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 | Demontage unpaints a hidden picture |
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| What: | Demontage (BBC Eighth Doctor novels) |
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| By: | Chris Hodgson, Bradford, UK |
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| Date: | Wednesday 18 February 2009 |
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| Rating: |   8 |
Demontage was *the* book in the EDA series that gripped me. I'd read most of the previous stories released by borrowing from a local library when I lived in Essex in the late 1990's.
To review this in too much detail would spoil the plot... and that would be unfair if you've not read this "whodunnit" tale of mystery and intrigue. It's suffice to say that the character development ramps up here considerably and it's this that makes it such a turning point in the EDA series. The space station on which it is set, entices other nefarious characters into play, each trying to lure the Doctor's companions into their own world, for their own means. Even the invulnerable Doctor is almost drawn in... The ending is sparkling, but the intrigue remains right up to it.
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| A great taste of humour.... |
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Ive seen many a person quote that the William Hartnell era of Doctor Who was either boring or not half as visually grand as the later years to come. And i have to disagree on both accounts. William Hartnell brought the Doctor to life with his grumpy yet trustworthy Doctor, and in this part of the role he seems actually the best of all the doctors ever to grace the tv screen. Another rubbish thing ive heard is that The Chase was a utter load of codswallop, but again i must disagree. The Chase definitly has its share of laugh out loud moments, but this is not merely a total gag reel. I think this experiment with the daleks actually works, and there is a whole wealth of great moments in this story, up to the climatic battle between the daleks and the mechanoids in the final episode. This has so many elements all packed into one story, in many respects it is similar to that other great classic, the Keys Of Marinus, well it would be when its scripted by the same writer. And it also ends well on a touching goodbye to Ian and Barbara, always played brilliantly by William Russell and Jacqueline Hill. And the daleks are pretty nasty, and this story does feature my favourite dalek scene, when the dalek rises from the sand! Well done i think for the limited resources available at the time.
Rememberance of the daleks is also a fantastic and fast paced dalek romp. the two factions are nastier than ever and the explosions are some of the best ever to be seen on doctor who. Sylvester Mccoy is a great and underrated Doctor i feel.This story has it all, great scenes of action and yet some good refelective and emotional scenes too. Everything that Doctor Who should be is present in both these stories. Great dalek madness!
| What: | Wooden Heart (BBC New Series Adventures novels) |
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| By: | Kristin, New Zealand |
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| Date: | Saturday 7 February 2009 |
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| Rating: | 6 |
I liked it but i thought towards the end it dragged on little
| What: | The Eyeless (BBC New Series Adventures novels) |
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| By: | Tim, Australia |
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| Date: | Friday 6 February 2009 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
I can't believe how goog this book was. It's far better than any other New Series book I've read so far. The character of the Doctor is amazing, exctly like David Tennant portrays him, with just the right mixture of excitement, despair and conviction. The original characters are diverse, fascinating and play important and enjoyable roles in the story.
The alien race Parkin created, the Eyeless, are remarkable, unique and very interesting antagonists. The plot is very both absorbing and its scope is amazing. This story has all the similar elements and gripping power of a series finale from RTD himself.
I'd give an 11 if the review system let me.
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| a very good story indeed..... |
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| What: | The Raincloud Man (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Friday 6 February 2009 |
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| Rating: | 9 |
Well I think its good anyway. I like the new sort of style. This sounds all very realistic in tone and setting. Sort of pretty flipping good to say the least. Well again Anna Hope is back again with a great performance as Menzies, that great missed companion theme running along again, but its great to have a very good sequel to a very good original once in a while. Colin Baker as usual leads the cast with a solid and great performance in a story of twists and turns and many good elements. The Casino brings in a new theme that hasnt really ever been done before in Doctor Who, and for me it works. The only reason this is a nine is because the protracted Doctor Charley thing is getting a tad annoying now, a yarn is good while it has good life. But at least it doesnt dominate the overall good plotting of this story. Yes, overall very good writing indeed.
