One German shepherd's life was saved by an American soldier on the French battlefield in World War I. The dog went on to became a huge American movie star, saving Warner Bros. studios from financial ruin repeatedly.
The other saved countless U.S. soldiers' and Marines' lives on the battlefield of Iraq 85 years later.
Now both are the subject of books - "Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend" and "Sergeant Rex.: The Unbreakable Bond Between a Marine and His Military Working Dog" - by authors speaking at the 2012 Tucson Festival of Books this weekend.
Also on this festival's lineup: Patricia B. McConnell, a compelling writer also known worldwide as a leading expert on animal behavior. She's a must-see for anyone who loves dogs and wants to know what they're thinking.
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Star Pavilion schedule
Saturday
10 a.m.: Merl Reagle, the mastermind behind the weekly Caliente crossword puzzle - and one of the world's greatest crossword creators - will put you through a mental workout with his presentation: "Make $5,000 in 43 Minutes: Puzzles, Contests and Talking Horses."
11:30 a.m.: Roy Peter Clark, one of the most sought-after writing coaches in the United States, will offer pointers. His newest book: "Help! For Writers: 210 Solutions to the Problems Every Writer Faces."
1 p.m.: Michael Gelb is a master of self-improvement, whose previous books unlock genius and inspiration, will tell you how to increase your brainpower at any age.
2:30 p.m.: Leading financial journalist Diana Henriques will explain how Bernie Madoff swindled friends and relatives out of $65 billion in his infamous Ponzi scheme.
4 p.m.: Gene Weingarten, The Washington Post humor writer, will bring his "Below the Beltway" wit to the party - goring oxen of every political stripe along the way.
Sunday
10 a.m.: Brad Meltzer, the thriller writer and host of the History Channel's "Brad Meltzer's Decoded."
11:30 a.m.: Jane Maas, the first woman to head a major ad agency that she did not found, is author of "Mad Women: The Other Side of Life on Madison Avenue in the '60s and Beyond."
1 p.m.: Iraq War veteran Mike Dowling will talk about his military working dog Rex and their missions to find weapons caches and deadly explosive devices.
2:30 p.m.: Panel of leading mystery and thriller writers: Rebecca Cantrell, Simon Wood and Graham Brown.
4 p.m.: Gabriela Rico, an Arizona Daily Star assistant metro editor, discusses the selection of weird and eccentric local sites included in "Tucson Oddities," the second volume of which debuts at the Festival of Books.
