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 | Two-narrative - it works! |
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| What: | Heart of TARDIS (BBC Past Doctor novels) |
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| By: | JG, Gallifrey, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Thursday 17 February 2011 |
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| Rating: |   9 |
First off, most shows/books don't work with a two-way narrative; it's usually one Main Plot, then a Sub-plot. The good things with this book, is that the two-way narrative works brilliantly within these pages - one section/chapter of the Second Doctor with Jamie & Victoria, stuck, trying to find their way out of Lychburg. then one section/chapter with the Fourth Doctor and Romana (I), being either kidnapped, shot at, seperated or all 3! The Second Doctor's narrative is a nice, slow pace just him, Jamie & Victoria finding their way out of the time-convergant, time-folding town of Lychburg. In this, The Doctor's don't actually meet, the closest, encounter they have, is where, the Fourth Doctor, and Romana (I) are hiding under, the Console, in the Second Doctor's Tardis, as the Second Doctor, Jamie & Victoria, come in, discuss, some idea's, then leave, "Pheew, that was close."
My favorite part, must be where, Crowley, & Delbane, are revealed to be, not humans, but as Demons(!) inhabiting, the bodies, of (Fake, synthetic) Crowley, and (Synthetic, but with real human memories) Delbane.
I would've rated this a 10, but becuase of the Second & Fourth, Doctor's never actually meet (Face-to-face). So, it's a 9.
| What: | City of Death (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Huw Davies, Taunton, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Sunday 13 February 2011 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
The plot of 'City of Death' is many things - wacky, mad, complicated... but above all, it's brilliant.
The plot twists and turns as we journey from prehistoric Earth, to 20th century Paris, then to 16th century Florence, then back to Paris, followed by another visit to prehistoric Earth... not once does 'City of Death' get boring. The cliffhangers to Parts One and Two are shocking and effective (Part Three's is too run of the mill for me). The character of Scaroth/Scarlioni is played expertly by Julian "Richard the Lionheart" Glover, as is Tom Chadbon's Duggan, and of course we have the hilarious Tom Baker and the lovely Lalla Ward.
The structure of the plot ensures it has a great pace to it, though thankfully there are not too many characters to get confused with. My one gripe is that the ending, after Scaroth returns to Paris with Herman throwing the vase and starting the fire, is too rushed, and the Doctor's explanation isn't really enough.
Overall - brilliant, thoroughly recommended: and my new favourite story!
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| Doctor Who ist in der Keller |
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| What: | The Mind of Evil (TV episode audio soundtracks) |
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| By: | Huw Davies, Taunton, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Friday 11 February 2011 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
'The Mind of Evil' is a pulsatingly quick Doctor Who story. This tale of global peace conferences, gas warfare and alien mind attack is a clever and thoughtful tale. It is a brilliant example of 1970s Earth-bound Who.
This CD comes with linking narration by Richard Franklin, who played Captain Yates. The reading is dramatic without being over the top, and there are two short interesting interviews on either disc.
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| This was a terrific book. |
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| What: | The Deviant Strain (BBC New Series Adventures novels) |
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| By: | C G Harwood, Dunedin, NZ, New Zealand |
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| Date: | Monday 7 February 2011 |
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| Rating: | 9 |
On tv a few years ago there was a documentary about a naval base in Russia that has all these old leaky ship and submarines. The people looked old and sick and all the ships and sub were rusty and poisoning everything around them. I had the visions of this documentary in my head all the way threw this book.
Justin Richards has captured the felling of freezing cold and horrible place to live very very well. I actually felt dirty and cold as I read this.
The Doctor and Rose are written very well. but I was very impressed at how he wrote Cpt Jack, the main thing to remember in this book is that Cpt Jack can die as Bad Wolf/Parting of the Ways hasn't happened yet, and that made his situations more exciting considering he was probably under the most threat in this book ( and the scene in the sub with the two Russian commandos was brilliant.).
The blue blobs with tentacles were very well done and would love to see something similar in TV Dr Who. But the thing that got me about this book was the body count, this was a blood bath.
This book almost had an Aleans feel about it with the marines keeping the Blobby monsters back, and getting killed one by one. while trying to protect the civilians.
I love Richards writing and he didn't let me down. The only nit-pick I have was that it seemed to end very quickly. But this is defiantly the best 9th Dr novel I have read so far.
| What: | The Brilliant Book 2011 (Miscellaneous annuals) |
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| By: | Earle DL Foster, Invercargill, New Zealand |
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| Date: | Friday 4 February 2011 |
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| Rating: | 9 |
This book certainly pays homage to the recently seen fifth BBC season, and the Eleventh Doctor's subsequent introduction into the time space fray.
But it also explores partially mentioned (but never properly elaborated) aspects of the series, a prime example being past encounters by a certain portly British Prime Minister with former incarnations of the Doctor leading up to the climactic "Victory of the Daleks". One can even learn how to perform the "Drunken Giraffe" celebration dance at their best friend's upcoming wedding nuptials!
