Doctor Dolittle in the Moon

Doctor Dolittle in the Moon (1928) was intended to be the last of Hugh Lofting's Doctor Dolittle books, and differs considerably in tone from its predecessors; the stripped down narrative does not have room for any of the sub-plots and tales previously present. Instead there is a growing sense of an event about to happen that is almost spooky in tone. There are some very complex passages for a children’s book; for example, it begins with a meditation about what the writer expects from the reader and vice versa.

Plot introduction

Doctor Dolittle has landed on the Moon and each day brings a new discovery. The animals of the Moon flock to him, and he discovers how to communicate with the intelligent plants there. But will the lunar flora and fauna ever let him leave?

There is no pretence that the Lunar environment, described in meticulous detail, in any way conforms to what was known to science at the time of writing; thus, the book can be considered as fantasy more than science fiction.