The Dog Master: A Novel of the First Dog by W. Bruce Cameron

The Dog Master: A Novel of the First Dog Reviews

• 
  W. Cameron

  I suppose it is a bit ridiculous for me to review a novel that I wrote, but I did, in the process, read the thing, and I have a few thoughts.
  
  First, the author seems to be losing his hair. In compensation, he's growing it longer and sort of swirling it around on his head, which looks ridiculous.
  
  Second, while I would hand A Dog's Purpose to any child, even newborns, I wouldn't do that with The Dog Master. This is an epic, sweeping tale of a pivotal point in human history: the first domesticated wolf. In other words, the first dog. As such it takes place during a brutal time, even worse than middle school: the paleolithic. This is a time before written language, so instead of forcing a child to write "I will not talk in class" on the whiteboard 100 times, the teacher probably just hit the kid with a rock.
  
  There is lust, violence, hunting, betrayal, murder, privation, and infection in The Dog Master, because these were things the people had to deal with every day. I could not write a "child safe" novel and address such topics. Though oddly the language is pretty PG: using modern four letter words would have seemed pretty ridiculous.
  
  I spent many months doing research and losing hair as I prepared to write The Dog Master, and the result is, I think, my best effort yet. If you loved A Dog's Purpose, I don't think I will be spoiling the plot for you if I tell you that some of my new novel is written from the perspective of the wolves who eventually threw their lot in with humans. If you felt as if I got into the canine brain with A Dog's Purpose, in other words, you will not be disappointed with The Dog Master.
• 
  Jenny

  Just so you know, this review is not being written by the human who normally posts stuff here.
  
  This review is being written by her dog. Who better to review a book called The Dog Master?
  
  Now before you go and think that dogs cannot write reviews, let me point out a few things. First of all, I am a Border Collie, and even you humans have proven that we are most intelligent. Also, what the heck do you think we do all day while you are at work? Chase butterflies? Sit at the door and eagerly await your return? For HOURS? No, we go read your books, listen to NPR, and talk to each other on Skype. Ever go back to your book and feel like you’re not quite at the spot you left off? Well, now you know why.
  
  So anyway, back to the book. The Dog Master combines 3 stories, all set in the Paleolithic era. One story follows a mother wolf who is injured by a lion, and who is helped to raise her cubs by a lone man who has been cast out from his tribe. Another storyline follows a group of people who call themselves the Kindred, but that name is deceptive as many of them act no better than a bunch of teenaged humans, and they allow themselves to be led by an evil woman who’d make Cruella De Vil roll on her back and whimper. The third storyline was my favorite, as it follows a group of humans who call themselves the Wolfen. They venerate wolves and bring them hunks of meat on a regular basis, trying to learn from the ways of the wolves. As the three stories weave together in an increasingly harrowing tale of survival, one possibility of the way that humans and canines learned to help one another survive is shown.
  
  I rate this book 4 strips of bacon out of 5, because at first it was a little hard to separate the 3 stories, but as the book progressed, it became more clear. The Dog Master was one of the better books my human has left around the house. It was so good that I wanted to roll on it and drag it under the table that makes my den, but I restrained myself--barely. I enjoyed the descriptions of the early encounters between the humans and canines. The constant struggle for survival on the part of all the creatures was exciting as well. But most importantly, while my human was reading this book, I noticed that she followed the example of the Wolfen and I enjoyed several offerings of meat. What better recommendation could this book bring? Those humans who enjoyed The Story of Edgar Sawtelle would also find this book compelling.
  
