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Thor
Thor is a German shepherd belonging to a typical suburban family, wise, trustworthy, and tirelessly devoted to his human "pack." Then Uncle Ted comes to live with Thor's owners. And the terror begins. For Ted is no longer fully human, and only Thor can detect the Bad Thing lurking within Uncle Ted. Only Thor can sense the horror he is helpless to communicate. And only Thor can defeat that horror.
327 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 189 reviews
January 6, 2025
I've wanted to read this story for a long time, and am glad it finally happened. Bad Moon has been my favorite werewolf film for 25 years and I am a mark for comparing films to books. First off, I loved how Wayne Smith didn't overdo the inclusion of the werewolf. He was very much present when it mattered, but unlike the movie, didn't just show up to kill random people in the middle of the night and then scamper off. I also really enjoyed the style of writing, as it is very similar to my own, because it is more from a narrator point of view and not always directly from the character's perspective. And not since Call of the Wild have I read a story that focused so much on the animal as the main protagonist. Thor (The dog) is a wonderful and deep character experience, told in a very unique fashion! However, the viewpoint does shift around a lot, especially towards the end, which makes it hard to follow at times. I also felt that the movie was a simpler story, that still encompassed the best parts of the book, whereas the book had an excess of characters that seemed to just come across as place holders. I wouldn't say that the film or movie was a better version of the story, but each are distinct in their own ways.
November 29, 2023
I love Thor. I want a dog like him. I will love my own dog even more now.
And I wolfed through this book 🐾 🐶 🐾.
Most of the story takes place through the eyes of Thor, which is quite unique. This represents a pathetic fallacy that emotions and abilities are not restricted to human beings but can live in nature and especially in our pets.
Wayne Smith certainly understands canines and must have endlessly studied them while imagining what they think, their relationships with humans as pack animals, how they react as equals to other pack members or to threats, and more importantly, as subservient to their masters.
Why this book doesn’t have wider recognition is beyond me? Published in 1992, maybe it’s to do with the pulpy 1940s cover? Because it's got soppy dogs in it? Even the name, Thor, is misleading as though it's linked to superheroes, even images of sentimental movies like Hachi: A Dog's Tale spring to mind, doing it no favours as overly cute and perhaps rather mawkish.
And Thor isn't particularly well written either, sometimes feeling overly simple and formulaic at times, nor is it frightening or disturbing but more like a family-based thriller with a spooky, supernatural element. This is mild horror at best through its dependency on everyone remaining safe under threat, as Thor diligently protects his family - his mission and reason for living - as you learn to love a terrific guy in the body of a dog.
Amazingly, there are inexcusable grammatical errors: 'know’ instead of 'knew', 'made' instead of 'make', spelling mistakes, unfinished words, etc.; lack of high-end polish and badly in need of basic editing, which are not digitization faults but human errors from perhaps rushing the story too fast? I don't get it. Fortunately, this does not negatively impact the power of the tale.
Okay, so werewolves! No explanation of how they get here. Far-fetched, implausible and often bundling along, but I’m still giving this five stars for the emotions it stirred in me, for how it made me feel, for my love of dogs, although I accept it might not be visceral enough for everyone’s tastes and definitely not hardcore or horror literature - more like a fun, fluid and rampant thriller with a spiky edge.
And I wolfed through this book 🐾 🐶 🐾.
Most of the story takes place through the eyes of Thor, which is quite unique. This represents a pathetic fallacy that emotions and abilities are not restricted to human beings but can live in nature and especially in our pets.
Wayne Smith certainly understands canines and must have endlessly studied them while imagining what they think, their relationships with humans as pack animals, how they react as equals to other pack members or to threats, and more importantly, as subservient to their masters.
Why this book doesn’t have wider recognition is beyond me? Published in 1992, maybe it’s to do with the pulpy 1940s cover? Because it's got soppy dogs in it? Even the name, Thor, is misleading as though it's linked to superheroes, even images of sentimental movies like Hachi: A Dog's Tale spring to mind, doing it no favours as overly cute and perhaps rather mawkish.
And Thor isn't particularly well written either, sometimes feeling overly simple and formulaic at times, nor is it frightening or disturbing but more like a family-based thriller with a spooky, supernatural element. This is mild horror at best through its dependency on everyone remaining safe under threat, as Thor diligently protects his family - his mission and reason for living - as you learn to love a terrific guy in the body of a dog.
Amazingly, there are inexcusable grammatical errors: 'know’ instead of 'knew', 'made' instead of 'make', spelling mistakes, unfinished words, etc.; lack of high-end polish and badly in need of basic editing, which are not digitization faults but human errors from perhaps rushing the story too fast? I don't get it. Fortunately, this does not negatively impact the power of the tale.
Okay, so werewolves! No explanation of how they get here. Far-fetched, implausible and often bundling along, but I’m still giving this five stars for the emotions it stirred in me, for how it made me feel, for my love of dogs, although I accept it might not be visceral enough for everyone’s tastes and definitely not hardcore or horror literature - more like a fun, fluid and rampant thriller with a spiky edge.
December 15, 2024
"If Thor had to be a Bad Dog to protect the Pack, then he had to be a Bad Dog. There was no other option."
Uncle Ted was always Thor's favorite person outside of the pack, but now that he has come to stay with the family after a trip to Nepal where his girlfriend mysteriously vanished, only faithful Thor recognizes that he is not the same. And only Thor stands between the pack he must protect at all costs and the very Bad Thing that's on its way.
Thor by Wayne Smith surprised me with how much I enjoyed it. Of course, I knew I would love (and fear for) the good boy hero, and I do love a good werewolf story, but I was afraid the telling of the story through the dog's point of view would come off as silly and cartoonish. I guess we'll never know what it would really be like to see things from a dog's perspective, but as a dog owner, a lot of Thor's behavior and how he related to and perceived the world around him rang true to me. Ultimately, Thor was an entertaining, heartwarming story of a dog's devotion and a good werewolf tale as well.
