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Eighth Doctor Adventures #37
Doctor Who: The Burning
The late nineteenth century -- the age of reason, of enlightenment, of industrialization. Britain is the workshop of the world, the center of the Empire.Progress has left Middletown behind. The tin mine is worked out, jobs are scarce, and a crack has opened across the moors that the locals believe reaches into the depths of Hell itself.
But things are changing: Lord Urton is preparing to reopen the mine; the society for Physical Research is interested in the fissure; Roger Nepath and his sister are exhibiting their collection of mystic Eastern artifacts. People are dying. Then a stranger arrives, walking out of the wilderness: A man with no name, no history.
But things are changing: Lord Urton is preparing to reopen the mine; the society for Physical Research is interested in the fissure; Roger Nepath and his sister are exhibiting their collection of mystic Eastern artifacts. People are dying. Then a stranger arrives, walking out of the wilderness: A man with no name, no history.
240 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 7, 2001
4 people are currently reading
445 people want to read
About the author
Justin Richards
330 books241 followersJustin Richards is a British writer. He has written many spin off novels based on the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who, and he is Creative Director for the BBC Books range. He has also written for television, contributing to Five's soap opera Family Affairs. He is also the author of a series of crime novels for children about the Invisible Detective, and novels for older children. His Doctor Who novel The Burning was placed sixth in the Top 10 of SFX magazine's "Best SF/Fantasy novelisation or TV tie-in novel" category of 2000.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
August 16, 2023
After the very continuity heavy string of titles, this adventure serves as a perfect reset for the Eighth Doctor Adventures.
The amnesiac Doctor arrives in the late nineteenth century village of Middleton as the Time Lord is about to discover a mystery surrounding the local mine.
This kicks off the 'Earth Arc' of the range and despite just the minutest of references to previous books, feels like a nice call back to the previous time that the Doctor was stranded here.
The writings strong and the plot is enjoyable, a much needed juncture for my Doctor.
The amnesiac Doctor arrives in the late nineteenth century village of Middleton as the Time Lord is about to discover a mystery surrounding the local mine.
This kicks off the 'Earth Arc' of the range and despite just the minutest of references to previous books, feels like a nice call back to the previous time that the Doctor was stranded here.
The writings strong and the plot is enjoyable, a much needed juncture for my Doctor.
August 27, 2021
The Burning is an integral book to the Eighth Doctor Adventures. It sets up the amnesiac Eighth Doctor, stuck on Earth with no memory of the previous books and a piece of paper in his pocket from Fitz telling him to meet him in St. Louis in 2001. The only problem is that he has no TARDIS, a small black box, and is in England in 1890. Justin Richards’ novel can be highly summarized as a fresh start for the range as the reader is presented with a story where they are as much of an outsider as the Doctor. The Doctor doesn’t appear until approximately 50 pages into the book, with other characters being hinted at possibly being the Doctor, though none of those characters are ever seriously entertained as possibly the Doctor, bar one who reveals himself to be antithetical to the Doctor once he opens his mouth. The book is primarily concerned with the industrial revolution and a fire creature taking over industrialists who end up reopening a mine and foundry essentially building to an explosive climax. The plot is deceptively simple, but Richards is one who does an excellent job of putting this idea of flames slowly rising into the readers head as this group of characters all have baggage under them. The Doctor is trying to solve this mystery of these artefacts and who he is, indeed who this Fitz could be, but has no real way of finding him without waiting. The entire creature is an Invasion of the Body-Snatchers fire elemental which is trying to create itself a body, a creature of flame and warmth, taking the warmth away from those around this manor house, while the story eventually ends with a great flood.
Richards manages to analyze who the Doctor has been without actually mentioning who the Doctor is. Without his memory, the Eighth Doctor is still the incredibly charming, showing up at a dinner party and getting the guests to believe he came with someone else, and essentially charming the villain to give him all of the information he wishes to know. There is never any idea of him being out of character without his memory, he still attempts to fight the injustice and cannot let things go, but there is almost this edge. The Doctor is almost callous when it comes to the young daughter being taken over by the burning, and although he saves her, Richards implies that he is definitely able to leave her behind. The book ends in a great flood and the Doctor essentially leaves without a real word of anything which is almost brilliant. The Russell T. Davies era of the show often made the Doctor out to be a force of nature, but it’s this book where it’s felt without being connected to themes of the Virgin New Adventures and the idea of Time’s Champion. There is some visceral imagery of the Doctor being at some of his most violent here, defeating the villain by pushing some of its servants into a river which turns them to stone which then crumbles to dust.
