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 | Daleks, what did you expect? |
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Goes through the creation of Doctor Who's most famous enemies, with stops at every story they appeared in in the classic series, up to publication, including stage plays, the Dalek movies, strips, etc. with many black and white photographs.
Nothing incredible, and I certainly wouldn't go out of my way to get this, but it's a fair primer to the Daleks, if quite out of date.
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| Satisfying, but could it be more? |
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| What: | The Clockwise Man (BBC New Series Adventures novels) |
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| By: | Siskoid, Moncton, NB |
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| Date: | Friday 14 October 2005 |
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| Rating: |   7 |
The Clockwise Man was enjoyable as I read it, but fell apart in my mental analysis once it was all over. Filling, but not nutritious, I suppose.
Among its strengths, I count an appropriately melancholy Doctor, great mood throughout, frequent enough twists and turns, and the reappearance of both bad wolf and Big Ben (placing this in Year 1, it makes the clock tower a better nexus point).
The book produces some nice moments and images, mostly centered around the Painted Lady. Oh, and I LOVE the way the cats are portrayed, a sure sigh that the author knows cats well (just something that resonates with me).
The clockwork stuff, well, sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't. I've been exposed to better steam-punk, and I wish Justin either made it more realistic, or gone way over the top (like an entire steamtech planet).
Among its weaknesses, there's the hard to follow political plot (in the sense that it's hard to know who's who at first) and, having started on The Monsters Inside where the Doctor and Rose are incredibly witty, a poor representation of their banter. It's cheeky, but not fast-paced or funny enough. That, and the final action scene isn't as well written as the rest, with a total change of attitude for the villain of the piece.
Overall: A quality novel, but suffers from being out first, with the protrayal of the main characters too demure. But well drawn setting and mood.
| What: | The Taking of Planet 5 (BBC Eighth Doctor novels) |
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| By: | Siskoid, Moncton, NB |
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| Date: | Friday 14 October 2005 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
This is a very weird book, but I loved every page of it. The tie-in to Lovecraft is excellent and in keeping with Whovian tradition, but goes to more extremes. The future Timelords and Old One's eye view are really interesting. The unravelling of the TARDIS and subsequent ending are beautifully rendered.
There may be a little too much continuity going on with other EDAs, specifically relating to Alien Bodies and the tv series (Image of the Fendahl), but it didn't cause me any problems.
It's not the first time, but the ideas and imagery really elevates a story that doesn't have that central a participation by the Doctor and his companions. Still, I was totally charmed and devoured it.
| What: | Zeta Major (BBC Past Doctor novels) |
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| By: | Siskoid, Moncton, NB |
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| Date: | Friday 14 October 2005 |
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| Rating: | 8 |
I really liked Zeta Major, but usually when it wasn't a Doctor Who story. Everything in the Morestran Empire was great, from the political stuff to the various document inserts to the violence and retro-science. Very cool, and a number of memorable characters (though a lot of generic clergy).
The Doctor, however, doesn't do much. He caused it, isn't that enough? ;-) Well, at least Tegan and Nyssa get to be a lot more active, the story spanning a much longer time span than most adventures. Oh, and I did enjoy the cameo by the actual television series.
As the story comes to a head, it loses focus. By this time, the supporting characters are dying like flies, and then the supposedly grandiose ending is half reset button, half comic book. Not quite up to par with the rest of the novel, but adequate.
Overall: The Morestran society is well drawn and the thriller aspects gripping. As Who fiction, maybe it fails. As straight fiction, it reads much better.
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| Represents its era too well |
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| What: | Last of the Gaderene (BBC Past Doctor novels) |
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| By: | Siskoid, Moncton, NB |
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| Date: | Friday 14 October 2005 |
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| Rating: | 7 |
Yes, last of the Gaderene could slip right into the UNIT era of the series, but it so closely follows that formula that it can hardly be called original. The Gaderene couldn't be realized on the tv budget of the time, but they're still clichés. As is everything that happens.
And yet, it's all done very well, with a lot of loving care put into the guest cast and making the village charming and its people endearing. I found myself caring for them and everything.