Uncle Ted was always Thor's favorite person outside of the pack, but now that he has come to stay with the family after a trip to Nepal where his girlfriend mysteriously vanished, only faithful Thor recognizes that he is not the same. And only Thor stands between the pack he must protect at all costs and the very Bad Thing that's on its way.
Thor by Wayne Smith surprised me with how much I enjoyed it. Of course, I knew I would love (and fear for) the good boy hero, and I do love a good werewolf story, but I was afraid the telling of the story through the dog's point of view would come off as silly and cartoonish. I guess we'll never know what it would really be like to see things from a dog's perspective, but as a dog owner, a lot of Thor's behavior and how he related to and perceived the world around him rang true to me. Ultimately, Thor was an entertaining, heartwarming story of a dog's devotion and a good werewolf tale as well.
March 8, 2014
My experience with this book reminds me why reading groups are so much fun.
This is not a book I would have chosen to read on my own. The premise sounds so....hinky, (a story told through the eyes of the family dog), I almost decided to sit this one out. But then a friend of mine gave it a 5 star rating, so I figured I HAD to at least give it a try. I was pleasantly surprised!
Thor protects his Pack from any and all predators, no matter their form-human or canine. But when Uncle Ted comes to visit, (Thor's favorite person that is not part of his Pack), Thor starts to act weird, watching Ted wherever he goes, sometimes watching him all night long. Why? You will have to read this to find out.
I think this book would appeal to animal and/or dog lovers. The author did a good job of making the reader believe that he or she is right there in Thor's head. A lot of canine behaviors are explained, and though one or two of Thor's thoughts did not ring true, most of them did.
So I was pleasantly surprised and I liked the idea of the dog's POV. Why am I only rating this 3.5 stars, you ask? Simple-typos and missing words. Way more typos and missing words than I care to deal with. It was the strength of the story that carried me through this one and I am glad I stuck with it.
To sum up, I liked this book and I think it has a lot to offer. It doesn't easily fit into the genre of horror or dark fiction, (I think it's more of a thriller), but I liked it just the same. If it weren't for the typos and missing words, this tale would have easily earned at least 4 stars. I would read more by this author in the future, in the hopes that he now has a better proofreader.
This is not a book I would have chosen to read on my own. The premise sounds so....hinky, (a story told through the eyes of the family dog), I almost decided to sit this one out. But then a friend of mine gave it a 5 star rating, so I figured I HAD to at least give it a try. I was pleasantly surprised!
Thor protects his Pack from any and all predators, no matter their form-human or canine. But when Uncle Ted comes to visit, (Thor's favorite person that is not part of his Pack), Thor starts to act weird, watching Ted wherever he goes, sometimes watching him all night long. Why? You will have to read this to find out.
I think this book would appeal to animal and/or dog lovers. The author did a good job of making the reader believe that he or she is right there in Thor's head. A lot of canine behaviors are explained, and though one or two of Thor's thoughts did not ring true, most of them did.
So I was pleasantly surprised and I liked the idea of the dog's POV. Why am I only rating this 3.5 stars, you ask? Simple-typos and missing words. Way more typos and missing words than I care to deal with. It was the strength of the story that carried me through this one and I am glad I stuck with it.
To sum up, I liked this book and I think it has a lot to offer. It doesn't easily fit into the genre of horror or dark fiction, (I think it's more of a thriller), but I liked it just the same. If it weren't for the typos and missing words, this tale would have easily earned at least 4 stars. I would read more by this author in the future, in the hopes that he now has a better proofreader.
August 19, 2010
There is a movie version of this book.
Don't ever watch it!
It actually has a good cast, and it's not as bad as the movie version of Possession.
The book deserved better though.
There are two different types of dog owners, generally speaking. There is the dog owner who gets a dog as some type of symbol. Look, I got me a pit; I'm Mr. Tough Guy. Look, I got a dog for a handbag; I'm the next Paris Hilton. (Why anyone would want to be Paris Hilton, outside of having her money, I don't know). Look, I've got a Dobie, don't you try and mug me. I'm not saying that these people don't love thier pets, but the pet is part symbol for something.
Then there is the other type of dog owner. This type of dog owner gets a dog because a dog is a friend, a loyal companion. The dog is treated as a family member, is talked to, is loved, is fed, but still is treated as a dog. In other words, the dog is NOT a handbag, fashion accessory, or fashion model. The dog does not wear sweaters and under no circumstances will the dog ever have its nails done. The dog might get clipped in the summer, if needed, but that's it. No dye jobs, no bows. The dog is allowed to be dirty and smelly, provided it isn't too dirty or smelly. The dog goes to the vet, the dog might go to the groomer depending upon its coat, but the dog will never go to a stylist. The dog is tended to and cared for, not over fed and is walked/exercised enough. The dog is loved but to allowed to be what it is. A dog and not a child.
These types of dogs have happy lives and yet, as their owners will tell you, they transend simply being a pet. They are not human, but they can communicate. It's body language, barking, tail wagging, whatever. There is some type of connection that exists between a true dog and its person. A type of connection that will never exist between a cat and the person it co-habits with.
If you know what the last two paragraphs are about then you will love Thor. Keep in mind, you might need a few hankies, especially if you have or have had a true dog.
The idea behind the book is this. Thor, a German Shepherd, loves his family, his pack. Then a stranger arrives. Thor knows that something is wrong with this stranger, this supposed relative. In fact, supposed relative is a werewolf. Thor, however, is a dog, and he can only speak and comprend like a dog.
In other words, he can't tell anyone; he can't even fully explain it to himself.
What makes the book succeed is the fact that Smith captures a dog so well. This isn't a version of Watership Down. The reader might get Thor's thoughts in English, but the thoughts and the reactions are dog. Thor is not personified. In many ways, Smith's book is closer to Albert Payson Terhune's collie books.
If that wasn't enough, Smith also gives the reader the viewpoint of the father in the family, the man who loves his family and loves his dog. Not only does Smith capture true dog/human interaction, but he also touches on what if situtions that dog owners confront only when their nightmares become reality.
