There are 4,142 reviews so far. To add a review of your own, click on the item in question, then click the Vote link.
 |  |  |
 | Curtain: McCoy's Last Ride |
|
| | |
| What: | Lungbarrow (New Adventures novels) |
|
| By: | EDL Foster, Invercargill, New Zealand |
|
| Date: | Tuesday 11 March 2003 |
|
| Rating: |  10 |
Having seen the television adaptation of Mervyn Peake's gothic epic "Gormenghast", I certainly could recognise the comparisons imbedded within Marc Platt's swan song novel for the Seventh Doctor. I only wish that the BBC could have produced this story for the big screen, a movie in its own right.
A great achievement for both writer and series, as it clearly succeeds in several fronts. It provides a grand finale for McCoy, it introduces the synopsis for the upcoming regeneration (and the introduction of McGann), and it brings in plot elements and attributes in line with the Eighth Doctor era.
Best of all, the book attempts to answer the questions which have permeated through the reign of this particular incarnation, while also portraying a psychological redemption of the Doctor (he comes to terms with his actions, especially the given role of "chess player" upon other races and individuals).
So long, Sylvester. God speed and Adieu.
At least you still maintained the mystery around one important remaining sociological factor:
WHO IS THE DOCTOR?
| | |
| Another triumph for Big Finish! |
|
| | |
| What: | Jubilee (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
|
| By: | William Cox, Winfield, W. Virginia, USA |
|
| Date: | Tuesday 4 March 2003 |
|
| Rating: |  9 |
"Jubilee" is a double home-run for Big Finish. It offers both another excellent Robert Shearman script and another wonderful performance on the part of Colin Baker, portraying the Doctor as he should have been allowed to do on television. The story offers many complex twists and turns, and the payoff is well worth it. The cliffhanger of part two in particular was brilliant. Everything about this CD is first class, and Robert Shearman will probably go down in history as the best "Doctor Who" writer since the late Robert Holmes. Money well spent!
| | |
| A 1st rate story for a 1st rate Doctor |
|
| | |
Moody, dark and atmospheric, "The Chimes of Midnight" is an excellent piece of drama. Robert Shearman's script easily outshines his earlier, but still impressive, work "The Holy Terror". Paul McGann and India Fisher have wonderful chemistry together, and this story proves it again and again. We feel the Doctor's love and compassion for his companion and her faith and trust in him.
This story also has some of the most effective cliffhangers of the entire series (tv or otherwise), and works on many levels, so multiple listenings are required. Truly first rate.
| What: | Dust Breeding (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
|
| By: | William cox, Winfield, W, Virginia, USA |
|
| Date: | Tuesday 4 March 2003 |
|
| Rating: | 7 |
Mike Tucker's BBC novels manage to capture the feel of the McCoy era TV show, and he pulls off the same trick with his first Big Finish audio. The story is a traditional 7th Doctor tale that one could easily imagine being on television. The Krill might have been tough to pull off, however.
An interesting twist is bringing back the disfigured Master last seen in "Keeper of Traken", and this Master is a hundred times more menacing than Anthony Ainley's melodramatic turn in the role. I'm looking forward to Big Finish's "Master" story later this year - it should prove to be an interesting rematch.
| What: | The Domino Effect (BBC Eighth Doctor novels) |
|
| By: | Gail Carey, Britain |
|
| Date: | Thursday 27 February 2003 |
|
| Rating: | 7 |
I think that this must be the most depressing and down-beat Dr. Who book that I have read in a long time...that doesn't mean that it's a bad book though. I'm quite enjoying this Dr. Who does "Sliders" story-arc and this book provides a well rounded alternate earth for the reader and the TARDIS crew to explore.
Usually it's the Doctor who gets beaten to a bloodied pulp in the EDA's, but in The Domino Effect the author has cut him some slack and it's Fitz who takes a beating this time.
My one problem with this book was the ending which, like Time Zero before it, tried to sum up and explain what had been going on in a great rush. Do you remember those American cop shows of the 1970's where, at the end, someone would say: "But there's just one thing I don't understand..." and the cop would have to explain the entire plot to the dummy. Well, if this book was a 70's cop show, the cop would be trying to explain things over the end credits with the theme tune drowning him out.
| | |
| An excellent story, often overlooked |
|
| | |
Okay, so I have a soft spot for this story, but despite some rotten production values - and mostly they're not down to design or bad acting, but bad direction or not having the time to do retakes - this story keeps you interested all the way through. It shows the Doctor's still at odds with the establishment at this point, and it shows clearly how much he wants to escape his exile. The main UNIT crowd all get a reasonable shake and the Master comes off reasonably, although as part of a season that used him in every story, you could be forgiven for thinking that there is too much of him in it. An ambitious story that maybe doesn't succeed everywhere, but as entertainment it's still a cracker IMHO.
| What: | The Domino Effect (BBC Eighth Doctor novels) |
|
| By: | John Ellison, Atlanta, Georgia, USA |
|
| Date: | Tuesday 18 February 2003 |
|
| Rating: | 9 |
In keeping with most of my other favorite titles in the series, this one builds itself solidly on a character driven plot line. Also, Fitz, Anji and the Doctor are never set aside to follow 30 pages worth of exposition about some secondary character. I get the idea Bishop actually wanted to write a story about the Doctor and his companions--and he does just that.
