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Reviews for The Crystal Bucephalus

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Dull and Boring

By:Tegan Jovanka, UK
Date:Tuesday 6 January 2004
Rating:   1

Dull and Boring



Too Much

By:David Layton, Los Angeles, United States
Date:Thursday 10 February 2005
Rating:   5

As I have said elsewhere in these pages, Craig Hinton is my least favorite of the Who novelists, and that this is probably his best novel indicates just how bad the others are. Hinton's problem is trying to write too big. In this, he is the opposite of John Peel, whose limitation is trying to hard to write like others. Hinton is an everything and the kitchen sink writer. The title refers to a restaurant at the end of the universe (almost, but the inspiration is obvious) in which patrons pay huge sums to be able to dine in specified historical settings. Such a place is just too tempting to those who see the possibility of using it to dominate the universe (surprisingly, the Master is not in this story, though the setting would be right for him). So, the reader gets whiplash from the multiple changes in scene. All the various factions and groups vying for control are pretty much comic-book quality creations, poorly characterized and simplistically motivated. The Doctor's companions are mostly relegated to the sidelines. In sum, the book may be good for thirteen-year-old boys, but older readers will perhaps be irritated by it, feeling that another thorough go through the draft could have brought it some missing focus.



One of my favorites

By:Stephen Rider, Mount Prospect, Illinois, United States
Date:Tuesday 18 August 2015
Rating:   9

I'm surprised at some of the other reviews, as this was one of my favorite Missing Adventures. The setting is clearly a significant homage to Douglas Adams, but it is overall a very clever concept in its own right. and the unique nature of the setting in turn provides opportunities for some creative plotting. The story moves a long and actually gives the companions something to do, while โ€“ ironically โ€“ the Doctor himself is missing for long-ish stretches of the story. But that works out well. This book also contains one of my favorite "fiendish traps", and a hysterical yet very clever escape from said trap. The only real stumble is a highly UNcharacteristic moment for the Doctor, where he grabs somebody by the throat and lifts them off the ground. Huh โ€“ the Doc must have been working out...? But other than that, I really enjoyed this book throughout. And yes, as the cover suggests, it even allows Kamelion a bit of room to run around and get into trouble. Overall a fun read, and the only New or Missing adventure I've ever read twice.



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