An excellent book for any dog lover.
Don't ever watch it!
It actually has a good cast, and it's not as bad as the movie version of Possession.
The book deserved better though.
There are two different types of dog owners, generally speaking. There is the dog owner who gets a dog as some type of symbol. Look, I got me a pit; I'm Mr. Tough Guy. Look, I got a dog for a handbag; I'm the next Paris Hilton. (Why anyone would want to be Paris Hilton, outside of having her money, I don't know). Look, I've got a Dobie, don't you try and mug me. I'm not saying that these people don't love thier pets, but the pet is part symbol for something.
Then there is the other type of dog owner. This type of dog owner gets a dog because a dog is a friend, a loyal companion. The dog is treated as a family member, is talked to, is loved, is fed, but still is treated as a dog. In other words, the dog is NOT a handbag, fashion accessory, or fashion model. The dog does not wear sweaters and under no circumstances will the dog ever have its nails done. The dog might get clipped in the summer, if needed, but that's it. No dye jobs, no bows. The dog is allowed to be dirty and smelly, provided it isn't too dirty or smelly. The dog goes to the vet, the dog might go to the groomer depending upon its coat, but the dog will never go to a stylist. The dog is tended to and cared for, not over fed and is walked/exercised enough. The dog is loved but to allowed to be what it is. A dog and not a child.
These types of dogs have happy lives and yet, as their owners will tell you, they transend simply being a pet. They are not human, but they can communicate. It's body language, barking, tail wagging, whatever. There is some type of connection that exists between a true dog and its person. A type of connection that will never exist between a cat and the person it co-habits with.
If you know what the last two paragraphs are about then you will love Thor. Keep in mind, you might need a few hankies, especially if you have or have had a true dog.
The idea behind the book is this. Thor, a German Shepherd, loves his family, his pack. Then a stranger arrives. Thor knows that something is wrong with this stranger, this supposed relative. In fact, supposed relative is a werewolf. Thor, however, is a dog, and he can only speak and comprend like a dog.
In other words, he can't tell anyone; he can't even fully explain it to himself.
What makes the book succeed is the fact that Smith captures a dog so well. This isn't a version of Watership Down. The reader might get Thor's thoughts in English, but the thoughts and the reactions are dog. Thor is not personified. In many ways, Smith's book is closer to Albert Payson Terhune's collie books.
If that wasn't enough, Smith also gives the reader the viewpoint of the father in the family, the man who loves his family and loves his dog. Not only does Smith capture true dog/human interaction, but he also touches on what if situtions that dog owners confront only when their nightmares become reality.
An excellent book for any dog lover.
May 14, 2019
What a nice surprise, it was really good ! A werewolf story told from the dog's POV. It's not like anything you've read before. I did not expect much more than a heart warming dog story, what I got was a heart, warming, breaking, thriller, horror story with a great dog. Give it a try.
May 19, 2024
What a gem!
This is a werewolf story made unique by being told mostly from the perspective of a German shepherd named Thor.
The premise sounds a bit silly but it’s well done, it’s not a kids book. You will fall in love with this dog!
Update: just watched the mid-nineties straight to video adaptation of this called bad moon. It stars Michael paré, Muriel Hemingway and the kid that played Dennis the menace. It was actually better than so bad it’s good, and better than bad, it’s actually good.
Decently made, good music,good acting, good animatronic werewolf and excellent acting on the part of the dog that plays Thor. Aside from an obviously stuffed stunt dog in a couple of quick shots and some bad 90’s morph effects it’s a pretty solid movie all around and it amps up the horror vibes. Worth a watch even if you haven’t read the book.
This is a werewolf story made unique by being told mostly from the perspective of a German shepherd named Thor.
The premise sounds a bit silly but it’s well done, it’s not a kids book. You will fall in love with this dog!
Update: just watched the mid-nineties straight to video adaptation of this called bad moon. It stars Michael paré, Muriel Hemingway and the kid that played Dennis the menace. It was actually better than so bad it’s good, and better than bad, it’s actually good.
Decently made, good music,good acting, good animatronic werewolf and excellent acting on the part of the dog that plays Thor. Aside from an obviously stuffed stunt dog in a couple of quick shots and some bad 90’s morph effects it’s a pretty solid movie all around and it amps up the horror vibes. Worth a watch even if you haven’t read the book.
June 7, 2025
German Shepard vs Werewolf!! Who will win? Must read to find out!! But beware…while this horror novel is filled with much blood and gore, you may find tears rolling down your face at the end. It’s just that good!!
4 Good Dog ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️s!
4 Good Dog ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️s!
March 4, 2022
Thor the German Shepherd loves his "Pack," Tom, Janet, and the kids - Teddy, Brett and Debbie. And although not a pack member, Uncle Ted is Thor's favorite relative. But these days, Uncle Ted is withdrawn and distraught over the loss of his girlfriend.
Janet is very worried about her brother and insists on visiting him, even though he adamantly refuses. Upon arrival, Thor senses something different about Uncle Ted, and picks up on scents on his clothing of a wild animal - but one that he has never smelled before.
Shortly after the visit, Uncle Ted is convinced by his sister to come and stay with the family, in the apartment over their garage. Thor senses something bad is coming and although he loves Uncle Ted, he has an inexplicable sense of foreboding around him, vowing to watch over his Pack even closer.
Finally, after weeks of unsettling and confusing feelings, the "Bad Thing" comes to fruition; Thor comes face to face with some.... unknown wild animal out in the woods. He does not know what it is, but he knows it is inherently wrong. He knows it is not a dog, although that's what it smells like. It is covered in fur, but bipedal. It has huge fangs and is wearing remnants of the clothing Uncle Ted left the house in earlier that night...
Thor knows the Bad Thing and Uncle Ted are connected, but just doesn't know how. He knows there's something wrong with him, but he just can't get his Pack to listen! They keep telling him he's a "bad dog" every time he tries to warn them. Can Thor stop the threat in time to save his family?
