a lifeline for stranded time travellers
Wednesday, 24 October 2012 16:53![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
usuallyhats
Ooh, look, the BBC are reissuing some Doctor Who books for the 50th anniversary! I have thoughts on them.
Ten Little Aliens by Stephen Cole (One, Ben, Polly): ...I still haven't finished this one, six years after starting it. (I haven't been reading it all that time, I put it down and have yet to pick it up again.) Which is odd, because I usually like Stephen Cole's stuff. Maybe I'll try again now I've actually seen Ben and Polly's episodes.
Dreams of Empire by Justin Richards (Two, Jamie, Victoria): I remember quite liking this one. It's not transcendently amazing, but it's pretty solid, and it captures the Second Doctor's voice pretty well, which a lot of stuff doesn't.
Last of the Gaderene by Mark Gatiss (Three, Jo, UNIT): Remembers that Jo has UNIT training, hurray! Other than that, it's a fun, fairly straightforward UNIT era story.
Festival of Death by Jonathan Morris (Four, Romana II, K9): Haven't read it! This is the one I'm most likely to buy, but I will be sad about it not matching the rest of my PDAs.
Fear of the Dark by Trevor Baxendale (Five, Tegan, Nyssa): I have read this but remember nothing about it. I don't think I hated it?
Players by Terrance Dicks (Six, Peri, Two): I liked this one, but isn't it part of a trilogy? A loose trilogy, but nevertheless...
Remembrance of the Daleks by Ben Aaronovitch (Seven, Ace) Haven't read it, but the TV story's great, and I can't imagine that the novelisation isn't. Ben Aaronovitch ♥!
EarthWorld by Jacqueline Rayner (Eight, Fitz, Anji) YES. One of my favourites. It's funny, the regulars are great, and it's a good place to start with the EDAs: it's the beginning of both a new era and a run of (mostly) really excellent books. Plus, dinosaurs.
Only Human by Gareth Roberts (Nine, Jack, Rose) The only Ninth Doctor book I've read, and it is ace.
Beautiful Chaos by Gary Russell (Ten, Donna): Haven't read it, probably won't as am tragically allergic to the Tenth Doctor.
The Silent Stars Go By by Dan Abnett (Eleven, Amy, Rory): Haven't read it and now have "O Little Town of Bethlehem" in my head a good month too early. I might get this one too. Ponds! Ice Warriors! :D? Or I might just get it from the library.
In conclusion: if you only get one of these, make it EarthWorld! Unless you've already got EarthWorld. Also, those are some pretty covers.
Ten Little Aliens by Stephen Cole (One, Ben, Polly): ...I still haven't finished this one, six years after starting it. (I haven't been reading it all that time, I put it down and have yet to pick it up again.) Which is odd, because I usually like Stephen Cole's stuff. Maybe I'll try again now I've actually seen Ben and Polly's episodes.
Dreams of Empire by Justin Richards (Two, Jamie, Victoria): I remember quite liking this one. It's not transcendently amazing, but it's pretty solid, and it captures the Second Doctor's voice pretty well, which a lot of stuff doesn't.
Last of the Gaderene by Mark Gatiss (Three, Jo, UNIT): Remembers that Jo has UNIT training, hurray! Other than that, it's a fun, fairly straightforward UNIT era story.
Festival of Death by Jonathan Morris (Four, Romana II, K9): Haven't read it! This is the one I'm most likely to buy, but I will be sad about it not matching the rest of my PDAs.
Fear of the Dark by Trevor Baxendale (Five, Tegan, Nyssa): I have read this but remember nothing about it. I don't think I hated it?
Players by Terrance Dicks (Six, Peri, Two): I liked this one, but isn't it part of a trilogy? A loose trilogy, but nevertheless...
Remembrance of the Daleks by Ben Aaronovitch (Seven, Ace) Haven't read it, but the TV story's great, and I can't imagine that the novelisation isn't. Ben Aaronovitch ♥!
EarthWorld by Jacqueline Rayner (Eight, Fitz, Anji) YES. One of my favourites. It's funny, the regulars are great, and it's a good place to start with the EDAs: it's the beginning of both a new era and a run of (mostly) really excellent books. Plus, dinosaurs.
Only Human by Gareth Roberts (Nine, Jack, Rose) The only Ninth Doctor book I've read, and it is ace.
Beautiful Chaos by Gary Russell (Ten, Donna): Haven't read it, probably won't as am tragically allergic to the Tenth Doctor.
The Silent Stars Go By by Dan Abnett (Eleven, Amy, Rory): Haven't read it and now have "O Little Town of Bethlehem" in my head a good month too early. I might get this one too. Ponds! Ice Warriors! :D? Or I might just get it from the library.
In conclusion: if you only get one of these, make it EarthWorld! Unless you've already got EarthWorld. Also, those are some pretty covers.
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no subject
Date: 24 Oct 2012 16:40 (UTC)Plus it's a great sequel to the Four & Sarah Jane story 'Masque of Mandragora'.
(GR is my fave New Who writer because he's actually sympathetic to Martha and Donna - and he doesn't make Ten a total twat.)
I've got the unabridged audio of Silent Stars - must actually give a listen sometime (I started it but didn't finish). And Festival of Death is REALLY good!
no subject
Date: 27 Oct 2012 14:00 (UTC)Hurray! Definitely want that one, then.
Alas, I don't think I can put up with Ten for a whole book, even if it is otherwise brilliant. :(
no subject
Date: 27 Oct 2012 14:31 (UTC)Shame about Beautiful Chaos.
no subject
Date: 25 Oct 2012 04:33 (UTC)Last of the Gadarene was like having another UNIT-era story, but one you could carry around in your pocket. :)
And Earthworld was indeed wonderful. I love Jacqueline Rayner.
no subject
Date: 27 Oct 2012 14:05 (UTC)Hee, yes! It did capture that era very nicely.
Me too! Her writing is so good.
no subject
Date: 26 Oct 2012 02:01 (UTC)I've got to wave a flag for Winner Takes All and Stealers of Dreams. Those are Nine books that I reread all the time with great pleasure.
I kind of wish they were coming out with some new books... I already *have* most of these!
no subject
Date: 27 Oct 2012 14:09 (UTC)Ooo, cool, I shall have to see if the library has them.
There are some new classic-era books coming out, aren't there? *checks* Stephen Baxter's just done one, and there's an Alastair Reynolds one coming up. More would be good, though! Or reprints of the really hard to find ones.