Found guilty of murder by his celestial peers, the Dog Star, Sirius, is sentenced to be born on Earth as one of that sphere’s mortal creatures. His mission: to retrieve the mysterious weapon he allegedly used to commit the crime. The problem is that he’s been born into the body of an unwanted Lab-mix puppy, he doesn’t remember who he is or why he came to this world, his only earthly protector is a mistreated little girl, and time in his short dog’s life is running out. Unless Sol, Moon, and Earth themselves come to his aid, the unknown enemy who is stalking him may ensure that Sirius never regains his immortal life.

This is a great “crossover” book—written for the juvenile/young adult market but immensely enjoyable for dog-loving adults. The characterizations of the animals, the humans, and the immortal luminaries are engaging, and dog owners will find themselves wondering if this is really what goes on in the minds of puppies as they learn to be dogs. That, and Jones’ penchant for weaving mythology into an otherwise mundane modern world provides for a magical-yet-believable story. Kids: You'll love this book. Adults: Try reading it to or with your kids. Or enjoy it yourself. I’ve recommended Dogsbody to the more creative of my adult friends, and so far, all of them have raved about it—whether they were dog people or not.

I discovered this wonderful book not long after it was published in 1975 and own 3 copies (a hardcover, a recent trade paperback, and the mass paper edition with its amazing cover art [the scan does not do the art justice]). I was raised with a black Labrador Retriever in the days when no one knew what they were, and I was thrilled to find one depicted on this cover. That, and having a name similar to the author’s, has, more recently, gotten me accused of writing Dogsbody under a pseudonym (I wish!). The other coincidence was that my Lab, Regulus, was named for the brightest star in the constellation of Leo; the character, Sirius, is the brightest star in Canis Major, and as a dog on Earth, he’s given the name Leo.

If you like Dogsbody, try other books by Diana Wynne Jones. Fans of the television series Sliders might want to check out Jones’ 1981 book The Homeward Bounders[0-688-00678-7]. Oh, and by the way, the line over the title is wrong—IMHO that other book doesn’t hold a candle to Dogsbody.