Nepath is the human villain of the book who is excellent, being the closest that Richards comes to tricking to reader into thinking that the Doctor has arrived to save the day. There is this dastardly mix of gentlemanly kindness and pure unadulterated evil. He manipulates Lord Urton into falling into the thrall of the burning and slowly expanding the power by promises of money and prosperity. Some of the fear comes from the fact that these aren’t actually empty promises, building mines and industrializing is something that would make the rich even richer, often with deadly side effects for the communities that industrialize and Richards knows this, being done obviously through metaphor and allegory. The perspective is from the upper class, the Doctor not really interacting with the lower classes which is something the book falls flat on. The book is one with quite a slow pace which is a double-edged sword, some of it being absolutely brilliant of setting the atmosphere and scene to an appropriate level of creepiness for things to build to.
Overall, The Burning is quite a good book at setting up a clean slate for the Eighth Doctor, but there are some definite issues with pace and some of the scope of the book not quite being enough to fully do the Industrial Revolution plot Richards provides. The characters and ideas are there, just not quite enough to make this up there with the perfect Doctor Who books. 8/10.
Richards manages to analyze who the Doctor has been without actually mentioning who the Doctor is. Without his memory, the Eighth Doctor is still the incredibly charming, showing up at a dinner party and getting the guests to believe he came with someone else, and essentially charming the villain to give him all of the information he wishes to know. There is never any idea of him being out of character without his memory, he still attempts to fight the injustice and cannot let things go, but there is almost this edge. The Doctor is almost callous when it comes to the young daughter being taken over by the burning, and although he saves her, Richards implies that he is definitely able to leave her behind. The book ends in a great flood and the Doctor essentially leaves without a real word of anything which is almost brilliant. The Russell T. Davies era of the show often made the Doctor out to be a force of nature, but it’s this book where it’s felt without being connected to themes of the Virgin New Adventures and the idea of Time’s Champion. There is some visceral imagery of the Doctor being at some of his most violent here, defeating the villain by pushing some of its servants into a river which turns them to stone which then crumbles to dust.
Nepath is the human villain of the book who is excellent, being the closest that Richards comes to tricking to reader into thinking that the Doctor has arrived to save the day. There is this dastardly mix of gentlemanly kindness and pure unadulterated evil. He manipulates Lord Urton into falling into the thrall of the burning and slowly expanding the power by promises of money and prosperity. Some of the fear comes from the fact that these aren’t actually empty promises, building mines and industrializing is something that would make the rich even richer, often with deadly side effects for the communities that industrialize and Richards knows this, being done obviously through metaphor and allegory. The perspective is from the upper class, the Doctor not really interacting with the lower classes which is something the book falls flat on. The book is one with quite a slow pace which is a double-edged sword, some of it being absolutely brilliant of setting the atmosphere and scene to an appropriate level of creepiness for things to build to.
Overall, The Burning is quite a good book at setting up a clean slate for the Eighth Doctor, but there are some definite issues with pace and some of the scope of the book not quite being enough to fully do the Industrial Revolution plot Richards provides. The characters and ideas are there, just not quite enough to make this up there with the perfect Doctor Who books. 8/10.
October 8, 2025
3.5
Reread 05/10/2025
I don’t particularly disagree with my first review here. I’ve now read all the preceding Eighth Doctor books for context - and that is of course unnecessary, since the whole point of The Burning was to start afresh.
It’s worth adding that the Doctor’s callous attitude, the lack of a companion to call him out on it, and the relatively high body count makes it all feel a bit disposable, a horror movie more or less unimpeded. But the hints of the future concerning the TARDIS are quite enticing, and Richards often plays games with his prose to catch you out.
It remains a jolly read, offering a taste of Doctor Who but with few of the actual details. Come back next time, clearly.
Original review 15/01/2023
The Burning finds the Eighth Doctor without his memories (again) and without his friends, but nonetheless in the same kind of trouble as usual. It makes for a very solid jumping on point, with little reference to earlier continuity and a new mystery to solve. Justin Richards even has some fun playing around with which of these unfamiliar characters *is* the Doctor, dropping some red herrings only to then sneak him in almost unnoticed.
The Doctor here is recognisable, but not firing on all cylinders: he’s smart, good at planning, but occasionally fails to save people and in the end, seemingly ensures that a villain will die. He’s *furious* a lot of the time, as he ought to be given the scale of damage being visited on a tired, defeated little town in late 19th century England. It’s uncomfortable but no doubt it gives the rest of the books in this mini arc something to work with.
