Etna: A Novel by Paul Yoon — the unforgettable story of a working dog who, after a devastating war, embarks on an odyssey in the hope of returning home.
Named a Most Anticipated Book of 2026 by The New York Times, TIME, and LitHub.
Set in a fictional country in the present day, this luminous novel is told through the eyes of Etna, an ex-military dog. After surviving years of brutal conflict, Etna one night leaves the men he has fought alongside and begins the long journey back to the place he was taken from as a young dog. His hope is thin but persistent: that if a home still exists for him, it might be there.
What follows is a powerful, quietly exhilarating odyssey across ruined landscapes. In a world that remains precarious even in peacetime, Etna encounters other animals and humans who are also trying to start again. Along the way he confronts questions that linger long after the fighting has stopped: What makes a life when there is no home to return to? How do we begin to trust one another after profound loss?
With the spare elegance and emotional precision that have earned Paul Yoon the Story Prize and widespread critical acclaim, Etna is a novel about the power of an idea, the refusal to give up, and the possibility of finding hope in the most difficult of times.
A profound and moving work of fiction that will stay with readers long after the final page.
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