Doctor Who: The Art of Death

BBC Doctor Who: New Series Audio Exclusives #15

by James Goss, Raquel Cassidy (Reader)

Doctor Who: The Art of Death When the Doctor falls through a crack in time he finds himself in the Horizon Gallery. But it's no ordinary art gallery, because this one has the best view of the most impossible wonder of the universe - the Paradox. Tour parties are eager to see this stunning, hypnotic portion of sky that's beyond description. Full description

Genres: Doctor Who, Science Fiction, Audiobook, Fiction, Time Travel, Fantasy, British Literature

1 pages, Audio CD

First published January 5, 2012

About the author

James Goss has written two Torchwood novels and a radio play, as well as a Being Human book. His Doctor Who audiobook Dead Air won Best Audiobook 2010. James also spent seven years working on the BBC's official Doctor Who website and co-wrote the website for Torchwood Series One. In 2007, he won the Best Adaptation category in the annual LA Weekly Theatre Awards for his version of Douglas Adams' novel Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency.

Reviews

[Jim C · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an audiobook that is based on the television series. This takes place during The Eleventh Doctor run with Amy and Rory. In this one, Penelope works at an art museum that has an exhibit known as the Paradox. One day while Penelope is showing off this exhibit a strange skeletal figure appears threatening the customers of the museum.

Even though this is a Doctor Who book it really isn't as the three television characters really make cameos in this story. This is Penelope's story. Even though this isn't The Doctor's story it was a really enjoyable story and worked well within this universe. This reminded me a lot of the episode "Blink" where The Doctor is relegated to the sidelines and we concentrate on new characters and monsters. This story does have a staple of the television series and that is the loose playing around with its timey wimey rules. It does it in such a smart way that has a direct effect on the whole story. This story starts off as a horror story with the skeletal figure and its actions but switches to a mystery as we wonder about the connection between the Paradox and the antagonist.

I have listened to a bunch of these short stories and this one is one of my favorites which is kind of ironic since the lack of The Doctor and his companions. It was an intelligent story that deals with time and one effects of one's actions.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short but entertaining Doctor Who story.

Just as the eleventh Doctor era has done on screen, this novella length first-person narrated story examines the implications of time travel in relation to paradoxes. Pandora has just got her dream job at a museum. But on her first day of work, a mysterious traveler known as the Doctor shows up. She's also being pursued by some kind of monster.

Solid narration, a clever story and an intriguing twist or two make this an entertaining way to pass an hour or so. And the story takes advantage of being told in audio format well.

[Johanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was great, mostly because of Raquel Cassidy. I want her to read all my audiobooks!!! Her portrayals of the characters were appropriate, and I often felt like there was more than one person reading because of how good her voices, tones, and attitudes were. The story was unique, scary, fun, sad...all the best of Doctor Who.

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad reading, though a few of the voices seemed off, imitating a variety of actors has to be tough.
An impossible art gallery, the Doctor and his companions unmoored in time, and one woman caught in the middle. For the most part, the story focuses on the art gallery worker, but it's a good one, appropriately complex and fraught. And surprisingly happy in places.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this ..would have made an interesting episode

[Elise O'Neill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully creepy!

[Adam Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Penelope works at the Horizon Art Gallery, tasked with watching the Paradox chamber, where viewers can see a clear view of the Paradox in the sky. Her job is to make sure people don't stare at it too long and go mad as many artists already have in trying to paint it. The e Doctor, Amy, and Rory arrive and end up floating through time and running into Penelope throughout her life.

This story is brilliantly written. There's a sense of mystery and horror at the center of this story as a monster begins to appear. It's a brilliant story with the main character being Penelope as opposed to the Doctor and Companions who float in and out of her life. The story is haunting, intelligent, and with a great twist. While the Doctor's not in it all the time, Writer James Goss captures his voice quite well. Raquel Cassidy's narration is superb as she brings this story to life and captures Penelope's ever-changing character. One of the best Doctor Who Audiobooks released by the BBC.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I throughly enjoyed this book. The writer had the doctor's character down to a T. Amazing writing. Amazing story and a few twists that made it a episode worthy doctor who story.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best Doctor Who book I've ever read/listened to.

