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Fantastic
By:
Ron, US
Date:
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Rating:
10
As you can see - there are a lot of differing opinions about this book.
Lawrence Miles submitted a piece of work that stands out starkly from the other instillations in this series - and for me, it was a welcome addition.
The best comparison that comes to mind is Alan Moore's League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Its not soft fiction - and it is indirect in the extreme - but this book has so many important plot points in it that it became cause of endless debate among those of us who care to spend our time doing such things.
Its raw - and yet sublime - incredibly important things come to pass, and its a wonderful puzzle.
One previous reviewer mentioned that it is an endurance challenge - yes it is - it is also one of the very few EDAs that I read from start to finish in one sitting, I stayed up all night with it.
I loved it.
Don't be afraid of it because its not about charging about in corridors and getting put in a prison cell every 20 pages!
Endurance challenge
By:
Hatman, Eh eh eh!
Date:
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Rating:
2
this book is like a challenge. An endurance challenge. How many pages can YOU read before you die from boredom. Swear words and curses aside, there aren't that many words to describe it. I won't use any because I'm not a foul mouthed ro... I mean, person. It is written in the style of a school textbook. This only amplifies the rubbishness. This ses new standards for rubbish. Don't read it! Whatever you do, DON'T!
Now for something completely different..
By:
the Traveller, Henrietta Street
Date:
Friday, April 07, 2006
Rating:
6
A very different type of EDA. Although it made a change from the usual books, the text book type narrative is at times incredibly frustrating, with the inclusion of way too many irrelevant facts. Maybe this story would have worked better being told in the usual way, as the actual plot is pretty good, although credit must be given to Lawrence Miles for attempting to do something different.
Nevertheless, Sabbath makes a good impression as the new villain, and the implication that the man in the rosette is the Master is an intriguing idea.
It never failed to bore...
By:
Mike McGovern, Edmonton, Alberta
Date:
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Rating:
1
I hate to be against a book as much as this, but I am. I should have put it down and contemplated my workbook. Pretty much the same thing. Does Lawrence Miles know how to entertain? You bet he does!
History lesson: who likes reading something that claims to be history, but isn't, yet is written like my incredibly exciting (boring) "Economics of Medieval France" history textbook? How did Lawrence Miles discover that people love reading textbooks in their spare time? How did he figure out how to write like one? It's just skill.
Once again the Doctor is nowhere to be seen, but that's all right, because Doctor Who isn't really about the Doctor, is it? It's about extremely essential extra characters who loiter in the street, people with no point who vaguely resemble a certain Vampire Slayer (ugh), and very slow, slow, slow prose that gives us that warm glow inside which tells us THIS AUTHOR REALLY CARES.
He knows how to tell a story (er, textbook,) to keep the reader rivetted with tons and tons of info. that we really might need, as in Sometime Never, and to give us the motivation to raise chickens, to start a farm, anything but to continue this idiotic book.
Who is this man? Where are the Irish? How did Lord Lucan escape?
The Adventuress of Henrietta Street is, obviously, fantastic. The most excellent thing ever written. It will bore you to death. That is, after all, what we're all after, isn't it?
Written in a different way
By:
Merlin, England
Date:
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Rating:
5
I was expecting to find that this book was like the rest of the range but instead it was written in a historical way. Unique. The story is mostly good. There was a good introduction to the new villain Sabbath who is a good replacement for the Master. Though it is possible that he was the man in the rosette. The book got a bit tiring towards the end of it though. Well done Lawrence.
150 pages too long
By:
Phil Ince, Stoke Newington
Date:
Monday, June 14, 2004
Rating:
4
Alas, when I move on to The Adventuress of Henrietta Street, I find that mad old Lozzer Miles has bitten off more than he can chew.
Starts off knowledgeable and compelling but by page 180 it's become interminable and ponderous. Lozzer opted for historical reportage as the form of the book but it f***ing tiresome (notably the endless remarks that "no historical record survives", "such-and such's comments are not recorded" - well, Lozzer, you were the only one in a position to do anything about that, you lazy c***).
I must finish this one tonight and get it out of my life. Might be a better book than I reckon but he's shot himself in the foot big style, IMO, because he denies himself the opportunity to be opinionated, inventive and - crucially - funny.
As bland and unengaging as a lower school project on the local drains.
Well, several months ago I picked up Adventuress (since I like reading the novels in order of release) only to find that it didn't appeal to me and I put it down before finishing the first chapter and went on to Mad Dogs. About 2 weeks ago, I decided to give Adventuress another try because I wanted to see the introduction of Sabbath and what he does to the Doctor.
Well, let me say that reading it through the second time, I was right to put it down the first time. This book is a total bore. The textbook style is not good for a book of fiction. You need the dialogue between the Doctor and the characters (atleast the companions) to make it exciting. The Doctor's characterization is lost in just the description since a man is more than how he looks.
I hope that this style of book does not become the norm for the Doctor Who books of the future. I agree that they need to explore new formats and possibilites, but the textbook style has got to go. It makes the stories drag on and puts one to sleep very fast.
After getting a bit bored with the range of late I was very pleasantly surprised by the new direction this novel took it in. The writing style was unique (for the series) and engaging, whilst creating an intriguing story. This book actually makes one think about what will happen next and the consequences of actions are dealt with. There is obviously not going to be a reset button at the end and one can only feel that the characters are all the more real for it. This literary version of the eigth Doctor is having a hard time but his adventures (if they continue along this vein) are unlike anything he's ever encounted before- that can only be a good thing to keep people interested.
In dealing with issues of witchcraft and magic in general the book does a good job, it doesn't specifically break the 'science comes first' rule of the series as the incantations are often representations of scientific concepts. There's also a neat explanation of the Doctor's use of 20th century technology on his advanced machine!
It never cast a spell...
By:
John Ellison, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Date:
Wednesday, February 06, 2002
Rating:
1
Ordinarily, I enjoy Lawrence Miles' writing. Unfortunately, with this installment I was sadly disappointed. I can appreciate the artistic style, but I find "textbooks" to be difficult reading at the best of times. Sadly, the story was also lacking. The implications that "someone/something" must fill the void left by the destruction of Gallifrey is very intriguing but I never felt the book was really addressing the issue, only introducing more questions. I agree with Mr. Ford of London that it is good to see the books heading into truly uncharted territory; however, enough is enough. I want the DOCTOR to be more than human! I am tired of the constant "deconstruction" that seems to be the fashion of late. I long to see more of the "Time Lord" known as the Doctor along with the man the Doctor has become. But he never really made an appearance in "Adventuress..." My rating, a sad, sad 1.
A masterpiece
By:
Joe Ford, London
Date:
Monday, January 14, 2002
Rating:
10
A densely plotted story full of shocking images and revelations that manages to stay the right side of greatness because of Lawrence Miles compelling style.
I have absolutely adored what BBC books have done with the range...twisted it away from the show and it's continuity baggage and made it something fresh and exciting again. The introduction of Sabbath, the wonderful Doctor/Master conversation and the shocking removal of the Doctor's heart are more steps in that direction!
Any flaws? Probably, but I was so wrapped up in this book that I didn't notice any. The characters are beautifully drawn, especially Scarlette and Lisa Beth but it's the Doctor who reigns supreme here.
A wonderful addition to an already strong range.
