Peter and the Secret of Rundoon

Last updated
Peter and the Secret of Rundoon
Peter Rundoon.JPG
First edition
Author Dave Barry
Ridley Pearson
IllustratorGreg Call
LanguageEnglish
Publisher Hyperion Books
Publication date
October 2007
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint (Hardback)
Pages482 (hardcover edition)
ISBN 0-7868-3788-8
OCLC 104641169
LC Class PZ7.B278 Pde 2007
Preceded by Peter and the Shadow Thieves  
Followed by Peter and the Sword of Mercy  

Peter and the Secret of Rundoon is a children's novel that was published by Hyperion Books, a subsidiary of Disney, in 2007. Written by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, the book is an unauthorized reimagining of Peter Pan, or the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up by J. M. Barrie, and tells the story of an orphan named Peter. It was illustrated by artist Greg Call. It is a sequel to Barry and Pearson's Peter and the Starcatchers and Peter and the Shadow Thieves , best-sellers released in late 2004 and mid-2006. This book was released on October 23, 2007, and was described at the time as the last novel in the series. However, in May 2008 the writers announced a fourth book: Peter and the Sword of Mercy . [1] [2]

Contents

Plot summary

The story starts at Stonehenge, where Lord Ombra was seemingly destroyed in Peter and the Shadow Thieves . Though weakened, he has regenerated his consciousness, using his power to possess others to gather himself together so that he can return to Rundoon.

Meanwhile, warriors of the Scorpion tribe plan to invade Mollusk Island. Warned by Peter, Fighting Prawn prepares for war. Eventually, however, he is forced to surrender to the overwhelming force of the invaders and the Mollusks are enslaved.

Molly and George travel to Oxford, where they discover some vital information about Peter's parents which suggests Peter himself is in danger. And indeed Lord Ombra and his fellow shadow creatures have decided that capturing Peter could help their plans. Lord Aster sails to Mollusk Island to warn and protect Peter, unaware that Molly and George have stowed away aboard his ship.

Peter, wounded by the Scorpions, is kidnapped by Captain Hook along with the Lost Boys, but soon they are all captured by Lord Ombra and taken to Rundoon. There they are imprisoned in the dungeons of King Zarboff III, a cruel and vain despot in cahoots with the shadow beings.

Tinker Bell joins Lord Aster in a rescue mission, but he is captured by Zarboff's men. Tink returns to the ship to warn Molly and George, but finds them trying to steal a camel and being chased by the owners. She tells Molly to use the starstuff in her locket to make the camel fly, and so they escaped and went on to find Peter, Lord Aster, and Bakari on their flying camel.

Zarboff reveals his plan – to shoot rockets into space to make starstuff fall. The first attempt is successful, and he plans another, using the new starstuff to send the rocket even further. He does not know that the shadow beings intend the second rocket to rupture the fabric of the universe and cause it to collapse into nothingness. It falls to Peter to prevent the rocket from reaching its destination.

By chance, the huge load of starstuff falls onto a ship stolen by George and the Lost Boys, causing it to float. The flying ship, expertly handled by Captain Hook, takes the whole party back to Mollusk Island, when Shining Pearl, Fighting Prawn's daughter, has joined forces with the pirates to repel the invaders.

The book ends with the Lost Boys deciding to return to London with Leonard, while some new boys, former St. Norbert's orphans enslaved by Zarboff, decide to take their place as the new Lost Boys. Molly and Peter share a kiss and then go their separate ways.

Characters in "Peter and the Secret of Rundoon"

Many of the characters from "Peter and the Secret of Rundoon" are characters from the previous novels. However, new characters were added to fit with the book's theme.

Differences from the works of Barrie

See Peter and the Starcatchers#Differences from the works of Barrie

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References