The Starlight Barking
First edition
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| Author | Dodie Smith |
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| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's novel |
| Publisher | William Heinemann Ltd. |
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Publication date
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1967 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| OCLC | 65203616 |
| Preceded by | The Hundred and One Dalmatians |
The Starlight Barking is a 1967 children's novel by Dodie Smith. It is a sequel to the 1956 novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians.
Although The Hundred and One Dalmatians has been adapted into two films (animated: One Hundred and One Dalmatians and live-action: 101 Dalmatians), and each version has a sequel film (101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure and 102 Dalmatians), neither sequel film has any connection to The Starlight Barking. Disney archivist Dave Smith said that he was unaware of any considerations for adapting the novel although Walt Disney was interested in doing another project based on Smith's further writings. Author Elizabeth Hand praised the "sophisticated canine society" in the novel.
A day of enchantments for the Dalmatians of the first book begins when the Dalmatians wake up and find all the humans and other animals in an unnaturally deep sleep. They hear the barking of Cadpig from London, where the Prime Minister has become her pet. She informs them reports from all over the country reveal the same phenomenon, and summons delegate dogs to London.
Pongo and Missus investigate Cruella de Vil. Joined by Tommy and the white Persian cat, and a few dogs, they arrive at her house, where they find her fast asleep. The dogs then travel to Trafalgar Square where they are addressed from the top of Nelson's Column by Sirius, Lord of The Dog Star, who invites them all to his home to evade nuclear war on Earth. After some debate, all the dogs agree that Pongo should make the decision. Persuaded by three strays, Pongo tells Sirius the dogs cannot abandon their humans and Sirius departs, but grants every dog the power to reach his home before the humans wake. All the stray dogs take the opportunity to go to the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.
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