The Dog Stars Book Summary

In a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by a flu pandemic, Hig, a pilot, and his loyal dog, Jasper, live a solitary life near a deserted airport. Struggling with loss and the echoes of a once-thriving humanity, Hig finds solace in the routines of survival and his occasional flights into the clear blue sky. When he receives a mysterious radio transmission, curiosity pulls him into the unknown, igniting a spark of hope and possibility. The journey ahead forces Hig to confront the haunting memories of his past while discovering unexpected connections with other survivors. 'The Dog Stars' is a lyrical tale of resilience, love, and the indomitable spirit of life in the face of despair.

By Peter Heller

Published: 2013

"“In the end, it is not the length of our lives that matters, but the depth of our moments.”"

Book Review of The Dog Stars

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • From the author of The River: In this "end-of-the-world novel more like a rapturous beginning" (San Francisco Chronicle), Hig somehow survived the flu pandemic that killed everyone he knows. His gripping story is "an ode to friendship between two men...the strong bond between a human and a dog, and a reminder of what is worth living for" (Minneapolis Star-Tribune). Hig's wife is gone, his friends are dead, and he lives in the hangar of a small abandoned airport with his dog, Jasper, and a mercurial, gun-toting misanthrope named Bangley. But when a random transmission beams through the radio of his 1956 Cessna, the voice ignites a hope deep inside him that a better life exists outside their tightly controlled perimeter. Risking everything, he flies past his point of no return and follows its static-broken trail, only to find something that is both better and worse than anything he could ever hope for.

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“In the end, it is not the length of our lives that matters, but the depth of our moments.”

The Dog Stars

By Peter Heller