• 
  Mark Stevens

  Author W. Bruce Cameron has called this book "epic" and a favorite of everything he has written, so I had to see for myself. As usual, Cameron doesn't disappoint. He has written so many books that I describe as favorites for me that I couldn't wait to get a copy of his latest book. (I was lucky enough to get an advance reading copy from the publisher.) I'm not sure where Cameron gets his muse, but we are all so very lucky that he finds that muse -- and listens intently. For "The Dog Master: A Novel of the First Dog," Cameron takes readers back 30,000 years to a world in the infancy of humanity. Climates are changing, and people are finding their place in a harsh world. And, as the title implies, man and dog -- well, wolf here, but every good story has a beginning -- are taking a journey that will span the ages. "The Dog Master" is part Michael Crichton, part Jack London, but it's all W. Bruce Cameron, full of well-drawn characters, humor, relationships (both human and canine), page-turning events that somehow tie seamlessly together as the novel comes to its conclusion. It's a survival story. It's a history lesson. It's literally a coming-of-age novel. Truthfully, I wasn't sure how he could draw the different timelines of his novel together, but he did it page by page, chapter by chapter and creates -- just as he hoped -- an epic tale that shows, in myriad ways, how love, trust and companionship are timeless and imperative to the human -- and, yes, dog -- experience. Five stars. Hands down.
• 
  Temple

  I loved this book, despite the fact that I am not a fan of dogs. The story follows three timelines: the present day life of a professor who believes humans succeeded because of their early relationship with dogs, the early life of Mal's mother, and Mal's attempts to survive with a wolf he names Dog. The story opens with Mal struggling to survive on his own after being cast out of his tribe. He finds a wounded wolf with three puppies and they bond together in a cave. I was instantly hooked by this premise. Every chapter ended with a cliffhanger that propelled me through the book. I cared deeply about Mal's mother and both of her sons. She is intelligent and resourceful, my favorite type of character. The pre-history setting was fascinating, in part because everything is truly life or death. (I also loved Clan of the Cave Bear, which I read as a teenager. This book is better.). Although I'm not a dog lover, I do love cats and volunteer at the SPCALA. Reading this book made me appreciate my own furry friends more. I highly recommend this book and I can't wait for the sequel. The ending is satisfactory but it's clear there is more to this story. Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.
• 
  Paul Weiss

  “The Young and the Restless”, Paleolithic style!
  
  Check out the reviews! There are more than a handful of readers who panned Cameron’s THE DOG MASTER as little more than an overwrought, melodramatic soap opera. Given the lead line I chose for my review, it’s obvious that the thought also occurred to me but I have to say that it was also a great deal more. To be more specific, THE DOG MASTER lies firmly centered in a literary triangle cornered by soap opera, multi-generational family saga and pre-historic fiction.
  
  Soap opera? Well, it’s all there! Love, lust, romance, betrayal, hate, anger, treachery, violence, deceit, despair! And, to be sure, there are lots of moments that any reader could legitimately characterize as soapy and melodramatic. On the other hand, as a multi-generational high tension family saga, THE DOG MASTER is easily the dramatic, compelling equal of Jeffrey Archer’s KANE AND ABEL or THE CLIFTON CHRONICLES or Sidney Sheldon’s MASTER OF THE GAME. There’s no way that a reader won’t be on the edge of their seat rooting for the nominal good guys and jeering at the nasties. And, last but not least, there’s the pre-historic fiction aspect of Cameron’s fabulous story. Although Cameron’s careful to admit that he’s no paleontologist, his obviously thorough research shines through and his brilliant layman’s idea as to a possible path for the domestication of the first wolf to a willing hunting partner with Cro-Magnon humans has a solid feel of authenticity and plausibility. The question as to whether the encounters between two Cro-Magnon tribes or a meeting with the dwindling Neanderthals would be friendly, cautious or violent and warlike is explored and the result is a powerful Ice Age thriller. I haven’t enjoyed this kind of story as much since Jean Auel’s CLAN OF THE CAVE BEAR. It’s THAT good!
  
  Definitely recommended. And, bonus (I hope, I hope, I hope), Mr Cameron ended his novel in such a way that there is plenty of room for a sequel.
  
