"Dogs of War" by Adrian Tchaikovsky (BR)

[Oleksandr]

Welcome to the buddy read for Dogs of War. Other than first impressions, please use spoiler tags so others can follow the discussion as they read.

[Esther]

I am about 60% through and enjoying it though I am wondering how it is going to end.
I have read a couple of AI stories recently where the AI POV was too technical and dry. However really like the way Rex is 'voiced'.

[Gabi]

I started it yesterday night, but I didn't get into it. Guess it was my mood. I will start again this evening with less on my mind.

[Oleksandr]

Gabi wrote: "I started it yesterday night, but I didn't get into it. Guess it was my mood. I will start again this evening with less on my mind."

It starts as a mil-SF, but there will be other important topics and themes, so gore put you off, there won't be a lot of it

I 'gulped' it in two days. I think Adrian Tchaikovsky is great, it is sad that he isn't well-known.

[Gabi]

Oleksandr wrote: "It starts as a mil-SF, but there will be other important topics and themes, so gore put you off, there won't be a lot of it

I 'gulped' it in two days. I think Adrian Tchaikovsky is great, it is sad that he isn't well-known. "

I'm not put off by gore (I'm just listening to Dan Simmons' "The Terror" - I think after that nothing gory every will put me off again ;) ). I guess it was just the wrong mood yesterday (having some personal problems at the moment).
I have all the faith in Tchaikovsky, because -like you - I find him genius! I'm sure, I'll like the book.

[Oleksandr]

As a side note, have anyone read Faithful Ruslan? It isn't a SF, but it has a similar theme - dogs that follow orders to do 'wrong' things

[Gabi]

Chapter 8 (18%) (view spoiler)[ The set up is very intriguing. It gives me goosebumps reading about these all powerful and rather innocent AIs under the order of a ruthless warmonger. This nicely mixes the "good" guys and the "bad" guys. (hide spoiler)]

[Oleksandr]

How do you like Rex's team?

[Gabi]

Oleksandr wrote: "How do you like Rex's team?"

I liked that (view spoiler)[ we we're introduced to them slowly. At first I thought they all we're dogs, but then it gets clear that every member of the team has another special ability and their forms get shaped out from the inside, before they are described from the outside. Together they make a quite versatile and interesting combination. (hide spoiler)]

End of part II, chapter 19: (view spoiler)[ It was intriguing to follow the inner development of Rex as he struggles for independence. The sides of him dog-nature vs programming vs beginning of individuality were well balanced and quite convincing. The last battle was a good read, yet I find myself not emotionally involved in the story. That could well be cause of the AI topic, which always leaves me distanced. Let's see if this changes in the next parts, where Rex' life certainly will change drastically. (hide spoiler)]

[Oleksandr]

re: introduction of Rex's team (view spoiler)[I agree it was very well done. I haven't thought that they are all dogs - Dragon and Bees since the start were quite not-dog-like, I only questioned Honey because while the name hinted strongly to a bear, I thought it can be a false lead. Btw, I liked the team not less than Rex, they are so well done! (hide spoiler)]

[Gabi]

End of chapter 32: (view spoiler)[ I've enjoyed the "redacted" chapters so far. At first I thought this was Hart's view and liked how it slowly revealed more and more of the writer. And I'm fascinated by the ambiguous relationship of Rex and his Master. The canine tendency to follow the leader is cleverly used here. As well as the rogue tendency for bears. Honey's character is the most intriguing for me at the moment. (hide spoiler)]

[Christine]

I will start this tomorrow

[Quantum]

Ooh, ethics involving man-made sentient life. Very relevant to our times. Added it but not sure if I'm going to get to it for this buddy read.

[Quantum]

I thought this news article relevant to this read.

https://edition.cnn.com/2019/04/29/eu...

[Bonnie]

Sections:
I. Dog Bites Man
II. New Tricks
III. The Hand That Feeds
IV. His Master's Voice
V. Dog Years

I started this on time, then got bogged down in section 3 with the legal stuff, the new names, and not grokking the structure. Have now picked up again and will finish.

I loved Children of Time SO MUCH I was glad to read another book by same author, but for whatever reason I can just not sink my mind into this one. it's not the topic, the whole animals-as-bioweapons concept is very interesting, very upsetting...

What is with the "[Redacted]" stuff?
(view spoiler)[If the story is being filmed in the book's future and this is notes from an an actor, what is or needs to be redacted? (hide spoiler)]

[Oleksandr]

Bonnie wrote: "What is with the "[Redacted]" stuff? ."

The source of these notes will be revealed later in the novel.

[CBRetriever]

wonder why this one isn't available in Kindle format on the US site?

[Hank, Hankenstein's Modster]

CBRetriever wrote: "wonder why this one isn't available in Kindle format on the US site?"

Yes! I really want to read it but I can't get it, no library no kindle and I have issues purchasing actual books.

[Bonnie]

... Not in iBooks either. (Which is occasionally different from Kindle.)
And I think I found it on UK Kindle but it said I couldn't purchase it in my region.
So then I ordered paper copy

[CBRetriever]

$8.25 plus $3.99 for shipping is the cheapest I found for a paper copy. That's a bit pricey.

[Bonnie]

Gabi wrote: "I'm fascinated by the ambiguous relationship of Rex and his Master. The canine tendency to follow the leader is cleverly used..."
Yes that was painful. MISused by us, by humans. Their whole team, but particular hard on dogs.

I liked the book but didn’t love it... (view spoiler)[the Honey parts were deus ex machina enough already, and then when the AI / cloning multiple women stuff showed up near the end, to me it seemed that things spun out of control. So I didn’t really care for the last part of the book. Even though Honey was awesome, and I especially liked Bees. (hide spoiler)]

My IRL book club often does one short story plus a book, and last month they did the 1950s story “Pelt” by Carol Emshwiller. It is a poignant tale told from a dog’s point of view! I brought along the paper “Dogs of War” in case this happened, and it did:
“I wish there were more SF stories told from dogs’ point of view.”
“As a matter of fact, I recently read one and I have it right here...”