They're Killin' To Keep Runnin'

CONCURRENT WITH PAVLOV'S DOGS...

From breakouts in the monster lab to his role in the zombie apocalypse, follow Dr. Crispin and his team of werewolves through three eras of mad scientists, abominations, and a deadly new adversary.


...THERE WAS DOG YEARS 3: RETURN TO MOREAU LABS

Dr. Crispin’s covert team of genetic runts hunts down an old enemy at the source of the zombie outbreak.

RETURN TO MOREAU LABS by Thom Brannan and D.L. Snell is the third story in the prequel series to Pavlov's Dogs, although this one takes place during the same period of time in which Ken and Jorge (human survivors from the novel) realize the dead won't stay down. While Crispin's motivation for sending the Dogs to the mainland on a rescue mission is finally revealed, and Greco's journey circles back to the beginning of everything, the action doesn't seem as thrilling as the fighting in Dog Years 1.

However, I did enjoy seeing the gRunts in action, a nice change from the focus on Kaiser and Mac. I would love to know more about Street, the female Dog. I think she needs her own novelette, as I'm sure the authors could weave some interesting scientific differences based on her sex.

You don't need to read Pavlov's Dogs to enjoy the Dog Years, but I'm glad I read the novel first to appreciate the history of Kaiser, Mac and all the others. Not really werewolves, but a hell of a twist on the shapeshifter genre.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Kept in the Dark and Waiting

26 YEARS BEFORE PAVLOV'S DOGS...

From breakouts in the monster lab to his role in the zombie apocalypse, follow Dr. Crispin and his team of werewolves through three eras of mad scientists, abominations, and a deadly new adversary.


...THERE WAS DOG YEARS 2: PEDIGREE

The genesis of Alpha McLoughlin and Theta Kaiser is revealed, putting them in conflict with Dr. Crispin’s pet revivification project.

PEDIGREE by Thom Brannan and D.L. Snell takes place four years after the horrific incident in MOREAU LABS. Unlike the action in the first prequel, Dog Years 2 focuses on the psychological drama Kaiser and Mac must face as boys. The history of their biological mothers is revealed in bits and pieces, highlighting what kind of a twisted monster Greco is. If you thought Crispin is bad, you are in for a shocking and vile backstory.

While Pedigree isn't as long as the first novelette, the authors keep up the intensity with the manipulation displayed by both Crispin and Greco. Crispin's discovery about his partner towards the end makes for a chilling cliff-hanger.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Death Draws Near

30 YEARS BEFORE PAVLOV'S DOGS...

From breakouts in the monster lab to his role in the zombie apocalypse, follow Dr. Crispin and his team of werewolves through three eras of mad scientists, abominations, and a deadly new adversary.

...THERE WAS DOG YEARS 1: MOREAU LABS

Dr. Crispin and his arch-rival are forced to use a frightening technology when zombies break out in the monster lab.

DOG YEARS 1: MOREAU LABS by Thom Brannan and D.L. Snell, the first prequel to Pavlov's Dogs, takes place 30 years before the events in the novel. A younger Crispin is working on a reanimation virus, while his counterpart, Greco, is working on a way to control a biomutation project. Someone lets Crispin's patients escape his lab, and the virus spreads like wildfire.

Crispin attempts to rescue his lab assistant while piloting one of two Dogs created by Greco, but loses himself in the sensations of the battle against the undead lab employees. The two scientists not only get to field test their projects, but they inadvertently involve a third project.

The action is absolutely spectacular. Reading this story felt as though I was experiencing a virtual reality horror game, navigating through different levels filled with the undead and other monstrosities. I highly recommend this scifi-thriller!

As always,
AstraDaemon