DOGSTAR

In the 24th century, human beings flee a polluted planet for New Earth, sending their dogs ahead on a ship called the DOGSTAR—which gets lost in space. People are stuck with "robogs," mechanical canines invented by a nefarious villain who stole the design. But the Clark kids, including genius baby brother Lincoln, miss their dog, Hobart, so much they set out in the family rocket ship to find him. This story has been made into a TV cartoon in Australia, a fact that may explain why "animated" is the best word to describe narrator Alan King's voice work. DOGSTAR is both comic and absurd, and King's narration is both over-the-top and totally down under. It's "spiffing” strange, but it works. M.M.C. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2009]