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Well, after dragging through the first half of this book, I was pleasantly surprised. The second half really made up for the slow beginning and all things were definitely explained to eliminate the confusion caused by certain plot twists.
| What: | Lungbarrow (New Adventures novels) |
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| By: | Simon Ferns, Sydney, Australia |
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| Date: | Tuesday 26 March 2002 |
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| Rating: |   1 |
Overblown, overegged, overlong. As pretentious and as bad as Ghostlight and Cat's Cradle. Get me an aspirin.
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 | A (fairly) remarkable book |
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Initially a little difficult to feel 'drawn' into the contiuum of the novel, ultimately I was entranced by the descriptions of the alien races described here.
It is clearly not easy to describe what amounts to an utterly alien culture - with a variety of sub-cultures - as well as a phtsical appearnace that takes some getting used to.
The author , however, succeeds not the once, with the age old Venusians, but twice, with the Sou(ou)shi - ultimately revealed as more preying mantix than humanoid.
As the story of a decaying, though ancient, civilisation - some billions of years before life begins on Earth - unfolds, a genuine sense of both sadness and belonging emerges.
The Doctor, Ian and Barbara - all in their separate ways - once again find themselves drawn into the fears and hopes of their hosts. A surprsing amount of true 'horror' also exhibits itself, as the Sou(ou)shi are properly revealed.
All in all a (fairly) reamrkable book. I thorughly recommend it.
I was expecting a lot from Mad Dogs and was unfortunately dissapointed. It wasn't very funny and the threadbare plot reveloved around a concept that was just plain silly.
I realise that after the shock of 'Adventuress' and it being the 100th novel they wanted to do something a little lighthearted but the story totally undermines what's just been going on and throws the series off track. I think I would have appreciated this more if it had come before 'Adventuress'. As it was, I was wanting to know how the Doctor was dealing with the loss of his heart, how the others felt to be travelling again after a year in 1782 etc. Whilst these are more gripes with the range, I felt the novel was spoiled by its' inability to deal with these issues. The story itself was too inconsequential to stop me wondering about the continuity problems.
After getting a bit bored with the range of late I was very pleasantly surprised by the new direction this novel took it in. The writing style was unique (for the series) and engaging, whilst creating an intriguing story. This book actually makes one think about what will happen next and the consequences of actions are dealt with. There is obviously not going to be a reset button at the end and one can only feel that the characters are all the more real for it. This literary version of the eigth Doctor is having a hard time but his adventures (if they continue along this vein) are unlike anything he's ever encounted before- that can only be a good thing to keep people interested.
In dealing with issues of witchcraft and magic in general the book does a good job, it doesn't specifically break the 'science comes first' rule of the series as the incantations are often representations of scientific concepts. There's also a neat explanation of the Doctor's use of 20th century technology on his advanced machine!
| What: | I, Who 2 (I, Who books) |
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| By: | Ryan, Canada |
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| Date: | Wednesday 27 February 2002 |
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| Rating: | 8 |
I, WHO 2 is a fine work which gives you a good gist of what is going on
in the books. To give it a failing grade is ridiculous in the extreme.
This version may not a step up from the original as one might hope but
it certainly maintains the high quality of th original.
Right, lets get one thing straight before we begin. I’ve never really been a follower of the PDAs (Previous Doctor Adventures) apart from the seventh Doctor range, as I didn’t join the WHOniverse until Sylvester was treading the boards.
Thus, I’m not too familiar with the 6th Doctor’s print adventures, but while I was waiting for Relative Dementias and Hope, I needed a stop-gap tale to tide me over. So, I picked up Instruments of Darkness by long time Who scribe Gary Russell.
Well, slap me with a rusty TARDIS, its really rather good. The dialogue fits perfectly with the larger-than-life mental image of Colin Baker’s Doctor, and well I never, Mr. Russell has managed to make Mel ALOT less annoying, whilst still putting her across as Bonnie Langford’s character. Quite an achievement there!
The plot, concerning a supposed shadow government controlling the world’s nations, is a rip-roaring yarn full of twists and thrills. I’ll not give too much away about the plot, as I’d be going on all day, but rest assured it grips you until the final page. The quality of the writing, as ever from Gary, is superb, and aside from a couple of typos, there is very little that I would change.
Evelyn Smythe plays a chunky part in the story, aiding the Doctor and Mel on their quest to discover the truth about the Magnate and its operatives. She is a wonderfully rounded character considering her allotted space, and the scene set in a library in Sheffield during which there is mayhem galore involving her and Mel had me on the edge of my proverbial seat.
Instruments of Darkness, while maybe not everyone’s cup of battery acid, is certainly a damn fine traditional Doctor Who story that I would (and have done) recommend to any DW fan in need of their fix.
8.5/10
Andy
This special tin features the William Hartnell finale The Tenth Planet along with the Colin Baker tale Attack of the Cybermen. Both videos have special features.
