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 | Looking For The Connection? |
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While being a good read, it is definatly the the best. Strong charactors but with each page I was waiting for the tie in to the first book. O.k the cat was in both books but there is not a plot conection. I liked the postwar type scene played out in NYC. I wish it had be explored and developed more. Too much dancing around in bad guys (or girls) heads just to have them die insignificatly. Not enough time building the story. Instead, just kept being dropped into the middle of things after the character, mostly ACE, had been there awhile.
| What: | The Blue Angel (BBC Eighth Doctor novels) |
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| By: | Jonathan Davis, San Jose, CA |
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| Date: | Monday 18 April 2005 |
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| Rating: |   1 |
It's been quite some time since I read it so I can't really give many details, but I remember some of it and I CERTAINLY remember my reaction to it. This contains some spoilers, but they might very well save you from wasting your time on this book.
The story starts out well enough. The doctor ends up in a new place to with another interesting civlization with problems to solve and all that. But apparently he's been there before, or at least the people there think so. Apparently a future regeneration of the doctor will be coming by at some point. But Doctor 8 has never been there before. He sets out to help them with their current problems as usual.
At the same time a friend of his (who's also a time lord) is doing something on earth and through various events eventually ends up where the doctor is. She's rather interesting, but except for the end has little impact on the story. Incidently it was her that was the doctor's companion when he shows up at the location of this story in a later regeneration.
At the same time there seems to be an alternate version of the doctor that is staying at a the afore-mentioned friend's house on earth along with his companions. IIRC he's having tea there and such. This alternate version of things never really seems to have much importance but keeps popping up periodically.
Overall events go as one would expect with regards to the doctor and those with him (the one in the real story, not the tea party one). It's not super good, but it's okay.
However, in the end, something weird happens and the doctor basically loses. At this point whatever story there was completely falls apart and whatever happened basically had no meaning. It even appears that it all might have happened in an alternate universe of sorts. But however well the mediocre story might have started out, it ends horribly.
The author seems to want to say that the doctor doesn't always win and thus gives a horrible story to show just that. But it's not as if it even manages to end in a sane manner. It's a hodge-podge of vaguely related stuff that COULD have been really interesting but which are never fully explored and which completely falls apart at the end.
It's a mediocre story with the worst ending of all time. If you aren't looking to read every doctor who book there is, don't read this one. As far as I know nothing in this book has any real impact on the later ones and it's not worth much if anything on its own.
| What: | Dead Romance (New Adventures novels) |
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| By: | Luca Signorelli, Italy |
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| Date: | Saturday 16 April 2005 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
By far the greatest Dr. Who - related book ever, and by far Lawrence Mile best work so far, "Dead Romance" is a splendid, mindtwisting, moving and horrific tale about the last days of Earth... in 1970! Narrated from the POV of Christine Summerfield, a drugged out girl living in 1970's London, the tale moves from he meeting with Chris Cweji (yes, that Chris Cweji - very different but also very recognizable), her struggle to understand the nature of time and space, and her witnessing of a series of of event (both on Earth and outside) culminating in one of the most terryfing description of the end of the world, I've ever read. Actually, I've never been impressed like this by a SF novel since PJ Farmer "Inside Outside"
This is a real mindbender, but is also a very accessible book, who's going (once again - it's Larry Miles!!!) turn your view of the Whoverse upside down. In fact, it's the perfect book for someone who don't know anything about Dr. Who and couldn't care less. A must buy if ever was one
| What: | Resurrection of the Daleks (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Michael C Smith, Edinburgh, UK |
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| Date: | Friday 15 April 2005 |
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| Rating: | 7 |
Lets get the rotten aspects of this story out of the way: the rubbish one-dimensional characters on the prison ship, the hammy deaths, the lazy script editing, the obligatory 'mind analysis' sequence, the body count, Terry Molloy's inferior performance as Davros (though better than Gooderson) and of course, Turlough; the oldest school boy EVER.