-------------------
I've been wanting to read this book for a very long time and I finally just caved and bought a copy. I'm glad because I really liked it. I thought it was fun and unique, and you can't help but love Thor; dogs are so pure and innocent, so reading it from his perspective was fun.
One thing I will say is that I really started to kind of dislike the family, especially the dad, as the book went on. Like ten times a day, Thor was being called a bad dog, punished and/or banished to the basement for some ridiculous thing or another. He was always wondering what he did wrong and that was just kinda sad. The dad can honestly take a hike - Thor deserves a better family.
Janet is very worried about her brother and insists on visiting him, even though he adamantly refuses. Upon arrival, Thor senses something different about Uncle Ted, and picks up on scents on his clothing of a wild animal - but one that he has never smelled before.
Shortly after the visit, Uncle Ted is convinced by his sister to come and stay with the family, in the apartment over their garage. Thor senses something bad is coming and although he loves Uncle Ted, he has an inexplicable sense of foreboding around him, vowing to watch over his Pack even closer.
Finally, after weeks of unsettling and confusing feelings, the "Bad Thing" comes to fruition; Thor comes face to face with some.... unknown wild animal out in the woods. He does not know what it is, but he knows it is inherently wrong. He knows it is not a dog, although that's what it smells like. It is covered in fur, but bipedal. It has huge fangs and is wearing remnants of the clothing Uncle Ted left the house in earlier that night...
Thor knows the Bad Thing and Uncle Ted are connected, but just doesn't know how. He knows there's something wrong with him, but he just can't get his Pack to listen! They keep telling him he's a "bad dog" every time he tries to warn them. Can Thor stop the threat in time to save his family?
-------------------
I've been wanting to read this book for a very long time and I finally just caved and bought a copy. I'm glad because I really liked it. I thought it was fun and unique, and you can't help but love Thor; dogs are so pure and innocent, so reading it from his perspective was fun.
One thing I will say is that I really started to kind of dislike the family, especially the dad, as the book went on. Like ten times a day, Thor was being called a bad dog, punished and/or banished to the basement for some ridiculous thing or another. He was always wondering what he did wrong and that was just kinda sad. The dad can honestly take a hike - Thor deserves a better family.
January 8, 2023
A horror story told from the POV of a German Shepherd aptly named Thor. Utterly devoted to his pack, a human family of 5, Thor will do anything to protect them from the 'Bad Thing' that has begun lurking in the nearby woods at night.
I think the author did an excellent job bringing Thor to life, describing his perception and understanding of human behaviour, and also his reasoning as he interprets the things that happen to him. As a dog owner myself, there were so many things about Thor's behaviour that made me go - my dog does that! (although I doubt very much my Jessy would leap to my rescue, except perhaps if I was covered in bacon).
The plot and the writing in Thor is pretty straightforward and not very unique. The fact that the book is told from the POV of a German Shepherd is what sets it apart from other books in this horror sub genre (which I won't reveal due to spoilers). Despite it being a bit one dimensional, I really enjoyed this book. I particularly liked the dog psychology parts, which feature prominently in the book. The book starts off slow, but really picks up around the 60% mark and then shifts into top gear.
I think the author did an excellent job bringing Thor to life, describing his perception and understanding of human behaviour, and also his reasoning as he interprets the things that happen to him. As a dog owner myself, there were so many things about Thor's behaviour that made me go - my dog does that! (although I doubt very much my Jessy would leap to my rescue, except perhaps if I was covered in bacon).
The plot and the writing in Thor is pretty straightforward and not very unique. The fact that the book is told from the POV of a German Shepherd is what sets it apart from other books in this horror sub genre (which I won't reveal due to spoilers). Despite it being a bit one dimensional, I really enjoyed this book. I particularly liked the dog psychology parts, which feature prominently in the book. The book starts off slow, but really picks up around the 60% mark and then shifts into top gear.
February 22, 2014
"Thor"oughly enjoyed this wonderful tale that takes place through the eyes of Thor the family Alsatian. It is warm, tender and at times will make you smile with a story that can be read by child or adult alike. Thor is the family protector and he looks after mum, dad, Teddy, Brett and Debbie until one day this peaceful existence is shattered when Uncle Ted comes to live with them. Ted is recovering from a personal tragedy and he has a secret that will test the strength and will of Thor to the limit. The story is told with such warmth and indeed humour as the mysteries of the world and everyday occurrences are described through the eyes of Thor....
"When Thor was young, the phone had been a bottomless source of mystery. Of all the strange things the Pack did, talking to the phone was the strangest. Sometimes the phone chirped, and they went for it like it was the last piece of meat in the world. Sometimes they picked it up unbidden, poked it a few times and waited. In any case they talked and listened to it as if it were another person"
There is a lovely scene of the family on the way to the seaside for a fun packed day and Thor resting his head on the car window "More important things occupied this mind, like the thrill of hanging his head out of the window at sixty miles an hour, and the distant smell of brine that was already finding it's way to his nostrils and making him squirm in anticipation".
But horror lies underneath this warmth and soon Thor will be called upon to protect the family when an unspeakable evil comes to visit..."It was utterly mad. Their eyes met, and Thor froze. The Thing's eyes were neither canine nor human, but resembled both. It looked straight into Thor's eyes, and Thor looked back as he would never do as a human. It's eyes seemed to beckon to Thor. They bore an invitation to join the Bad Thing in its wildness, in its freedom, in its madness. To enjoy the taste of blood and the smell of death, to revel in the power each of them possessed in such abundance - the power to kill"
To me this story shows the very close and loving relationship between man, and dog and what both will do to protect and secure that love..it's wonderful in its simplicity and brilliant in its execution. I would however once again ask those responsible for the kindle edition to pay more attention to "grammar"...."Thor lay of the floor a few feet from the table"...should surely read "Thor lay on the floor a few feet from the table".....or..."The best way protect the Pack" should read "The best way to protect the Pack" Why let simple grammatical errors ruin an otherwise wonderful story.
