a lifeline for stranded time travellers

[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.

Comments

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

Actually "Beautiful Chaos" is beautiful - Gary Russell's got Donna and Ten and Wilf spot on - and he makes Donna's mum into an actually sympathetic character.

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!

[livii.livejournal.com]

I read some of these: Ten Little Aliens was a mixed bag. I looked up my review and it had stone angels? And apparently I thought they were way scarier than Moffat's, haha. It also apparently had a choose-your-own-adventure partway through! It says something that I don't remember any of this, though. I feel like it didn't have a very accurate Ben and Polly either. But I think it's worth reading. Polly wears a daffodil-yellow spacesuit. That is worth it right there.

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.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

The only Ninth Doctor book I've read, and it is ace.

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!

[usuallyhats]

And Festival of Death is REALLY good!
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. :(

[usuallyhats]

I remember the yellow spacesuit! But not the choose-your-own-adventure bit, I must've not got that far. I'll have to fish it out and have another go.

Hee, yes! It did capture that era very nicely.

Me too! Her writing is so good.

[usuallyhats]

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.

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.

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

I may have to re-read FoD!

Shame about Beautiful Chaos.