There is even a nice artistic connection to the Target novelisation series, with key components of each episode in Matt Smith's official first season lavishly illustrated in a potential cover, from "The Eleventh Hour" to the season finale, namely "The Pandorica Opens" and "The Big Bang".
I've just read this locally purchased and brand new publication, and would personally recommend to all and sundry nostalgia hunters. While there is admittedly nothing new that hasn't been already seen on television already, don't be nonetheless fooled into therefore believing that you won't necessarily find anything new either.
| What: | Father Time (BBC Eighth Doctor novels) |
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| By: | MyGeekLife, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA |
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| Date: | Wednesday 2 February 2011 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
The Earth arc has so far surpassed all of my expectations. It seems to have given the writers an incredible sense of liberty when it comes to the Doctor's evolving characterization. This book in particular did everything it had to do and more. It is also a bit of a love story to all things classic Doctor Who. There are robots, murderous aliens, the audacious hijacking of the Space Shuttle, exciting fight sequences, even a political rebellion or two, but through it all the book never descends into pastiche, and never loses its heart.
In The Turing Test, by far one of my favorite books ever, Doctor Who or otherwise, the Doctor is just coming to terms with the certainty that he isn't human, that he's trapped on a planet that isn't his, and that knowledge, that certainty, has left him desperate and isolated. Alone, melancholy, and a very dangerous man. Endgame, while forgettable, shows the Doctor as beset by ennui, as depressed and soul weary as we'd ever seen him. But if this arc is to end, and Father Time to end it, it would take some incredibly believable character growth and some real, understandable, human reasons to bring the Doctor out of it. Father Time admirably takes on this challenge and succeeds brilliantly.
In many ways, it's the first novel since before Shadows of Avalon where the Doctor seems to have some of the dreadful weight of recent events off his shoulders. And everything that's happened to him isn't brushed away or forgotten. It's dealt with. At the start of the book, he is still absolutely lonely, melancholy, prone to tears. It is only when he gains a daughter, the likable, mysterious, Miranda, that he begins the process of healing.
In raising a daughter, the Doctor finally finds something to fight for once again, finally finds a reason to care for something greater than himself. And that changes him, or should I say, reminds him of who he was. Somebody who had never been afraid to care, as he has been throughout the Earth arc. The fact that raising a child is what brings him back and reminds him of what is truly important is not only believable, it is remarkable in a very human way. Definitely read this book!
| What: | A Christmas Carol (BBC new series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Earle DL Foster, Invercargill, New Zealand |
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| Date: | Monday 31 January 2011 |
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| Rating: | 8 |
A touching little festive romp with plenty of Dickensian alludement, intermingled with just enough stereotypical Moffat weirdness, combining to produce a semi-happy ending for all involved. A promising start for the Eleventh Doctor Christmas special concept, strikingly different from the usual "alien invasion" theme beforehand.
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| The adventures of Womulus and Wemus |
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| What: | The Twin Dilemma (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Huw Davies, Taunton, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Sunday 30 January 2011 |
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| Rating: | 2 |
'The Twin Dilemma' is a naff Doctor Who story if there ever was one. The costumes and design is bad all round (look out for Hugo Lang's Quality Street wrapper jumper, and the Bacofoil computer console). Also I think the decision to make Colin Baker overtly hostile towards Peri was a mistake - it might have been OK in just Part 1 but the fact it continues through Parts 2-4 is questionable.
The twins Romulus and Remus are too wussy and ineffectual, and their line delivery is boring and stunted. However Maurice Denham and Edwin Richfield's Azmael and Mestor are at least well acted, even if the latter looks like a mouldy sleeping bag!
Overall - rubbish!
A shame they stopped Baker in his tracks one season on, because I really think he's now settled. This story is a really excellent one, and the script is a good mix. Well done, Saward. For those doubters, give it another go! :)
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| Lovecraft eat your heart out |
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Lurkers is a great story inspired by lovecraft and gothic horror. Strange islands, lurkers from another world, symbols, voices and lots of mad crazy people.
Ace has a great story and with a strong performance.
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| Flying fish or flying sharks |
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Relative dimensions calms the series down with a soft, fun story for christmas.
Nothing outstanding but enjoyable, the only issue is after watching the terrible flying shark on the TV xmas special, hearing a flying pet fish on the xmas audio, lost it for me.
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| Everything comes to a head |
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In this second installment, the Ice Warriors are pushed into the back ground. The subplot explodes bringing everything together nicely.
As before the monk is great, tackling the Doctors views; judging, twisting his impact on the web of time and turning his companions.
Where does it go from here.
I've always moaned about ice warrior voices on audio. However this time it works.
Demos is a classic who story and again a powerful twist carrying along the sub plot.