The story is perhaps a little contrived near the end (although I followed Bishop's ideas) and this is all that prevents it from being a 10 in my opinion.
I was particularly pleased by the fact that each of the three characters at some point remembers events that have occurred over the course of the series (its been a long time since Fitz thought of his mother). Continuity is not everything in telling a good Who story but it is appreciated on occasion! Plus I enjoyed Dee. I am convinced I know her from somewhere...
Not the greatest story ever told, but definitely among the best.
| What: | Jubilee (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
|
| By: | Brett Gabbatt, Halifax, Canada |
|
| Date: | Monday 10 February 2003 |
|
| Rating: | 10 |
Quite a unique storyline with some wonderfully uncharacteristic Dalek scenes.
| | |
| Better than most seem to think |
|
| | |
Refreshing, new, and a fantastic alternative story for the Doctor Who universe.
| | |
| generic title (there, happy now?) |
|
| | |
| What: | Seasons of Fear (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
|
| By: | Paul DeLong, Edison, New Jersey, USA |
|
| Date: | Sunday 2 February 2003 |
|
| Rating: | 9 |
Great story - a nice romp through time and a time-related mystery. Excellent music (the music had some serious atmosphere...). Though I wasn't happy about the hand-waving dismissal of the paradox at the end.
This felt a LOT like "Anachrophobia". I had to go back and check to see if it was the same author. It also felt a little bit like "Ghost Light".
All-in-all, I enjoyed the story, but it got overly sentimental and self-serving. Bordering on preachy. The stories seem to be focusing way too much on Charley and her past. To me, she's just a watered-down and less threatening version of Ace.
And what's with the "my poppet" thing. I was gettin really sick of hearing that expression. Enough already. If someone called me a puppet, I'd want to smack them. No, my limbs are not tethered to strings from an indeterminate location above me, so stop caling me that. In "Mrs. Doubtfire", Robin Williams' character used the word "moppet" all the time too. Is it an English thing?
I enjoyed this immensely. The "real" aliens were very comical. The cliffhangers were good. The noir was a nice added touch. My only complaint is that some of the characters were a bit stereotypical and hammy, but that only added to the humour of it all. A nice Who-style comedy.
| | |
| great music, a little high on melodrama |
|
| | |
The music stood out most of all in this story. It absoloutely set a very mournful bittersweet mood. I'd listen to this again just for the music.
The big revelation came as no surprise. And I got a little sick of the melodrama towards the end.
But Magrs' reference to "The Scarlet Empress" was priceless. I'm guessing some other utterances in that scene were also self-referential, but I haven't read some of his other stuff, so I can't be sure.
Though, for technical reasons, I can't see why people would be trapped in Venice. If it's the far future, then I'm sure people have more transportation options than just boats. But Paul Magrs is odd like that. Scarlet Empress was an odd mix of antiquity and futurism, so all bets are off with him.
| What: | Divided Loyalties (BBC Past Doctor novels) |
|
| By: | Holly Carver, England |
|
| Date: | Sunday 2 February 2003 |
|
| Rating: | 9 |
OK, just to get things straight, it's true I'm no die-hard Dr Who fan, true I haven't seen every ep there is or bought any collectable items off e-bay for £1000 or anything but I am a MAJOR fifth doctor obsessive, I guess being 15 and a girl when I first saw Peter Davison acting as him probably had something to do with it.
Anyway, having been collecting for the past 3 odd years anything Peter/Dr Who related, including all the eps and BBC books, I'd like to think I have quite a good grasp on the character and his companions and to be perfectly honest I really don't see why so many people have such a major problem with this book. It captures Peter's whole innocent-and-tourtured-by-any-type-of-immoral-action act and his whole dependence on his friends is very clear (everyone has seen Castrovalva right?). Plus I thought the idea of the Toymaker trying to turn the Doc's companions against him was quite a good one, considering the fifth Doctor is the one who was likely to be hurt most by such an action. The back story was also interesting and it was fun seeing a time when the Doctor and the Master were friends.
What is the huge problem everyone has with this story? it can't just be Adric (who I also happen to like by the way, but that's a different story altogether). This book has a lot going for it and the Toymaker, who is as I gather one of the more highly regarded villains (and certainly is by me, which makes me constantly devistated that the original William Hartnall ep is unavailable!), is handled brilliantly. Conceptions of Gary Russell seem to be constantly based on this one novel, and while that is a slightly unfair way to judge an author I am inclinded to feel that if that is the ways things must be then, far from viewing him negatively because of it, Gary should be praised for his achievements and I for one (and it really does seem the only one!) look forward quite eagerly to any knew project I know Gary to be involved in.