hey everyone! ok... so series 4 dvd. firstly the episodes r awsome, donna(catherine) is awsome and the aliens r awsome! the extras r ok but i dont buy a series because of the extras, I buy it because i like the series (I think thats a good way to determin if you wanna buy a series or not) one of the extras is the dr.who confidential episode called monsters and music (or music and monsters). all in all I think it would be unfare to give it below a 9! anyway ive got a snow day now so cya! ;)
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| Silly Voices and a weak middle |
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The one bad thing about ice warriors are their voice, so on audio, much of the time is struggling to understand what is being said. The Judgement of Isskar although a good plot lost its way in the middle but finished welled. However struggling with ice warriors hissing and insect screaching, I almost gave up. I was look forward to this but it didn't deliver
| What: | Battlefield (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Ruby Simkin, Australia |
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| Date: | Sunday 1 February 2009 |
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| Rating: | 8 |
Great actors
Great video cover
great for the doctors first dvd!
exellent that the brigadeer and unit back!
i rate i9t 8/10!
Great story
Great video cover
Selvester mcCoy is one of my fav doctors hes funny and a great actor
ace is too.
The clowns were good, but creepy, scary and spooky!
I love the 2nd doctor hes a great actor so is, the brigadeer, unit, jamie, zoe and isabel
The cyberman were great enemys but they will be back! i rate it 8.5/10!
| What: | Beautiful Chaos (BBC New Series Adventures novels) |
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| By: | Tim, Maroochydore, Queensland |
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| Date: | Friday 30 January 2009 |
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| Rating: | 7 |
Extremely difficult to follow if you are not well acquainted with the original encounter between the Doctor and the antagonist of the story - which occured in the Old Who serial 'The Masque of Mandragora'.
Normally I would have just googled the details and read the summary of the serial's plot and been able to more fully understand the book but I read the book while on holidays and with no internet I was left rereading bits to try and connect them with what had already been written.
The story's sense of flow was completely missing - with several minutes filling a chapter and sometimes the better part of a day taking up on a handful of paragraphs. Many times the dialogue became hard to follow amongst the action and sometimes the action was hard to follow amongst the dialogue.
The climax was a little smart but the filler between the introduction of the enemy and the confrontation was extremely dependant on unusual assumptions and prerequisite knowledge.
The only saving grace for the story was the presence of Wilf, his friend Netty and one particular scene in the book which delightfully completes a pattern that has come to exist with the various mother's of the Doctor's recent companions, heh - it's not much reason to read a whole book... but if you do you'll laugh too.
I'm afraid the story oly fetchs a seven from me.
| What: | The Story of Martha (BBC New Series Adventures novels) |
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| By: | Tim, Maroochydore, Queensland |
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| Date: | Friday 30 January 2009 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
I'm a very imaginative person and have previously considered with some intent what the journey of Martha during that year was like and I was greatly impressed by the 'official' events and the detailed accounting of her survival and bravery.
The details about the post-apocalyptic world, the slave camps, the human survivor groops, the Master's enforcers and the resistance are all well written and build a wonderfully detailed backdrop to the journey. Accompanied by Martha's hard learned lessons and realisations the story is furthur improved beyond even that by the short stories.
As Martha travels and tells the people of the world about the Doctor and gives them hope she tells of several adventures that are all truly remarkable and entirely captivating.
The characterisation of Martha was very good and the other characters both her allies and her enemies are also very enjoyable. Futhermore the true story behind the demise of Japan and the truth behind it also formed a wonderful climax to finish the story.
If there was any fault to the book it was that it finished too soon. Her trip across the Americas wasn't included, likely because of length. Also the Toclafane weren't nearly as prevelant as I imagined they could have been.
Overall the book was a masterpiece installment and considering the absence of the Doctor in all but spirit the result was a marvellous read.
| What: | The Doctor Trap (BBC New Series Adventures novels) |
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| By: | Tim, Maroochydore, Queensland |
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| Date: | Friday 30 January 2009 |
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| Rating: | 8 |
The idea of the Doctor being the prey in a bounty hunt the likes of which the galaxy has never seen waqs a great premise that could have brought a truly awe-inspiring story about... but wasn't quite written to it's full potential.
