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Laika Paperback – September 4, 2007

4.7 out of 5 stars 225

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Laika was the abandoned puppy destined to become Earth's first space traveler. This is her journey.

Nick Abadzis blends fiction and fact in the intertwined stories of three compelling lives. Along with Laika, there is Korolev, once a political prisoner, now a driven engineer at the top of the Soviet space program, and Yelena, the lab technician responsible for Laika's health and life.

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Laika was the abandoned puppy destined to become Earth's first space traveler. This is her journey.

Nick Abadzis masterfully blends fiction and fact in the intertwined stories of three compelling lives. Along with Laika, there is Korolev, once a political prisoner, now a driven engineer at the top of the Soviet space program, and Yelena, the lab technician responsible for Laika's health and life. This intense triangle is rendered with the pitch-perfect emotionality of classics like Because of Winn Dixie, Shiloh, and Old Yeller. Abadzis gives life to a pivotal moment in modern history, casting light on the hidden moments of deep humanity behind history. Laika's story will speak straight to your heart.

Questions for Nick Abadzis

Jeff VanderMeer for Amazon.com: What inspired you to pick this particular topic for a graphic novel? And why, for example, a graphic novel as opposed to a strictly written account?

Abadzis: I'd known it was a good story since I was about six years old. It had always been at the back of my mind as a story to tell. In 2002, new information came to light about the Sputnik II mission and specifically Laika's death. That was the spark, although back then I envisaged something much shorter. It, uh, grew. Why a graphic novel? Well, comics are my language. It's the medium that I'm most familiar and comfortable...so it was first choice.

Amazon.com: What most surprised you while researching Laika?

Abadzis: There were a few things. I had no idea there were so few Soviet engineers and scientists involved in the nascent space program--not to trivialize their incredible achievement but, in many senses, they just winged it, borne along in great part by Korolev's force of will and political maneuvering. Also it was interesting to find out how much the Soviet scientists cared for their cosmodogs. Events conspired to make Laika a sacrificial passenger on board Sputnik II, but they really did honor their canine cosmonauts. There's even a statue of Laika in Moscow. Perhaps this book will go some small way to re-establishing her position in history: whatever the circumstances, and whether you agree with what they did or not, she was the first earthling in orbit around this planet.

Amazon.com: Was there anything that didn't make it into the graphic novel because it just didn't fit?

Abadzis: There was quite a bit, actually. I could have done with another hundred pages. But I'd taken a bit of time to write and thumbnail it (which I do at the same time) and when that stage was finished, the publisher and I realized that the 50th anniversary of the Sputnik launches was fast approaching. When I first pitched the idea to Mark Siegel at First Second, neither of us realized that it was so close. It felt like we needed to be a part of that, so I drew it extremely fast--two hundred pages in a little over eight months. It's an understatement to say that it was extremely hard work. What got left out was a longer explication of Laika's origins; the scenes with Mikhail, her first owner were much longer.... Originally, I did have an idea of doing three books: Laika would be the first, Gagarin the second, and a full-on comic strip biography of Korolev [the driven engineer on the project] would be the final part that would bind together events seen in the first two. Maybe one day. Certainly, elements of Korolev's life that I felt were important to the story made it into the final version of the book.

Amazon.com: Did you worry about the sentimentality inherent in the situation? How did that affect your decisions in creating the graphic novel?

Abadzis: I suppose it would have been easy to make it another cutesy, twee, and overly saccharine dead-dog story but that wouldn't have been true either to my taste or to the socio-political system and culture I was attempting to portray. Laika--the real Laika--was a cute dog, as photographs attest. There's no getting away from it, and there's plenty of evidence to suggest her owners thought so, too. I didn't want to anthropomorphize her, at least not to the extent that she was spouting speech/thought balloons like, say Tintin's Snowy (which works just fine for those books). Having made that decision--which I didn't really feel was an option, in any case--I knew that to really do it justice, I'd have to do a lot of research. The sentiment of the story, such as it is, would take care of itself and be implicit in certain character's actions or words (or not, as the case may be).... All that said, it'd be disingenuous to suggest that, in dealing with a true story that involves dogs and their owners (even if they happen to be scientists in a Soviet cosmodog program), there wouldn't be a bit of emotion. There's plenty (and I hope the reader feels it). But there's also the harsh reality of the time, the place and the confluence of events that put Laika into space.

Amazon.com: What are you currently working on?

Abadzis: I'm currently working on a new graphic novel for older readers called Skin Trouble, which is also for First Second. I'll leave it to your imagination as to what that's all about, suffice to say it'll be an ensemble piece, character-wise. I've also got a children's graphic novel in the works. Can't say anything about that at all, but I'm looking forward to drawing it.

