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 | Nothing at the end of the Lane |
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Having seen this book highly recommended in a number of places, I came
to it with high hopes despite finding the 2 subsequent Justin Richards'
books - The Burning and Sometime Never - truly dire. I'd assumed - where only hope was appropriate - that
having two typists on the job might mean both a dilution of any
respective shortcomings and perhaps an enhancement of each's strengths.
I have been really astonished therefore to find this co-written book
near enough indistinguishable from the turgid, awkward, semi-literate
droolings which Richards essayed after it.
Though read out of sequence, for the third JR / 8DA in a row I find a
Richards book substantially occupied by a slow chase - here by a corpse,
in The Burning by a fiery corpse, in Sometime Never by a skeleton. As
in Sometime Never and as is repeated in this book, the chase occurs
"at the pace of chilled treacle".
It may be that The Banquo Legacy has other intentions that to fill its
pages with type, but what these are escapes me; of entertainment there
is precious little; of characterisation little mor;, event? - almost
none at all. This is a baffling, dismal book which perhaps attempts -
through a pair of 1st person narrators, neither of which is a 'regular' -
to make unfamiliar characters yield a fresh perspective. It doesn't
really succeed. The 2 men - a police inspector and one of his
suspects - are really no more throughly differentiated than the pages of
paper they appear on. Different? Literally, yes. But distinct? Not
in the least. For example, both describe the hair and eye colour, the cloth and
cut of other characters' clothes. To have one of these young /
middle-aged, Victorian men do this would have been stretching it but might
suggest a certain aesthetic sense. This sensitivity therefore might have
been developed as a means of distinction. But because both demonstrate the same sensibility and style of observation, the purpose is loudly obscure.
There is an effective sequence of subsequent chapters where the two men give their accounts of one another during the Inspector's interview of his suspect. The policeman interpets the manner and behaviour he observes as aloof where the man he is questioning is actually terrified and - equally - interpets his inquisitor as having the upper hand. Neither before or after these passages is anything substantial or more than utilitarianly purposeful made of the alternating accounts and perspective. But credit where it's due.
This, again, is a vastly over-rated book - sluggish, repetitive and far from self-explanatory (why does the super-human corpse revive and why is it superhuman?).
Approach with caution.
| What: | The Infinity Race (BBC Eighth Doctor novels) |
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| By: | Piers, Lancashire, UK |
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| Date: | Thursday 30 September 2004 |
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| Rating: |   5 |
After the heavy going of some of the recent novels, I was glad this was going to be more of a lightweight story. This novel is easy to read, but my main problem with it was it's narrative style. The majority of the story is portrayed from the viewpoints of the various characters, and this style just gets tedious. At some points you will be wondering 'which character am I now?'. This is a shame because underneath the annoying writing is quite a good story. The Warlocks and their planet Demigest are great creations, as are the natives of Selonart. Another let-down is that various plot points that are raised are never really resolved: why is there a sea-monster in the ocean; who really built the city and for what purpose? These things are alluded to but never given a satisfactory conclusion.
There is also an annoying glitch with the continuity of this range: in the last novel Anji had discovered that the TARDIS was her true home, but here she is wanting to return to Earth again. No apparent reason is given for this change of heart. Although it was nice to encounter the apes again, we are still none the wiser as to why Sabbath uses them. And where was the Angel-Maker? I hope she crops up again soon.
This book is OK in its own right, but adds little to the on-going arc.
| What: | The Green Death (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Stephen Robinson, UK |
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| Date: | Monday 27 September 2004 |
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| Rating: | 6 |
Good story but the least DVD extras for a long time. Also the Picture quaility wasn't as high as normal, maybe due to putting a 6 parter + extras onto a single DVD, but as I said the quaility of the drama cuts through.
| What: | Heritage (BBC Past Doctor novels) |
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| By: | Stephen Carlin, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire |
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| Date: | Sunday 26 September 2004 |
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| Rating: | 8 |
The Doctor and Ace arrived on the dusty planet of Heritage. There's not much to the main town - a few dwellings and lots and lots of dust. Nothing that would attract anyone - although once, years before it had been a world or promise.
Those drawn by that promise are stranded on the planet, caught up in another promise.