Tenth is the first Cyberman and regeneration story. Unfortunately, episode four is missing. However, there is a special reconstruction for it, like the one on The Ice Warriors tape, using telesnaps and off-air recordings. Existing clips e.g. the regeneration are used as well.
In Attack, the Cybermen are trying to knock Halley’s comet off its course and send it crashing into the Earth. This story features the return of Commander Lytton (Resurrection of the Daleks) and references to Tenth. At the start of the tape, there is a clip from Saturday Swapshop featuring Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant and Jacqueline Pearce (Servalon in Blake’s 7).
It’s hard to say which is the best story but I’ll let you decide. This tin is a must have for Doctor Who fans.
| What: | The Dæmons (BBC classic series videos) |
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| By: | Bob, London |
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| Date: | Saturday 16 February 2002 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
I can't understand why this story doesn't get into everyone's top ten list.It's a cracking good tale from begining to end with all the regulars on top form.
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| Not given the credit it deserves |
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| What: | The Web Planet (BBC classic series videos) |
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| By: | Bob, London |
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| Date: | Saturday 16 February 2002 |
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| Rating: | 7 |
Although this stroy gets rubbished quite a lot I think it is rather good.Perhaps it's because I can
remember how eerie it seemed as a child.I think the sets and lighting create a much more effective 'alien' landscape than any quarry and the Menoptera are a lovely creation:sad and noble at the same time,with lovely voices and choreography.They really come a cross as an alien species.The story has it's weaknesses but it's a
lot better than people give it credit for and it's genuinely imaginative and original.
| What: | The Dæmons (BBC classic series videos) |
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| By: | Tom Lingwood, Broseley, Shropshire |
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| Date: | Friday 15 February 2002 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
This is my favourite Doctor Who story. It features the Doctor (Jon Pertwee), Jo Grant, the Master, the Brigadier, Sergeant Benton and Captain Mike Yates. It is my favourite Doctor Who story because it was the first complete story I saw when it was repeated in 1992. Also, it is the third 5-part story (the other being the Troughton serials The Dominators and The Mind Robber) and hasn’t got a dull moment. The best line is when the Brigadier says “Jenkins, chap with wings. Five rounds rapid!”
The plot involves Professor Horner attempting to break into Devil’s Hump in the village of Devil’s End. The Doctor and Jo go to stop him but fail. The professor is killed when he opens the barrow. Meanwhile, the Master is posing as Reverend Magister and is trying to awake a Dæmon named Azal, who’ll appear after 3 ceremonies. The Doctor soon learns of this. Can he stop the Master?
This story has great performances, especially Damaris Hayman as Miss Hawthorne. Also, look out for a cameo by Dalek operator John Scott Martin as a villager in Episode Three at the Master’s meeting and in Episode Five look out for Matthew Corbett (who later became Sooty presenter after buying the rights off his late father and Sooty creator Harry Corbett) as one of the Master’s devil worshippers. This serial was recoloured in 1992 although Episode Four is PAL colour. The Dæmons is a must-have for Doctor Who fans.
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| What's wrong with people? These 2 are OK |
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This tin features Colony in Space and The Time Monster starring Jon Pertwee as the Doctor and Roger Delgado as the Master. Over the years, people have said these two stories are the two worst Pertwee stories but I like them.
Colony is the first Third Doctor adventure in space. The Time Lords discover the Master has stolen the file on the Doomsday Weapon, the most powerful weapon in the galaxy. They send the Doctor and Jo Grant to investigate. Arriving on the planet Exarius in the year 2472, they must a group of colonists from Earth, who are having trouble growing crops and are in dispute with the IMC men, also from Earth. Things take a turn when an Adjudicator from Earth arrives… This serial features appearances by Coronation Street’s Helen ‘Gail Platt’ Worth and EastEnder’s Tony ‘Roy Evans’ Caunter.
Time Monster finds the Master posing as a professor and is trying to control Kronos the Chronovore, who is the guardian of the Kronos Crystal. The Master has part of the crystal. The rest is in Atlantis. The villainous Time Lord travels there to get it. However, the Doctor and Jo are in hot pursuit… This story features appearances by Hammer Horror actress Ingrid Pitt and Dave Prowse (the Green Cross Code Man and Darth Vader in the Star Wars films).
In my opinion, Colony is the better of the two. The best thing about this tin is that both stories are 6 parts long and both are on one tape each. There are a few disappointments: the screen goes black and white twice for two seconds for the title sequences of episodes 1 and 2 of Colony, episode 3 of Time Monster is poor American quality, the sound goes quiet for a minute of episode 6 of the same story and the Roger Delgado head on the front of the tin isn’t embossed like the Cyberman head on the previous year’s Cybermen tin. However, don’t let these put you down. A must for collectors.
| What: | The Paradise of Death (Target novelisations) |
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| By: | Tom Lingwood, Broseley, Shropshire |
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| Date: | Monday 11 February 2002 |
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| Rating: | 8 |
In 1993, 70’s producer Barry Letts wrote a 5 part radio serial entitled The Paradise of Death starring Jon Pertwee. It was broadcast over August and September 1993 on BBC Radio 5. In April 1994, the book was published. The radio serial was okay but the book is better. In it, we get scenes not shown on the radio like Onya’s origins. This book is a pleasant and enjoyable read and a good end to the Target series.