  Paul Weiss
• 
  Gail Strickland

  No one knows for sure how the wolves evolved from predators to man's companion, but Cameron tells his version of how it happened. I really enjoyed this book as I'm a sucker for a dog story, but also Cameron's writing makes it seem as if his take on things could really be the way it happened.
• 
  Shelley Taylor

  This book is a must read for every dog lover! It touches your heart and creates a bond between the reader and the book. I could not put it down. Mr. Cameron writes in such a way that I felt like I was there and experiencing what was happening. Please write a sequel, this book left me wanting more!
• 
  Linda Schnell-Leonardi

  My taste in reading is somewhat eclectic. I was able to get an ARC copy of the book. And my curiosity was peaked from the first chapter. I was thrust into the story which drove me into a reading frenzy. I gulped this book down. I took chunks of it, and devoured them, yearning for more. My eyes could not keep up with my brain and hearts demands, and I was forced to put the book down to get some rest. I was realizing that this book was reminiscent of two of my favorite books, I was hooked. Awakened again, I dove in and when finished I licked my fingers clean. It was succulent. The characters evolve, and hold you fast to them. The round about way the story weaves between them, you gasp when the hidden becomes obvious. With the rise of the plot, the tissues came out, just as a great book demands of you. This might be W. Bruce Cameron’s finest work. If you loved A Dog’s Purpose, you will feel as if you are cheating on it, when your new love is now The Dog Master.
  
• 
  W. Monisa Smith

  This is a review of a NetGalley advanced copy.
  
  I was not expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did. But Cameron grabs the reader and doesn't let go until the end. I could not stop telling my friends about this fascinating book that I simply could not get out of my mind. I am a dog trainer in my spare time. Several years ago, I attended a camp in which one of the speakers shared some new (at that time) theories on canine/human evolution. Basically, if it wasn't for the domestication of dogs, humans would be a very different species today. Because we had dogs to help us, we didn't need to devote brain space the development of keen senses of smell or traits like that. Instead, we were free to develop more cognitive talents. Cameron's book seemed to play right along with that theory. In addition to that, Cameron has developed characters that you really come to care about. I can't wait until the next book in the series.
• 
  Wendy

  This book was okay. I was leaning toward giving it two stars, but there were parts I really liked, bumping it up to three. My main problem with it was that it felt like setup for the real story--it seems to have been designed that way, given the question at the end, but this only caused it to frustrate me. What did happen next? Don't ask me that, Author, it's your job to tell us what happened next! I didn't really want it left up to my imagination. I felt like the whole book was just leading up to where the real story would start, so when it ended, it wasn't very satisfying. There were too many loose ends for me, and too many unsatisfying conclusions to make this a truly great book, in my opinion.
  
  Don't get me wrong--open-ended books can be amazing. It just didn't work for me with this one. It feels like it needs a sequel, because it feels like an origin story. A stand-alone novel shouldn't be like that--it's different from just having an open ending. I don't think I'm explaining myself very well, but it's more a feeling than anything else. Open-ended books that do so well feel natural and right. This one did not, it felt like I'd read the first third of a book and the rest was missing.
  
  I did like the concept, and the author's depiction of the gradual 'growing together' of that line of wolves and humans was very interesting. That is mostly where my good feelings toward it come from. I wanted more of Mal and Dog together after he'd started training her, and perhaps a hint of how other wolves became tame and started being domesticated--one wolf-man relationship does not make a species-wide relationship. It sets a precedent, yes, that it can be done, but I wasn't given the feeling of continuation, which was vital.
  
  As to the missing or unsatisfying conclusions:
  
  - Lyra and Mal hooked up, but they are looking to the Kindred's return, and are unaware that they're not planning to migrate anymore.
  - Valid thinks his daughter's dead, and they're not going to migrate north again to find out otherwise.
  - Calli and Valid can be together secretly now, as can Renne and Palloc. Yay?
  - Albi's ending was highly unsatisfying. I spent the entire book seething at that nasty, murderous, baby-eating old crone, and then, while it's implied, I don't actually get to see her get what's coming to her? Highly unfair.
  - Palloc. So, he's just going to hang with Renne now, I guess? There was no conclusion to him, and for most of the last half of the book, his character didn't make sense anyway. Why would he keep listening to his mother after all she's done to ruin things? I don't get it.
  - Grat's implied to be becoming a nasty serial killer murderer guy, with thoughts of killing Urs, but that's just dropped.
  - The Wolfen. I guess we can get from Cragg and Tok's reactions to Silex and Denix that they'll also have mixed reactions, but that would mean the death of the Wolfen, too, which is bad for Lyra and Mal. It would have been nice to see, just for confirmation, that they're not going to split over it.
  - The Cohort. Just...the Cohort. Why do they do what they do? Why are they all of a sudden emerging from their valley and murdering everyone? We never see their point of view, so we never find out.
  - Ovi. I guess she was depressed? The other characters found her a mystery, and so do I. I didn't see that she really had a point, other than as an unnecessary obstacle to the Silex and his two love interests.
  - Really wanted to see Mal meet the other Kindred again, and see what they have to say for themselves when they see him not only healthy and thriving, but wearing a lion skin.
  