[Melenia · Rating 4 out of 5]

2025 - 4 Stars - Was not as enjoyable the 2nd time around; although, I did not really remember it very well.

2018 - 5 Stars - Great

[Anna Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exciting look at time loops, cause and effect, and consequences of madness.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first of the audio adventures collection that really drew my attention and made me want to hear every word. I enjoyed the first-person narration from Penelope, the direct-address and the humour balanced with recognition of reality in her tone. Her narrative didn't feel like it was building up loads of stakes and suspense for the sake of spectacle - instead, it was gently spooky, her personal experience told so that we cared about it, and then naturally poignant. My jaw dropped when I realised the twist as it was gradually revealed. I liked the timey-wimeyness of her meeting the Doctor out of sequence (something often not used despite him having a time machine), and the art gallery setting. It raises philosophical questions of who we are to ourselves and what we live for, what inspires us creatively, and what time really means. Fascinating concepts, engaging narrative, and I really cared about Penelope quickly. I could almost see her being a good companion, when she was interacting with Amy and easily saw the Doctor for who he was without being pretentious. The narration was lovely to listen to (my favourite so far), and the first that was able to capture Amy Pond's intonation and personality. I felt like I really was seeing the characters themselves interacting, as though it were an episode of the show. Over-all, what could've been a heavy ending left me feeling inspired and contemplative because of how it was written and delivered. This will certainly remain in the back of my mind for a long time!

[Tracy St Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has a great plot, involving someone who is not The Doctor (or Amy or Rory) for most of it.

The narrator could not imitate Matt Smith as The Doctor at all, though. She was pretty good with other people.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this one!

[Kathryn Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the doctor!!

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paradox

[LizthePrude · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love a good paradox.

[Isha · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 really good!

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a timey wimey DW short story. I quite enjoyed it but probably would have worked better in a longer format.

[osoi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Я постоянно слушаю аудиокнижки перед сном, причем таймер срабатывает на ура, вырубаясь, когда моя заснувшая тушка уже не может двинуть пальцем. Но есть минус: я могу слушать часовую книгу в течение всей недели, но на утро и к следующему сеансу я уже ничего не помню. Столько событий, лиц, впечатлений, работы, ��то мозги отказываются припоминать, что же это такое я слушала целую вечность назад. Так, основные моменты событий книги сохраняются на задворках, но вот на чем остановилась – в жисть не вспомню. The Art of Death постигла именно такая участь, к сожалению: 70% книги я слушала урывками. Зато остальные 30%, которые я оставила на сладкое субботнее утро, взорвали к��шу, которая осталась у меня в голове после предыдущих сеансов.

Это же Госс, о чем тут еще говорить. Сегодня у него удачный день: история про арт-галерею и необыкновенный экспонат Парадокс (ога) тихонечко подошла к своему шикарному финале, причем заподозрить ее в офигительности до самого конца было сложно.
Илевен и чета Пондов посещают выставочный зал, откуда открывается вид на кусок неба, где находится уникальный и необъяснимый Парадокс, но попадают в какую-то временную трещину и их нехило разбрасывает во времени. По очереди они встречаются с девушкой (а позже тетенькой) Пенелопой, смотрительницей зала. В то же время с экспонатом начинают твориться «чудеса» и появляется неведомый страшилище, желающий убить всех, до кого доберется.

Про злоключения Пенелопы (от лица которой идет повествование) я слушала с некоторой скукой, а позже с ужасом. Познакомилась с Доктой девочка, и не успела оглянуться, как он сожрал ее бутерброды. Увиделась второй раз – ослепла и стала медленно и мучительно умирать. Я уже думала пореветь от расстройства, что Госс накатал какую-то драму драмой, но тут же разуверилась. Потому что Госс не был бы Госсом, если бы не закрутил всю историю в какой-то дико логичный и еще более трагичный timey-wimey swirl.

