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Reviews for The Plotters

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A Bizarre Series Of Events..

By:Yumchan, Doncaster, England
Date:Tuesday 22 April 2003
Rating:   10

..led me to read this book, which I won't go into here. However, this book had been staring at me from a shelf where I was staying in Japan. For over 6 months I passed it by, mainly because it was a Hartnell and also because it was a Harnell period story. (Possibly also because I was far from enthralled by the Timewyrm and Cat's Cradle books and stopped reading Dr Who.)
It was during a particularly nasty typhoon that I finally picked it up to read, and, after that I honestly had trouble putting it down.
Don't let the image of a 'Hartnell period story' put you off. I have since read Gareth Roberts' other Missing Adventures and this one stands up just as well.
The characters are all true to form but filled out much more than on screen and the story just flows.
Brilliant book, get it from ebay while its still cheap!



A truly great novel!

By:Paul Speake, Wakefield, England
Date:Sunday 6 February 2005
Rating:   10

I'd never previously cared much for the Hartnell era, but this book has changed my entire persepective. It has to be one of the best novels I've ever read - just couldn't put it down. The use of the Gunpowder Plot is a master stroke and passing Vicky off as boy in front of King James was inspired. Recommend to anyone!



Remember remember - the 5th of November

By:Jonathan Bunney, London
Date:Friday 28 August 2009
Rating:   9

An excellent book with wonderfully dynamic and written characters. Definitely recommended, one of the best new past Doctor adventures.



Typical Historical With A Twist

By:David Layton, Los Angeles, United States
Date:Wednesday 10 August 2011
Rating:   7

Other reviewers seem to be wowed by this novel to a degree that baffles me. While the novel is entertaining and amusing, it is by no means brilliant. Gareth Roberts pretty much admits in his author's note that he is doing to late Renaissance England what "The Romans" had done to Nero's Rome. The TARDIS crew land they know not where. The Doctor splits from Ian and Barbara in a huff so that he can take Vicki off on his own little adventure. The Doctor and Vicki get caught up in court shenanigans while Ian and Barbara get swiftly plunged into danger. The specific historical event at the heart of all this is the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. Of course, with the Doctor and crew around, events do not happen quite as history writes them. There is much fun to be had with a horny King, very similar to the horny Nero of "The Romans." In this case, however, we get a Shakespearean twist when Vicki must pretend to be a boy and the King gets the hots for her thinking she's a boy. There is also an over-the-top complication to the plot involving a master spy from religious cult. The novel is clever, but not deep.



Awesome

By:Chris Arnold, Bundaberg, Australia
Date:Monday 7 May 2012
Rating:   10

One of the best Hartnell books I've read. Laugh out loud funny at times and just a joy to read. Hard to put down. Highly recommended!



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