4 of 5 stars

I'm not going to lie. This book is a bit odd, but it is so well-written (both in character development and in description) that I really couldn't put it down!

Silas is the story of a man who is in a very dark place in his life. His marriage is on the rocks, and he is deeply depressed. Silas is an adorable puppy who bounds into the scene -- and, in him, Ken finds companionship, love, and understanding that helps to heal the holes in Ken's life.

Ken's life has just darkened again when Nick Goodman b...more

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Aug 28, 2011 Aparajitabasu rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, paranormal, sci-fi, horror, for-book-tour, fiction

Dogs are a man's best friend. A though astutely established by Robert J. Duperre in his book, Silas .

Here is the summary of the book:

Robert J. Duperre, author of The Fall and Dead of Winter, now presents Silas, a contemporary fantasy novel. Ken Lowery is a man at odds with his life. He hates his job, is disappointed in his marriage, and feels resigned to leading a mundane existence. That all changes when his wife brings home a rambunctious Black Labrador puppy named Silas, who forges a remarkab...more Dogs are a man's best friend. A though astutely established by Robert J. Duperre in his book, Silas .

Here is the summary of the book:

Robert J. Duperre, author of The Fall and Dead of Winter, now presents Silas, a contemporary fantasy novel. Ken Lowery is a man at odds with his life. He hates his job, is disappointed in his marriage, and feels resigned to leading a mundane existence. That all changes when his wife brings home a rambunctious Black Labrador puppy named Silas, who forges a remarkable connection with Ken and begins to heal his inner turmoil. When some neighborhood children start to go missing, he takes it upon himself to protect those around him and is thrust into a surreal world where monsters roam. Not everything is what it seems to be, he soon discovers, including his new best friend.

As I just stated Dogs are a man's best friend, so its the case here. As titled SILAS, is actually the name of the Labrador and who definitely plays a pivotal role with the plot.

The book begins with Ken Lowery who is well at odds with his life and well bidding his last days on a hospital bed. Ken knows he doesn't have long to live but he also desires closure. Closure with what had happened to him in the past. Him and his faithful companion, Silas. Who had walked with him through his toughest times and even had gone to hell and had come back with him.

Try not to get confused by all this though - SILAS may revolve around the dog of the same name but yes the story also part paranormal and part post apocalyptic and dystopic. How?....Well read on....

SILAS, the book can be divided into two parts. The first part deals with the ups and downs of Ken's life on present day Earth. And the second part deals with his adventures in what would be a futuristic alternative reality to Earth, a place suffering from apocalyptic scenario where horrid creatures rule the land.

SILAS is a very moving book. While I admit its a little long but it serves its purpose nonetheless. Not only does it enforce the fact that our pets - well gi-faht (read the book you'll know what i'm talking about here)(well primarily dogs) not only being cute but also form a close bond with their masters but it also makes us wonder - 'What if there is really an alternate reality?' - I definitely don't have an answer to that but yes what I do know is Time is one element that is like a vast to ocean - much is still left to be explored.

It goes to the credit of the author that he had me captivated until the very end. Every pain and every moment of joy clearly resonates with us. Not only the beginning with the end also speaks volumes. Well for one Ken Lowery it was - life is too short to be a jerk for the whole while. But at the heart its a tale of growing up, and learning what is important in life and to value it.

Great job Mr. Duperre!(less)

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Sep 22, 2012 Tracy Shea rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow. Just wow. I finished reading this book this morning and absolutely was fully engrossed in a tale worthy of such writers as Stephen King or Dean Koontz. Mr. Duperre is a master storyteller, who is able to pull you in and immerse you into his tale. I laughed, I felt anxious, I felt awe in what I saw. And I cried, yes I did cry. I was able to feel the emotions and bond between the two main characters, Ken and Silas his dog. I cannot recommend this book highly enough for those who appreciate th...more

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Sep 03, 2011 Heather rated it 5 of 5 stars

Ken Lowery is a thirty-something man with no children, a ho-hum marriage, and a mediocre job that isn't in the field he holds a degree in. Growing more dissatisfied with his life by the day, he's a jerk to just about everybody around him. When his wife buys a black lab puppy named Silas in an attempt to draw Ken out of his shell and to give herself someone to take care of, Ken openly despises the pup and his wife. But a unexpected heart attack leaves him vulnerable and at home for several weeks,...more Ken Lowery is a thirty-something man with no children, a ho-hum marriage, and a mediocre job that isn't in the field he holds a degree in. Growing more dissatisfied with his life by the day, he's a jerk to just about everybody around him. When his wife buys a black lab puppy named Silas in an attempt to draw Ken out of his shell and to give herself someone to take care of, Ken openly despises the pup and his wife. But a unexpected heart attack leaves him vulnerable and at home for several weeks, and he soon grudgingly bonds with the lovable pup.

