Doctor Who: Alien Adventures

Doctor Who: 2 New Adventures #3

by Mike Tucker, Richard Dinnick

On the planet Xirrinda, terrible tiny creatures swarm down from the sky in Rain of Terror. Can the Doctor, Amy, and Rory help the colonists escape from the alien infestation? The Doctor, Rory, and Amy take a trip to the 1966 World Cup in Extra Time. Rory ends up playing a crucial part in this historic football match, while the Doctor and Amy discover that the Doctor isn't the only alien visiting Wembley...

Genres: Doctor Who, Science Fiction, Young Adult, Fantasy, Adventure, Fiction, Action

396 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2011

About the author

Mike Tucker is a special effects expert who worked for many years at the BBC Television Visual Effects Department, and now works as an Effects Supervisor for his own company, The Model Unit. He is also the author of a number of original tv tie-in Doctor Who novels (some co-written with Robert Perry), and three books based on episodes of the television series Merlin. He co-wrote the factual books Ace! The Inside Story of the End of an Era with Sophie Aldred in 1996, and BBC VFX - The Story of the BBC Visual Effects Department with Mat Irvine in 2010.

Reviews

[Kieran McAndrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Doctor, Amy and Rory find themselves on an undersea exploration submarine on the planet Hos. When a virus infects the crew, the Doctor must work with the native population to help the crew. Then, while visiting a Safari planet, the Doctor and his companions must try to save the tourists from terrible tiny creatures that have bombarded the planet from space.

The greatest sin of any children's book is patronising the reader. This is the problem with "The Underwater War", which overexplains the simple science, leaving the higher concepts of science fiction alone. This is not helped by the fact that characters feel "off", especially Amy, who giggles her way merrily through a serious situation in a way she never did on screen.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Double disappointment - 3*

I liked both ideas in the stories and I think they had great potential. That's probably why I'm so frustrated. The book did not deliver. To be honest, Doctor Who books are usually a mixed bag: you don't always get the best! I think this was really mediocre.

The one thing that really pissed me off was the big reveal about the TARDIS, the sonic screwdriver, the Doctor, Amy and Rory. WE KNOW ABOUT THIS; WE WATCHED THE SHOW!!!

I have the 'Sightseeing Adventures' and I really don't have high hopes for this.

[Tracy Smyth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two more adventures with The Doctor & friends. Easy read

[Rhys_BookDude · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting and fun to read as i love science fiction and anyone else who likes science fiction will too! i really think it is 10+

[Lisa-Marie Tandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

highly recommend, 2 new types of aliens to read about.

[Nicholas Whyte · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1989465.html[return][return]One of the 2-in-1 Who volumes for younger readers produced earlier this year, with no particular thematic link between the stories other than that both happen on alien planets. The Underwater War is rather slight, an old-fashioned don't-fear-the-Other tale with an implausible language made of colours, but some decent Rory/Amy character moments and a gratifyingly large number of Old Who continuity references (things have rather changed in that regard since the early years of RTD). Rain of Terror is more substantial, 'orrible omnivorous voracious aliens, corrupt scientists and an epic train ride; but loses points for gender determinism, with two brave little boys and a frightened little girl helping / being rescued by the Doctor. Get it for a young friend or relative and then borrow it from them.

[Jono McDermott · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Mike Tucker story makes up where the Richard Dinnick story disappoints (which is a shame since Dinnick is less well-known). My main issue with Dinnick’s story was the writing style, which seemed so dumbed down I wondered if this was supposed to be a pre-school book rather than young adult. But both stories have a fantastic investment of imagination. Good for a wee bit of escapism.