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 Customer Reviews
DOCTOR WHO 2009 ANNUAL, 09 Jan 2009
Right, well i'm going to start by saying that the comment that says that there are some errors is wrong, it's done purposly, it's a True or False page, so obviosly there are going to be some errors which are the FALSE answers. So don't let that comment put you off.
I am a HUGE Doctor Who fan and this was the perfect present for me! And for that price, it's sooo worth it!
LOVE IT! LOVE IT! LOVE IT!
kids will love it but does contain some errors..., 24 Dec 2008
bought this for my 6 year old cousin and i'm sure he'll adore it but just flicking through i happened to notice some clangers... like "current doctor... the ELEVENTH doctor" and "tardis - time and relative DIRECTION in space". shame about these typos, unsure if there are others. still a good buy though, a nice cheap present.
Great book, 17 Dec 2008
Barcode: 9781405904278
Well, for starters, this annual is gorgeous to look at! With it's foil cover and the red and gold of the Supreme Dalek, this book stands out a mile from the other annuals on the shelf and inside the book, everything is colourful and well laid-out too. Weighing in at 93 pages, it's got a lot in it too and is sure to keep Who fans occupied over the Christmas holidays.
Large bulks of the book is mostly just a retrospective of the recent series, pictures and short outlines detailing the monsters, planets and adventures found in the Doctor's TV adventures. It's all stuff we've seen before and can be a little tedious for fans already well-versed in the series, but younger readers are sure to love it, as they will the numerous puzzles and games scattered throughout the book too. There is also a few pages of Sarah Jane Adventures material to be found in here as well.
More of interest to older readers is the new material on offer here in the form of 3 comic strips and 2 short stories. While the plot of the first comic strip seems slightly rushed, the other 4 pieces of work are great stuff, slotting in well with the feel of series 4 and dealing with some surprisingly mature themes, such as euthanasia. We also get some quirky little pop culture references in the final comic strip, including Strictly Come Dancing and the Bee Gees, of all things. All in all then, this annual's a job well done, and makes for an ideal companion to the TV series.
A great gift for any Dr Who fan!, 02 Oct 2008
My son aged 10 is heavily into Dr Who and was dying to get this annual. He was impressed by this new one and found it both interesting and entertaining. Although a cheap gift he rated it above some of the PS2 games he was given!!! Would recommend this annual for any Dr Who fan.
If you like Doctor Who, you'll like this annual, 21 Aug 2008
Once again, the BBC have put together an excellent Doctor Who annual for all television fans of the programme, young and old. Gracing the front cover is the Doctor and the Red Dalek Supreme and Davros on the back cover, all on a silver foil backing which makes the annual 'stand out' amongst the rest!
Readers of BBC's Doctor Who Adventures comic will instantly recognise the format inside the annual. Every page is covered with facts and features on Series Four and readers are re-introduced to Donna, Martha, Sarah Jane, Rose and Jenny, as well as the Ood, Adipose, Master, Hath, Sontarans and, of course, Davros and his Daleks. With a mix of text story, comic strips and puzzles, this annual is a worthy accompaniment to the Doctor Who StorybookDoctor Who Storybook 2009 (Dr Who).
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Customer Reviews
DOCTOR WHO 2009 ANNUAL, 09 Jan 2009
Right, well i'm going to start by saying that the comment that says that there are some errors is wrong, it's done purposly, it's a True or False page, so obviosly there are going to be some errors which are the FALSE answers. So don't let that comment put you off.
I am a HUGE Doctor Who fan and this was the perfect present for me! And for that price, it's sooo worth it!
LOVE IT! LOVE IT! LOVE IT!
kids will love it but does contain some errors..., 24 Dec 2008
bought this for my 6 year old cousin and i'm sure he'll adore it but just flicking through i happened to notice some clangers... like "current doctor... the ELEVENTH doctor" and "tardis - time and relative DIRECTION in space". shame about these typos, unsure if there are others. still a good buy though, a nice cheap present.
Great book, 17 Dec 2008
Barcode: 9781405904278
Well, for starters, this annual is gorgeous to look at! With it's foil cover and the red and gold of the Supreme Dalek, this book stands out a mile from the other annuals on the shelf and inside the book, everything is colourful and well laid-out too. Weighing in at 93 pages, it's got a lot in it too and is sure to keep Who fans occupied over the Christmas holidays.
Large bulks of the book is mostly just a retrospective of the recent series, pictures and short outlines detailing the monsters, planets and adventures found in the Doctor's TV adventures. It's all stuff we've seen before and can be a little tedious for fans already well-versed in the series, but younger readers are sure to love it, as they will the numerous puzzles and games scattered throughout the book too. There is also a few pages of Sarah Jane Adventures material to be found in here as well.
More of interest to older readers is the new material on offer here in the form of 3 comic strips and 2 short stories. While the plot of the first comic strip seems slightly rushed, the other 4 pieces of work are great stuff, slotting in well with the feel of series 4 and dealing with some surprisingly mature themes, such as euthanasia. We also get some quirky little pop culture references in the final comic strip, including Strictly Come Dancing and the Bee Gees, of all things. All in all then, this annual's a job well done, and makes for an ideal companion to the TV series.
A great gift for any Dr Who fan!, 02 Oct 2008
My son aged 10 is heavily into Dr Who and was dying to get this annual. He was impressed by this new one and found it both interesting and entertaining. Although a cheap gift he rated it above some of the PS2 games he was given!!! Would recommend this annual for any Dr Who fan.
If you like Doctor Who, you'll like this annual, 21 Aug 2008
Once again, the BBC have put together an excellent Doctor Who annual for all television fans of the programme, young and old. Gracing the front cover is the Doctor and the Red Dalek Supreme and Davros on the back cover, all on a silver foil backing which makes the annual 'stand out' amongst the rest!
Readers of BBC's Doctor Who Adventures comic will instantly recognise the format inside the annual. Every page is covered with facts and features on Series Four and readers are re-introduced to Donna, Martha, Sarah Jane, Rose and Jenny, as well as the Ood, Adipose, Master, Hath, Sontarans and, of course, Davros and his Daleks. With a mix of text story, comic strips and puzzles, this annual is a worthy accompaniment to the Doctor Who StorybookDoctor Who Storybook 2009 (Dr Who).
Buy this book! Now!, 08 Jan 2009
Despite buying hundreds of items from Amazon over the years I have never felt the need to post a review - until now, that is.
I got this book for Christmas and I'm only half way through it, but I just had to add to the list of people praising it.
I'm not going to repeat what's already been written (it's one long chain of email correspondance, it's got lovely cartoons drawn by RTD, some great photos, he's very honest, he leaves writing his scripts til the last minute, he works WAY too hard....oh ok, maybe I have repeated everything), but it's not going too far to say it's the most enjoyable book I've ever read.
Yes I'm a huge Doctor Who fan and of course that adds to my enjoyment, but even if I didn't watch the show I'm certain this book would be just as enjoyable for all the insights into the mind of a writer.
It's fascinating to read his initial thoughts on how a story / episode will look, then follow the various reasons (casting, late scripts, budgets) as to why they had to change before going on air.
His pure enthusiasm for and dedication to the show just drips off the pages, as shown by his early thoughts regarding getting Kylie Minogue and Catherine Tate to appear in the show.
I personally will never label him as "lazy" after watching an episode of the Doc on Saturday again!
It'll certainly be very interesting to see how the show copes when the excellent Steven Moffat takes over in 2010, that's for sure.
If you're any sort of Doctor Who fan at all (note - some of it is unsuitable for kids) then you really should buy this amazing book.
What are you waiting for?? Buy this book now!
Final point - it's a pity when people leave a 1 star review for a book they probably haven't even read (yes Mrs A.P. Hartshorn I'm talking to you).
Hugely over-rated., 06 Jan 2009
Read Robert McKee and you'll see what proper endings are and how RTD can't design them.
Watch BSG and B5
Superb, 05 Jan 2009
This is simply a stunningly good book. I felt amazed, impressed and moved by it. Having it to read almost makes up for the lack of a Doctor Who series in 2009. Or would if I'd saved it up and read it slowly, instead of finishing it in one go - but I defy anyone to put it down unfinished.
It's based on an extended email conversation between Russell T Davies, saviour and until recently Chief Writer, of the series, and journalist Benjamin Cook, lasting from February 2007 to March 2008 (ish). During this time, Davies was writing his own episodes of Series 4 (shown in 2008), polishing and tweaking episodes written by others and writing the 2007 and 2008 Christmas Specials. Davies and Cook discuss the development of some of these scripts in detail, with draft scripts provided (including of deleted and reworked scenes) as they are written - so it's almost like peering over the writer's shoulder (no, it's better, because Cook's questions draw out so much more than the mere scripts).
Two themes to which the very candid conversation continually reverts are Davies' agony in actually getting the stuff written - often in the small hours of the morning, and within a few days of absolute, final, date for its delivery - and his view of writing TV drama. Both aspects are revelatory.
As a long time "Doctor Who" fan I have been immensely grateful to Davies for bringing the series back, but - I now see - not nearly grateful enough. It's easy to criticise this or that aspect or episode, and to take things for granted, so it is very salutory to see some of the toil that he goes through to deliver, and keep delivering. Reading what he has to say about the pain and effort involved I can see why this couldn't go on for ever. (It wasn't just the writing itself - during the year the plans for the 2009 break, Davies' handing on of his role, and David Tennant's handing over the lead role were all leaked or speculated about, causing huge turbulence behind the scenes: I enjoyed Davies' comment on one of these leaks (to the "Daily Star"): 'At least "The Sun" has readers'.)
