Dog narrator guides war novel

Paul Yoon’s new novel, “Etna,” places readers inside the mind of a dog rather than a human. The book follows the dog from his birth on a farm to his service in a war, and finally to his journey back to his origins. The narrative is told entirely from Etna’s perspective, allowing the animal to describe his environment and emotions in his own words.

Etna begins his life on a farm where he is born alongside other animals. His owners eventually give him to a young woman who trains him to assist soldiers. He is paired with another dog, Fuji, and the two form a close bond while serving in the unnamed war zone. After a period of service, the dogs are separated. Etna decides he wants to leave the military and return to the farm where he was raised.

The plot tracks Etna’s effort to find his way home. He encounters a new companion, a dog named Semeru, during his travels. The story focuses on Etna’s experiences as he moves through the landscape, interacting with the humans and other animals he meets. The setting is deliberately vague, allowing the reader to focus on the dog’s sensory experience of the world.

Yoon, who lives in the Hudson Valley of New York, discussed the creation of the book via telephone. He cited the late John Berger’s novel “King” as a primary inspiration. Yoon recalled reading “King” in his early twenties in a New York apartment. He was struck by how Berger gave a dog narrator a joyful voice despite a bleak setting. That influence encouraged Yoon to attempt a similar perspective in his own work.

While writing, Yoon referenced other stories featuring non-human protagonists. He thought of John Gardner’s “Grendel,” which retells the Beowulf saga from the monster’s view. He also considered Henry Hoke’s “Open Throat,” a book about a Los Angeles mountain lion. Yoon mentioned that he did not actively seek out these books to copy them, but rather let the ideas influence his process naturally.

A major challenge for Yoon was convincing readers that they were hearing the voice of a dog. He aimed for moments where Etna’s behavior felt distinctly canine, while still maintaining a connection for human readers. Yoon noted that he had to build a bridge so that readers could understand the dog’s world, even when Etna himself did not fully comprehend his surroundings.

Yoon described the emotional difficulty of writing about a dog in danger. He stated that it was hard to put Etna in harm’s way, but he knew from the start that he wanted to bring the character home. This goal provided a sense of hope that helped him write through the darker parts of the story. He also noted that the separation from Fuji serves as a haunting presence in the novel, though Etna finds new connections along the way.

During the writing process, Yoon’s own dog, a 75-pound animal, was physically present. Yoon said the dog often lay on his lap while he worked. He described having imagined telepathic moments with the pet, feeling that they shared the emotional weight of the writing. This physical presence helped ground the author in the perspective he was crafting.

The novel includes a specific scene where Etna plays tug-of-war with Semeru. Yoon explained that this moment was important because it showed the dog’s capacity for joy and playfulness. In early drafts, the scene was much longer, but Yoon trimmed it to keep the pacing tight. He believed that including such moments of levity was necessary to balance the heavier themes of the book.

“Etna” is Yoon’s latest work following “Snow Hunters,” “Run Me to Earth,” and “The Hive and the Honey.” The book is currently available for readers who want to experience a war story from the viewpoint of a soldier on four legs. Yoon’s approach avoids anthropomorphizing the dog excessively, instead focusing on his sensory reactions and simple desires.