This book is numbered 156 in the Target Library (though the number and target logo don’t appear on the spine of the book) and this is the last in the series of the Target books. It’s okay numbered but it would’ve been better as a Missing Adventure (I’ve put Paradise among them in my collection). If only Letts waited a couple more months then it could’ve been a MA. However, it can be considered as an early MA.
| What: | Burning Heart (Missing Adventures novels) |
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| By: | Tom Lingwood, Broseley, Shropshire |
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| Date: | Monday 11 February 2002 |
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| Rating: | 4 |
I have a few words to say about this: unexciting, boring, rubbish and weird. Although slightly better than The English Way of Death (read my review), it is still awful.
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| The English Way of Boredom |
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| What: | The English Way of Death (Missing Adventures novels) |
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| By: | Tom Lingwood, Broseley, Shropshire |
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| Date: | Monday 11 February 2002 |
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| Rating: | 3 |
I hate this novel. In 1998, it was voted the best Missing Adventure in the 35th Anniversary poll by the Doctor Who Magazine. Last year, I found this book in a second hand bookshop for £2.50, so I brought it. I was hoping to have a good read but all I got was a load of drivel. It was boring and I couldn’t get into it. This is supposed to be the best MA? More like the worst! Avoid this at all costs. Get The Plotters instead.
| What: | I, Who 2 (I, Who books) |
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| By: | Sean-Paul Smith, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
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| Date: | Thursday 7 February 2002 |
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| Rating: | 3 |
Lars Pearson and co have delivered a second installment in their 'complete-Whonivese' encyclopedia. Like the first volume it is full of errors, spelling mistakes and terrible layout. Although I enjoyed the first volume (with all its flaws) I was hoping for something better. Hopefully a second revision is in the works...
Ordinarily, I enjoy Lawrence Miles' writing. Unfortunately, with this installment I was sadly disappointed. I can appreciate the artistic style, but I find "textbooks" to be difficult reading at the best of times. Sadly, the story was also lacking. The implications that "someone/something" must fill the void left by the destruction of Gallifrey is very intriguing but I never felt the book was really addressing the issue, only introducing more questions. I agree with Mr. Ford of London that it is good to see the books heading into truly uncharted territory; however, enough is enough. I want the DOCTOR to be more than human! I am tired of the constant "deconstruction" that seems to be the fashion of late. I long to see more of the "Time Lord" known as the Doctor along with the man the Doctor has become. But he never really made an appearance in "Adventuress..." My rating, a sad, sad 1.
| What: | Prime Time (BBC Past Doctor novels) |
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| By: | Anthony V., Queens, NY, USA |
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| Date: | Friday 1 February 2002 |
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| Rating: | 9 |
This book reads just like an episode of DOCTOR WHO; it were actually broadcast on TV, there would be almost nothing taken away from it, it was that vivid and exciting to read. I'm only sorry to say that I finished it in one day, whereas the books usually take a week! MORE MORE MORE!
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| Good runaround, tries to be too clever.. |
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Dave Stone's latest offering to the world of DW fiction is a good one. His writing style takes time getting used to, but once you've read a couple of his books you won't experience much difficulty.
THE GOOD:
-The Doctor's companions actually spend time with him
-The Plot isn't another alien(s) invades "put location here" novel.
-Jamon de la Rocas was a very good character and his first person sequences were really interesting.
-The scene where Anji confronts the Doctor about his behaviour.
-The cover.
THE BAD:
-Stone sometimes proves to be his own worst enemy by trying to be too clever. Most of the jokes in the book weren't funny. Although the Pokemon joke was funny.
-The ending is rushed almost as if Dave had to avoid exceeding a word limit.
-The opening scenes on Goronos were a little...odd.
Overall and enjoyable book. If you like weird and wacky novels, or just good runarounds this book is for you. 8/10
I recently finished reading City of the Dead and all I can say is awesome! This book kept me captivated the whole time. The descriptions of the city made me believe that I were really in New Orleans and I believe that there was not one dull moment in the whole book. And just when you thought the story was over, another plot twist was added to keep us wanting more.
The only thing that prevented me from giving this book a complete 10 was the fact that the dark force chasing the Doctor didn't seem quite as it was explained to be. The explanations seemed to point to it being related to the Doctor's memory loss and his recent search for the truth. Although the actual reason was explained and plausible, I would've liked to have seen the author relate it to what I thought it really was.
Overall this book is definitely worth the read.