Davies' thoughts about TV scriptwriting are also interesting and for these alone, the book deserves to get read beyond the Doctor Who community. (I'll will watch out now for the use of triple adjectives and some other annoyances described here.)
Finally - Internet criticism is something Davies particularly rails against, pointing out how it can undermine the confidence writers, especially new ones and insisting that professionals do this better (I don't think he just means chatrooms and messageboards when he says this!). So it actually feels a bit cheeky to be commenting on this book at all, even to praise it, but it's a risk I'll have to run.
Compelling, 29 Dec 2008
A very compelling read that you will find very hard to put down. Partially due to interesting subject matter but also the easy to read 'e-mail' format and exchanges.
This is not a book for all Dr Who fans. The text can be very adult and Russell's 'constant' homo-erotic feelings about actors in the shows would not suit all, although I found it very funny.
The big strength of the book however is Russell's honesty. This is really honest stuff, with high angst, stress and doubt all the way through. Clearly Russell has too much 'on his plate' (he says on several occassions it is killing him) and this book explained to me why series 4 of Dr Who was so inconsistant in it's quality. You can see that the end of the series was really a reunion/say goodbye and much of it had the feeling of being 'cobbled' together and being pulled in.
You also get the idea that Russell has no one to bounce ideas off, and at times he regrets this. All the while dismissing any criticism and opinions he finds on the net, in the media etc. But what he says goes, and although he has sought this, he does at times seem to regret it.
If you wish to read the 'raw' thoughts of a writer through his year then this book should be top of you list. It is honest, amusing and thought provoking. Russell is a very interesting man who makes for a compelling read.
If you worship the series and all contributors then this is not really for you. It is not a slick 'are we not fine' book. But it all opens up in such a unique way that that most should love it...warts and all.
honesty and insight from the legendary Russell T Davies, 17 Dec 2008
How does a creative person actually write? I doubt whether the question has ever been answered with such honesty and detail as in this marvellous journal. Ben Cook's questions are probing and serious, and Russell's answers carefully considered and ruthlessly honest - and of course, leavened with unlikely humour. I could not imagine a better primer for any young aspiring screenwriter. Yes, there's a bit of sex in it - but that's life, isn't it?
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Customer Reviews
DOCTOR WHO 2009 ANNUAL, 09 Jan 2009
Right, well i'm going to start by saying that the comment that says that there are some errors is wrong, it's done purposly, it's a True or False page, so obviosly there are going to be some errors which are the FALSE answers. So don't let that comment put you off.
I am a HUGE Doctor Who fan and this was the perfect present for me! And for that price, it's sooo worth it!
LOVE IT! LOVE IT! LOVE IT!
kids will love it but does contain some errors..., 24 Dec 2008
bought this for my 6 year old cousin and i'm sure he'll adore it but just flicking through i happened to notice some clangers... like "current doctor... the ELEVENTH doctor" and "tardis - time and relative DIRECTION in space". shame about these typos, unsure if there are others. still a good buy though, a nice cheap present.
Great book, 17 Dec 2008
Barcode: 9781405904278
Well, for starters, this annual is gorgeous to look at! With it's foil cover and the red and gold of the Supreme Dalek, this book stands out a mile from the other annuals on the shelf and inside the book, everything is colourful and well laid-out too. Weighing in at 93 pages, it's got a lot in it too and is sure to keep Who fans occupied over the Christmas holidays.
Large bulks of the book is mostly just a retrospective of the recent series, pictures and short outlines detailing the monsters, planets and adventures found in the Doctor's TV adventures. It's all stuff we've seen before and can be a little tedious for fans already well-versed in the series, but younger readers are sure to love it, as they will the numerous puzzles and games scattered throughout the book too. There is also a few pages of Sarah Jane Adventures material to be found in here as well.
More of interest to older readers is the new material on offer here in the form of 3 comic strips and 2 short stories. While the plot of the first comic strip seems slightly rushed, the other 4 pieces of work are great stuff, slotting in well with the feel of series 4 and dealing with some surprisingly mature themes, such as euthanasia. We also get some quirky little pop culture references in the final comic strip, including Strictly Come Dancing and the Bee Gees, of all things. All in all then, this annual's a job well done, and makes for an ideal companion to the TV series.
A great gift for any Dr Who fan!, 02 Oct 2008
My son aged 10 is heavily into Dr Who and was dying to get this annual. He was impressed by this new one and found it both interesting and entertaining. Although a cheap gift he rated it above some of the PS2 games he was given!!! Would recommend this annual for any Dr Who fan.
If you like Doctor Who, you'll like this annual, 21 Aug 2008
Once again, the BBC have put together an excellent Doctor Who annual for all television fans of the programme, young and old. Gracing the front cover is the Doctor and the Red Dalek Supreme and Davros on the back cover, all on a silver foil backing which makes the annual 'stand out' amongst the rest!
Readers of BBC's Doctor Who Adventures comic will instantly recognise the format inside the annual. Every page is covered with facts and features on Series Four and readers are re-introduced to Donna, Martha, Sarah Jane, Rose and Jenny, as well as the Ood, Adipose, Master, Hath, Sontarans and, of course, Davros and his Daleks. With a mix of text story, comic strips and puzzles, this annual is a worthy accompaniment to the Doctor Who StorybookDoctor Who Storybook 2009 (Dr Who).
Buy this book! Now!, 08 Jan 2009
Despite buying hundreds of items from Amazon over the years I have never felt the need to post a review - until now, that is.
I got this book for Christmas and I'm only half way through it, but I just had to add to the list of people praising it.
I'm not going to repeat what's already been written (it's one long chain of email correspondance, it's got lovely cartoons drawn by RTD, some great photos, he's very honest, he leaves writing his scripts til the last minute, he works WAY too hard....oh ok, maybe I have repeated everything), but it's not going too far to say it's the most enjoyable book I've ever read.
Yes I'm a huge Doctor Who fan and of course that adds to my enjoyment, but even if I didn't watch the show I'm certain this book would be just as enjoyable for all the insights into the mind of a writer.
It's fascinating to read his initial thoughts on how a story / episode will look, then follow the various reasons (casting, late scripts, budgets) as to why they had to change before going on air.
His pure enthusiasm for and dedication to the show just drips off the pages, as shown by his early thoughts regarding getting Kylie Minogue and Catherine Tate to appear in the show.
I personally will never label him as "lazy" after watching an episode of the Doc on Saturday again!
It'll certainly be very interesting to see how the show copes when the excellent Steven Moffat takes over in 2010, that's for sure.
If you're any sort of Doctor Who fan at all (note - some of it is unsuitable for kids) then you really should buy this amazing book.
What are you waiting for?? Buy this book now!
Final point - it's a pity when people leave a 1 star review for a book they probably haven't even read (yes Mrs A.P. Hartshorn I'm talking to you).
Hugely over-rated., 06 Jan 2009
Read Robert McKee and you'll see what proper endings are and how RTD can't design them.
Watch BSG and B5
Superb, 05 Jan 2009
This is simply a stunningly good book. I felt amazed, impressed and moved by it. Having it to read almost makes up for the lack of a Doctor Who series in 2009. Or would if I'd saved it up and read it slowly, instead of finishing it in one go - but I defy anyone to put it down unfinished.
It's based on an extended email conversation between Russell T Davies, saviour and until recently Chief Writer, of the series, and journalist Benjamin Cook, lasting from February 2007 to March 2008 (ish). During this time, Davies was writing his own episodes of Series 4 (shown in 2008), polishing and tweaking episodes written by others and writing the 2007 and 2008 Christmas Specials. Davies and Cook discuss the development of some of these scripts in detail, with draft scripts provided (including of deleted and reworked scenes) as they are written - so it's almost like peering over the writer's shoulder (no, it's better, because Cook's questions draw out so much more than the mere scripts).
Two themes to which the very candid conversation continually reverts are Davies' agony in actually getting the stuff written - often in the small hours of the morning, and within a few days of absolute, final, date for its delivery - and his view of writing TV drama. Both aspects are revelatory.
As a long time "Doctor Who" fan I have been immensely grateful to Davies for bringing the series back, but - I now see - not nearly grateful enough. It's easy to criticise this or that aspect or episode, and to take things for granted, so it is very salutory to see some of the toil that he goes through to deliver, and keep delivering. Reading what he has to say about the pain and effort involved I can see why this couldn't go on for ever. (It wasn't just the writing itself - during the year the plans for the 2009 break, Davies' handing on of his role, and David Tennant's handing over the lead role were all leaked or speculated about, causing huge turbulence behind the scenes: I enjoyed Davies' comment on one of these leaks (to the "Daily Star"): 'At least "The Sun" has readers'.)
Davies' thoughts about TV scriptwriting are also interesting and for these alone, the book deserves to get read beyond the Doctor Who community. (I'll will watch out now for the use of triple adjectives and some other annoyances described here.)
Finally - Internet criticism is something Davies particularly rails against, pointing out how it can undermine the confidence writers, especially new ones and insisting that professionals do this better (I don't think he just means chatrooms and messageboards when he says this!). So it actually feels a bit cheeky to be commenting on this book at all, even to praise it, but it's a risk I'll have to run.