The Doctor and Ace have come to Heritage to visit some friends. Except that their friends have gone. Or that's the story they are told. The Doctor seems ready to accept this, but more because he has become sick of getting involved in things. If there has been trouble he doesn't want to sort it out. Or rather he doesn't want to know if something happened as he may be drawn into sorting out the problem.
This is an amazing book - without giving away too much it made me care about a character I had not liked previously. It drew me in, intrigued as to what would happen next. Part of me wondered about the nature of the foe but also appreciated the all too human nature of the story.
This is a far superior form of storytelling that I am used to from the Doctor Who book range. None of the puerile pseudo-student stuff that is often perpetrated. No good ideas gone to waste.
If you like a good, human story then I recommend this book.If you like Auton spoons, snotty nosed children, zombies etc then go elsewhere.
I look forward to Dale Smith's next contribution.
| What: | The Algebra of Ice (BBC Past Doctor novels) |
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| By: | Stephen Carlin, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire |
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| Date: | Sunday 26 September 2004 |
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| Rating: | 5 |
The Doctor and Ace visit different time zones - and find minor alterations. History changes but in a big way - minor changes. At the core of these changes is a young man working on a mathematical problem. The Doctor also discovers that UNIT are invtesigating unusual crop shapes - patterns which seem to be overlaid with ice.
As the book progresses it seems that the Doctor may be dealing with a race that exists in a universe of pure mathematics, a universe that seeks to exist forever, to defy entropy by connecting to our universe and using its energy.
Its an interesting notion, but sadly a wasted book. I really found little beyond the core idea to make this a good book. I found the characters uninteresting, the story structure quite poor- in short a waste of a good idea. Even UNIT and the Brigadier are little more than token parts of the story.
A reasonable book, worth a read for the core concept but by no means a really good read. Read it for completion's sake but not if you want a really good cracking story.
| What: | Time Zero (BBC Eighth Doctor novels) |
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| By: | Piers, Lancashire, UK |
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| Date: | Friday 24 September 2004 |
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| Rating: | 8 |
This is another strong addition to the Eighth Doctor range. At the start the Doctor and his companions go their separate ways, only to discover that they are to be drawn into intriguing circumstances that will ultimately reunite them. So many plot strands are set up in the earlier chapters, and it is these that made this book a page-turner, trying to discover how these are all related. Unfortunately the coming together of all these elements are the weakest part of this novel, with an excessive use of technobabble and hypothetical physics being used to explain the plot. I for one had to re-read a couple of sections just to try to make sense of what was going on (I think I got there!). Another gripe is the way Sabbath is introduced into the story, which is just a retread of 'Anachrophobia'... Does he have a fancy dress trunk on the Jonah? And could Justin Richards be a fan of The X-Files - the way Sabbath departs at the end is highly reminiscent of the movie!
The book does end on a high, with the coda nicely setting up the next stage in the on-going arc. Where do things go from here?!
| What: | Faith Stealer (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Joe Ford, Eastbourne |
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| Date: | Friday 24 September 2004 |
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| Rating: | 8 |
A return to form for the eighth Doctor audios after a seriously disapointing third season. This is a witty and clever tale that pokes fun at the hypocrisy of religion. I wont lie...the eighth Doctor, Charley and C'rizz are still a deeply unsatisfying combination but the story here is engaging enough for you to forget about that and just enjoy the experience.
Greetings, I have this annual in my collection and this is another winner. I am a big fan of the cybermen and this cover is a real classic. The stories are wonderful also. This one is worth purchasing for your collection for the cover alone. My top rating!
Greetings, I think this Doctor Who annual is the best cover of the entire series. The stories are pretty good also. Gets my top rating! LOVE THAT COVER!
Listening to this play, you have to wonder if Trevor Baxendale even likes the character of Bernice Summerfield. The situation in which she finds herself here is horrific to say the least, and doesn't prove to be easy listening. Ancient medical practices aside, the main story does well at fleshing out the culture of the little seen Draconians, and what we see of their world seems intriguing.
On the down side, if you haven't already heard the Doctor Who audio play 'The Dark Flame' (which I hadn't), you may feel a little lost during some of the plot revelations here. Also the characters, bar Bernice, all seem to suffer the same fate, which stretches credulity perhaps a little too far.
Interesting, but probably a bit too gruesome to be enjoyable...