Phew... now onto the reasons why Resurrection is a smashing yawn, and in desperate need of a re-evaluation by the critics. Firstly- the gorgeous design work. So often design is based on contemporary fashions but here (apart from the obvious example of Tegan's blouse!) the spaceship, the uniforms, the excellent Dalek-troopers are totally convincing and uniquely alien allowing the production to out-survive it's original transmission date. The action here is expertly executed too, never feeling laboured or padded, but actually helping to add depth to the story, returning the Daleks to their original status of truly terrifying killing machines. The location work too is always impressive, and I'm sure I'm not the first to get a chill down my spine when walking around the now redeveloped and exclusive Butlers Wharf.
I have to mention Tegan's leaving scene; disconcertingly no warning is given that this is coming, adding to the impact when Tegan lambastes recent events, implying the Doctors lack of humanity is endangering her own. Haven’t we all had that feeling where we lose a friend and are left with no way of getting back in touch? Cue tear to the eye.
An excellent romp, it was never going to change the world. It's a no-brainer, yes, but much better than the cabbage-firing antics of the A Team on the other side.
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| A lesson in TV storytelling |
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| What: | The Caves of Androzani (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Michael C Smith, Edinburgh, UK |
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| Date: | Friday 15 April 2005 |
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| Rating: | 9 |
Watchability and longevity can (literally) be polls apart in Doctor Who. Many stories that impress on initial viewing just don’t cut it when it comes to repeat viewing. This can often be the case in stories which rely on 'shock' value is at the heart of the story telling (see Earthshock). ‘Who’ at it’s best does both. When character, suspense, design and cohesive production marry with genuinely shocking moments- this is where a story becomes truly 'classic'. Enter 'Caves of Androzani'.
Too many moments to mention, but for pure world-class story telling lets look to the shocking cliff-hangers ('nothing in the world can stop me now!' -the wet-vet, I don’t think so!), incredible character development ('you think bullets can stop me?') and, of course, the build up and execution of one of the most moving regeneration’s recorded for the series. No wonder Davidson had second thoughts about leaving. Lest we forget however, that for every Caves on his CV, there is also a ‘Time Flight’; Bob Holmes again proving the script at the fundamental of the series.
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| Well written, But a little unclear |
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I really enjoyed this book and I think it was well written. But at the same time it was a bit unclear. I understand it was written not using any one of the eight doctors but a bit of all of them but I think that this aproach actually took something away from the story. I liked learning more about Gallifrey and Timelord socitey. What I didn't like is that I couldn't put a face to the doctors character. We all create a picture in our mind from the author's discription, Unless there is an actor's face we picture, but with this story there was very little. This was a real Doctor "who?". I loved the character of Larna and hope she visits again. And I hope that the information revealed in the story, such as the Doctor being married, is built on and more is reveled and explained about the Doctor's past, ot future.
Because of the lack of a definate character in the book it was harder for me to emerse myself into the story therefor it took me longer to read.
| What: | Dreamtime (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Joe Ford, Eastbourne |
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| Date: | Tuesday 12 April 2005 |
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| Rating: | 1 |
Anyone else think that the seventh Doctor audios are the most tedious Doctor Who out there? Sylvester McCoy confirms that his acting ability is severely limited and coupled with an incredibly dull script this could possibly the worst Big Finish story yet. It was interminably boring throughout, wasting Ace and Hex, and re-introducing the Galyari for no reason at all. The characters were stale and blandly acted and the direction is so lacking you have to wonder if Gary Russell was even in the studio.
| What: | Timeless (BBC Eighth Doctor novels) |
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| By: | The Voter from Vortos, Vortos, Nebula Galaxy |
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| Date: | Sunday 10 April 2005 |
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| Rating: | 5 |
This is a book with good ideas but it lacks from the setting and the overall storyline. The storyline is tedious. The storyline demanded far richer locations (ie, spacestations, rockets, alien worlds, etc.) rather than a couple of streets and buildings in London.