Compelling, 29 Dec 2008
A very compelling read that you will find very hard to put down. Partially due to interesting subject matter but also the easy to read 'e-mail' format and exchanges.
This is not a book for all Dr Who fans. The text can be very adult and Russell's 'constant' homo-erotic feelings about actors in the shows would not suit all, although I found it very funny.
The big strength of the book however is Russell's honesty. This is really honest stuff, with high angst, stress and doubt all the way through. Clearly Russell has too much 'on his plate' (he says on several occassions it is killing him) and this book explained to me why series 4 of Dr Who was so inconsistant in it's quality. You can see that the end of the series was really a reunion/say goodbye and much of it had the feeling of being 'cobbled' together and being pulled in.
You also get the idea that Russell has no one to bounce ideas off, and at times he regrets this. All the while dismissing any criticism and opinions he finds on the net, in the media etc. But what he says goes, and although he has sought this, he does at times seem to regret it.
If you wish to read the 'raw' thoughts of a writer through his year then this book should be top of you list. It is honest, amusing and thought provoking. Russell is a very interesting man who makes for a compelling read.
If you worship the series and all contributors then this is not really for you. It is not a slick 'are we not fine' book. But it all opens up in such a unique way that that most should love it...warts and all.
honesty and insight from the legendary Russell T Davies, 17 Dec 2008
How does a creative person actually write? I doubt whether the question has ever been answered with such honesty and detail as in this marvellous journal. Ben Cook's questions are probing and serious, and Russell's answers carefully considered and ruthlessly honest - and of course, leavened with unlikely humour. I could not imagine a better primer for any young aspiring screenwriter. Yes, there's a bit of sex in it - but that's life, isn't it?
Very disappointing, 09 Jan 2009
I was very exited when I heard this book was coming out, the 'year that never was' is something that was only really hinted about in the final episode of the third series of Doctor Who in 2007. It's the story of how Martha Jones travelled the world under the radar of the Master and spread the word of the Doctor. This book is described as being the 'full story of Martha's lost year' but it isn't.
Really this book is just bits of stories about Martha travelling around and meeting the odd person and telling a story about the Doctor. The stories themselves are not really that interesting and the story of Martha's journey briefly mentions the most important parts of the missing year.
In the final of series 3, Martha mentions the ruins of New York (which is not even mentioned) and the islands of Japan on fire. This is in the book but instead of having an interesting story about the insanity of the Master and his disregard of human life, there is a very poor story about some economical invading aliens. After this the whole destruction of Japan is covered in a paragraph.
What I really wanted from this book was a dark thriller about Martha and the Master, where she travelled and her witnessing the Master destroy New York, create the nuclear pits of Europe and burn Japan for fun. But instead there is some stories about the Doctor strung together with a tale or Martha arriving in a new place in the world. Very disappointing.
OK Story, 04 Jan 2009
This would have been a better book had the authors not set it in Martha's 'missing year' between the episodes 'The Sound of Drums' and 'The Last of the Time Lords'. Although it is sort of nice to see the events that led to Martha's return in 'The Last Time Lord', the fact that she had to survive this book did lessen the tension of the situations she found herself in. Unfortunately, the book also failed to deliver on the tales of Martha's adventures with the Doctor.
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Doctor Who: The Eyeless
Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
*Best price found from Amazon Marketplace seller
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*Amazon: £2.83
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Customer Reviews
DOCTOR WHO 2009 ANNUAL, 09 Jan 2009
Right, well i'm going to start by saying that the comment that says that there are some errors is wrong, it's done purposly, it's a True or False page, so obviosly there are going to be some errors which are the FALSE answers. So don't let that comment put you off.
I am a HUGE Doctor Who fan and this was the perfect present for me! And for that price, it's sooo worth it!
LOVE IT! LOVE IT! LOVE IT!
kids will love it but does contain some errors..., 24 Dec 2008
bought this for my 6 year old cousin and i'm sure he'll adore it but just flicking through i happened to notice some clangers... like "current doctor... the ELEVENTH doctor" and "tardis - time and relative DIRECTION in space". shame about these typos, unsure if there are others. still a good buy though, a nice cheap present.
Great book, 17 Dec 2008
Barcode: 9781405904278
Well, for starters, this annual is gorgeous to look at! With it's foil cover and the red and gold of the Supreme Dalek, this book stands out a mile from the other annuals on the shelf and inside the book, everything is colourful and well laid-out too. Weighing in at 93 pages, it's got a lot in it too and is sure to keep Who fans occupied over the Christmas holidays.
Large bulks of the book is mostly just a retrospective of the recent series, pictures and short outlines detailing the monsters, planets and adventures found in the Doctor's TV adventures. It's all stuff we've seen before and can be a little tedious for fans already well-versed in the series, but younger readers are sure to love it, as they will the numerous puzzles and games scattered throughout the book too. There is also a few pages of Sarah Jane Adventures material to be found in here as well.
More of interest to older readers is the new material on offer here in the form of 3 comic strips and 2 short stories. While the plot of the first comic strip seems slightly rushed, the other 4 pieces of work are great stuff, slotting in well with the feel of series 4 and dealing with some surprisingly mature themes, such as euthanasia. We also get some quirky little pop culture references in the final comic strip, including Strictly Come Dancing and the Bee Gees, of all things. All in all then, this annual's a job well done, and makes for an ideal companion to the TV series.
A great gift for any Dr Who fan!, 02 Oct 2008
My son aged 10 is heavily into Dr Who and was dying to get this annual. He was impressed by this new one and found it both interesting and entertaining. Although a cheap gift he rated it above some of the PS2 games he was given!!! Would recommend this annual for any Dr Who fan.
If you like Doctor Who, you'll like this annual, 21 Aug 2008
Once again, the BBC have put together an excellent Doctor Who annual for all television fans of the programme, young and old. Gracing the front cover is the Doctor and the Red Dalek Supreme and Davros on the back cover, all on a silver foil backing which makes the annual 'stand out' amongst the rest!
Readers of BBC's Doctor Who Adventures comic will instantly recognise the format inside the annual. Every page is covered with facts and features on Series Four and readers are re-introduced to Donna, Martha, Sarah Jane, Rose and Jenny, as well as the Ood, Adipose, Master, Hath, Sontarans and, of course, Davros and his Daleks. With a mix of text story, comic strips and puzzles, this annual is a worthy accompaniment to the Doctor Who StorybookDoctor Who Storybook 2009 (Dr Who).
Buy this book! Now!, 08 Jan 2009
Despite buying hundreds of items from Amazon over the years I have never felt the need to post a review - until now, that is.
I got this book for Christmas and I'm only half way through it, but I just had to add to the list of people praising it.
I'm not going to repeat what's already been written (it's one long chain of email correspondance, it's got lovely cartoons drawn by RTD, some great photos, he's very honest, he leaves writing his scripts til the last minute, he works WAY too hard....oh ok, maybe I have repeated everything), but it's not going too far to say it's the most enjoyable book I've ever read.
Yes I'm a huge Doctor Who fan and of course that adds to my enjoyment, but even if I didn't watch the show I'm certain this book would be just as enjoyable for all the insights into the mind of a writer.
It's fascinating to read his initial thoughts on how a story / episode will look, then follow the various reasons (casting, late scripts, budgets) as to why they had to change before going on air.
His pure enthusiasm for and dedication to the show just drips off the pages, as shown by his early thoughts regarding getting Kylie Minogue and Catherine Tate to appear in the show.
I personally will never label him as "lazy" after watching an episode of the Doc on Saturday again!
It'll certainly be very interesting to see how the show copes when the excellent Steven Moffat takes over in 2010, that's for sure.
If you're any sort of Doctor Who fan at all (note - some of it is unsuitable for kids) then you really should buy this amazing book.
What are you waiting for?? Buy this book now!
Final point - it's a pity when people leave a 1 star review for a book they probably haven't even read (yes Mrs A.P. Hartshorn I'm talking to you).
Hugely over-rated., 06 Jan 2009
Read Robert McKee and you'll see what proper endings are and how RTD can't design them.
Watch BSG and B5
Superb, 05 Jan 2009
This is simply a stunningly good book. I felt amazed, impressed and moved by it. Having it to read almost makes up for the lack of a Doctor Who series in 2009. Or would if I'd saved it up and read it slowly, instead of finishing it in one go - but I defy anyone to put it down unfinished.
It's based on an extended email conversation between Russell T Davies, saviour and until recently Chief Writer, of the series, and journalist Benjamin Cook, lasting from February 2007 to March 2008 (ish). During this time, Davies was writing his own episodes of Series 4 (shown in 2008), polishing and tweaking episodes written by others and writing the 2007 and 2008 Christmas Specials. Davies and Cook discuss the development of some of these scripts in detail, with draft scripts provided (including of deleted and reworked scenes) as they are written - so it's almost like peering over the writer's shoulder (no, it's better, because Cook's questions draw out so much more than the mere scripts).
Two themes to which the very candid conversation continually reverts are Davies' agony in actually getting the stuff written - often in the small hours of the morning, and within a few days of absolute, final, date for its delivery - and his view of writing TV drama. Both aspects are revelatory.
