Las Vegas is the Perfect Post-Apocalyptic Wasteland

A Widdoes Peak Interview with Jarret Keene, author of Hammer of the Dogs

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Widdoes Peak is back with another informative and enriching conversation with author, poet and journalist Jarret Keene. If you’re a writer or, even better, if you’re a reader who loves dystopian pulp fiction, you will thoroughly enjoy Jarret’s book Hammer of the Dogs. Lash, the protagonist of the novel, seems to be a future descendent of the protagonist from my novelette. They are both strong-willed women dealing with circumstances far beyond their control. It’s what drew me into Hammer of the Dogs, and the reason why I’m recommending it.

I am a fan of dystopian fiction, though I don’t feel like I consume it frequently. Sure, I’ve read Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, George Orwell’s 1984, Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, Emily St. John Mandel’s Station Eleven and Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games series. I guess Ling Ma’s Severance counts as dystopian too. This may seem like I’ve read plenty of dystopian fiction, but I’ve read these over the span of multiple decades, from the time I was a teenager until most recently with Severance (NOT the Apple TV show, though they both comment on the banality and monotony of the 21st century workplace). Each of these novels has a different take on how a future world will exist in the ruins of the world that we currently know. Dystopian fiction is a fascinating genre.

Jarret Keene’s take on dystopia is distinctly American, and it’s set in one of the most American towns there is: Las Vegas. Like many who live in this city, neither Jarret nor I are from here. Coincidentally, we’re both from Tampa, Florida. Desert life is something that is extremely tough, even for those of us with the modern luxuries and creature comforts provided to us in the 21st century. Las Vegas is in extreme growth mode, especially as Los Angeles and San Francisco continue to contract. Many people are leaving California and settling in the closest large cities outside of the state. Las Vegas is one of them.

Jarret’s novel is set in a future that is recognizable to anyone who has visited or lived in Las Vegas. Jarret’s approach to a post-apocalyptic Vegas feels more aligned with George Miller’s Mad Max than the grim future of McCarthy’s or St. John Mandel’s worlds. If you’re looking for a new take on a story about a ruined world, check out Hammer of the Dogs.

Jarret and I had the opportunity to discuss his novel as well as his creative writing career. We had much to talk about and I think many of you will be interested in the insights he generously shares about publishing. Jarret has offered to consult with anyone who has questions about writing or publishing. You are welcome to reach out to him directly at jarretkeene at gmail dot com.

If you enjoyed this Widdoes Peak interview, please drop a comment below.

About Jarret Keene

Jarret Keene is an assistant professor in the Department of English at UNLV, where he teaches fiction workshops. He is the author of the novel Hammer of the Dogs, and the middle grade books Decide and Survive: The Attack on Pearl Harbor and Heroes of World War II: 25 True Stories of Unsung Heroes Who Fought for Freedom. Keene writes the Kid Crimson series of Western novels, about the youngest, deadliest, and most handsome hired gun in Virginia City, Nevada, for Wolfpack Publishing. Keene has been interviewed by Writer’s Digest, Publisher’s Weekly, Library Thing, Black Fox Literary Magazine, and Coast to Coast AM. Learn more at jarretkeene.net.