Ken and Silas are soon drawn into the investigation of a series of missing girls from his area, and as the man and his dog grow closer, Ken grows into a deeper depression as he fixates on the cases of the missing girls. As he finally hits rock bottom, the proverbial crap hits the fan and Ken and Silas find themselves in a parallel earth with a mission to perform. This requires Ken to put others before himself, and along the way he finally grows up, mans up, and discovers what has been missing in his life all along. And most importantly, what he needs to do once he makes it back to his earth, if he can make it back.

Robert Duperre's prose paints a vivid image of a broken man barely existing throughout the first half of the book. You can feel Ken's malaise, his dissatisfaction with how his life has turned out so far, and even his jealousy when his wife's life takes a turn for the better. The first part of the book even seems to drag a little because you feel so much of Ken's pain as if you were in his "it sucks to be him" shoes.

As more of a cat lover than a dog person, the transformation that Ken undergoes as a reluctant dog owner to proud dog dad is so believable and adorable. By the end of the book, and throughout the parallel world, Ken would kill for and sacrifice himself for Silas. Robert Duperre is obviously a dog lover because someone who doesn't love dogs and coexist with one on a daily basis wouldn't be able to nail all of the details with such clarity and finesse, or make such a clear emotional impact when putting those thoughts on paper.

The parallel world is described in enough detail that you can picture perfectly the sights, smells, even the temperatures. And the creatures are definitely creepy and strange, but you can imagine them easily. The journey Ken and Silas have to take is hard, dangerous, and tricky--but it's necessary to set things right in both worlds.

I give this one a five out of five. An unforgettable depiction of the good and bad of everyday life, and the special things ways that having a pet can make one's life better. This is a great contemporary fantasy novel that will stick with you for a long time. And it's another one that did make me cry at times.
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Jan 18, 2012 Michael Thompson rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A very interesting story, which is on one hand a companion story of a man and his dog and, on the other hand, also a crazy supernatural, post-apocalyptic sort of tale complete with unseen overlords, monsters, and robots.

The writing was well done to my taste and the story was both ludicrous and interesting. I felt that the pacing was decent and I didn't really feel bored at any point during the story. I grew attached to Silas and, to a lesser extent, his owner--though, I feel like I should have c...more

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Jul 31, 2012 Richard Tolleson rated it 3 of 5 stars

This starts out like a Dean Koonz thriller, then, wham. We're in another dimension where a dog can change back and and forth into a boy. It's interesting when the author stays grounded in reality, especially the protagonist's relationship with his wife. The author seems in a hurry to get to the end, and doesn't supply enough details.

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Jan 18, 2012 Emily rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Very good book - I've had it on my kindle for a while, but hadn't gotten around to reading it yet. Saw another goodreads friend read it and enjoyed it, so I figured I'd give it a go. It definitely took a turn partway through (good one) and was very interesting!! Great book!

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Sep 13, 2012 Johanna rated it 4 of 5 stars

I got this book for free on my kindle app. It starts out seeming like a book about a man and his dog but then things start getting weird...in a good way. I liked it. I liked even more that it was free and still a good read. :)

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May 09, 2013 Jennifer rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

I got this ebook because it was free and sounded good. I'm glad I did because I loved the story, the characters and writing. Excellent story. I even teared up at one point. It's paranormal, sci-fi, soul searching, family and suspense all in one.

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Feb 03, 2013 Nikki rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, fantasy

It took me a while to warm up to this book. I also found the resolution and abandonment of key characters at the end, to be a bit lazy.

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Jan 18, 2013 Sally Bisbee rated it 5 of 5 stars

My son will tell you that if there's a critter in the book, I'm probably going to love it. I LOVED this book and want another one!

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Oct 15, 2012 Margo rated it 3 of 5 stars

Wish I had penned this a couple of weeks ago, but I recall this was fairly entertaining. A fantastical tale, somewhere between science fiction and fantasy, about a man and a dog, transformed by a visit to an alternate reality. I'm not sure I'll pursue other books by this author, but it was very inventive.

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Sep 15, 2012 Eileen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Surprisingly good free download. I would definitely recommend it. Especially for dog lovers!

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May 20, 2013 Jeff Smith rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Very good book. It was not quite what I thought it was going to be but I really liked it.

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Feb 14, 2012 Jamie Belt rated it 3 of 5 stars

The complete gear change in the middle of the book was extremely distracting. Would have made two very good books, I think.

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Jan 04, 2013 Web Davis added it

For anyone who ever loved a dog...

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Feb 01, 2012 AH marked it as to-read

Shelves: kindle-freebies, own-not-read

Kindle free download 2/1/12.

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May 04, 2013 Samantha marked it as to-read

BookBub....free!

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About Robert J. Duperre

Born on Cape Cod and raised in northern Connecticut, Robert Duperre is a writer whose main ambition is to create works that defy genre. His first novel, "The Fall: The Rift Book I" is now available in paperback and for the Amazon Kindle.

Robert lives with his wife, the artist Jessica Torrant, his three wonderful children, and Leonardo, the super one-eyed Labrador.

More about Robert J. Duperre...

Books by Robert J. Duperre

Death Springs Eternal: The Rift Book III

The Gate 2: 13 Tales of Isolation and Despair

The Summer Son: The Rift Book IV (The Rift #4)

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