The twist, when delivered, was a little late, a little obvious and a little confusing. Not everyone qould have understood the transition and anyone missing it would become completely lost.
Donna didn't really get any real opportunities to do anything or get involved, this story may have played better as a solo Doctor adventure set after the departure of Donna so that an adventure fully involving Donna could have taken it's place.
However if you enjoy conspiracies and tricky twists as I do and the sheer volume of details you'd find the story much improved despite these things. Also good, once the end of the story arrived was the eventual circumstances of his opponents and more specifically his 'counterpart'.
I've given it an eight - it's a good read but there are better ones.
| What: | Shining Darkness (BBC New Series Adventures novels) |
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| By: | Tim, Maroochydore, Queensland |
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| Date: | Friday 30 January 2009 |
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| Rating: | 9 |
All together a very good book.
The concept behind the plot is rather clever, but the scope was rather limited compared with what could have been done with the idea. The characters were likeable and interesting but not necessarily compeling.
The Doctor and Donna are once more well characterised in this installment. Donna learns some lessons and is at the same time her charming but abrasive self while the Doctor is at his finest with acts of derring-do and dundering.
The story's end is the truly wonderful part and was very well written and truly appropriate. A fantastic ending to a good book.
| What: | Ghosts of India (BBC New Series Adventures novels) |
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| By: | Tim Wakeham, Maroochydore, Queensland |
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| Date: | Friday 30 January 2009 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
An excellent read. A good solid adventure with some interesting characters and a few good twists and turns. The characters of the Doctor and especially Donna are well represented and the parallels drawn between the Doctor and Ghandi are truly thought provoking.
The end was a little strange but in the end was also very interesting and rather enjoyable.
I'd truly recommend this installment.
| What: | The Eyeless (BBC New Series Adventures novels) |
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| By: | Matthew, Leeds |
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| Date: | Thursday 29 January 2009 |
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| Rating: | 8 |
A good book with a nice plot+characters! The Eyeless are quite cool and I like how Lance has explored the character of the doctor on his own. Overall a good read and a deffo for all dr.who fans! (I know i always say that but there all so good!)
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| Raincloud Man - weak title and story |
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The link of the raincloud man was very week, with the raincloud man never really making an impression on the plot, he is just there. After the quality of the last few issues this was a poor follow up. The Doctor and Charlie as ever hold up the story and the subplot moves along nicely but wrapped in a very weak and at times just silly story. Without the strength of the cast this would have been a 3.
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| Worthy of a tv adventure. |
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| What: | Republica (BBV Audio Adventures in Time and Space) |
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| By: | Dean Anthony, Melbourne, Australia |
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| Date: | Saturday 24 January 2009 |
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| Rating: | 8 |
This early BBV adventure would stand up very well in the Big Finish range. The 7th Doctor is directed in a more serious manner better suited to the character. Jason Haigh-Ellery should take notice of this as he has been guilty of developing the style of Doctor present in such stories as Time & the Rani.
| What: | K-9 Tales (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Huw Davies, Taunton, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Friday 23 January 2009 |
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| Rating: | 6 |
Oh dear, oh dear! What WERE 2|entertain thinking?
The Invisible Enemy is one of Doctor Who's greatest clangers. The first 2 episodes set the scene well, but it ends in tears with a giant prawn, some scales and a bit of grey hair.
But if you thought that was bad, K-9 and Comany is truly dreadful. It is 50 minutes of faff, 50 minutes of anyone's life wasted.
The extras are OK, but nothing special.
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| OK story, very poor extras |
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| What: | Four to Doomsday (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Huw Davies, Taunton, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Friday 23 January 2009 |
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| Rating: | 5 |
Four to Doomsday is not a bad story, (7/10 for me); a nice idea, and Stratford Johns as Monarch is very good. Plus the set designs are actually quite effective for the budget they would have had.
Unfortunately the extras are possibly worse than some of those of the days before 2|entertain took over the range; some boring studio footage, a fuzzy 1980s interview, and a poor attempt at redoing the Sid Sutton title sequence. Then I realise this has already been on the Castrovalva release! The only difference: it's in 5.1 - do I really care? Extras: 3/10