  Albi, Palloc, Grat, and the Cohort are all villains, and they're all problems in general, because while I can see that other people said they were relatable, I didn't get that at all. Albi is demented, which is not relatable at all. I can't relate to a character who eats a baby and kills her own sister just on the off chance that she might have a little food. I don't understand that at all. Palloc is just confusing. Grat and the Cohort both seem to be violent because the plot needs them to be violent. I realize some people are born with violent tendencies, so it's true to life, but it's not exactly relatable to those of us who aren't murderous psychopaths.
  
  I also don't really appreciate any of the female characters. I realize this is prehistoric times, but all they ever think about is getting married and having babies, and being in charge of the other women. It's very catty. I would have liked it if Denix turned out to only care about being a great hunter, or something. That would have been cool. I was very disappointed when she was revealed to have feelings for Silex. I guess it's necessary for the times, as that's probably all they really did think about, but I still found it irritating.
  
  The bouncing chronology frustrated me, at times. I don't mind a little, but this one, particularly in the beginning of the book, took it too far for me.
  
  This is less a complaint than an observation: there were a lot of unfortunate implications. Albi's mother is all but said to have slept with one of the Blanc Tribe, making her Droi's half-sister and a product of both a mixed race union and adultery--she's the most evil character in the book. She regularly sleeps with Hardy, so that it's not hard to grasp that Palloc was meant to be his son, rather than Albi's husband's. Since Calli is also the product of adultery, and was fathered by Hardy, this means they're half-siblings, making Calli's aversion to him as a husband natural, and making Mal's deformity make sense as a product of incest (although, genetically, half-siblings are actually no worse than first cousins, making such a deformity unlikely, I suppose you could argue that all of the tribe are closer related, genetically, because of intermarrying over generations, but Albi's non-Kindred father actually nullifies this, as the addition of genetic diversity should more than make up for that). Dog is also a product of adultery, and he's brutally murdered.... I don't know what, if anything, the author was trying to say with all of this, other than that the tribes just can't keep it in their pants, but since all of the adultery and incest was ultimately caused by Albi, and therefore Albi's mother's original adultery, it seems like a condemnation. I'm against people committing adultery, but I also don't think that babies born from adulterous relationships grow up to be power-hungry, baby-eating psychos....
  
  As always, the author's prose was good, and his segments that were from the wolves' point of view were excellent. He has a real talent for writing inside the minds of canines, and that's part of why I enjoyed the book as much as I did. Still, I don't mark it anywhere near the territory of A Dog's Purpose, or even its sequel or Emory's Gift. It was an ambitious effort, executed fairly well, but it just didn't move me the way those did, and I found it too difficult to ignore its flaws, including the unsatisfying ending. If you enjoy his other work, you should give this one a go, though--based on other people's ratings, you'll probably enjoy it more than I did. Most of what I felt was wrong with it was due to my own personal tastes and pet peeves, so feel free to ignore my complaints.
• 
  Christine

  If I had to say one thing about Mr. Cameron’s books it would be that they certainly tug at my emotions, whether the lighter “Dog’s Purpose” series or this latest, most ambitious to date, “The Dog Master”.
  
  “The Frightened” – a clan of incredibly shy people, often alone posing no real threat
  
  “The Cohorts” – man killers, they are the most feared tribe of the book
  
  “The Kindred” – hunters and migrators, with a strict social structure
  
  “The Wolfen” – hunters, who run everywhere they go and have a social structure based on observing wolf packs
  
  “The Blanc” – fishers rather than hunters, known for their peaceful ways and pale hair and complexions.
  