As a long time "Doctor Who" fan I have been immensely grateful to Davies for bringing the series back, but - I now see - not nearly grateful enough. It's easy to criticise this or that aspect or episode, and to take things for granted, so it is very salutory to see some of the toil that he goes through to deliver, and keep delivering. Reading what he has to say about the pain and effort involved I can see why this couldn't go on for ever. (It wasn't just the writing itself - during the year the plans for the 2009 break, Davies' handing on of his role, and David Tennant's handing over the lead role were all leaked or speculated about, causing huge turbulence behind the scenes: I enjoyed Davies' comment on one of these leaks (to the "Daily Star"): 'At least "The Sun" has readers'.)
Davies' thoughts about TV scriptwriting are also interesting and for these alone, the book deserves to get read beyond the Doctor Who community. (I'll will watch out now for the use of triple adjectives and some other annoyances described here.)
Finally - Internet criticism is something Davies particularly rails against, pointing out how it can undermine the confidence writers, especially new ones and insisting that professionals do this better (I don't think he just means chatrooms and messageboards when he says this!). So it actually feels a bit cheeky to be commenting on this book at all, even to praise it, but it's a risk I'll have to run.
Compelling, 29 Dec 2008
A very compelling read that you will find very hard to put down. Partially due to interesting subject matter but also the easy to read 'e-mail' format and exchanges.
This is not a book for all Dr Who fans. The text can be very adult and Russell's 'constant' homo-erotic feelings about actors in the shows would not suit all, although I found it very funny.
The big strength of the book however is Russell's honesty. This is really honest stuff, with high angst, stress and doubt all the way through. Clearly Russell has too much 'on his plate' (he says on several occassions it is killing him) and this book explained to me why series 4 of Dr Who was so inconsistant in it's quality. You can see that the end of the series was really a reunion/say goodbye and much of it had the feeling of being 'cobbled' together and being pulled in.
You also get the idea that Russell has no one to bounce ideas off, and at times he regrets this. All the while dismissing any criticism and opinions he finds on the net, in the media etc. But what he says goes, and although he has sought this, he does at times seem to regret it.
If you wish to read the 'raw' thoughts of a writer through his year then this book should be top of you list. It is honest, amusing and thought provoking. Russell is a very interesting man who makes for a compelling read.
If you worship the series and all contributors then this is not really for you. It is not a slick 'are we not fine' book. But it all opens up in such a unique way that that most should love it...warts and all.
honesty and insight from the legendary Russell T Davies, 17 Dec 2008
How does a creative person actually write? I doubt whether the question has ever been answered with such honesty and detail as in this marvellous journal. Ben Cook's questions are probing and serious, and Russell's answers carefully considered and ruthlessly honest - and of course, leavened with unlikely humour. I could not imagine a better primer for any young aspiring screenwriter. Yes, there's a bit of sex in it - but that's life, isn't it?
Very disappointing, 09 Jan 2009
I was very exited when I heard this book was coming out, the 'year that never was' is something that was only really hinted about in the final episode of the third series of Doctor Who in 2007. It's the story of how Martha Jones travelled the world under the radar of the Master and spread the word of the Doctor. This book is described as being the 'full story of Martha's lost year' but it isn't.
Really this book is just bits of stories about Martha travelling around and meeting the odd person and telling a story about the Doctor. The stories themselves are not really that interesting and the story of Martha's journey briefly mentions the most important parts of the missing year.
In the final of series 3, Martha mentions the ruins of New York (which is not even mentioned) and the islands of Japan on fire. This is in the book but instead of having an interesting story about the insanity of the Master and his disregard of human life, there is a very poor story about some economical invading aliens. After this the whole destruction of Japan is covered in a paragraph.
What I really wanted from this book was a dark thriller about Martha and the Master, where she travelled and her witnessing the Master destroy New York, create the nuclear pits of Europe and burn Japan for fun. But instead there is some stories about the Doctor strung together with a tale or Martha arriving in a new place in the world. Very disappointing.
OK Story, 04 Jan 2009
This would have been a better book had the authors not set it in Martha's 'missing year' between the episodes 'The Sound of Drums' and 'The Last of the Time Lords'. Although it is sort of nice to see the events that led to Martha's return in 'The Last Time Lord', the fact that she had to survive this book did lessen the tension of the situations she found herself in. Unfortunately, the book also failed to deliver on the tales of Martha's adventures with the Doctor.
the ultimate weapon, 04 Jan 2009
one of the latest releases in the series of doctor who novels published by bbc books, telling an original story not seen on tv. featuring the tenth doctor as played by david tennant on screen. Presumably somewhere after the end of the fourth season on tv, as the character is travelling without a companion here.
the book runs for 248 pages, and is divided into fifteen chapters split into two parts of equal length, and it also has a short prologue. It can be read and enjoyed by readers of all ages. and a certain familarity with the tv shows helps as there's not really any concession to those who've not seen it.
the story involves the doctor arriving on a world where civilisation collapsed years before when a strange dark tower appeared out of nowhere. those who survived struggle to maintain an existence, strange ghosts haunt the ruins of their city, and in the tower lurks an incredibly powerful weapon. the doctor is determined to destroy the weapon. but there are strange aliens out there that would like to get their hands on it. and it may also be the key to salvation for the planet.
everyone involved has a lot of hard choices to make.
the first part of this grabs instantly with an excellently portrayed civilsation. the life the survivors life and the choices they have had to make are very believable. one character looks as if she will be the doctor's companion for the story but things don't quite work out that way. her motivations are very believable. and this is all told in very good and very readable prose, making it a real page turner.
come part two of the book the doctor enters the fortress and the aliens, a race of scavengers called the eyeless, come into play. these are quite an original creation also with some very believable motivations. and again characters have to make hard and believable choices to obtain what they think is best for their worlds. this part isn't quite as strong as the first because like a fair few original who novels there is a lot of running around involved, and it probably would have worked quite well without the eyeless. but it's still very good.
the ending is well tnought out and does arise out of the actions of the characters.
this is a very good read and one of the best I've come across in the bbc range, almost on a par at times with the best of the novels featuring the eighth doctor that they used to publish. If part two had been quite as good as part one this would have merited five stars, but it's still very good indeed and well worth reading
Good, but very much an episode in writing, 04 Jan 2009
15 years ago the Fortress appeared from nowhere in the city of Arcopolis, wiping out the entire population in an instant. Now the Doctor has arrived, determined to destroy the devastating weapon house at the heart of the Fortress. But he discovers the remnants of the civilisation, a generation raised with curiosity in their minds and wanting to know what secrets the city holds.
Now the Eyeless arrive and discover the Fortress, wanting its secrets for themselves. Can the Doctor reach the weapon before the Eyeless and avoid a catastrophe or will they prevail and wipe out everything?
I came to this book through a comment on the blog at the start of December - a comment was left in the monthly releases post saying that they had heard this could be one of the best Doctor Who novels for a while and the best that Lance Parkin had written. I was very intrigued by this and really wanted to see what the Doctor Who novels had to offer compared to the TV series (of which I'm a viewer, but not the biggest of fans). So what did I think? Read on...
I did enjoy The Eyeless for various reasons, but equally I had some issues with it. The story is a decent sci-fi one and offers some good looks and descriptions of a ruined and abandoned city and remaining population. The motivations of the characters are believable (as are the characters themselves) and the generation gap between the surviving adults and their children born since the disaster is looked at and explored nicely. The Eyeless and the Fortress are both mysterious, we know about them and, to an extent, what they can do, but it isn't until later on in the novel when we really find out more about either of them. I won't go into spoilers, but suffice to say that it is all very much Doctor Who, and that's where my problem lies.
Although good, The Eyeless read very much like a Doctor Who episode, from the arrival of the Doctor, the inevitable issues with the culture and the endless infinite knowledge of the Doctor. As this Doctor is the David Tennant incarnation he is always in my mind when the Doctor is on the page. Lance Parkin has written the Doctor very well in this sense - all the mannerisms are there and he does an excellent job of portraying many of the elements of a complex story very effectively.
The Eyeless was a good, quick read, but perhaps one suited for fans of the Doctor Who universe rather than just general sci-fi fans. All in all this is a very worthy addition to the universe, just not entirely my cup of tea.
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Customer Reviews
DOCTOR WHO 2009 ANNUAL, 09 Jan 2009
Right, well i'm going to start by saying that the comment that says that there are some errors is wrong, it's done purposly, it's a True or False page, so obviosly there are going to be some errors which are the FALSE answers. So don't let that comment put you off.
I am a HUGE Doctor Who fan and this was the perfect present for me! And for that price, it's sooo worth it!
LOVE IT! LOVE IT! LOVE IT!
kids will love it but does contain some errors..., 24 Dec 2008
bought this for my 6 year old cousin and i'm sure he'll adore it but just flicking through i happened to notice some clangers... like "current doctor... the ELEVENTH doctor" and "tardis - time and relative DIRECTION in space". shame about these typos, unsure if there are others. still a good buy though, a nice cheap present.
Great book, 17 Dec 2008
Barcode: 9781405904278
Well, for starters, this annual is gorgeous to look at! With it's foil cover and the red and gold of the Supreme Dalek, this book stands out a mile from the other annuals on the shelf and inside the book, everything is colourful and well laid-out too. Weighing in at 93 pages, it's got a lot in it too and is sure to keep Who fans occupied over the Christmas holidays.