HOLYSHIT я люблю парадоксы. Люблю, когда какая-то хрень в небе называется Парадоксом. А когда Парадокс оказывается самым настоящим парадоксом, который завернул сам себя в нескончаемую петлю повторяющихся событий, люблю еще больше. Накал эмоций ближе к концу захлестывает. Одна из лучших историй во всей франшизе Доктор Кто.

annikeh.net

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyable (and quick) listen. The Doctor, Amy, and Rory fall through cracks in time when they attempt to visit the Paradox Art Gallery. Narrated by the character Penelope, this story follows this young and budding painter who is assigned to watch over the Gallery's most impressive display: the huge paradox in the sky under which the art museum was built. But it basically amounts to her having to sit in the room and stare at the blank walls; because anyone who looks too long at the paradox goes mad: she is just supposed to sit there and stop anyone who tries to look for too long. But Penelope begins to hear voices in the chamber...and then the Doctor shows up and so does a glowing crystal spectre of death.

This was a fun story and while there isn't much of the Doctor or Amy or Rory there it was still a complete plot with only a few minor holes. The reader was good though she didn't have the range of some audiobook readers (she didn't have a good "Doctor" voice or anything but it was a good performance nonetheless.) Definitely one worth reading/hearing.

[Nicholas Whyte · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1888281.html[return][return]another winner, with the excellent Raquel Cassidy (who played Matt Smith's boss in Party Animals and the leader of both the Gangers and their human antagonists in The Rebel Flesh / The Almost People) telling the story in first person: she is art gallery custodian Penelope, showing off the indescribable Paradox to the masses, and developing a peculiar relationship both with it and with the three strange travellers who turn up at different times. I felt it borrowed a bit from Dan Simmons' Hyperion but perhaps did it better. Strongly recommended.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a blast to listen to! The story was very original, I was sucked in from the beginning, and needless to say I loved it! James Goss writes the 11th doctor perfectly. He must have studied Math Smith episodes. If you're missing The Doctor at all, like I am, this is a perfect little fix for you. All three of the characters, The Doctor, Amy, and Rory, were very well written and I could completely see this as an episode. In fact, I'm sad it's not one. The woman reading the story for the audiobook has an amazing voice, I want her to read to me as I fall asleep, and she does everyone else's voices perfect. Seriously, not one complaint.

[Just a Girl Fighting Censorship · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW this audio special was AWESOME absolutely loved it! I only wish this story had been made into an episode because it is sooooo good!

This story is particularly timey wimey and the narration reminds me of "BLINK" in the sense that the Doctor is more of a supporting character and events are not linear.

Wonderfully written! The characterization of Eleven, Amy, and Rory is spot on and you absolutely fall in love with the main character/narrator.

Spectacular! A must for any lover of time travel!

[Tonya Breck · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I loved most about the story, aside from the fact that it was a well done non-Doctor, non-companion POV, was that we got a protagonist who was also the antagonist. Not only did we get that, it showed wonderfully how people have it in them to be very selfish and destructive at the same time that they have it in them to be selfless and heroic.

I admit, I'm also a sucker for a Doctor Who story where he isn't the one who saves the day.

[Jenette · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a little darker than I was expecting from a Doctor Who audio but I think it was the only thing that saved this one from being drab. The narration lacked the enthusiasm I've come to associate with the Doctor and I didn't feel that there was any reason I should continue to listen other than it was all I had for my walk. The ending, however, redeemed it somewhat and I found it an appropriate ending to the protagonist.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love a paradox? Then you will like this one. Otherwise do not open this book. It might just cause your brain to implode. The best paradoxes are the simple ones. And this one is short and to the point. No filler.

[Sean Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story with a twist or two I didn't predict: the big one is pretty obvious, but that doesn't matter because getting there is enormous fun. Very well read indeed.

[Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this story. Very inventive and tragic.

[ani · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one gave me the biggest 'jump out of my skin' opening. Admittedly i was alone in the car in the dark on a country road but nonetheless it was scary.