"When Thor was young, the phone had been a bottomless source of mystery. Of all the strange things the Pack did, talking to the phone was the strangest. Sometimes the phone chirped, and they went for it like it was the last piece of meat in the world. Sometimes they picked it up unbidden, poked it a few times and waited. In any case they talked and listened to it as if it were another person"
There is a lovely scene of the family on the way to the seaside for a fun packed day and Thor resting his head on the car window "More important things occupied this mind, like the thrill of hanging his head out of the window at sixty miles an hour, and the distant smell of brine that was already finding it's way to his nostrils and making him squirm in anticipation".
But horror lies underneath this warmth and soon Thor will be called upon to protect the family when an unspeakable evil comes to visit..."It was utterly mad. Their eyes met, and Thor froze. The Thing's eyes were neither canine nor human, but resembled both. It looked straight into Thor's eyes, and Thor looked back as he would never do as a human. It's eyes seemed to beckon to Thor. They bore an invitation to join the Bad Thing in its wildness, in its freedom, in its madness. To enjoy the taste of blood and the smell of death, to revel in the power each of them possessed in such abundance - the power to kill"
To me this story shows the very close and loving relationship between man, and dog and what both will do to protect and secure that love..it's wonderful in its simplicity and brilliant in its execution. I would however once again ask those responsible for the kindle edition to pay more attention to "grammar"...."Thor lay of the floor a few feet from the table"...should surely read "Thor lay on the floor a few feet from the table".....or..."The best way protect the Pack" should read "The best way to protect the Pack" Why let simple grammatical errors ruin an otherwise wonderful story.
May 5, 2021
Every home should have one!
Thor is a German Shepherd dog, rescued from the dog pound as a pup, by a family. He is proud to be a member of their pack. Dad is the Leader and Thor will do anything to protect the pack. He is an amazing dog and uses all his brilliant senses to the full. A good, fast-paced read.
Thor is a German Shepherd dog, rescued from the dog pound as a pup, by a family. He is proud to be a member of their pack. Dad is the Leader and Thor will do anything to protect the pack. He is an amazing dog and uses all his brilliant senses to the full. A good, fast-paced read.
December 20, 2024
One of the best dog stories I've ever read, and one of the best "werewolf" novels I've ever read.
Thor is a GOOD BOY.
Thor is a GOOD BOY.
January 31, 2014
I mostly liked this book. It was really, really fascinating to read the mystery from mostly the dog's point of view. It briefly rekindled my interest in reading a werewolf story, a genre I've grown heartily sick of. Thor's inner battle and angst over dealing with a complicated issue was realistic, and I really felt for him. I love German shepherds more than any other breed of dog, so I already wanted to cuddle him, but when he started feeling like a bad dog I really wanted to cuddle him.
There were a few weird parts...I didn't need to read about Tom and Janet's sexy times. I know they're married and they have three kids, so I assumed they have sex. Also, I don't think dogs almost get erections from being in serious trouble, I think they almost pee on the floor. But the dynamics between the family members and Thor were nice and pretty realistic, other than that.
I couldn't really figure Ted out, since we weren't from his point of view, but that didn't really matter, in the long run. Most of his motivation seemed to be a struggle between knowing he should kill himself and not wanting to die, partly just because he, like most people, just wants to be alive, and partly because he loves his sister and her family. But sometimes he seemed odd, and I wasn't sure if it was the werewolfiness making him evil or what. Ultimately, though, the dramatic tension made that kind of irrelevant.
The ending, though, was the part that took this from four stars to three. It was very unsatisfying. I would have liked an epilogue where everything's mostly back to normal and the family and Thor are playing on the beach again or something. I know things would never be quite the same again, but ending with Thor having almost starved himself to death and just deciding to eat and boom! The end! was disconcerting, and lessened the emotional payoff a lot. I wanted a little more happy ending than that!
All in all, though, I'd say it was a fairly good book, worth at least one read for any dog lover but especially German shepherd lovers. It is totally what would happen, too, if there were werewolves, rather than the dog mysteriously turning up dead as in most werewolf stories.
There were a few weird parts...I didn't need to read about Tom and Janet's sexy times. I know they're married and they have three kids, so I assumed they have sex. Also, I don't think dogs almost get erections from being in serious trouble, I think they almost pee on the floor. But the dynamics between the family members and Thor were nice and pretty realistic, other than that.
I couldn't really figure Ted out, since we weren't from his point of view, but that didn't really matter, in the long run. Most of his motivation seemed to be a struggle between knowing he should kill himself and not wanting to die, partly just because he, like most people, just wants to be alive, and partly because he loves his sister and her family. But sometimes he seemed odd, and I wasn't sure if it was the werewolfiness making him evil or what. Ultimately, though, the dramatic tension made that kind of irrelevant.
The ending, though, was the part that took this from four stars to three. It was very unsatisfying. I would have liked an epilogue where everything's mostly back to normal and the family and Thor are playing on the beach again or something. I know things would never be quite the same again, but ending with Thor having almost starved himself to death and just deciding to eat and boom! The end! was disconcerting, and lessened the emotional payoff a lot. I wanted a little more happy ending than that!
All in all, though, I'd say it was a fairly good book, worth at least one read for any dog lover but especially German shepherd lovers. It is totally what would happen, too, if there were werewolves, rather than the dog mysteriously turning up dead as in most werewolf stories.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 13, 2023
I'm amazed. This book was - wow. I love the bond of the family and being in the head of Thor. There were sad times, exciting times, confusing times. Such a beautiful ending too. Unforgettable. Review soon.
March 11, 2014
Started Reading Thursday, Marcy 6, 2014
One word...WOW! This is a novel I'm not sure I would have ever picked up for myself. I wanted to be a good horror book club member and show support for one of our newest member's selecting this read so I decided come hell or high water I would read it.