Large bulks of the book is mostly just a retrospective of the recent series, pictures and short outlines detailing the monsters, planets and adventures found in the Doctor's TV adventures. It's all stuff we've seen before and can be a little tedious for fans already well-versed in the series, but younger readers are sure to love it, as they will the numerous puzzles and games scattered throughout the book too. There is also a few pages of Sarah Jane Adventures material to be found in here as well.
More of interest to older readers is the new material on offer here in the form of 3 comic strips and 2 short stories. While the plot of the first comic strip seems slightly rushed, the other 4 pieces of work are great stuff, slotting in well with the feel of series 4 and dealing with some surprisingly mature themes, such as euthanasia. We also get some quirky little pop culture references in the final comic strip, including Strictly Come Dancing and the Bee Gees, of all things. All in all then, this annual's a job well done, and makes for an ideal companion to the TV series.
A great gift for any Dr Who fan!, 02 Oct 2008
My son aged 10 is heavily into Dr Who and was dying to get this annual. He was impressed by this new one and found it both interesting and entertaining. Although a cheap gift he rated it above some of the PS2 games he was given!!! Would recommend this annual for any Dr Who fan.
If you like Doctor Who, you'll like this annual, 21 Aug 2008
Once again, the BBC have put together an excellent Doctor Who annual for all television fans of the programme, young and old. Gracing the front cover is the Doctor and the Red Dalek Supreme and Davros on the back cover, all on a silver foil backing which makes the annual 'stand out' amongst the rest!
Readers of BBC's Doctor Who Adventures comic will instantly recognise the format inside the annual. Every page is covered with facts and features on Series Four and readers are re-introduced to Donna, Martha, Sarah Jane, Rose and Jenny, as well as the Ood, Adipose, Master, Hath, Sontarans and, of course, Davros and his Daleks. With a mix of text story, comic strips and puzzles, this annual is a worthy accompaniment to the Doctor Who StorybookDoctor Who Storybook 2009 (Dr Who).
Buy this book! Now!, 08 Jan 2009
Despite buying hundreds of items from Amazon over the years I have never felt the need to post a review - until now, that is.
I got this book for Christmas and I'm only half way through it, but I just had to add to the list of people praising it.
I'm not going to repeat what's already been written (it's one long chain of email correspondance, it's got lovely cartoons drawn by RTD, some great photos, he's very honest, he leaves writing his scripts til the last minute, he works WAY too hard....oh ok, maybe I have repeated everything), but it's not going too far to say it's the most enjoyable book I've ever read.
Yes I'm a huge Doctor Who fan and of course that adds to my enjoyment, but even if I didn't watch the show I'm certain this book would be just as enjoyable for all the insights into the mind of a writer.
It's fascinating to read his initial thoughts on how a story / episode will look, then follow the various reasons (casting, late scripts, budgets) as to why they had to change before going on air.
His pure enthusiasm for and dedication to the show just drips off the pages, as shown by his early thoughts regarding getting Kylie Minogue and Catherine Tate to appear in the show.
I personally will never label him as "lazy" after watching an episode of the Doc on Saturday again!
It'll certainly be very interesting to see how the show copes when the excellent Steven Moffat takes over in 2010, that's for sure.
If you're any sort of Doctor Who fan at all (note - some of it is unsuitable for kids) then you really should buy this amazing book.
What are you waiting for?? Buy this book now!
Final point - it's a pity when people leave a 1 star review for a book they probably haven't even read (yes Mrs A.P. Hartshorn I'm talking to you).
Hugely over-rated., 06 Jan 2009
Read Robert McKee and you'll see what proper endings are and how RTD can't design them.
Watch BSG and B5
Superb, 05 Jan 2009
This is simply a stunningly good book. I felt amazed, impressed and moved by it. Having it to read almost makes up for the lack of a Doctor Who series in 2009. Or would if I'd saved it up and read it slowly, instead of finishing it in one go - but I defy anyone to put it down unfinished.
It's based on an extended email conversation between Russell T Davies, saviour and until recently Chief Writer, of the series, and journalist Benjamin Cook, lasting from February 2007 to March 2008 (ish). During this time, Davies was writing his own episodes of Series 4 (shown in 2008), polishing and tweaking episodes written by others and writing the 2007 and 2008 Christmas Specials. Davies and Cook discuss the development of some of these scripts in detail, with draft scripts provided (including of deleted and reworked scenes) as they are written - so it's almost like peering over the writer's shoulder (no, it's better, because Cook's questions draw out so much more than the mere scripts).
Two themes to which the very candid conversation continually reverts are Davies' agony in actually getting the stuff written - often in the small hours of the morning, and within a few days of absolute, final, date for its delivery - and his view of writing TV drama. Both aspects are revelatory.
As a long time "Doctor Who" fan I have been immensely grateful to Davies for bringing the series back, but - I now see - not nearly grateful enough. It's easy to criticise this or that aspect or episode, and to take things for granted, so it is very salutory to see some of the toil that he goes through to deliver, and keep delivering. Reading what he has to say about the pain and effort involved I can see why this couldn't go on for ever. (It wasn't just the writing itself - during the year the plans for the 2009 break, Davies' handing on of his role, and David Tennant's handing over the lead role were all leaked or speculated about, causing huge turbulence behind the scenes: I enjoyed Davies' comment on one of these leaks (to the "Daily Star"): 'At least "The Sun" has readers'.)
Davies' thoughts about TV scriptwriting are also interesting and for these alone, the book deserves to get read beyond the Doctor Who community. (I'll will watch out now for the use of triple adjectives and some other annoyances described here.)
Finally - Internet criticism is something Davies particularly rails against, pointing out how it can undermine the confidence writers, especially new ones and insisting that professionals do this better (I don't think he just means chatrooms and messageboards when he says this!). So it actually feels a bit cheeky to be commenting on this book at all, even to praise it, but it's a risk I'll have to run.
Compelling, 29 Dec 2008
A very compelling read that you will find very hard to put down. Partially due to interesting subject matter but also the easy to read 'e-mail' format and exchanges.
This is not a book for all Dr Who fans. The text can be very adult and Russell's 'constant' homo-erotic feelings about actors in the shows would not suit all, although I found it very funny.
The big strength of the book however is Russell's honesty. This is really honest stuff, with high angst, stress and doubt all the way through. Clearly Russell has too much 'on his plate' (he says on several occassions it is killing him) and this book explained to me why series 4 of Dr Who was so inconsistant in it's quality. You can see that the end of the series was really a reunion/say goodbye and much of it had the feeling of being 'cobbled' together and being pulled in.
You also get the idea that Russell has no one to bounce ideas off, and at times he regrets this. All the while dismissing any criticism and opinions he finds on the net, in the media etc. But what he says goes, and although he has sought this, he does at times seem to regret it.
If you wish to read the 'raw' thoughts of a writer through his year then this book should be top of you list. It is honest, amusing and thought provoking. Russell is a very interesting man who makes for a compelling read.
If you worship the series and all contributors then this is not really for you. It is not a slick 'are we not fine' book. But it all opens up in such a unique way that that most should love it...warts and all.
honesty and insight from the legendary Russell T Davies, 17 Dec 2008
How does a creative person actually write? I doubt whether the question has ever been answered with such honesty and detail as in this marvellous journal. Ben Cook's questions are probing and serious, and Russell's answers carefully considered and ruthlessly honest - and of course, leavened with unlikely humour. I could not imagine a better primer for any young aspiring screenwriter. Yes, there's a bit of sex in it - but that's life, isn't it?
Very disappointing, 09 Jan 2009
I was very exited when I heard this book was coming out, the 'year that never was' is something that was only really hinted about in the final episode of the third series of Doctor Who in 2007. It's the story of how Martha Jones travelled the world under the radar of the Master and spread the word of the Doctor. This book is described as being the 'full story of Martha's lost year' but it isn't.
Really this book is just bits of stories about Martha travelling around and meeting the odd person and telling a story about the Doctor. The stories themselves are not really that interesting and the story of Martha's journey briefly mentions the most important parts of the missing year.
In the final of series 3, Martha mentions the ruins of New York (which is not even mentioned) and the islands of Japan on fire. This is in the book but instead of having an interesting story about the insanity of the Master and his disregard of human life, there is a very poor story about some economical invading aliens. After this the whole destruction of Japan is covered in a paragraph.
What I really wanted from this book was a dark thriller about Martha and the Master, where she travelled and her witnessing the Master destroy New York, create the nuclear pits of Europe and burn Japan for fun. But instead there is some stories about the Doctor strung together with a tale or Martha arriving in a new place in the world. Very disappointing.
