37 pages • 1 hour read
Peter HellerThe Dog Stars
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2012A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
The Dog Stars by Peter Heller follows Hig and his partner, Bruce Bangley, as they patrol an eight-mile perimeter around an abandoned airport in post-apocalyptic Colorado, nine years after a devastating flu epidemic and blood disease. Hig uses his Cessna plane for patrols and supply runs, while grappling with loss and forming new connections as he seeks to survive and protect his territory. The book includes depictions of violence and graphic content.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
The Dog Stars by Peter Heller is lauded for its lyrical prose and vivid post-apocalyptic setting, capturing readers with its deeply emotional and reflective storytelling. However, some critique the fragmented narrative style as disjointed and the pacing uneven. Overall, it is a poignant exploration of survival and humanity that resonates deeply with its audience.
Who Should Read The Dog Stars?
Fans of Cormac McCarthy's The Road and Emily St. John Mandel's Station Eleven will find kindred themes in Peter Heller's The Dog Stars. Readers captivated by post-apocalyptic survival tales mixed with lyrical prose and profound meditations on solitude, nature, and resilience would highly enjoy this book.