Post-apocalyptic Las Vegas must seem a natural setting for dystopian fiction, given the number of times it’s been used as such. Post-pandemic, with the city’s economic recovery still lagging, it’s even more believable. Take that hopeless atmosphere, add crumbling infrastructure and roving bands of displaced civilians, and you have the scene of Jarret Keene’s latest novel, Hammer of the Dogs. Out since September 12, the book is the latest in Keene’s line of Vegas-themed works, following poetry and short story anthologies, and a travel guide.
For Hammer of the Dogs, Keene has chosen a similar central conflict as many previous young adult (YA) books: An independent, jaded young woman named Lash is accustomed to a life of discomfort, but she’s presented with an opportunity to improve her lot at the expense of those she’s closest to — or so we think.
However, characterizing the book as YA purely based on its common YA tropes (notably the perennially popular “enemies-to-lovers” subplot) would be inaccurate, as it’s also thoroughly mature. Its portrait of post-apocalyptic Vegas is gritty and disturbing; the cult serving as a central character is rich in warped religious symbolism; and the graphic violence and adult themes are not for the faint of (or young at) heart.
Masterfully capturing the anxiety of younger generations faced with inheriting (and fixing) a world they might not even want, the novel is relatable for Gen Z’ers like me, who are staring down the barrel of a future that feels increasingly desperate. Does Lash live up to Keene’s promise of being a “kickass heroine for the 21st century”? If that entails protecting loved ones, fighting for justice, and growing through trauma, then yes. And, as my generation knows, she’s long overdue.
Hammer of the Dogs
by Jarret Keene
210 pages, $21
University of Nevada Press
