What will a zombie outbreak look like through the eyes of a dog? This is the question Derek Braxton answers in his short novel entitled, “The Canine Zombie Chronicles”. For the readers who were hoping to come across a zombie apocalypse book that’s approached from a completely different angle, you’ve found it. The only humans you’ll read about are perceived through the eyes of dogs. Now the question becomes, can this point of view amount to a solid story?
The date is 2022, two years after the first wave of infections struck Virginia. A doctor by the name of Johann Gibson has gathered twenty different testimonies, or rather first-hand accounts, of the spreading virus as perceived by dogs. Translators and transcribers were used to decode that language of the dogs, thus, giving them a human voice.
After the introduction by Dr. Gibson the interviews are laid open for the reader, with each dog sharing their horrible experience. As expected, it wasn’t a situation they really understood. All they could do is take their cue from their masters, if their masters were present, or follow their instincts to survive. Every interview hails from a different location and by the last one, which comes from a Dalmatian called Survivor, the end of the virus is in sight.
Braxton has a rather difficult challenge with the story, mainly because there aren’t any characters the reader can relate to. While it’s not impossible to build a good story around such a premise, it’s definitely not easy. In this case the author shows skill in connecting the reader with the possible thoughts of a dog, and effectively humanizes them. If I had to make a guess, I think Braxton has a great respect for them.
In terms of shock value and making the reader’s stomach turn, this isn’t that type of novel. Even though there is a good amount of suspense involved, I wouldn’t classify it under my “dark” favorites. Whether the author intended or not, I found the focus to be primarily with what the dogs go through instead of envisioning zombies feasting on human flesh. I should also say that the zombies are based on the slow versions, but they have some differences.
Braxton brings a degree of enlightenment to the table. How often do you see the world through your pet’s eyes? More specifically, what will go through their thoughts if a virus struck the masses? This is also the element of the story I’ll probably remember most. Another quality I appreciated was the pacing of the story, especially because there are so many “characters”, and it’s not in the same format as your typical book. For the most part Braxton has a clear and concise style, and he pays attention to detail in the moments that really matter.
I’d recommend this book to horror fans who prefer their reading material on the lighter side, and definitely to animal lovers. The zombie section has been suffering from a lack of original concepts, but with The Canine Zombie Chronicles you don’t have to worry about that.
Reviewed by Damnetha Jules
Damnetha is a staff writer, horror book and movie critic.