Wayne Smith has a talent for increasing the tension associated with an excellent horror read, while keeping the innocence of a story from a dog's point of view. He chose words that kept the story moving and easily explained what was going on. His description of the beast was thorough in a way that I could see the offender in my mind's eye. There were more than a few editorial mistakes that concerned me at first, but as the story progressed, these errors did not bother me.
The family dynamics were well defined by Thor's description of the pack. I could almost feel Thor's anxiousness tying to protect the family and those below him. He knew his place in the pack.
I gave this novel a solid 4 stars on Shelfari and amazon.com. I gave it 5 stars on Goodreads. I would read another story by Wayne Smith, the author of THOR.
One word...WOW! This is a novel I'm not sure I would have ever picked up for myself. I wanted to be a good horror book club member and show support for one of our newest member's selecting this read so I decided come hell or high water I would read it.
Wayne Smith has a talent for increasing the tension associated with an excellent horror read, while keeping the innocence of a story from a dog's point of view. He chose words that kept the story moving and easily explained what was going on. His description of the beast was thorough in a way that I could see the offender in my mind's eye. There were more than a few editorial mistakes that concerned me at first, but as the story progressed, these errors did not bother me.
The family dynamics were well defined by Thor's description of the pack. I could almost feel Thor's anxiousness tying to protect the family and those below him. He knew his place in the pack.
I gave this novel a solid 4 stars on Shelfari and amazon.com. I gave it 5 stars on Goodreads. I would read another story by Wayne Smith, the author of THOR.
May 16, 2014
Although this book had its ups and downs as far as my complaints went, it has a truly touching ending, to the point where I was near tears with 'Dad.' For that alone, I think this is a book worth giving a read, because if you love dogs, or animals, and see their devotion and love the way I do, it'll break your heart and sew it back together all at once.
Now on to the bad. Some of the characters didn't really make sense. Flopsy, for instance, the antagonist introduced at the beginning as a scammer trying to get money out of suing the family over Thor. His vindictiveness is never explained. It can't possibly be that he's never failed to scam someone before. Scam artists should be used to the person who catches on to them, and they generally scatter with whatever they can get out of it. This man is backed into a corner by a lawyer, is offered money, and decides to...flake and sue the lawyer anyway in hopes of...getting his dog put down? Eh? Why? He doesn't get anything out of that. In fact, all he gets out of it is paying the lawyer he has to hire in the first place. Unless he thinks he can actually win, but he'd have to be an idiot to think so. Not that he isn't an established idiot, but come on. A scammer should know what shot is worth it and what shot isn't.
Ted, also, has a few shaky points. It was difficult to feel sorry for him by the end of the book, particularly given his dialogue, even when not under the spell of the werewolf/moon. He becomes less and less sympathetic as time goes on and he continually and knowingly puts the people he supposedly loves in danger. Not to mention their dog, and his refusal to step in when the family decides to send him off to die at the pound.
Debbie was more or less an unnecessary character, but otherwise I had no complaints over her.
Tom, however, is a complete and utter idiot, and he irritated me almost the entire way through the book. Unlike the other characters, he claims to have had dogs his entire life, yet his reaction to Thor's odd behavior is not to trust him, to observe it properly, to take precaution, but to decide he's sick or insane and therefore unsafe. This was frustrating, especially for a person like myself, who trusts an animal's instincts far above any human's, partly for the fact that I have had many animals in my life. Thor's punishments were unfair, harsh, and ultimately served to make the family more or less unlikable, and it was only Thor's love for them that saved them as characters, in my personal opinion.
Other than that, this was a suspenseful, good read, with enough gore to satisfy those that came for werewolves and the associated horror, and enough beautiful, loving German shepherd for those that came for the dog.
Now on to the bad. Some of the characters didn't really make sense. Flopsy, for instance, the antagonist introduced at the beginning as a scammer trying to get money out of suing the family over Thor. His vindictiveness is never explained. It can't possibly be that he's never failed to scam someone before. Scam artists should be used to the person who catches on to them, and they generally scatter with whatever they can get out of it. This man is backed into a corner by a lawyer, is offered money, and decides to...flake and sue the lawyer anyway in hopes of...getting his dog put down? Eh? Why? He doesn't get anything out of that. In fact, all he gets out of it is paying the lawyer he has to hire in the first place. Unless he thinks he can actually win, but he'd have to be an idiot to think so. Not that he isn't an established idiot, but come on. A scammer should know what shot is worth it and what shot isn't.
Ted, also, has a few shaky points. It was difficult to feel sorry for him by the end of the book, particularly given his dialogue, even when not under the spell of the werewolf/moon. He becomes less and less sympathetic as time goes on and he continually and knowingly puts the people he supposedly loves in danger. Not to mention their dog, and his refusal to step in when the family decides to send him off to die at the pound.
Debbie was more or less an unnecessary character, but otherwise I had no complaints over her.
Tom, however, is a complete and utter idiot, and he irritated me almost the entire way through the book. Unlike the other characters, he claims to have had dogs his entire life, yet his reaction to Thor's odd behavior is not to trust him, to observe it properly, to take precaution, but to decide he's sick or insane and therefore unsafe. This was frustrating, especially for a person like myself, who trusts an animal's instincts far above any human's, partly for the fact that I have had many animals in my life. Thor's punishments were unfair, harsh, and ultimately served to make the family more or less unlikable, and it was only Thor's love for them that saved them as characters, in my personal opinion.
Other than that, this was a suspenseful, good read, with enough gore to satisfy those that came for werewolves and the associated horror, and enough beautiful, loving German shepherd for those that came for the dog.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2021
I liked it a bit better in English than in its German translation, but it is still pretty bad IMO.
A huge problem for me with the story is how the author expressly tells us in the first chapters that Thor would never think or react as a human would, only to have him act and think for the rest of the novel in decidedly human terms and ways.
There's a great idea buried in this novel, but the way the author handles Thor's POV makes it hard for me to enjoy the story much.
A huge problem for me with the story is how the author expressly tells us in the first chapters that Thor would never think or react as a human would, only to have him act and think for the rest of the novel in decidedly human terms and ways.
