Animal/Human connections- To what extent is this science “fiction”?

[Agneeta ode]

For me Grant and Shadow's communication was mystical. I understand that in real sense people can communicate effortlessly with their pets but it's a wolf we are talking about here.

[Dayodiola]

Why can't we have such connections?
Animals are known to have a higher disposition in foreseeing; this will come in handy for human is some ways.

[Brendan Donaghy]

Grant has an obvious connection with “Shadow.” While it seems a little more in-depth than even some of the strongest human/animal connections we know exist, is it totally unrealistic? Is it possible for a human to communicate so efficiently with another animal?

i totally agree that it is possible for a human to communicate with another animal, this is unrelated to the book but hear this, i have seen people communicate with their dogs and cats and in return the animals totally understand what their humans are saying. And i think this creates a very unique bond, so yes it is absolutely possible that a human can communicate with an animal.

In the book we see Grant and the wolves having legitimate conversations. I wonder what the limit is in "real life." I've definitely been able to communicate with animals through gestures and actions (and perhaps a few words here and there), but it's only ever been to try to get the animal to cooperate with a certain action. I've never heard of someone legitimately being able to have a conversation with an animal. I wonder if this exists.

There are documented cases of great apes being taught sign language to enable them to communicate with humans; Koko the gorilla is probably the best known of these cases.

[Miks_solon]

I was able to believe the conversation between Grant and Shadow in the beginning, but later on in the story I felt like it shifted over to fantasy with all the different animal/human and animal/animal conversations.

I agree with you. I was skeptical when it started to developed.

[Olabode Joshua]

Maybe. But certainly not inborn. It would take years of training and living with the animal in question before such a bond can be formed between a human and an animal

[Ediomis_Enwongo01]

I believe it's very possible. For instance, most people enjoy the company of pets even more than their fellow humans.

[Adrianna Melillo]

i totally agree that it is possible for a human to communicate with another animal, this is unrelated to the book but hear this, i have seen people communicate with their dogs and cats and in return the animals totally understand what their humans are saying. And i think this creates a very unique bond, so yes it is absolutely possible that a human can communicate with an animal.

In the book we see Grant and the wolves having legitimate conversations. I wonder what the limit is in "real life." I've definitely been able to communicate with animals through gestures and actions (and perhaps a few words here and there), but it's only ever been to try to get the animal to cooperate with a certain action. I've never heard of someone legitimately being able to have a conversation with an animal. I wonder if this exists.

There are documented cases of great apes being taught sign language to enable them to communicate with humans; Koko the gorilla is probably the best known of these cases.

That's incredible!

[AlexisLib]

This communication definitely went into the science fiction/fantasy realm. It didn't bother me because I knew the book was supposed to be science fiction, so to me it worked. I also felt like the different chemicals etc that were in the air there could account for it, as well as other things being possible; that laid the groundwork well for unusual things to be happening. I also liked how the author gradually built it up as Grant became more in tune with the wolves over time

People definitely do have stronger connections with animals than we want to believe, I think. Or some people have them stronger than others. My cats know their names and some words, but I also talk to them a lot. Maybe the author is speculating that we once had and maybe lost this ability in our modern world, just as the prehistoric animals died out (supposedly).

[Chiagbanwe]

Though not verbally, a connection can still be established between a human and an animal, especially a pet.
However, we should remember that this book is a work of fiction, isn't it?

[Josep22]

This clearly was overdone. To some extent, it made the story lose its credibility. As much as we knew it was a fiction book, I think the animal-human connection just isn't believable at all.

[Koketso1998]

I found Grant’s relationship with the wolves to be somewhat surprising and the justification for the attacks by the wolves on the expedition is cliche and exaggerated but still interesting and good to read.

[djr6090]

I can, for sure, communicate with animals. But for them to answer me, as in hold a conversation...no.

[riyosha]

Yes, definitely. Not today, as we are, but someday after millennia of evolution. After all, we domesticated dogs through evolution, which also made them develop many communication skills to adapt to us.

[JB3]

While I think that humans and animakls can have a connection I think that having a full-fledged conversation with one is science fiction. Animals while they have the ability to communicate as far as I know cannot grasp more abstract concepts.

[Sjtoy]

I also felt the initial interactions Grant experienced with Shadow were realistic. Both the wolf and Grant were able to interpret each other's nonverbal communication. This is something many of us experience with our own animals. On an interesting note, I have been following a woman online who is teaching her dog to communicate by pressing talking buttons. Fascinating but not quite at the conversational level Grant is able to communicate with Shadow.