OK Story, 04 Jan 2009
This would have been a better book had the authors not set it in Martha's 'missing year' between the episodes 'The Sound of Drums' and 'The Last of the Time Lords'. Although it is sort of nice to see the events that led to Martha's return in 'The Last Time Lord', the fact that she had to survive this book did lessen the tension of the situations she found herself in. Unfortunately, the book also failed to deliver on the tales of Martha's adventures with the Doctor.
the ultimate weapon, 04 Jan 2009
one of the latest releases in the series of doctor who novels published by bbc books, telling an original story not seen on tv. featuring the tenth doctor as played by david tennant on screen. Presumably somewhere after the end of the fourth season on tv, as the character is travelling without a companion here.
the book runs for 248 pages, and is divided into fifteen chapters split into two parts of equal length, and it also has a short prologue. It can be read and enjoyed by readers of all ages. and a certain familarity with the tv shows helps as there's not really any concession to those who've not seen it.
the story involves the doctor arriving on a world where civilisation collapsed years before when a strange dark tower appeared out of nowhere. those who survived struggle to maintain an existence, strange ghosts haunt the ruins of their city, and in the tower lurks an incredibly powerful weapon. the doctor is determined to destroy the weapon. but there are strange aliens out there that would like to get their hands on it. and it may also be the key to salvation for the planet.
everyone involved has a lot of hard choices to make.
the first part of this grabs instantly with an excellently portrayed civilsation. the life the survivors life and the choices they have had to make are very believable. one character looks as if she will be the doctor's companion for the story but things don't quite work out that way. her motivations are very believable. and this is all told in very good and very readable prose, making it a real page turner.
come part two of the book the doctor enters the fortress and the aliens, a race of scavengers called the eyeless, come into play. these are quite an original creation also with some very believable motivations. and again characters have to make hard and believable choices to obtain what they think is best for their worlds. this part isn't quite as strong as the first because like a fair few original who novels there is a lot of running around involved, and it probably would have worked quite well without the eyeless. but it's still very good.
the ending is well tnought out and does arise out of the actions of the characters.
this is a very good read and one of the best I've come across in the bbc range, almost on a par at times with the best of the novels featuring the eighth doctor that they used to publish. If part two had been quite as good as part one this would have merited five stars, but it's still very good indeed and well worth reading
Good, but very much an episode in writing, 04 Jan 2009
15 years ago the Fortress appeared from nowhere in the city of Arcopolis, wiping out the entire population in an instant. Now the Doctor has arrived, determined to destroy the devastating weapon house at the heart of the Fortress. But he discovers the remnants of the civilisation, a generation raised with curiosity in their minds and wanting to know what secrets the city holds.
Now the Eyeless arrive and discover the Fortress, wanting its secrets for themselves. Can the Doctor reach the weapon before the Eyeless and avoid a catastrophe or will they prevail and wipe out everything?
I came to this book through a comment on the blog at the start of December - a comment was left in the monthly releases post saying that they had heard this could be one of the best Doctor Who novels for a while and the best that Lance Parkin had written. I was very intrigued by this and really wanted to see what the Doctor Who novels had to offer compared to the TV series (of which I'm a viewer, but not the biggest of fans). So what did I think? Read on...
I did enjoy The Eyeless for various reasons, but equally I had some issues with it. The story is a decent sci-fi one and offers some good looks and descriptions of a ruined and abandoned city and remaining population. The motivations of the characters are believable (as are the characters themselves) and the generation gap between the surviving adults and their children born since the disaster is looked at and explored nicely. The Eyeless and the Fortress are both mysterious, we know about them and, to an extent, what they can do, but it isn't until later on in the novel when we really find out more about either of them. I won't go into spoilers, but suffice to say that it is all very much Doctor Who, and that's where my problem lies.
Although good, The Eyeless read very much like a Doctor Who episode, from the arrival of the Doctor, the inevitable issues with the culture and the endless infinite knowledge of the Doctor. As this Doctor is the David Tennant incarnation he is always in my mind when the Doctor is on the page. Lance Parkin has written the Doctor very well in this sense - all the mannerisms are there and he does an excellent job of portraying many of the elements of a complex story very effectively.
The Eyeless was a good, quick read, but perhaps one suited for fans of the Doctor Who universe rather than just general sci-fi fans. All in all this is a very worthy addition to the universe, just not entirely my cup of tea.
Surprisingly decent book for who fans, 08 Jan 2009
Given how (over-)saturated the marketplace is for Who products, I was not expecting more than a re-hash of material already published before. Instead this is a fresh take on the story of Dr Who told in chronological order (i.e. real time) not series order.Yes it focusses a lot on the 9th and 10th Doctors (and is unaware of the 11th) but does give a good context for many of the adventures, some timelord mythology and is a well produced item.
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Customer Reviews
DOCTOR WHO 2009 ANNUAL, 09 Jan 2009
Right, well i'm going to start by saying that the comment that says that there are some errors is wrong, it's done purposly, it's a True or False page, so obviosly there are going to be some errors which are the FALSE answers. So don't let that comment put you off.
I am a HUGE Doctor Who fan and this was the perfect present for me! And for that price, it's sooo worth it!
LOVE IT! LOVE IT! LOVE IT!
kids will love it but does contain some errors..., 24 Dec 2008
bought this for my 6 year old cousin and i'm sure he'll adore it but just flicking through i happened to notice some clangers... like "current doctor... the ELEVENTH doctor" and "tardis - time and relative DIRECTION in space". shame about these typos, unsure if there are others. still a good buy though, a nice cheap present.
Great book, 17 Dec 2008
Barcode: 9781405904278
Well, for starters, this annual is gorgeous to look at! With it's foil cover and the red and gold of the Supreme Dalek, this book stands out a mile from the other annuals on the shelf and inside the book, everything is colourful and well laid-out too. Weighing in at 93 pages, it's got a lot in it too and is sure to keep Who fans occupied over the Christmas holidays.
Large bulks of the book is mostly just a retrospective of the recent series, pictures and short outlines detailing the monsters, planets and adventures found in the Doctor's TV adventures. It's all stuff we've seen before and can be a little tedious for fans already well-versed in the series, but younger readers are sure to love it, as they will the numerous puzzles and games scattered throughout the book too. There is also a few pages of Sarah Jane Adventures material to be found in here as well.
More of interest to older readers is the new material on offer here in the form of 3 comic strips and 2 short stories. While the plot of the first comic strip seems slightly rushed, the other 4 pieces of work are great stuff, slotting in well with the feel of series 4 and dealing with some surprisingly mature themes, such as euthanasia. We also get some quirky little pop culture references in the final comic strip, including Strictly Come Dancing and the Bee Gees, of all things. All in all then, this annual's a job well done, and makes for an ideal companion to the TV series.
A great gift for any Dr Who fan!, 02 Oct 2008
My son aged 10 is heavily into Dr Who and was dying to get this annual. He was impressed by this new one and found it both interesting and entertaining. Although a cheap gift he rated it above some of the PS2 games he was given!!! Would recommend this annual for any Dr Who fan.
If you like Doctor Who, you'll like this annual, 21 Aug 2008
Once again, the BBC have put together an excellent Doctor Who annual for all television fans of the programme, young and old. Gracing the front cover is the Doctor and the Red Dalek Supreme and Davros on the back cover, all on a silver foil backing which makes the annual 'stand out' amongst the rest!
Readers of BBC's Doctor Who Adventures comic will instantly recognise the format inside the annual. Every page is covered with facts and features on Series Four and readers are re-introduced to Donna, Martha, Sarah Jane, Rose and Jenny, as well as the Ood, Adipose, Master, Hath, Sontarans and, of course, Davros and his Daleks. With a mix of text story, comic strips and puzzles, this annual is a worthy accompaniment to the Doctor Who StorybookDoctor Who Storybook 2009 (Dr Who).
Buy this book! Now!, 08 Jan 2009
Despite buying hundreds of items from Amazon over the years I have never felt the need to post a review - until now, that is.
I got this book for Christmas and I'm only half way through it, but I just had to add to the list of people praising it.
I'm not going to repeat what's already been written (it's one long chain of email correspondance, it's got lovely cartoons drawn by RTD, some great photos, he's very honest, he leaves writing his scripts til the last minute, he works WAY too hard....oh ok, maybe I have repeated everything), but it's not going too far to say it's the most enjoyable book I've ever read.
Yes I'm a huge Doctor Who fan and of course that adds to my enjoyment, but even if I didn't watch the show I'm certain this book would be just as enjoyable for all the insights into the mind of a writer.
It's fascinating to read his initial thoughts on how a story / episode will look, then follow the various reasons (casting, late scripts, budgets) as to why they had to change before going on air.
His pure enthusiasm for and dedication to the show just drips off the pages, as shown by his early thoughts regarding getting Kylie Minogue and Catherine Tate to appear in the show.
I personally will never label him as "lazy" after watching an episode of the Doc on Saturday again!
It'll certainly be very interesting to see how the show copes when the excellent Steven Moffat takes over in 2010, that's for sure.
If you're any sort of Doctor Who fan at all (note - some of it is unsuitable for kids) then you really should buy this amazing book.
What are you waiting for?? Buy this book now!
Final point - it's a pity when people leave a 1 star review for a book they probably haven't even read (yes Mrs A.P. Hartshorn I'm talking to you).
Hugely over-rated., 06 Jan 2009
Read Robert McKee and you'll see what proper endings are and how RTD can't design them.
Watch BSG and B5
Superb, 05 Jan 2009
This is simply a stunningly good book. I felt amazed, impressed and moved by it. Having it to read almost makes up for the lack of a Doctor Who series in 2009. Or would if I'd saved it up and read it slowly, instead of finishing it in one go - but I defy anyone to put it down unfinished.
It's based on an extended email conversation between Russell T Davies, saviour and until recently Chief Writer, of the series, and journalist Benjamin Cook, lasting from February 2007 to March 2008 (ish). During this time, Davies was writing his own episodes of Series 4 (shown in 2008), polishing and tweaking episodes written by others and writing the 2007 and 2008 Christmas Specials. Davies and Cook discuss the development of some of these scripts in detail, with draft scripts provided (including of deleted and reworked scenes) as they are written - so it's almost like peering over the writer's shoulder (no, it's better, because Cook's questions draw out so much more than the mere scripts).