Overall: Like watching a 3rd Doctor episode, but maybe the novels should try a little harder?
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| High weirdness works well in Who |
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Though the novel is oddly Doctorless, it still works as an Ace story, and as an exploration of Ancient Gallifrey and how Rassilon came to power. Marc Platt has an immensely strange and wonderful imagination, creating images even when his concepts aren't entirely explained.
I find that high weirdness works very well in Doctor Who, even if the tv series couldn't really do it because of budget constraints. And Platt definitely does this. The main idea of an inside out TARDIS and time seen as a space is interesting, and the paradoxes are well worked out.
But it's not perfect by any means. I don't mind the absence of the Doctor, so that's not the problem. The prose can be confusing at times, especially as reality is falling apart in the beginning, and you never really get to know what the Process was/is. Strange, fine, but let's have the strange elements backed up. Still, if I'm reading about Gallifrey, Marc Platt's my man.
Overall: The good definitely outweighs the bad, and Ace has a good role.
| What: | Divided Loyalties (BBC Past Doctor novels) |
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| By: | Siskoid, Moncton, NB |
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| Date: | Friday 14 October 2005 |
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| Rating: | 3 |
Divided Loyalties (bad title) has one thing going for it, and that's the flashback sequences to the Doctor's academy days. These act as a reasonable prequel to The Celestial Toymaker, though they are sludged up by heavy continuity. It took me a while to match the students with the various rogues they became, and it's more than a little fortuitous that they were all in the same class.
But apart from that, the best I can say about the book is that it breezes by quite fast. It's unintentionally funny at times, but that depends on how funny you think Adric's body odor problems are. Lots of Adric bashing, and much of it juvenile.
I'm not a big fan of the original Toymaker episode because I just don't like stories told in set pieces (not a big fan of the 5 Docs either, for example). The novel is also built this way, with the companions getting theirs, but also a bunch of "original" characters getting trapped by the Toymaker. These chapters are quite boring, and worse, these people don't really have an impact on the story later on!
Overall: Some good ideas here and there, but buried in a miasma of winks to continuity and humor at the expense of the characters.
| What: | Marco Polo (Target novelisations) |
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| By: | Siskoid, Moncton, NB |
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| Date: | Friday 14 October 2005 |
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| Rating: | 5 |
Like most people born after 1960, I've never seen Marco Polo and I wasn't really aware of the story's details. The Target novelisations are handy for that. But Marco Polo comes off as a rather average tale of the early Dr. Who era here. The dialogue isn't on the level with The Crusage or The Aztecs, and it usually all falls pretty flat. Sometimes seems like the author had to pair down the talk to fit his overlong story into 144 pages.
It's not a total dog, with the Doctor using his smarts rather often and not being outstaged by Ian, and Susan has some interesting bits. Barbara is sorely underused however.
Overall: Fair, but unartful adaptation.
Pirates is great, great fun. Not just a change of pace, but a well-realized one. It is many things: a Gilbert & Sullivan parody, a touching relevant story, a play on narrative structure, and not everyone's cup of tea!
It starts out with Evelyn seriously screwing up a pirate story, going back and forth, changing details, exaggerating, correcting errors, etc., all of which is highly comedic and pleasant. When the Doctor arrives, we'll get to one of the most hilarious cliffhangers in the history of the series.
As for the songs, there are 2 or 3 that really stick out in my mind, and the CD does have better replay value than most. You'll get more mileage from them if you know your Who references, but they can be funny and, in one case, rather sad, even if you're a relative newbie. Extra marks for the very special packaging for the CD, in the G&S poster style.
It's not all roses of course. This may seem rather irrelevant a story, but it's a personal one under all the comedy. I think it doles out drama in enough measure. It walks that highwire well. My one beef is with the villain of the piece, Red Jasper, who's way OTT and screechy.
Overall: An odd duck, but immensely enjoyable, but I guess only if you don't have an aversion to musicals.
| What: | Nekromanteia (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Siskoid, Moncton, NB |
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| Date: | Friday 14 October 2005 |
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| Rating: | 4 |
While this audio has some good performances by the regulars, including Morris' Erimem, I found it to be a screechy mess. The chanting witches grate on the nerves, certainly, but it's not the only thing. Sound design is all over the map on this one.
