'A marvel of a collection' Kaliane Bradley author of The Ministry of Time 'A consummate
story teller ... the brilliantly conceived Dogs And Monsters illuminates a number of species
both real and mythical including our own' New York Times 'There is nothing more terrifying
than the monster that squats behind the door you dare not open...' From the bestselling
author of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time come eight mesmerising stories
exploring care genetics how we treat animals - and how we treat other people. Mark Haddon
weaves ancient fables into fresh and unexpected forms and forges new legends to sit alongside
them. The myth of the Minotaur in his labyrinth is turned into a wrenching parable of maternal
love - and of the monstrosities of patriarchy. The lover of a goddess Tithonus is gifted
eternal life but without eternal youth. Actaeon changed into a stag after glimpsing the naked
Diana and torn to pieces by his hunting dogs becomes a visceral metaphor about how humans use
and misuse animals. From genetic engineering to the eternal complications of family Haddon
showcases how we are subject to the same elemental forces that obsessed the Greeks. Whether
describing Laika the Soviet space dog on her fateful orbit or St Anthony wrestling with
loneliness in the desert his astonishing powers of observation are at their height when
illuminating the thin line between human and animal. 'In sentences as precisely cut as paper
sculptures Mark Haddon fits ancient myth to the cruelties and wonders of the present' Francis
Spufford author of Cahokia Jazz
