Premise
In 2048 New York City, a lonely but lovable engineer named Chris Dao works late at JoyCorp on an unsanctioned experiment to let people and pets understand one another, using his golden retriever Max's smart tracker. When a rare solar flare ripples through the system, it creates a sentient AI named Tony and a "consciousness bridge" that swaps Chris's and Max's minds. Max bolts into Manhattan in Chris's body, smashing the phone and severing Chris's only link to help. Trapped in Max's body with only the sarcastic Tony for company, Chris has 48 hours to find his dog before the swap becomes permanent, and before an ambitious colleague steals his work.
Setting
New York City, 2048. Networked trackers and AR interfaces are worn as naturally as clothing, JoyCorp builds them from a sleek Manhattan campus, and autonomous animal-control drones hunt untagged strays with ruthless efficiency, a gleaming city experienced from both human and dog perspectives.
Tone
Comedic and warm, grounded by real emotional depth, pivoting to earned devastation. Douglas Adams meets Andy Weir, with a golden retriever.
For fans of
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Project Hail Mary, Freaky Friday, Turner & Hooch.
The cast
- Chris Dao · Protagonist · The Reluctant Everyman Hero
- Max · Co-Protagonist · The Innocent Abroad
- Tony · The Catalyst · The Sarcastic Mentor With a Secret
- Derek Finch · Antagonist · The Ambitious Rival