Give this book a break guys, true it has quite a bit of continuity in but if you're a Dr Who fan why should it bother you? we understand it all and that's the important thing right? To be fair, I wouldn't think of recomending this book to anyone who wasn't a long term fan, but I do think this book has been grossly overcriticised and hope this review (small as it is) will be able to somehow stand out in it's defense.
| What: | The Infinity Race (BBC Eighth Doctor novels) |
|
| By: | John Ellison, Atlanta, Georgia, USA |
|
| Date: | Sunday 2 February 2003 |
|
| Rating: | 5 |
Careful what you wish for, you just might get it. I have on occassion found myself wishing for a return to the "classic" Doctor Who stories and this novel delivers just that. Sadly, it never seems to stray from the "formulaic" into new teritory. At times the book even calls attention to its stereotyping when the characters point out specific examples.
This one left me wanting after the last several have seemed so very strong. I am also getting a little bored with Sabbath--he is no substitute for the Master and the teaser about his "masters" is just getting pushed a little too far. How about some revelations now?
This was a poor start for what is supposedly a new arch in the series. Never the less, I will aptly await the next novel!
| What: | Fear of the Dark (BBC Past Doctor novels) |
|
| By: | Holly Carver, England |
|
| Date: | Sunday 2 February 2003 |
|
| Rating: | 10 |
Typical Tegan, typical Nyssa, fifth doctor nicely handled and most of all no confusing plots relating to Gallifrey, God-like beings or the Doctors past (not that those types of stories aren't great, i just seem to have had rather too many of them lately)- overall, nice, standard Dr Who at it's best, with the added bonus of being able to take the situation slightly further than was possible with the TV series at the time. True, there is probably slightly more violence than was strictly necessary, but then again in terms of deaths the story is not dissimilar to "Warriors of the Deep" except that the absence of having the monsters visualised for you makes them much more convincing! one of the better fifth doctor past adventures so far.
Planet Of Gaints is a nice short story especially for the time period of the 60's the sets for it were great!
| | |
| Innocent Era and Mick Lewis Don't Mix |
|
| | |
I had read Rags, Mick Lewis' other book and though I thought it was too graphic, I though it did have an admirably creepy atmosphere that made checking out his future books seem worthwhile.
I dislike Combat Rock. No, I take that back, I despise Combat Rock. Never have I wanted to burn a Doctor Who book until now.
Is it because Doc 2 is my favorite, because I don't like gore, extreme violence, or think mixing the most unlikely things just because it can be done is a good enough reason? All of the above I guess.
I've heard the era of the 2nd Doctor called the most innocent of the Doctor Who eras. I would agree with that. That being the case, it just doesn't make sense to me to mix Mick Lewis and the 2nd Doctor together. It's like oil and water. The gore, extreme violence, mix in a little sexual content, force the character of Victoria to watch people being killed brutally... Maybe if you disliked the 2nd Doctor, didn't like the innocence of Victoria would you come up with a story like this written by Mick Lewis.
Another aspect of the story was the author's voice coming through too clearly in Victoria. I get the distinct feeling that Mick Lewis strongly dislikes the character, her time period so chooses her voice to speak for him in questioning colonialization. I don't disagree with what he says, but he's so heavy handed that his voice speaking through her seems jarringly wrong.
And the Doctor does nothing much until the end, is cardboard and is portrayed as mostly helpless.
I think that not everyone's way of writing, how they prefer to write fits DW. Mick Lewis is definately one. Especially for the 2nd Doc.
If you don't mind lots of violence, gore, some sexual content, cardboard characters with cardboard motivations, a poorly done Doctor portrayed as helpless, the author speaking strongly through Victoria making it a poor characterization and a muddled story composed of cannibalism, murder and running around the forest trying to keep from being killed horribly, this book may be for you after all. If you like something different than the usual Doc 2 stories, this is definately it.
| What: | The Face-Eater (BBC Eighth Doctor novels) |
|
| By: | Phil Ince, UK |
|
| Date: | Thursday 16 January 2003 |
|
| Rating: | 9 |
A neglected little gem.
It absolutely belts along. Very trad - very much has the vigour of the TVs with complimentary / opposing personalities in a threatened setting. Some fun, gentle digs from the Doctor at the companion, Sam - a sometimes irksome, even self-important girl, whose mouth almost lands them in touble.
Nice capturing of that archetypal DW moment when - appearing in the wrong place, at the wrong time - the Doctor's personality and manner overcome the inevitable suspicion and hostility. Neatly done.
No sign of required prior knowledge, either. The sort of straightforward, well-written book that - after crawling through the wan prose of Scarlet Empress - is a treat to take to bed. 9 / 10.
This is quite simply the best novelisation of a Doctor Who story. Writing for the Daleks is hard, as I've seen in other Dalek stories. So, instead of trying to turn them into more human characters, Aaronovitch goes the other way towards making them even more machine like, which is completely the way to go, and I'm sure influenced the way John Peel did Power of the Daleks and Evil of the Daleks. Fantastic!
