Publication Date: November 17, 2013
The Galactic Organic Development Corporation observes planets to determine which it will save. MO-126 bears the appearance of a dog and is an employee of this agency. If primitive specifies are declared fit, they’ll be moved to planets to work in the agricultural division of this organization. MO-126 is a special kind of android. What determinations will he make in his 15,000 years of observation?
The author, D.L. Morrese, gave me a copy of this novel in exchange for my review.
There is a special kind of intelligence inherent in [easyazon-link asin=”B00GPLTRVG” locale=”us”]An Android Dog’s Tale[/easyazon-link]. MO-126 is a thinking as well as observing android. He forms attachments. As he travels through the course of the story we see empathy toward the primitive beings he studies. He understands the failings of the people he observes and yet he takes risks anyway. As odd as it may be to say that a reader will bond with this android dog, there is an inevitable affection and wish to see more than comes about by the end of this remarkable story.
A reader of the description may find 15,000 years a lot of time to cover and naturally wonder if the story drags. It does not. Morrese very wisely breaks these stories up in short tales advancing in time. Each is an easy stopping and starting point for busy readers, but will have those readers thinking about the story in their time away. Morrese’s keen observations through MO-126 will make the reader think about what is special and unique about us and our world and the responsibilities we have toward guarding that unique nature.
The background characters met, however briefly, resonate with the reader. This is the magic of Morrese’s writing style; he gives the reader a complete picture. MO-126 is not alone in his quest. Granny Greenflower is a sometime co-conspirator. She has a certain pessimism and doubt toward humanity that reads more of loss of hope than malice and that plays well with MO-126. In one poignant scene this well-rounded character thanks MO-126 for not reporting all that he heard in the field to the Corporation.
One of my favorite lessons of the book has to do with things that seem well in the moment giving a sense of superiority when, in fact, they might not have everything figured out either. The time period that Morrese gives us had to be challenging for him as a writer because it had to convincingly be altered and he manages to pull that off beautifully. There’s not a point where the reader suspects that what they’ve read doesn’t make sense, though this work falls very firmly in the fantasy genre. I recently read a blog post by an author that asked readers what they thought authors owed them. Morrese has what I think authors owe readers down; a story with connected spirit that entertains, provokes and leads a reader to feel as though their time was truly well spent and to miss the characters when the novel ends. Morrese’s trademark poignancy and humor build a bond that will have me thinking of MO-126 long after we leave each other.
Morrese is the author of [easyazon-link asin=”B005E1JBBO” locale=”us”]Defying Fate – Two Tales of the Warden[/easyazon-link] and there is a very slight tie into that series. Readers who have enjoyed the series with special attention to [easyazon-link asin=”1482640236″ locale=”us”]Amy’s Pendant[/easyazon-link] will have a feeling of consistency between that and [easyazon-link asin=”B00GPLTRVG” locale=”us”]An Android Dog’s Tale[/easyazon-link]. As I read this novel I had a feeling of it all coming to this understanding of the grander scheme of the other stories. A look behind the wizard’s curtain to reference the Wizard of Oz.
I won’t lie to you, reader, by the end of this book I was quite emotional. I have read a number of works by D.L. Morrese and [easyazon-link asin=”B00GPLTRVG” locale=”us”]An Android Dog’s Tale[/easyazon-link] is the hands down favorite. If you are a fan of fantasy, intelligent stories and just hands down good writing, [easyazon-link asin=”B00GPLTRVG” locale=”us”]An Android Dog’s Tale[/easyazon-link] is the novel for you.
Read an excerpt and pick up An Android Dog’s Tale today on:
Amazon U.S. • Amazon U.K. • Amazon Canada
D.L. Morrese is a Florida based, full-time author. The Warden Threat received the Awesome Indie Seal of Approval for Excellence in Fiction and the Indie Book of the Day Award. Check out the reviews of The Warden Threat as well as Amy’s Pendant and Disturbing Clock.
For more information about D.L. Morrese and his work, visit his website. You can connect with D.L. Morrese on Goodreads, Facebook and Twitter: @DLMorrese. Series readers can track his books on FictFact.