There's a great idea buried in this novel, but the way the author handles Thor's POV makes it hard for me to enjoy the story much.
April 10, 2017
If you have seen the movie Bad Moon, please read this book! If you haven't seen the movie bad moon...please read this book. Truly a fascinating read, considering the protagonist is a faithful German shepherd and the entire book is told from his perspective. This is possibly the greatest werewolf novel ever written.
January 5, 2025
What an unique story, but also an unque approach of the story, seen from the eyes from the dog. Utterly devoted to his pack Thor is and it gave me sad feelings at times.
July 17, 2025
This book has flaws, but it is one of, if not, the best werewolf books I have ever read. Amazing!
Every dog lover NEEDS to read this book....... period!
Every dog lover NEEDS to read this book....... period!
August 27, 2022
“Their relationship was based on mutual affection; no responsibilities, no debts. It was the kind of single-emotion relationship that could only exist with an outsider. Relationships within the Pack could never be so simple.”
Amen to that, brother!
Thor is a unique dog story somewhat miscategorized (I feel) as a horror novel. There’s definitely a horror element, and a truly eerie and wonderful prologue, but overall the scary elements of the book were never really scary enough for me.
What does work, quite magnificently, is the author’s devotion to and understanding of his main character — the book is largely told through the viewpoint of the titular German shepherd, and Smith never tries to over-anthropomorphize Thor or play up his essential dog-ness in a way that would take away from the realism of the story (“realism” being a relative term in book like this). If anything, it feels like Smith errs a bit on the side of too much caution in terms of animal understanding and behavior, although the book came out in 1992 and so is missing thirty years’ worth of new research.
I did especially love this line summing up the love and devotion (but essential dopiness) of a dog’s feelings toward its human family:
“He tried to make it seem like he’d decided to change his location on his own, independent of the Pack’s move. Sometimes he felt self-conscious about following them around all the time.”
I wish Smith had devoted as much effort to his human characters as he did to Thor, and wish there had been more observational humor as clever as this:
“Of all the strange things the Pack did, talking to the phone was the strangest. Sometimes the phone chirped, and they went for it like it was the last piece of meat in the world.”
I wish the author had leaned way more heavily into the horror aspects of the novel. There’s one particular scene, where Thor discovers a body in the woods, that inches right up to the edge of something that would have added layers and layers to the book, but then disappointingly slinks away again.
The end of the book is quite moving, although I confess I was expecting something completely different (I was apparently thinking of a different book the entire time I was reading). I think Smith’s ending is a bit of a missed opportunity but, at the same time, the ending I’m thinking of would have made for a very different book, probably for a different audience, and inevitably would have required a sequel. So Smith wins the game there by default.
Amen to that, brother!
Thor is a unique dog story somewhat miscategorized (I feel) as a horror novel. There’s definitely a horror element, and a truly eerie and wonderful prologue, but overall the scary elements of the book were never really scary enough for me.
What does work, quite magnificently, is the author’s devotion to and understanding of his main character — the book is largely told through the viewpoint of the titular German shepherd, and Smith never tries to over-anthropomorphize Thor or play up his essential dog-ness in a way that would take away from the realism of the story (“realism” being a relative term in book like this). If anything, it feels like Smith errs a bit on the side of too much caution in terms of animal understanding and behavior, although the book came out in 1992 and so is missing thirty years’ worth of new research.
I did especially love this line summing up the love and devotion (but essential dopiness) of a dog’s feelings toward its human family:
“He tried to make it seem like he’d decided to change his location on his own, independent of the Pack’s move. Sometimes he felt self-conscious about following them around all the time.”
I wish Smith had devoted as much effort to his human characters as he did to Thor, and wish there had been more observational humor as clever as this:
“Of all the strange things the Pack did, talking to the phone was the strangest. Sometimes the phone chirped, and they went for it like it was the last piece of meat in the world.”
I wish the author had leaned way more heavily into the horror aspects of the novel. There’s one particular scene, where Thor discovers a body in the woods, that inches right up to the edge of something that would have added layers and layers to the book, but then disappointingly slinks away again.
The end of the book is quite moving, although I confess I was expecting something completely different (I was apparently thinking of a different book the entire time I was reading). I think Smith’s ending is a bit of a missed opportunity but, at the same time, the ending I’m thinking of would have made for a very different book, probably for a different audience, and inevitably would have required a sequel. So Smith wins the game there by default.
August 22, 2019
I'd seen the movie based off this book when I was a kid (Bad Moon), as I am very fond of dogs and werewolf tales. I had always liked the movie, but I had never payed attention to the opening credits to see it was based off a book until a few days ago. I decided to look it up, and ended up buying it as my very first ebook. After reading I have decided I like the book better than the movie, regardless of nostalgia.
As far as a comparison goes, there are some pretty major differences between the book and film, but they do not really change the plot itself. Instead of the dog protecting a single mother and her son, the book has a mom and dad, with their 3 children (two boys and a girl) as well as their kitten. Also, the majority of the book is through the dog's point of view, and it is done very well. It reminded me of reading Jack London's Call of the Wild. When a book reminds you of your favorite book of all time, you know it's a winner. There are some other differences, but they mainly occur because the family structure and point of view. I won't go into more detail as I would rather have a spoiler free review!
Although I wasn't asked... for my opinion on an age range for this book, that's really up to the maturity of the reader. Personally I was reading Stephen King and other horror books in 6th grade. There is one sex part, but it's not overly raunchy or anything. There is cursing, including coming from the young boys. Of course there is violence, it is a given in this genre. All together I've seen worse things on regular TV. I'd give it a TV-MA rating. I'll warn you though, if your kid gets ahold of this book, expect them to want a German Shepherd!
My final comment: This book may be mostly told through a dog's eyes, but there is plenty of emotion us humans can identify with. 100% recommended to lovers of horror, werewolves, and/or anyone who likes a story about a good dog!