From Booklist

Classic dog-story themes such as loyalty serve as a backdrop for this fictionalized account of Laika, the first living creature launched into outer space. A charming and scruffy little dog, Laika survives an uncaring master and life as a stray before becoming part of the Russian space program circa 1956, just as the Soviet Union had achieved a huge victory over American competition. With a stilted romanticism that doesn't fit the story's tone, Laika is established as "a very special dog," but soon the focus of the complex tale turns away from the dog to Yelena Dubrovsky, the trainer responsible for preparing Laika and the other dogs for the rigors of testing. Through Dubrovsky, the progress of the program and the incredible pressure on the scientists are given effective form. The rough-hewn art, similar to the Joann Sfar's work on the Dungeon books, makes the characters appear constantly nervous and uncertain, lending immediacy to the all-pervasive atmosphere of strict formality and enforced patriotism. An extensive bibliography of sources is appended. Karp, Jesse

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ First Second; First Edition (September 4, 2007)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 208 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1596431016
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1596431010
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 10 - 14 years
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ GN370L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 5 - 12
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.11 x 0.49 x 8.55 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 out of 5 stars 225

About the author

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Nick Abadzis
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Nick Abadzis has been creating books, magazines, comics and stories for both adults and children for thirty years.

As both cartoonist and writer, he’s been honored with various international storytelling awards including an Eisner in 2008 for his graphic novel Laika. He also works as an editorial consultant for publishing and a corporate scribe AKA graphic recorder – he has collaborated with clients such as EY, KPMG, ESPN, IBM, Google, TNM, and many others.

He’s been published in the USA by Condé Nast, First Second, Marvel Comics, Titan Comics, DC Comics, in the UK by the BBC, various national newspapers including The Guardian, The Times and The Independent, and many other periodicals too numerous to mention; elsewhere in Europe by the likes of Dargaud and Glénat, and in Japan by Kodansha. His graphic novel Hugo Tate was described by Garth Ennis as “a road movie from Hell... one of the greatest comics of all time.” He is also known to Doctor Who fandom as the writer of a great many Tenth Doctor adventures (David Tennant) on an acclaimed run of stories for Titan Comics, several collections of which are available. He is currently at work on Skin Trouble, a graphic memoir about racism co-authored with his wife, Angela. He is British but based in and around New York City where he lives with his wife and daughter.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
225 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2021
This is a book that everyone needs to read and should enjoy. Based on the true story of the Soviet space dog, Laika is undoubtedly a heartbreaking yet powerful story of unnecessary suffering and sacrifice. With the addition of fictional characters as well as a wonderfully developed plot, it really induces an even more emotional impact and emphasizes the tragedy of the story that you would not really be able to grasp in any other form. Not only that, but the graphic illustrations give you an even more in-depth experience to the text that you would not get just reading this story as a regular novel. I know some adults might be turned away from this book based on the fact that this is a graphic novel. But this is a book that is suitable for people of all ages. It has many adult themes to it, as well as underlying details in the graphics that emphasize the importance of parts of the book. I was assigned to read this book for an English class, however, this is most definitely something I would have read on my own for my own enjoyment.
One of the most interesting parts about this book was the choice of art style, and the details pertaining to it. Some of them I did not even catch the first time I read it. In certain parts of the book, especially parts of great significance, the novel's typical boxed pictures, white background, with a dark and grainy feel, changes significantly. One good example of this is on pages 51 through 55, showing the dream sequences of both the daughter and Laika. These few pages are full of bright colors, squiggly lines, no borders and full of art. These few pages and every time dreams and imagination are expressed in the book, show openness and freedom away from all the struggles and that Laika endures in real life. It really makes you realize how in sleep, it was the only place for her to feel real peace and joy. Another example of how the art emphasizes the text is in the beginning of the book on pages 4 through 7. When we see the Chief Designer escape the Gulag, the background of the pages starts at a dark grey and gradually fades to white. All the graphics on these pages have dark mellow colors. Then when it suddenly jumps to eighteen years in the future after the success of the Sputnik launch, the page's graphics are bright and red. I think this is a great example of how the art style really emphasized the major changes, the suffering endured, and the inner deep meanings of the characters' thoughts and emotions.
Lastly, the most important aspect of this book is how we get to see Laika’s internal thoughts, or at least a perceived version of them. Laika is a dog, and obviously cannot speak for herself, but the author did an outstanding job of using the other characters, such as Yelena, to give Laika a voice. Towards the end of the book on pages 154 and 155, Yelena converses with Laika, and questions how much Laika really understands right before the launch. “I wonder...how much do you really understand? Anything at all...? Is it just the tone of my voice you respond to . . .? How do you seem to know? And she responds to her “what is this place?” Conversations between them like this really exemplifies just how unknowing Laika was to her fate. It shows just how much she was exploited; an innocent creature being used after already suffering so much in her life. Overall, this book and the way the author illustrated it as well as how he gave a voice to Laika who could not be heard, in the end made the tragedy of the story so much more impactful.
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Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2014
Old Yellow, Where the Red Fern Grows, Shiloh, Because of Winn-Dixie... each generation needs a good tearjerker featuring a dog.