Although the set-up maybe a bit of a cliché (mystery lurking in an ancient booby-trapped temple), this is an enjoyable play. Placing the story against the backdrop of the Rutan/Sontarran War provides some urgency to Benny's mission, and allows for strong motivations for all the characters involved. As expected of a Rutan story, this retreads similar ground as their TV serial 'Horror Of Fang Rock', where the fun is in guessing who is really who. The only disappointing part to this audio drama is the final twist - it adds little to the plot and basically only serves as a 'get-out-clause' for the writer.
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| Best In The Range For A While |
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| What: | Camera Obscura (BBC Eighth Doctor novels) |
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| By: | Piers, Lancashire, UK |
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| Date: | Monday 20 September 2004 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
Knowing that this book was voted the best of the 2002 novels in the annual DWM survey, I was looking forward to this novel. I was not disappointed. Although the Doctor has encountered Sabbath a few times, it was about time that the ramifications of 'The Adventuress Of Henrietta Street' were dealt with. That, and the excellent story, are what makes this book so rewarding. Even though a couple of plot threads are left hanging (who made the troublesome machine?), this book sets up a new dynamic between the Doctor and Sabbath and I can't wait to see how it plays out. It appears that the seeds of Anji's departure are sown here, so enjoy her while you can!
Great!
Simply amazing story about Sophie's life on Dr Who.
| What: | The Legend (Miscellaneous factual books) |
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| By: | Claire Chaplin, Gillingham, Kent, England |
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| Date: | Monday 13 September 2004 |
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| Rating: | 9 |
A very detailled book, that was well worth is expensive price tag.
I have only two problems with the book;
1. The lack of info, about the Books and Audios
2. The way the text is over the photographs.
However, these are both very minor things, in a book that has become one of my main reference books, second only to The Television Companion.
| What: | Jubilee (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Claire Chaplin, Gillingham, Kent, England |
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| Date: | Monday 13 September 2004 |
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| Rating: | 7 |
I was a bit dissapointed with this. Robot Sherman's writing was good, as always, but I couldn't help but feel there was something not quite right.
Sure, it was enjoyable, not my favourite though. Prehaps, as I had just listened to 'Chimes of Midnight' my expectations were to high.
It was the alternate Doctor that almost made me reach for the stop button on my CD player.
All in all, an enjoyable moral story, but one that I can't help feeling would have fitted into the BBC 8th Doctor Book Range a lot better.
| What: | Zagreus (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Claire Chaplin, Gillingham, Kent, England |
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| Date: | Monday 13 September 2004 |
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| Rating: | 8 |
The Alice references make the story seem rather confusing. However, India Fisher plays Charley brilliantly here and is one of the best characters. The characters played by the actors who played the Doctor work well too. My only worry is the bits with Rassilon. Do they always have to whittle Gallifrey stories down to betrayal? The TARDIS throwing the Doctor's things out may have worked, if the TARDIS' hadn't been disguised as the Brigadier. Besides, I thought the TARDIS was a she.
Overall, an enjoyable listen, but it's better to ignore the plot.
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| Rob Shearman Does It Again! |
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| What: | The Chimes of Midnight (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Claire Chaplin, Gillingham, Kent, England |
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| Date: | Monday 13 September 2004 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
After Robot Shearman's brilliant Holy Terror I decided to try Chimes Of Midnight as I liked the prievew in DWM. I was not dissapointed. The atmosphere in episode 1 has got to be the best starter to any Doctor Who story. This audio adventure is, in my opinion, the best thing I have ever listened to. Lets hope the new TV series can reach the same standard.
| What: | Project: Twilight (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Claire Chaplin, Gillingham, Kent, England |
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| Date: | Monday 13 September 2004 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
If only I'd paid more attention to the cover. The cliffhanger revealling the enemies came as a complete suprise to me. Maggie Stables is excellent as Evelyn Smythe and this Audio Adventure remains one of my firm favourites.
| What: | The Highlanders (Target novelisations) |
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| By: | Claire, Australia |
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| Date: | Monday 13 September 2004 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
I loved this book because it was about Patrick Troughton (my favourite Dr) and it was really well written. The author even incorperated some humour! Do read. Especially if you like Scottish people
Not the greatest story in the 8th doctor series but it did have some strong points. With the use of the Doctor's amnesia and his being torn between getting his memories back or not, Trix's inner struggle with her past, and the mysterious Madame Xing (who reminds me a bit of the Rani), we could have the makings of some interesting novels in the near future.
