Space Dog Alfred is a romp through the ideas of Science Fiction for children. Although there is danger there is also laughter and the reassuring presence of Space Dog Alfred. Imagine arriving on a new planet and finding out about the strange life-forms which inhabit it. The gnarl who live totally underground and devote their time to work and warfare; the Veck who are humans but have mastered the power of flight; Gai which is a group mind covering the planet and in touch with the Veck. And the people of Ardin who are small but perfectly formed. Once they reach the sacred grove, there is no way for the humans to leave. Unless Alfred can come up with a plan. In the end good triumphs over evil. The heroes succeed in averting a war which would have cost thousands of lives. In doing so they also introduce the gnarl to the joy of storytelling. They prove that it is possible to win a battle by surrendering.