Lab Mix Inspires Award-Winning Novel 'Etna'

Paul Yoon's sixth work of fiction, 'Etna,' is a novel told from the first-person perspective of a combat dog trying to find his way home after a devastating war. While the character is not explicitly Oscar, Yoon's 70-pound lab mix, the dog's spirit is central to the book. Yoon, who resides in Hudson, New York, was inspired to write 'Etna' after years of a seemingly telepathic connection with Oscar, wondering what the world looked like through his pet's eyes.

The novel follows Etna, a shepherd mix trained for combat, who embarks on an adventure filled with peril and loss. Yoon masterfully avoids sentimentality, instead offering a profound look at the devastation of war through Etna's quiet wisdom and the author's vivid prose. This narrative approach aims to create a bridge for readers to experience the harsh realities of war alongside the canine protagonist.

War and the human capacity for endurance in suffering are recurring themes in Yoon's work, stemming partly from his family's history of fleeing conflict in North Korea. He aims to explore how individuals find pockets of joy and optimism amidst great hardship. Yoon's wife, writer Laura van den Berg, provides rigorous yet gentle feedback on his work, influencing each other's writing processes, with Yoon experimenting in 'Etna' with fantasy elements for the first time.

'Etna' has garnered significant buzz, with many seeing it as Yoon's best work. Friends praise its unique perspective on human violence and its exquisite prose. Yoon attributes the novel's reception to a shared love for dogs and a desire to connect with our animal companions, while van den Berg views it as a magical moment when a writer explores new territory with authentic depth.