Another interesting twist is everyone challenging the doctor's views and beliefs. As a listener you get pulled in asking what would I do - "leg it and save myself"
The Book of Kells is a good fun story and I'm pleased to say the doctor's new companion starts to come out of her shell with some great one liners.
The introduction of an old foe and a great twist brings series 4 to a new level.
| What: | The Ark (Target novelisations) |
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| By: | C G Harwood, Dunedin, NZ, New Zealand |
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| Date: | Saturday 22 January 2011 |
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| Rating: | 8 |
My least favorite companion out of ALL Dr Who - be it TV, Audio, Classic and New series is Dodo. I made the mistake of watching this then reading it, and every-time I read one of her lines I could see that smug little chipmunk face and rolled my eyes (I actually tried to wipe her out of this story and put in Zoe or Susan :)).
Apart from that I loved this book more than I thort I would. It is a very good adaption of the TV story and the writer takes his time to expand on it. I would sagest thoe you read it first then watch the episode.
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| I really wanted to like this book. |
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| What: | Nuclear Time (BBC New Series Adventures novels) |
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| By: | C G Harwood, Dunedin, NZ, New Zealand |
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| Date: | Saturday 22 January 2011 |
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| Rating: | 4 |
My summary really says what I have to say about this book. When we have a new writer in the world of Dr Who I want to give them a chance, but this book is just confusing! When the Doctor starts doing everything backwards I just lost interest in it. I found myself having to read parts then re read them. And to be perfectly honest I finished reading this about a week ago and have already forgotten how it ended - never a good sign with me.
I think Oli Smith tried to do something a little diffrent and it failed to deliver for me. Will put it down to first book jitters for him so will not ignore anymore books he writes (hopefully he will get another go) but all I can say to Mr Smith is 'STRIKE ONE!"
| What: | The Glamour Chase (BBC New Series Adventures novels) |
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| By: | C G Harwood, Dunedin, NZ, New Zealand |
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| Date: | Saturday 22 January 2011 |
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| Rating: | 7 |
This was a good book, and all the main characters are written very well, especially Rory. The plot rolled along at a good pace. The only problem I had with it was the main aleans were made of wool? It just seamed a strange thing for a life form to be made out of.
This is an excellent book. The living Dark and the gathering black. A world of bleak secrets. The fifth Doctor is a good choice for this story. Events simply knot around his innocent neck tighter and tighter.
The author has clearly thought through the claustrophobia of darkness. He understands the ambiance. The fear and the philosophy of shadow. The setting is bleak and enhances the everything in a hushed expectation, as if the stillness itself is potentially ready to eat the characters. And the threat eventually turns out to be unusual and effective.
I specifically watch for novels whose authors try to recreate a genuinely suspenseful, threatening atmosphere in words. Not many such books exist. Fewer still succeed. It is an rare talent, and I treasure such books when they occasionally do rise out of the rest.
This will give you nightmares. One or two, at least. Blundering about in shadow with something that wants the eat you has a way of gripping the mind. The Doctor barely has enough light to see what is around him - in every way. Even the TARDIS isn't safe. Everything is seen from a slightly fearful angle. The familiar becomes threatening and hostile. I wish there were more novels in the range like this.
What a story. It was exactly what I needed. A treasure.
First off when I read what this was about I pictured the doctor giving a group of hunters a merry chase and outwitting them all the way but he's actually not in the book that much. It's mostly about a bunch of side characters.(although the doctors biggest fan is interesting) Also the author seems to think Donna is attracted to the Doctor which is way out of character. The narration is terrible. Simon Messingham oviously has no idea what the Doctor or Donna are supposed to sound like, But Donna has a few good moments with the main bad guy and the Doctor's biggest fan is adorable so I'm cutting it a little slack.
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| Cyberman DVD boxset? Excellent... |
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The fact that these two Cybermen stories have been released together is a blessing - the metal men from Telos (or Mondas, depending on your outlook) haven't appeared on shiny discs since March of 2009. Then we had the disappointingly average 'Attack of the Cybermen', but here we have two more substantial stories.
'Revenge of the Cybermen' is a clever piece, reusing sets from 'The Ark in Space' but setting the story thousands of years earlier. The story is well thought-out and every character is nicely portrayed, Jeremy "Virgil from Thunderbirds" Wilkin is especially menacing as Kellman. The main gripe with this story is the realisation of the Vogans, and the studio parts of Voga - "silly old men" sums up the costumes nicely!
'Silver Nemesis' is set in present-day England, and tells of the search for the legendary Nemesis statue by 4 different parties: Herr de Flores and his neo-Nazis, medieval sorceress Lady Peinforte, the Doctor and Ace and of course the Cybermen. These several threads of story are a double-edged sword: though they keep the story zipping along with pace, they unfortunately can make the story seem confusing. One other gripe I have is with Lady Peinforte - she is incredibly annoyingly portrayed and she seems to be so up herself: maybe the author intended this but it is something I don't believe works!