Two themes to which the very candid conversation continually reverts are Davies' agony in actually getting the stuff written - often in the small hours of the morning, and within a few days of absolute, final, date for its delivery - and his view of writing TV drama. Both aspects are revelatory.
As a long time "Doctor Who" fan I have been immensely grateful to Davies for bringing the series back, but - I now see - not nearly grateful enough. It's easy to criticise this or that aspect or episode, and to take things for granted, so it is very salutory to see some of the toil that he goes through to deliver, and keep delivering. Reading what he has to say about the pain and effort involved I can see why this couldn't go on for ever. (It wasn't just the writing itself - during the year the plans for the 2009 break, Davies' handing on of his role, and David Tennant's handing over the lead role were all leaked or speculated about, causing huge turbulence behind the scenes: I enjoyed Davies' comment on one of these leaks (to the "Daily Star"): 'At least "The Sun" has readers'.)
Davies' thoughts about TV scriptwriting are also interesting and for these alone, the book deserves to get read beyond the Doctor Who community. (I'll will watch out now for the use of triple adjectives and some other annoyances described here.)
Finally - Internet criticism is something Davies particularly rails against, pointing out how it can undermine the confidence writers, especially new ones and insisting that professionals do this better (I don't think he just means chatrooms and messageboards when he says this!). So it actually feels a bit cheeky to be commenting on this book at all, even to praise it, but it's a risk I'll have to run.
Compelling, 29 Dec 2008
A very compelling read that you will find very hard to put down. Partially due to interesting subject matter but also the easy to read 'e-mail' format and exchanges.
This is not a book for all Dr Who fans. The text can be very adult and Russell's 'constant' homo-erotic feelings about actors in the shows would not suit all, although I found it very funny.
The big strength of the book however is Russell's honesty. This is really honest stuff, with high angst, stress and doubt all the way through. Clearly Russell has too much 'on his plate' (he says on several occassions it is killing him) and this book explained to me why series 4 of Dr Who was so inconsistant in it's quality. You can see that the end of the series was really a reunion/say goodbye and much of it had the feeling of being 'cobbled' together and being pulled in.
You also get the idea that Russell has no one to bounce ideas off, and at times he regrets this. All the while dismissing any criticism and opinions he finds on the net, in the media etc. But what he says goes, and although he has sought this, he does at times seem to regret it.
If you wish to read the 'raw' thoughts of a writer through his year then this book should be top of you list. It is honest, amusing and thought provoking. Russell is a very interesting man who makes for a compelling read.
If you worship the series and all contributors then this is not really for you. It is not a slick 'are we not fine' book. But it all opens up in such a unique way that that most should love it...warts and all.
honesty and insight from the legendary Russell T Davies, 17 Dec 2008
How does a creative person actually write? I doubt whether the question has ever been answered with such honesty and detail as in this marvellous journal. Ben Cook's questions are probing and serious, and Russell's answers carefully considered and ruthlessly honest - and of course, leavened with unlikely humour. I could not imagine a better primer for any young aspiring screenwriter. Yes, there's a bit of sex in it - but that's life, isn't it?
Very disappointing, 09 Jan 2009
I was very exited when I heard this book was coming out, the 'year that never was' is something that was only really hinted about in the final episode of the third series of Doctor Who in 2007. It's the story of how Martha Jones travelled the world under the radar of the Master and spread the word of the Doctor. This book is described as being the 'full story of Martha's lost year' but it isn't.
Really this book is just bits of stories about Martha travelling around and meeting the odd person and telling a story about the Doctor. The stories themselves are not really that interesting and the story of Martha's journey briefly mentions the most important parts of the missing year.
In the final of series 3, Martha mentions the ruins of New York (which is not even mentioned) and the islands of Japan on fire. This is in the book but instead of having an interesting story about the insanity of the Master and his disregard of human life, there is a very poor story about some economical invading aliens. After this the whole destruction of Japan is covered in a paragraph.
What I really wanted from this book was a dark thriller about Martha and the Master, where she travelled and her witnessing the Master destroy New York, create the nuclear pits of Europe and burn Japan for fun. But instead there is some stories about the Doctor strung together with a tale or Martha arriving in a new place in the world. Very disappointing.
OK Story, 04 Jan 2009
This would have been a better book had the authors not set it in Martha's 'missing year' between the episodes 'The Sound of Drums' and 'The Last of the Time Lords'. Although it is sort of nice to see the events that led to Martha's return in 'The Last Time Lord', the fact that she had to survive this book did lessen the tension of the situations she found herself in. Unfortunately, the book also failed to deliver on the tales of Martha's adventures with the Doctor.
the ultimate weapon, 04 Jan 2009
one of the latest releases in the series of doctor who novels published by bbc books, telling an original story not seen on tv. featuring the tenth doctor as played by david tennant on screen. Presumably somewhere after the end of the fourth season on tv, as the character is travelling without a companion here.
the book runs for 248 pages, and is divided into fifteen chapters split into two parts of equal length, and it also has a short prologue. It can be read and enjoyed by readers of all ages. and a certain familarity with the tv shows helps as there's not really any concession to those who've not seen it.
the story involves the doctor arriving on a world where civilisation collapsed years before when a strange dark tower appeared out of nowhere. those who survived struggle to maintain an existence, strange ghosts haunt the ruins of their city, and in the tower lurks an incredibly powerful weapon. the doctor is determined to destroy the weapon. but there are strange aliens out there that would like to get their hands on it. and it may also be the key to salvation for the planet.
everyone involved has a lot of hard choices to make.
the first part of this grabs instantly with an excellently portrayed civilsation. the life the survivors life and the choices they have had to make are very believable. one character looks as if she will be the doctor's companion for the story but things don't quite work out that way. her motivations are very believable. and this is all told in very good and very readable prose, making it a real page turner.
come part two of the book the doctor enters the fortress and the aliens, a race of scavengers called the eyeless, come into play. these are quite an original creation also with some very believable motivations. and again characters have to make hard and believable choices to obtain what they think is best for their worlds. this part isn't quite as strong as the first because like a fair few original who novels there is a lot of running around involved, and it probably would have worked quite well without the eyeless. but it's still very good.
the ending is well tnought out and does arise out of the actions of the characters.
this is a very good read and one of the best I've come across in the bbc range, almost on a par at times with the best of the novels featuring the eighth doctor that they used to publish. If part two had been quite as good as part one this would have merited five stars, but it's still very good indeed and well worth reading
Good, but very much an episode in writing, 04 Jan 2009
15 years ago the Fortress appeared from nowhere in the city of Arcopolis, wiping out the entire population in an instant. Now the Doctor has arrived, determined to destroy the devastating weapon house at the heart of the Fortress. But he discovers the remnants of the civilisation, a generation raised with curiosity in their minds and wanting to know what secrets the city holds.
Now the Eyeless arrive and discover the Fortress, wanting its secrets for themselves. Can the Doctor reach the weapon before the Eyeless and avoid a catastrophe or will they prevail and wipe out everything?
I came to this book through a comment on the blog at the start of December - a comment was left in the monthly releases post saying that they had heard this could be one of the best Doctor Who novels for a while and the best that Lance Parkin had written. I was very intrigued by this and really wanted to see what the Doctor Who novels had to offer compared to the TV series (of which I'm a viewer, but not the biggest of fans). So what did I think? Read on...
I did enjoy The Eyeless for various reasons, but equally I had some issues with it. The story is a decent sci-fi one and offers some good looks and descriptions of a ruined and abandoned city and remaining population. The motivations of the characters are believable (as are the characters themselves) and the generation gap between the surviving adults and their children born since the disaster is looked at and explored nicely. The Eyeless and the Fortress are both mysterious, we know about them and, to an extent, what they can do, but it isn't until later on in the novel when we really find out more about either of them. I won't go into spoilers, but suffice to say that it is all very much Doctor Who, and that's where my problem lies.
Although good, The Eyeless read very much like a Doctor Who episode, from the arrival of the Doctor, the inevitable issues with the culture and the endless infinite knowledge of the Doctor. As this Doctor is the David Tennant incarnation he is always in my mind when the Doctor is on the page. Lance Parkin has written the Doctor very well in this sense - all the mannerisms are there and he does an excellent job of portraying many of the elements of a complex story very effectively.
The Eyeless was a good, quick read, but perhaps one suited for fans of the Doctor Who universe rather than just general sci-fi fans. All in all this is a very worthy addition to the universe, just not entirely my cup of tea.
Surprisingly decent book for who fans, 08 Jan 2009
Given how (over-)saturated the marketplace is for Who products, I was not expecting more than a re-hash of material already published before. Instead this is a fresh take on the story of Dr Who told in chronological order (i.e. real time) not series order.Yes it focusses a lot on the 9th and 10th Doctors (and is unaware of the 11th) but does give a good context for many of the adventures, some timelord mythology and is a well produced item.
Interesting and well thought-out - another solid title in the Doctor Who audio range, 08 Jan 2009
Barcode: 9781408406786
Having loved the first CD in this range - Pest Control - i was keen to get my hands on this story too. Catherine Tate makes for an excellent reader as the Doctor and Donna become trapped in the mysteries of a massive confusing puzzle of a building/space station known as the Edifice.