As far as a comparison goes, there are some pretty major differences between the book and film, but they do not really change the plot itself. Instead of the dog protecting a single mother and her son, the book has a mom and dad, with their 3 children (two boys and a girl) as well as their kitten. Also, the majority of the book is through the dog's point of view, and it is done very well. It reminded me of reading Jack London's Call of the Wild. When a book reminds you of your favorite book of all time, you know it's a winner. There are some other differences, but they mainly occur because the family structure and point of view. I won't go into more detail as I would rather have a spoiler free review!
Although I wasn't asked... for my opinion on an age range for this book, that's really up to the maturity of the reader. Personally I was reading Stephen King and other horror books in 6th grade. There is one sex part, but it's not overly raunchy or anything. There is cursing, including coming from the young boys. Of course there is violence, it is a given in this genre. All together I've seen worse things on regular TV. I'd give it a TV-MA rating. I'll warn you though, if your kid gets ahold of this book, expect them to want a German Shepherd!
My final comment: This book may be mostly told through a dog's eyes, but there is plenty of emotion us humans can identify with. 100% recommended to lovers of horror, werewolves, and/or anyone who likes a story about a good dog!
July 17, 2012
While I find this an enjoyable read, especially by the perspective of the canine protagonist Thor, who's torn between becoming a Bad Dog to sacrifice his status of Good Dog in order to protect his Family, the foreboding sense he feels about the "Bad Thing" lurking within Uncle Ted which nobody else truly understands, and the strong herding instincts of the German shepherd breed (they were originally used as herding dogs, hence the name) there are some things in the book that I still find, I dunno--out of place??
For example, the prologue with the bear finding and eating the cadaver --it's evident that the cadaver is one of Uncle Ted's (in his werewolf form) victims, but after that we hear no more from the cadaver-chomping bruin. So what's with the bear's one time appearance?
The 'Flopsy' subplot-- it feels as it was written in as an extra conflict for the character "Tom"/("Dad" in Thor's perspective), the patriarch of the family.
The bedroom scenes and the swearing--I'm not saying they should have been taken out, however they could have been taken out and the story may have been just as effective.
(Not trying to be a Negative Nellie or anything, JMHO)
All in all, an entertaining read for horror/pet lovers (but oh yeah--Poor little Kitty!) and would probably make a good read for a book readers club.
For example, the prologue with the bear finding and eating the cadaver --it's evident that the cadaver is one of Uncle Ted's (in his werewolf form) victims, but after that we hear no more from the cadaver-chomping bruin. So what's with the bear's one time appearance?
The 'Flopsy' subplot-- it feels as it was written in as an extra conflict for the character "Tom"/("Dad" in Thor's perspective), the patriarch of the family.
The bedroom scenes and the swearing--I'm not saying they should have been taken out, however they could have been taken out and the story may have been just as effective.
(Not trying to be a Negative Nellie or anything, JMHO)
All in all, an entertaining read for horror/pet lovers (but oh yeah--Poor little Kitty!) and would probably make a good read for a book readers club.
December 31, 2008
Thor immediately suspects there is something wrong with Uncle Ted when he comes to visit. He seems different, but Thor can’t place it. Uncle Ted may be a threat to the family, and Thor is going to keep an eye on him, because only Thor can stop Uncle Ted. Only Thor suspects the truth.
Thor is a four-year-old German Shepherd.
That is the interesting premise of Wayne Smith’s novel. It is told almost entirely from the perspective of the dog. I realize this device has been done before, but this is the first I’ve seen it used in a horror novel.
As a horror novel, it’s fairly conventional, well written but nothing new. The appeal of this book is definitely the point of view. I gained some insights into why my two golden retrievers act the way they do! Dog lovers would enjoy this. My wife liked it, and she’s neither a big reader nor a horror fan, but loves dogs.
Thor is a four-year-old German Shepherd.
That is the interesting premise of Wayne Smith’s novel. It is told almost entirely from the perspective of the dog. I realize this device has been done before, but this is the first I’ve seen it used in a horror novel.
As a horror novel, it’s fairly conventional, well written but nothing new. The appeal of this book is definitely the point of view. I gained some insights into why my two golden retrievers act the way they do! Dog lovers would enjoy this. My wife liked it, and she’s neither a big reader nor a horror fan, but loves dogs.
April 20, 2021
I really wanted to like this book but I just couldn’t. The POV of the dog just rang false.
And then there was this...
Dad is punishing Thor and:
“For this awful moment, only he and Dad existed. There was a certain terrible excitement, almost a sexual feeling to the situation. As miserable as he felt, he almost got an erection.”
Ok, I’m out at dog erections. DNF.
And then there was this...
Dad is punishing Thor and:
“For this awful moment, only he and Dad existed. There was a certain terrible excitement, almost a sexual feeling to the situation. As miserable as he felt, he almost got an erection.”
Ok, I’m out at dog erections. DNF.
August 24, 2019
Best werewolf book ever; best dog book ever
Kudos to Wayne Smith for the brilliant execution of a heartfelt and intense story. Thor's narration always feels spot on and incredibly illuminating. This is a masterful, genre defying work, and I loved it.
Kudos to Wayne Smith for the brilliant execution of a heartfelt and intense story. Thor's narration always feels spot on and incredibly illuminating. This is a masterful, genre defying work, and I loved it.
November 4, 2022
4.5 stars rounded up for GR. I'd consider this "paperback from hell" a hidden gem. It is an emotional, hard-hitting, sweet, and also tense read. I loved reading from Thor's perspective. He's such a good boy! I very much enjoyed this book, and the ending made me tear up.
November 7, 2023
Awesome read
Was a sensational book. It tells pet owners just how much the pets are true members of the family. The protective instincts are so powerful and important. I would recommend this book to any animal lover.
Was a sensational book. It tells pet owners just how much the pets are true members of the family. The protective instincts are so powerful and important. I would recommend this book to any animal lover.
December 2, 2018
I loved this book! I thought the author did a great job creating the thought process of the dog. I liked the story a lot and just really enjoyed reading it. Good Dog, Thor!
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