Based on the true story of an abandoned puppy who becomes the first space traveler, Laika by Nick Abadzis is a graphic novel for people of all ages. Blending fact and fiction, the attractive visuals and readable text are well balanced.

It was fun to go back and read about the early days of the space program. There are lots of great historical photos featuring Laika and other space animals. The book is a wonderful tribute to all of the animals who gave their lives for the space program.
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Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2017
Beautiful and tragic. I don't know if I have the heart to read this book again.

Nick Abadzis’ LAIKA is a fictionalized account of the short life and sad death of Laika, the Soviet space dog. Be forewarned: it’s a three-handkerchief, bucket-of-tears kind of novel.

Laika’s story is one of loyalty and trust repaid with callous abandonment and deception, and the injustice of this tale resonates deeply. “Do not worry,” Laika is told, again and again. “Trust me.” Meanwhile, death waits for her, implacable.

Reading Abadzis’ graphic novel, I found myself saying “It’s not fair! It’s just not fair!” A very childlike reaction, one that I’m usually too jaded, or too adult, to voice so vehemently.

But the pointless suffering of an innocent animal tends to trigger that kind of vehemence. We want to the world to be less cruel, and when we see a devoted animal suffering and dying precisely because she’s so devoted, then the rationalizations we’re usually able to make as adults don’t work so well anymore.

Abadzis isn’t the first artist to engage with Laika’s tragic history. One of my favorite films is Lasse Hallstrom’s My Life as a Dog, available from the Criterion Collection. It’s the story of Ingemar, a young Swedish boy growing up in the fifties and struggling with feelings of abandonment and betrayal. Ingemar’s father is gone, his mother is desperately ill, and no one wants to tell him that his dog isn’t coming back. Sent away to live with relatives, Ingemar sits and looks at the stars and thinks of Laika, who got sent into space without any food, left there to die. “You have to compare,” he tells himself. “You always have to compare.” His grief at being sent away is sustainable, if only because he identifies with Laika, who had it so much worse.
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Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2017
This graphic novel flows very cinematically. The scenery drawings are beautiful. The back stories of both dogs and humans are captivating, and the story is told with humor, sadness, and heart. The historic elements are well researched, and the fictional elements are creative and believable.
Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2018
Don't let the art style of this graphic novel fool you, it is defiantly an adult novel, with the politics of the Cold War Space Race at the front. Nick Abadzis has mixed what is unknown about Laika and what is known about her into a story that is very believable. This graphic novel conveys the truth accurately, and holds no punches back. Has a History lover I love this book. I applaud Nick for keeping the record straight. He could have very easily morphed the truth about Laika into a happy ending story. Nick opted to stick the historical truth and for that I applaud him. He got more details right than wrong based on what I know about Laika and the Sputnik II program. Dog lovers beware, this book will leave you in tears, Reading about Laika in historical documents made me cry. If you are looking to memorialize Laika and share her story, then this book is for you. Putting emotion into history is the best way to share it, and this book is a great stepping stone to learning about Laika. If you are a dog lover looking for a tear jerker, this book I guarantee you will leave you in tears.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Rogelio Vega
4.0 out of 5 stars Buen estado. Demasiadas calcomanias diciendo que es usado.
Reviewed in Mexico on May 14, 2023
El libro tiene una excelente condición para ser de segunda mano, pero la Librería saturó el ejemplar de calcomanias indicando que era usado. Necesite despegar con mucha paciencia y usar un solvente ligero para quitar tanto pegamento.
Anton
5.0 out of 5 stars Very moving
Reviewed in Canada on October 21, 2017
I was really moved by how the story was told and the drawings are very good too. A keeper!
FARNAAZ
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in India on March 10, 2017
Beautiful graphics..great plot...the story of Laika will leave you spellbound..many unknown facts are revealed in this book...
Russell LEAK
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant. Emotional. Beautiful
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 1, 2014
This is one of the best and most moving stories I've ever read. It sums up the relationship with trainer and dog really we'll, it's beautifully illustrated and I could not put it down. Like the previous reviewer I have to admit to crying like a baby :)
えびすさん
5.0 out of 5 stars 読んでよかった!
Reviewed in Japan on July 21, 2015
この作品はたまたま購入した「1001 Comics You Must Read Before You Die」に掲載されていた作品です。
ライカ犬自体は日本でも宇宙好きな人には広く知られていますが、この犬自体を取り扱った作品は少ないと思います。(ましてや漫画なんて・・・)

もともとライカ犬の話は、犬の名前自体「ライカ」なのか「クドリャフカ」なのか?すらちゃんとわかっていないので、ある程度脚色があると思われる本作品ですが、ライカの生い立ちやその周りの人間たちをうまく表現されていると思います。

また、もともとTeen向けの作品ですので英語の表現もやさしいので、普段洋書を読まない人にもお勧めです。
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