  These are the people who populate this book. Starting in Year One the reader follows these tribes through their day-to-day lives, becoming familiar with their hunting and living habits as well as their family and social structures. Each tribe kept to themselves, with occasionally little but most often no friendly interaction. It’s a hard and often solitary existence if you don’t fit in. Even more difficult when you’re shunned and forced to live on your own … until a series of circumstances allow you to make the most unlikeliest of allies – a wolf – and so begins man’s extraordinary relationship with “the dog”.
  
  As the book begins the reader joins the first day of Dr. James K. Morby’s class studying “Early Humans”. Halfway through he receives a message stating simply “they found her”. Finally, his long held belief is proven; they have discovered the skeletal remains of a human buried with a “dog”. As Dr. Morby rushes out of class and onto an airplane to the archeological site where he and others hypothesize (off page) about the origins of the first dog, the reader is transported back to Year One where Mr. Cameron begins to weave a wonderful story of these pre-historic people and their relationships. This book had me enthralled from this first page. It had me smiling tenderly and nodding my head, at times frightened for my favorite characters while at other times angry at the ugliness of other characters. A few times I even got teary, especially those parts told from the perspective of the wolf (that’s all I’ll say so no spoilers). No matter what my emotional state while reading I never ceased to be awed by the scope of Mr. Cameron’s imagination.
  
  Every dog from the smallest teacup poodle to the huge mastiff carries some DNA in common with wolves. If you have ever wondered why, Mr. Cameron gives you an, although fictional, highly believable and entertaining explanation.
  
  I have no hesitation in rating this book at five stars. But, with that statement comes a little warning for fans of Mr. Cameron’s “A Dog’s Purpose” series. This book is not a cozy and charming little read. This book is an epic and the story has guts … and blood, and hunting, and cruelty, and sex and … well everything you would expect in a book about prehistoric times when it was survival of the fittest. I loved it and would not think twice about recommending it highly.
  
  This book had me so totally involved that I was sad to turn the last page. I wanted to know more about these people’s lives. I felt involved. So, I was quite pleased after reading Mr. Cameron’s (very humorous) “Afterword” because it left me with the distinct impression that I may get a chance to revisit with “the Kindred” and “the Wolfen” and “Dog”. As I post this review I can only hope that Mr. Cameron is typing furiously!
  
  *A note to Mr. Cameron should you accidentally happen upon this review*
  
  Gawd … I really, really hated Albi. Please, please, let me pick the rock!
  
  
  
• 
  Charlie

  Bought it because I love the author, Loved it because the book is amazing.
  
  I'll be totally honest, I just love this author. W. Bruce Cameron is the guy who wrote "A Dog's Purpose" (one of my all-time favorites) and he's just a wonderful author. Fans of his will tell you, he does a lot to make sure that his books help animal rescue and he really stays in touch with his readers, so I bought this book to support his work. What I mean is, I had great reasons to BUY this book, but I rated it 5 stars because it really is that good.
  
  I tried to be objective here, because comparing a novel like this one to a story like "A Dog's Purpose" is hard to do, but this is really a superb, gripping story that will keep you turning the pages. There are moments that are fun and sweet, like his other novels, but at the core this is a real, visceral human story. The setting is historical, the story is timeless, and the emotions are as primal as you can get. This book is a boon to the genre of historical fiction.
  
  W. Bruce Cameron is a master storyteller, and this might just be his masterpiece. There's not much else to say!
  
  If you like what he writes, or if you like this type of book, you'll be very satisfied. Since this is a very early review I hope I can convince some skeptics to give it a chance. Like his other work, you only need to read the first page or two and you won't be able to walk out of the bookstore without it.
• 
  Mindy

  I was extremely fortunate to receive an advanced reader copy of
  W. Bruce Cameron's newest novel,
  The Dog Master: A Novel of the First Dog. If you're looking for a great summer read--or any other season--this may be just the ticket. Based upon the Afterword of the book, Cameron read about a recent archeological discovery of 30,000-year-old bones of a man and what is believed to be his pet wolf, what essentially would be the first "dog." Cameron then imagines a prehistoric tale, framed by a historically accurate setting in Eurasia. I'm not much of a "dog person" (I haven't been owned by one since I was a kid), and I don't believe I've ever read prehistoric fiction, but this was an enthusiastic two thumbs up from me. I've been looking forward to this ever since his wife,
  Cathryn Michon, mentioned on her FB fan page that she'd read the draft of this novel. And she was spot-on. I've read several Cameron novels and I really do believe this is his best work yet. You can preorder the book now or grab it from your local bookstore starting August 4.
• 
  Kristy