It's hard to follow the story, period. There's a lot of jumping from venue to venue, with characters that may or may not be human with strange accents. Well, I did enjoy the variety there, but it's all a bit jumbled.
The "shocking cliffhanger" IS memorable, but excessively gory for Doctor Who, and may be considered unrespectful of the characters. The insertion of a rape into the story is likewise dubious.
Another big flaw for me is the presence of the supernatural. Even when Who does horror, there's usually some kind of SF principle behind it, but here, it's like the characters walked into Mordor or something. The fantasy cop-out ending doesn't help either.
Overall: While there are some good bit between the characters, the adult elements are force-fed into a story that is barely Whovian to begin with. A despressing mess.
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| Chapter 2 wows, rest a talky |
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| What: | The Rapture (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Siskoid, Moncton, NB |
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| Date: | Friday 14 October 2005 |
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| Rating: | 6 |
I like more than dislike The Rapture, but it's due to 2 things really: Ace's subplot and Chapter 2's collage editing.
The plot itself isn't anything great, especially as it turns into a babble-a-thon in the later parts. Don't tell me, show me, I always say. The theme of mental illness running through it fails to capture my imagination. And though the final reveal has been called predictable by some, it came much too out of left field for me. I have real trouble with the Caitriona character as well.
But beyond that, Ace's reunion with a long-lost family member has some real emotion behind it, and isn't unrealistically dealt with. Her day off is an interesting idea too, even if I haven't read the relevant McShane material in the New Adventures novels.
To me, the real star of this audio is the collage technique which comes to a head in chapter 2. Anyone interested in audio editing should listen to this and how the story is woven. Gimmicky in places perhaps, but since the story deals with club DJs who mix tracks for a living, I think it was quite clever and well done.
Overall: Story's kind of naff, and there are few characters to care about, but the editing and Ace's story hold some interest.
| What: | ...ish (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Siskoid, Moncton, NB |
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| Date: | Friday 14 October 2005 |
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| Rating: | 9 |
loooooved ...Ish. If there's one thing about the 6th Doctor, it's that he's found on puns and general wordiness. And this story plays right into that, and how infectious this behavior was for Peri it seems. And quite literally ;-).
The structure is your standard murder mystery/monster story, but it's made something more by the joyful playing with words. The various meanings of "ish" and how it is used in the language of the play, the creative use of bleeping, Book's interludes and bridges... it's all quite magical. Just the idea of an ultimate dictionary! It smacks of Borges more than traditional SF.
Overall: Seems like it's not for everyone, but it plays to audio's strengths quite well, and isn't half as experimental as some fear it to be.
Oh it's a good little runaround with some moody scenes and good interplay between the Doctor, Evelyn and the Brigdier, but doesn't leave me very satisfied.
If there's one thing I find less than interesting in audio-land, it's screechy, affected voicework. It manages to be at once over-the-top and annoying (even if those two aren't mutually inclusive for you). Great to have the Brig, but they could've done more with him too.
Overall: Meh. Enjoyable, but only superficially.
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| Great intro to a new Companion |
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| What: | The Marian Conspiracy (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Siskoid, Moncton, NB |
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| Date: | Friday 14 October 2005 |
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| Rating: | 8 |
never liked the 6th Doctor on TV, largely due to the fact that he and Peri just couldn't get along. But this is the start of a new era. While still pompous, his bubble is burst by his new companion Evelyne, and they make a rather wonderful comedy double act.
Ok, there's little realism in the way Evelyne just accepts the time travel idea and heads for the past with the Doctor, but that's a small problem easily dismissed by her humoring him. She's a great character from the beginning, savvy and not without courage, though you wonder if she won't hold back the Doctor in the realm of action. Well, this is AUDIO, so there's more talking than action anyway.
There's an equal amount of comedy and drama, with Queen Mary portrayed as unusually reasonable. This is refreshing, but slightly offputting. She's at once the villain of the piece, and a tragic character. Some great cliffhangers too, and the historical aspect of the tale isn't made boring despite the excessive talking.