Playing on ideas of mind-tricks (the story itself referencing the work of Escher) it is an altogether more subtle story than the fast-paced action of Pest Control. The Forever Trap might not be as instant a story, but it make sup for that in the gradually growing sense of menace that pervades the Edifice. The imagery and description conjured up in this story is fantastic, all stark modern design descending into chaos, as well as the imaginative descriptions of the various alien races caught int eh building too.
What with the Doctor and Donna being separated for a fair few bits of the TV series, it is really good to see them playing off each-other throughout in this story and the dynamic between the two characters is brilliant. There's also a very touching line towards the end where the Doctor sums up his aim in his adventures 'We try to pick up the pieces Donna, but sometimes those pieces are broken'. It's a beautiful moment and perfectly captures the burden the Doctor has to bear.
The themes on display here play well into those established in the TV series too, the idea of a sinister 'spacestation' with mysterious goings on behind the scenes harking back to 'The Long Game' while the idea of a swarm of creatures eating away in the dark brings to mind the Vashta Nerada in the 'Silence In The Library' two-parter.
So, all in all, this is a great adventure - while admitedly not the most pacy or action-based, those that love the more creepy, subtle side of Doctor Who will love this and it's well worth a listen
Unlike anything I've heard before. Simply staggering, 31 Dec 2008
One of the main reasons why I loved the fourth series of Doctor Who so much was because of Catherine Tate. She made the character of Donna Noble such a fantastic one to love and cherish, which made her departure from the series all the more heartbreaking. Which is why I am so thankful for the recent audiobooks which feature more of Donna. However, The Forever Trap is truly special as it's narrated by Catherine Tate herself.
The story here is set sometime after TV episodes The Sontaran Stratagem/The Poison Sky. During the Doctor and Donna's travels, the TARDIS is invaded by a viral transmission, or rather, a holographic marketing scam that doesn't take `No!' for an answer. Despite their best efforts, the travellers find themselves trapped on the Edifice, a planet-sized complex of luxury apartments in space. Millions of beings across the Universe have been abducted, and where some really enjoy living in the Edifice, others have been taken from their natural habitat and cannot survive. Some are also vicious creatures who live only for war and conquest, and others still are mindless predators who look only to feast. Long story short, the Edifice is not all it's cracked up to be and is in fact a nightmarish mismatch of emotions that condemns all inside to eternal hell and death. With seemingly NO - WAY - OUT.
Obviously, The Forever Trap has been compared a lot to Pest Control, the other audiobook set during Series 4. Like Pest Control, The Forever Trap is a tale that's been done exclusively for audio. But is it better than Pest Control? Absolutely.
Dan Abnett, the author, is a man who should need no introduction. He's written plenty of stuff for Marvel UK (such as Transformers and Doctor Who) and he's famous for writing 2000AD, X-Men, stories for DC and Wildstorm and many bestselling novels. He's one of the most famous science-fiction writers in all the UK. So that was another reason why I wanted this audiobook so much. And true to nature, Abnett doesn't disappoint. He has written a STAGGERING story here.
Whereas Pest Control was action-filled, thrilling, multi-layered and great fun, The Forever Trap is much deeper and more psychological. As the mysteries of the Edifice unravel, the story becomes more sinister and darker. Like all good Who tales, there are plenty of twists-and-turns and enough action to liven things up, but this audiobook's greatest strengths are all the different alien species encountered, the whole concept of the Edifice, all the dangers and horrors within, the faultless relationship and conversational exchanges between the Doctor and Donna, Donna's bravery and resoluteness and finally some brilliant nods to important parts of the Doctor's life. The Ood and the Sontarans get a mention here, as does the Doctor's lost homeworld of Gallifrey, which is very creative and really adds to the psychology of the story.
But it's the SOUND that truly makes The Forever Trap really tense and nail-biting. Catherine Tate provides a PERFECT narrative to Abnett's story. She reads excellently, gives each of the characters great distinctive voices, continues to make Donna special and also does a good impersonation of the Doctor. Of course, all this is a given. We all now how excellent Catherine is at doing voices.
Like Pest Control, the music and sound effects really add to the drama of the story, but what's different and better here is that it's more varied. The music is so much more creepier and eerie and the sound effects WILL keep you on edge and make you jump throughout, especially during the EPIC finale when our heroes discover the Edifice's sinister secret.
Another reason to purchase The Forever Trap is because it's very much a `Doctor and Donna' story. All the other characters have minor roles and don't really have that big an impact on the course of events as the supporting characters did in Pest Control, and that's what makes the audiobook so refreshing. The Doctor and Donna's friendship is what made the fourth series so brilliant and this is a reminder of how true it was and how many great moments it provided for, such as the constant insistence to everyone that they WEREN'T a couple, and how much they were there for one another.
Doctor Who: The Forever Trap has everything it needs to satisfy die-hard fans. I put it on my iPod and was really glad I did. It will have you absolutely hooked from start-to-finish because of everything that's on it. Psychological, deep, gripping, tense, and will send plenty of chills down your spine. Utterly worth having.
All Round Success, 10 Dec 2008
First things first, Catherine Tate, what a reader. The range her voice has, has always astounded me. From watching The Catherine Tate show to hearing her speak naturally in interviews then as Donna in Doctor Who, she has a voice for every occasion, each with its own unique traits. The second thing you notice is the way she portrays the Doctor. As with every audiobook, the main characters are always the funniest ones to hear. Having had David Tennant portray Rose and Donna in a comical masculine-female way, to having Catherine Tate voice him with that know-it-all tone, is really the clincher for these products.
Ignore the story for a second, if they can't get the voices right it's not worth it. And Tate really does it justice.
Hats off to Abnett for yet another satisfying story in the world of Doctor Who and Torchwood. When you read his written words the images he creates are always wonderful, from the action packed sequences to those more tender moments, and as ever, Abnett manages this in audio form. I've found in the past that some stories can dry horribly when transferred from the page onto the waves, but this is something The Forever Trap does not do. The sound effects that litter the background add to the depth of the story and are well placed. They add tension when it is needed, excitement when the Doctor and Donna are facing certain doom.
All in all the effects are well crafted and excellently placed, and add an entire new dimension to the story. Would it have had the same effect without them? Who knows, but its so perfect the way it is, I don't want to find out.
When listening to audiobooks, I'm normally doing something else at the same time, like trying to sleep or drawing and painting a set for a drama production, like I was this time. With most audiobooks I can tend to switch off from them and continue with what I'm doing having the story as a background noise, The Forever Trap, on the other hand was the other way around.
I found myself stopping what I was doing in order to listen to what was happening. I was so engaged with the story I had to know what happened next and I couldn't stop listening. I put down my paint brush and I listened to every word, every sound effect until it was over. I was impressed.
Any niggles? No, not that I recall. Catherine Tate was an excellent reader with such a well crafted story. Like all Doctor Who storylines it had multiple strands, twists and turns and things you wouldn't expect. Everything I love about the show in one. Nothing ignored. The characters were spot on, the voices were great and overall, I left wanting more.
lost in escher, 22 Oct 2008
following on from the talking book doctor who: pest control, which had david tennant reading an original doctor who story and doing lots of different character voices, it's now catherine tate's turn to do one.
like pest control, this is spread over two discs, each running for roughly one hour and ten minutes. there are no episode breaks in the middle of these discs, although there are chapters for ease of access, so essentially this is in two long episodes. the first does end on a cliffhanger.
the story involves the doctor and donna getting stuck in the edifice, a huge apartment block come space station. the place has dissolved into chaos as all the other residents, including some highly unusual aliens, are fighting amongst each other. can the doctor and donna find who runs the place and save the day?
catherine tate has an excellent reading voice and is good to listen to. she does a very good impression of david tennant as the doctor, and there was one point early on when I forgot it wasn't him speaking. she also does voices for many other characters. some of the male ones are a bit obvious but some of the alien ones are very imaginatives and work very well.
the story scores over pest control in that it's a bit more imaginative, both in the unique setting and the highly unusual aliens the doctor and donna meet on their way.
this possibly would be even stronger a piece of work if it was shorter, but that's a minor complaint as it's both an entertaining doctor who story and an enjoyable listen, thanks to the writer and the reader
Pitch-perfect characterisation of the Tenth Doctor and Donna partnership, 10 Oct 2008
"Doctor Who": The Forever Trap: No. 2 (Dr Who Audio Original 2)
I know some folks have been less than impressed with Abnett's work for the Whoniverse thus far, but he has crafted a pitch-perfect story for the Tenth Doctor and Donna, and Catherine Tate clearly relishes reading it - on occasion she does a near-perfect impersonation of David Tennant's manic Tenth Doctor, and all her other character voices are easily distinguished from each other, and many really managed to convey aurally the charaters that I couldn't see. This audio novel is far superior to Peter Anghelides "Pest Control". I felt that Abnett created some interesting, original alien creatures and the story was well paced. Donna was incredibly Donna-ish - and I loved her to bits in this story. I cannot recommend it highly enough as it was a very satisfying story.
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Customer Reviews
DOCTOR WHO 2009 ANNUAL, 09 Jan 2009
Right, well i'm going to start by saying that the comment that says that there are some errors is wrong, it's done purposly, it's a True or False page, so obviosly there are going to be some errors which are the FALSE answers. So don't let that comment put you o | | |