The ideas are vast and fantastic, and things that you don't notice in the beginning of the book play important roles throughout the story, leading you to marvel at how well the continuity was thought out. However, the ideas are too much, as they make you forget about the storyline and trap you in their magical world.
"Timeless" is a book worth reading, but is not worth 15 to 25 Australian dollars demanded.
| What: | Halflife (BBC Eighth Doctor novels) |
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| By: | The Voter from Vortos, Vortos, Nebula Galaxy |
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| Date: | Sunday 10 April 2005 |
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| Rating: | 9 |
Starts off with mystery. Development here. Action paced. Robotic Ys taking over humans, talking ships, giant apes and baby monkeys - whatever more could you ask for a Doctor Who book?
I found this was one of the Doctor Who books I really, really enjoyed. With a good setting, good characters whose personalities develop throughout the book, added up with humour and spice and all things nice, I really felt disappointed when I came to the final page and realised there was no more writing after the word "me.". With a good story, good plot, good pacing, you really want to pick up the next book by Michalowski you see and read it forever, and never come to the final page (that is, in a very good sense).
Only one thing I didn't like: the slow beginning prologue/chapter, and merging bottoms in one scene (just not cricket, lads).
One of the best stories the BBC has published, and one of the best Doctor Who's I've ever read. Heartwarming, funny, action-packed, the list could go on, and on, and on......
Hex makes a more acceptable start to his travels than Charley & others I could name. Namely he is scared, unsure and has no instant understanding of all the alien stuff.
Conjouring up vivid images, a lost city tumbling through space, people disappearing, turning to stone, the ever impending sense of doom.
Unlike many before it, not every question is answered and the Doctor does not have all the answers.
Apart for one australian with a bad lisp, its a bonza listen.
| What: | Match of the Day (BBC Past Doctor novels) |
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| By: | The Voter from Vortos, Vortos, Nebula Galaxy |
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| Date: | Sunday 10 April 2005 |
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| Rating: | 7 |
For once! a true Doctor Who book, topped up with a totally original storyline and plot for that. The Doctor and Leela were true to their TV characters (maybe that was because clever writer Boucher created Leela in the television series) and the actions scenes were fast, well described, and weren't gothic horror (like a lot of new books make the cliffhangers). A book stretched a tad too long, but worth your while.
Fantastic stuff. You'd kill for it.
| What: | Fear of the Dark (BBC Past Doctor novels) |
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| By: | The Voter from Vortos, Vortos, Nebula Galaxy |
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| Date: | Sunday 10 April 2005 |
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| Rating: | 6 |
A good book: something always happens in a chapter (even if its a ship crashing or a scream from a corridor), it makes scenes with the Dark creepy. A good read, that is, if you can escape the blood: smouldering bodies, blood gushing down tombs, cricket balls turning into spheres of blood, take a breath, a creature sucking blood, then spurting mountains of the stuff against the wall? Eewwwwwww (that is not meant to be a compliment).
If you skim over those parts, its a good book.
PS: skim like hell
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| Very good, but 1 or 2 points |
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| What: | The Sleep of Reason (BBC Eighth Doctor novels) |
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| By: | The Voter from Vortos, Vortos, Nebula Galaxy |
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| Date: | Sunday 10 April 2005 |
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| Rating: | 7 |
I found this book very good. Very creepy, very modern, well paced. The only thing was that it hardly had the Doctor and had a few scenes not for anyone young.
For anyone who likes Agatha Christie or Sherlock Holmes (espicially the Hounds of the Baskervilles!)
| What: | The Deadstone Memorial (BBC Eighth Doctor novels) |
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| By: | The Voter from Vortos, Vortos, Nebula Galaxy |
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| Date: | Sunday 10 April 2005 |
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| Rating: | 2 |
This book has been one of my biggest disappointments during my time reading hundreds of Doctor Who books.
