Re-evaluating the agency of non-human subjects in Adrian Tchaikovsky's Dogs of War

Abstract

Adrian Tchaikovsky is renowned for exploring animal consciousness and non-human perspectives in his works. His 2017 novel Dogs of War exemplifies the dominance of anthropocentrism within the novel’s transhumanist context, wherein genetically engineered non-human bioforms are exploited by humans. This study argues the way humans perceive and treat non-human subjects in the novel, which are reduced to “disposable bodies” (Braidotti, 2013, p.15), extends the reach of human-centred ideology into transhumanism. Therefore, the termination of the bioforms once they are deemed obsolete demonstrates a utilitarian view of life within transhumanist thought. Building upon these arguments, this study examines whether genetically engineered non-human entities in the novel are entitled to the same rights as their human creators, who design and command them in the pursuit of technological and military advancements. By extension, this study proposes Tchaikovsky's portrayal of bioform animals resonating with Donna Haraway’s concept of the “cyborg,” which challenges the traditional concept of humans by attributing agency and sentience to these beings. The study seeks to illuminate the complex interplay between human and non-human agency, thereby questioning the established hierarchy of beings in the context of transhumanist thought.