  This is a great book for any dog lover. A very interesting look at the first relationship of humans and wolves ( dogs) . That fact that the story followed different time line made the story that much more real to me. The research that Mr. Cameron must have done make this book that much better. Thank you for a great read.
• 
  Patti

  I'm a huge animal lover, owning four hairy mutts and two cats. Upon hearing of this release, I squealed with delight. I was even more pleased to find out that Cameron will be an author present at the Books on the Nightstand podcast reader retreat known as Booktopia, held this September in the beautiful Petoskey, Michigan. Surprisingly, it took me awhile to get into this one. It might have been the prehistoric time period and necessary setup that felt a bit textbook-y Luckily, I forged on and after 100 pages felt invested in the various tribal and wolf perspectives. I love the idea of receiving some historical information via a fictionalized narrative.
  
  I quickly became grateful that my life doesn't consist mostly of survival through food acquisition. Cameron's story is a plausible version of how wolves and mankind formed relationships in this brutal landscape. Hearing the details of hunting teams and the roles of men vs women was interesting as well. I found the tribal structures to be surprisingly organized, and the nomadic lifestyle a necessary, if inconvenient, part of their lives. Limited food sources and constant moving must made for some lean people, no gyms necessary indeed.
  
  Unfortunately, this rough existence was still fraught with relationship turmoil, tradition vs. following one's heart, and the angst of pack leadership. The fight for Hunt Master was rough, but nothing compared to the brutality of the women, particularly the council mother. The character of Albi is one of the best villains I've ever read. The most poignant parts of the story were those concerning the wolf pack and their rituals, specifically when tracking prey or in mourning. Just when the camaraderie and bonding is heartwarming, the fights for dominance help remind you that they are animals.
  
  This ended up being one of my favorite reads of the year so far. I loved the structure, although I'm not sure the brief present day sections added value to the story except some modern speculation. I think Cameron could have provided his additional thoughts in the Afterword and it would have been just as effective. This fictionalized account had all the elements I love in a story...soap opera drama, history on an unfamiliar era (Upper Paleolithic), incredible amounts of suspense, amazing characters, an appropriate ending (although I wanted the book to go on and on!), animal elements, and truly memorable scenes. There is some rough content due to the brutality of the time period, but this was the predator/prey reality of this existence. Highly, highly recommend!!
• 
  Gordon Kirkland

  I received an advanced reader copy of The Dog Master by W. Bruce Cameron. Having read a number of Bruce Cameron's books in the past, I eagerly anticipated this one. I was particularly interested in this one, because I have had a number of interactions with wolves over the years that left me somewhat in awe of the species. Cameron has created a remarkable story based on his hypothesis of the first time man and wolf interacted cooperatively, rather than as predator and prey. In doing so he populated the story with a very diverse group of characters, both heroes and villains. My only disappointment came when I realized I had reached the last page of the book. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well written story that you won't want to put down after reading the first page.
• 
  Debbie

  Who would think that this novel would have me on the edge of my seat? I am a dog lover, but this was more of an imagining of how and why dogs and humans became companions. Looking forward to meeting this author at Booktopia Petoskey.
• 
  bfilbeck

  Having read most of Cameron's previous work, I was expecting a great dog story and was not disappointed. Discovering that The Dog Master included a great human story was a bonus. Of course, writing a story set 30,000 years ago requires more than a little speculation regarding the exact details of individual actions and dialog but his ability to create characters that the reader forms an emotional attachment with – you'll love the heroes and really hate the villains – makes this book a great read. I found the frequent switching of the timelines early in the book a bit of a distraction but that decreased as the story progressed.
  
• 
  Sabine

  What an incredible and amazing book! I could not put the book away. What a great book for any dog lovers. It explains a true and strong connection between human and animal. Thank You Bruce for writing an incredible novel!