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| What: | Doctor Who Annual 1983 (World Annuals) |
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| By: | Simon Bromley, Pontypridd, Wales, UK |
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| Date: | Wednesday 28 September 2005 |
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| Rating: |   6 |
Not bad. Clearly for the kids, with 'fascinating' facts about black holes and stuff, and plenty of nice stories. Not a bad buy.
I was kind of expecting something similar to Endgame with this book but instead it's more like a Bond movie. In fact the character of Cosgrove is quite obviously played by Sean Connery. The opening of the book is brilliant, the use of Fitz in the novel is superb, the time travel plot is very well done but I did tire of it a little in places.
| What: | Hope (BBC Eighth Doctor novels) |
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| By: | Gary Pryke, Ipswich, Suffolk |
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| Date: | Tuesday 27 September 2005 |
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| Rating: | 3 |
I'm rather surprised reading the other reviews as I really didn't enjoy this book. It had some great ideas but I just felt bored by it. I havn't read many of the previously 8th Doctor books other than 8 Doctors, Endgame and Mad Dogs but it seemed that Anji's character was just dumb. She had become obsessed with her old boyfriend Dave's death and seemed to think that if she cloned him then it would be all right.
I skimmed this book towards the end, i havn't done that since primary school.
I was a bit shocked at how much this story seemed to be played for laughs for a while. It has it's more nasty moments but could easily be described as a "romp". The return of one of the characters was a little too obvious and Noel Coward was brilliant, but I didn't think it was incredible.
| What: | Endgame (BBC Eighth Doctor novels) |
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| By: | Gary Pryke, Ipswich, Suffolk |
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| Date: | Tuesday 27 September 2005 |
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| Rating: | 9 |
I was surprised to find that I enjoyed this book one hell of a lot and wouldn't have even minded if there was even less sci-fi in it. I'm not usually too interested in the historical stories (if this can be called one). But i found that it was all very interesting...a very easy read.
| What: | Legacy of the Daleks (BBC Eighth Doctor novels) |
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| By: | Merlin, England |
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| Date: | Sunday 25 September 2005 |
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| Rating: | 8 |
Well done John peel for this fantastic well written novel. Becca does a good replacement for Sam and there is a good come back of Susan and the Daleks. Keep the them coming.
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 | Well-constructed Historical Read. |
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| What: | Players (BBC Past Doctor novels) |
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| By: | Michael McGovern , Edmonton, Alberta |
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| Date: | Tuesday 20 September 2005 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
This book brought back the glory days of Terrence Dick's writing. It's been so long since I've sat down to a really good Doctor Who book with plain head-over-heels adventure and excitement.
The story is the thing, held up by some of the finest prose I've ever seen. Few writers understand that the secret to telling a truly complex story is to use extremely simple language. Even the Da Vinci Code, for all it's historical goofiness, is written very, very simply, although it lacks the warmth of this book. We get a fond look at some old friends, together with the Second Doctor, going on one last adventure in a way only Terrence Dicks could tell.
The politics in which the Doctor and Peri are immersed with Winston Churchill are actually intriguing, in a way that most writers can't achieve. The abdication crisis is handled with remarkable skill, making it one of the most intense governmental buildups ever written. Similar complexity shows toward the end of Timewyrm: Exodus, and it is a true shame that Terrence's work isn't a larger part of the literary world in Canada and the USA. This work deserves to be required reading worldwide.
Absolutely stunning.
John Peel's Doctor Who novels are always well worded and satisfying. They also have something not many newer Doctor Who writers are able to achieve: charm. This book is fun, this book is clever, and the Daleks actually do what they're supposed to do - they're nasty, they're ruthless, and they're realized as the great Doctor Who villains they are. Superb!
I think John Peel gets a bad rap because he writes traditional Doctor Who stories, even some in the Target range. This book should be judged by its own merits, which are many, not by repute. If you enjoy a good, old-fashioned romp with old friends, old enemies and a solid storyline, read this book.
| What: | The Infinity Doctors (BBC Past Doctor novels) |
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| By: | Merlin, England |
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| Date: | Monday 19 September 2005 |
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| Rating: | 8 |
After reading this book I thought it was well written. But I was a bit puzzled of what incarnation of the Doctor this was. My first suggestion was that this was a younger version of the first Doctor. But after reading a site listing the Doctor's life I discovered that the Doctor had a previous 13 lives and that this novel takes place in that time. I may be completely wrong though. And this book may take place in an alternate timeline. What do you think.
| What: | Beltempest (BBC Eighth Doctor novels) |
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| By: | Sarah Fiden, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA |
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| Date: | Monday 19 September 2005 |
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| Rating: | 1 |
I kept reading in homes that this book would get better. I was sorely disappointed.
