Harlan Ellison’s 1969 tale of 18-year-old Vic and his telepathic dog, Blood, is about exactly what its title - “A Boy And His Dog” - says it is. It is not, however, under any circumstances, for anyone who finds my saying that it sure as fuck ain’t no Disney story offensive (although Ellison did work for Disney for a while, in the 1980s, before being fired for joking that an animated porno flick starring Disney characters would be funny.) If you think violence and obscenity have no place in art, that such unpleasantness is always gratuitous, you will not enjoy A Boy And His Dog. I guarantee it.

Likewise, if you find yourself giggling at the idea of such unpleasantness. If you like your violence and obscenity gratuitous, this is probably not a story for you.

In other words, if, for whatever reason, you can’t get past violence and obscenity, A Boy And His Dog is not for you.

You’ve been warned.

“A Boy And His Dog” has had many incarnations since the short story was first published in 1969. In 1976, Ellison expanded the story in his collection The Beast that Shouted Love at the Heart of the World. (Fans of a certain recent melodramatic Japanese novel and film may find that title familiar.) Later, he further expanded and continued the story in his comic book (or graphic novel, if you prefer) Vic and Blood. Most famously, L.Q. Jones directed a film, with the same title, based on the story in 1975, a film widely regarded to be the direct inspiration for Mad Max. It starred a young Don Johnson.

The BBC’s radio adaptation, presented here, came out in three parts in 1975, shortly before the film. For ease of listening, we have maintained the original three-part format. However, because the parts flow together almost seamlessly and make up one story, rather than episodes in a series, we are presenting all three parts right here on the same day.

I recommend downloading all three parts, queueing them up in your iPod, or whatever you use, closing your eyes, and enjoying, inasmuch as one can enjoy the dark side of humanity, your trip to a post-apocalyptic Arizona.

(Editor’s note: While I’ve listed this production as having been by the BBC, this comes from only one source and I have not been able to verify it. There is no identification in the recording and I would expect the story to have broken a great number of the BBC’s rules on decency, especially in 1975. The recording’s provenance is unclear.)

Listen Now:

 A Boy and His Dog Part 1: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
 A Boy and His Dog Part 2: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
 A Boy and His Dog Part 3: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download