I found the book constantly shifted to scenes too many times, made an emphasis on blood and gore, kept the repeating "oh my eyes are big and black", and was a horror story, not Doctor Who (and a bad horror story at that!). As for how it becomes sci-fi, you might as take the entity from another universe and turn it into a demon trapped between heaven and hell, and needs the Doctor's help to make him return! And, another thing, you can't stop reading it because you have to get to the end, which is not good considering what the book is like. Full of occult and modern life. Not a good combination.
Two vote-points, thought, for the Doctor showing Hazel the stars (can we have more of that type of Doctor??) and the bookcover, and the little snippits of comedy.
Trevor's worst book yet. I seriously hope I can see a better ...DOCTOR WHO... book from him in future.
| What: | Fear of the Dark (BBC Past Doctor novels) |
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| By: | David Layton, Los Angeles, United States |
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| Date: | Monday 4 April 2005 |
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| Rating: | 6 |
The previous reviewers liked this book much more than I did. The book does have some things going for it. First, it is very much in the traditional Doctor Who style - a small cast of characters isolated in a limited number of places; a gradually gathering evil; characters with conflicting motives. The first half of the novel is quite good, very creepy. The trouble with it, in my view, is in the second half. For instance, Baxendale seems to forget that a ship has a crew, so that the Doctor makes a foolhardy rescue of one, but totally ignores the rest. The Dark, the villain of the story, is evil to no greater degree than any other DW villain, yet there is repeated insistence on just how evil it is, as though saying evil forty times makes it forty times more evil. Pointlessly, everyone but the three main characters dies. There are numerous overly melodramatic scenes in the second half, which conflicts with the ruthless, level realism of the first half. Still, Baxendale knows how to keep the story moving at a brisk pace, build to cliffhangers, and slip in teasers.
An excellent story that draws you in and keeps you wanting to read just one more page. Once you pick this book up you will not want to put it down.
Very well written. A well developed and original story line. And finally a story that gives you a little better understanding of the TARDIS and its relationship with the Doctor. I also enjoyed the fact that ACE was written as a very strong character. Not a whinney "what have you gotten us into now Doctor?" character. I am looking forward to the next book. I hope it is as well written.
| What: | The Holy Terror (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | James, UK |
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| Date: | Thursday 24 March 2005 |
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| Rating: | 8 |
I chose this NAA because it was highly rated here and seemed less predictable than some of the other titles. I wasn't disappointed.
The first episode is a bit shakey, with some wooden voice acting. The humourous and serious aspects of the plot also jar a bit at this stage, before being smoothed out later. Episode 2 sets a better pace though and 3 & 4 are superb, with the Doctor and Frobisher trapped in a Freudian nightmare. The ending is very powerful.
What I liked most here was the natural combination of a pacy (at times quite scary!) story with integral wry humour (the rituals) and some cracking one-liners (my favourite being "The lying blasphmer speaks the truth, your holiness"). The setting smacked a bit of Gormenghast though.
Colin Baker is well-suited to audio. Having not read the comics I didn't know what to expect of Frobisher, but everything you need to know is elegantly explained and I got to like him. It is strange having the 6th Dr paired with somebody sharp and sarcastic (rather than Peri or Mel), allowing some interesting interaction.
Overall the ideal companion to a long train journey!
After the disappointing Sleep of Reason, I was scared to pick up the remaining three books in the 8th Doctor adventures. To my surprise, I couldn't put this book down. Now this is what Doctor Who is all about. It was full of suspense and mystery. It showed the human side of all of the characters without destroying the mystery that the Doctor brings with him to every situation. My hats off to Trevor and his excellent save for the 8th Doctor's final days!!!
If I'd have seen this DVD when I was 10 years old I would have loved it! Pertwee serials were always my favorite unfortunately after all these years I think pales at the side of the Target book which is great.
Never tire of this one! One of the very best ever.