Overall: Not perfect (a lot of dialogue and no real motiviation for Evelyne), but the start of something great nonetheless. At least proves there's still some juice in more historical stories.
| What: | Earthshock (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Toby, England |
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| Date: | Friday 14 October 2005 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
I saw this episode on UKTV Gold and was suprised. Everyone I know had told that the 5th doctor stories were rubbish and as this was the first 5th doctor episode I saw I thought it would be rubbish. I was wrong and I think that the 5th doctor was one of the best doctors. I have seen all of the Doctor Who stories that aired during the 80s and this is one of the best.
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| Strong early audio in the S26 style |
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| What: | The Fearmonger (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Siskoid, Moncton, NB |
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| Date: | Friday 14 October 2005 |
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| Rating: | 8 |
Maligning this audio goes hand in hand with not liking the 7th Doctor, in my opinion, but I'm a big fan of McCoy's later stories. As with Fenric, Ghost Light, et al., he arrives on the scene already aware of a great evil, and does his best to destroy it. Unlike the named stories however, the story's not as complex. But that's ok.
The idea of using radio shows and journalism to frame the audio story is a good one, and there's fair lampooning of right-wing talk radio here. The near-future Britain pictured is topical, with elements of fascism peeking through. And not all evil is done on the Fearmonger's behalf. This is a suitably adult story.
The identity of the monster suffers some twists and turns through the story, which keeps it interesting for the listener, and there's some sparkling postmodern dialogue throughout. One magical scene occurs at the end with McCoy showing his "darker" Doctor.
If I have a criticism to offer this story, it's that some of the male members of the supporting cast sound too much alike, and it gets confusing as to who is who, especially if listened to over a longer period of time.
Overall: A story that fits in well with the era it is meant to represent, and that uses the audio medium to its advantage.
| What: | The Movie (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Toby, England |
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| Date: | Friday 14 October 2005 |
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| Rating: | 1 |
I watched this episode when it aired as part of Doctor Who Night. After wathing the excellent first movies this third movie really let the trilogy down. The new doctor could not act and the plot was so bad I stopped watching half way through and turned off what ever you do do not watch this episode.
| What: | The Sirens of Time (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Siskoid, Moncton, NB |
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| Date: | Friday 14 October 2005 |
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| Rating: | 5 |
The story certainly has some good parts to it, but fact is, each Doctor's tale is cut short by the episodic format just as you're getting into it (or not, since quality varies between them).
7th Doc: The stuff about the Knights of Valeshyaa is interesting to anyone who's ever enjoyed the Dalek Empire series, but it seems so disconnected from the rest of the story. Where are the temporal anomalies? Where's the Doctor, even? You get the point of the new history at the end, but still seems apart from the rest. And the Ruthley character is insufferable.
5th Doc: The best set piece of the lot with the TARDIS dramatically floating out in the ocean with some real jeopardy, but again, truncated.
6th Doc: In the right style but hopelessly technobabbly. I do like the idea of the Temperon, but like the others, you just don't spend enough time there.
All together now: Gets to be a bit of a talky, and I'm not a big fan of the Sirens, but I did like how the Doctors each showed their differences in both dialogue and level of pragmatism without descending into grating arguments as were on display in, say, The Three Doctors. I like the chapter best since I'm a sucker for tying the Timelords into paradox-heavy storylines, though you gotta watch out for too much exposition.
Overall: Average. Would have been better with a single Doctor visiting the various nexus points in history without his extra selves, or all three being together from the start.
When I saw this episode the silurians scared me. But I was only 6 when I wathed it. It scared me so much that I did not watch the part 4. This year I found two Doctor Who websites that had clips from this episode and I watched them. This time round the silurians did not scare me and they did not scare when I watched Warriors Of The Deep. Even though I know longer find the silurians scary i still do not think this was one of the best Doctor Who episodes.
This remake was better than the original. Except for the fact that the doctor was from Earth and the TARDIS interior was different but by the second film you would have got used to that. So despite what I said I still think that this remake was better than the original.