It started off strong, but the author's writing style made it extremely difficult to follow. I'm still not entirely sure what *happened.*
It wouldn't have been so bad if the author didn't spend so much time going off on these crazy metaphorical philosophical rants.
| What: | Blue Box (BBC Past Doctor novels) |
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| By: | Rachel, Sydney, Australia |
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| Date: | Friday 16 September 2005 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
Kate Orman just gets better and better. This offering gives at different twist - seeing through the eyes of someone who doesn't know about the TARDIS, Timelords, that the Doctor is an alien. It isn't easy to remember that any given character, even the companions do NOT know the Doctor's full history. This is the sort of book I can imagine Companions such as Ian & Barbara, Victoria and others picking up, reading, and thinking "Naaah... can't be Him...."
Finally got around to reading the second of the new Doctor books and all I have to say is that it was OK. The book seemed to drag in some parts and the ending just sort of happened, nothing too exciting in the resolution to the problem. I do have to say that the new books do capture the chemistry of the Doctor and Rose from the screen that brings some redemption to the weak story line.
Dalek history rewritten aside this was a good book. Sam's character development seems to be hitting a glitch - her jealous streak when the Doctor even talks to another woman will soon get irritating if its not developed. The end of Davros - I doubt it. Left it wide open for a come back. The humour starting to be injected in these novels is good, especially in this case the references to Star Trek's bridge. One of the best so far in the 8th Doctore series
| What: | Genocide (BBC Eighth Doctor novels) |
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| By: | Jonny Jupiter, Hertfordshire, UK |
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| Date: | Saturday 10 September 2005 |
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| Rating: | 4 |
Absolute rubbish. Bland villans bland story bland ending. I was really looking forward to the inclusion of Jo Grant but in the end was left feeling we didnt really know what happened to her. There should have been far more interaction with the Doctor. Unless you are reading the 8th Doc's books in order steer well clear of this one
A great story. Very Bakeresque. The Rising Damp joke was good. Worth reading.
Now this is a bit more like it. Some funny moments and the start of the proper development of the characters. Post buffy its probably difficult for the writers to come up with ideas that are not cliche ridden but it was good fun. I found myself warming to this Doctor even though he has only had one screen outing.The Sam overprotectiveness is probably an arc that will be developed in future books but we all know it wont go anywhere. Grace's kiss in the movie was about as far as the Doc has ever got. Better things will no doubt be ahead but this was a very good start
| What: | Walking to Babylon (Bernice Summerfield audios) |
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| By: | Phil Ince, Cheri Cola's sternum |
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| Date: | Thursday 8 September 2005 |
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| Rating: | 5 |
What else is there to be said?
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| Not really resolving anything |
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| What: | The Ancestor Cell (BBC Eighth Doctor novels) |
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| By: | Merlin, England |
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| Date: | Tuesday 6 September 2005 |
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| Rating: | 7 |
An ok book id say altogether, but i wish theyd sorted out the false regenration thing in interference. And the destruction of Gallifrey doesnt connect with the new Tv series in any way.
Acording to the ninth Doctor there was suppose to be another time war with the daleks. In the gallifrey chronicles the Doctor had the power to restore Gallifrey so it kinda ties in but i think this novel should have been written with a diffrent plot.
| What: | Fear Itself (BBC Past Doctor novels) |
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| By: | Joe Ford, Eastbourne |
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| Date: | Tuesday 6 September 2005 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
After a run of unmemorable books at the begining of the year BBC books have found their stride again and no-where is this more apparent than with Fear Itself, the first book to be written by a newbie in yonks. And it shows! This is wonderfully atmospheric, tense and frightening and probes the fantastic EDA combination of the Eighth Docor, Fitz and Anji is some very surprising ways. The novels is well constructed and hits the reader with a great number of twists that manage to SHOCK as they should. Add to this mix an engaging prose style, some briliantly done characters and a superb cover from Black Sheep and you have a sophisticated chiller that should please even the most avid EDA hater. I loved it.
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| A book you will never forget. |
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| What: | Only Human (BBC New Series Adventures novels) |
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| By: | Joe Ford, Eastbourne |
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| Date: | Tuesday 6 September 2005 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
Gareth Roberts is back and wittier than ever! He alwasy was a confident writer but here his work shines with total exhuberence! He nails the three regulars perfectly and makes some fantastic observations on todays society, he manages to include romance, scares, brilliant ideas and some surprisingly risque moments ALL within the spanking new NDA formula. Fantastic!