As for the story, Justin Richards knows how to spin a dependable yarn and the creeping invasion of a small town certainly screams Doctor Who. There are some great visual ideas and, though there are some elements you’ll see coming, it’s satisfying to get there. On the downside once things kick up a gear there’s a hint of monotony about all the fiery carnage, not helped much by the Doctor’s depressing (though no doubt deliberate) track record. On the whole though, it’s strong stuff and a memorably grim adventure for a traditionally bright and cheerful Doctor.
Reread 05/10/2025
I don’t particularly disagree with my first review here. I’ve now read all the preceding Eighth Doctor books for context - and that is of course unnecessary, since the whole point of The Burning was to start afresh.
It’s worth adding that the Doctor’s callous attitude, the lack of a companion to call him out on it, and the relatively high body count makes it all feel a bit disposable, a horror movie more or less unimpeded. But the hints of the future concerning the TARDIS are quite enticing, and Richards often plays games with his prose to catch you out.
It remains a jolly read, offering a taste of Doctor Who but with few of the actual details. Come back next time, clearly.
Original review 15/01/2023
The Burning finds the Eighth Doctor without his memories (again) and without his friends, but nonetheless in the same kind of trouble as usual. It makes for a very solid jumping on point, with little reference to earlier continuity and a new mystery to solve. Justin Richards even has some fun playing around with which of these unfamiliar characters *is* the Doctor, dropping some red herrings only to then sneak him in almost unnoticed.
The Doctor here is recognisable, but not firing on all cylinders: he’s smart, good at planning, but occasionally fails to save people and in the end, seemingly ensures that a villain will die. He’s *furious* a lot of the time, as he ought to be given the scale of damage being visited on a tired, defeated little town in late 19th century England. It’s uncomfortable but no doubt it gives the rest of the books in this mini arc something to work with.
As for the story, Justin Richards knows how to spin a dependable yarn and the creeping invasion of a small town certainly screams Doctor Who. There are some great visual ideas and, though there are some elements you’ll see coming, it’s satisfying to get there. On the downside once things kick up a gear there’s a hint of monotony about all the fiery carnage, not helped much by the Doctor’s depressing (though no doubt deliberate) track record. On the whole though, it’s strong stuff and a memorably grim adventure for a traditionally bright and cheerful Doctor.
June 11, 2011
Holy gripping re-formatting, Batman! The conclusion of this re-formatting doesn't quite live up to its opening...but as a stand alone novel, its impact is like a splash of cold water in the face.
September 1, 2025
I think i got into a bit of a reading slump when i picked up this book because it took me WAY longer than it should have to finish this one. It's by no means a BAD book, it's just very...average.
Normally, i'm a big fan of Justin Richards books, but this one i wasn't really feeling it. Right off the bat it's a little different as it's the first of the 5 "Has no memory or companions" arc. in which the doc is by himself and has to go through time the old fashioned way with no TARDIS, no idea that he's a timelord, and no companion. That being said, this is very much a "Monster of the week" style of book. And that in and of itself doesn't make it BAD by any means, I just didn't really find myself drawn to this one that much.
Short version, doc is in victorian England where people are randomly burning to death and being replaced with fire people. It's..interesting, but the side characters aren't memorable enough for me to really care as it's one of those "most people in the book die" situation.
It's definitely interesting to see a book where the doc is by himself and has to rely on his wits with no help from the TARDIS or any sort of technology, but i can see this getting old fast. Luckily Justin always has a very easily readable writing style so i didn't ever have to worry about confusing verbage.
All in all, it was...fine? But nothing to write home about.
even 3 out of 5.
Normally, i'm a big fan of Justin Richards books, but this one i wasn't really feeling it. Right off the bat it's a little different as it's the first of the 5 "Has no memory or companions" arc. in which the doc is by himself and has to go through time the old fashioned way with no TARDIS, no idea that he's a timelord, and no companion. That being said, this is very much a "Monster of the week" style of book. And that in and of itself doesn't make it BAD by any means, I just didn't really find myself drawn to this one that much.
Short version, doc is in victorian England where people are randomly burning to death and being replaced with fire people. It's..interesting, but the side characters aren't memorable enough for me to really care as it's one of those "most people in the book die" situation.
It's definitely interesting to see a book where the doc is by himself and has to rely on his wits with no help from the TARDIS or any sort of technology, but i can see this getting old fast. Luckily Justin always has a very easily readable writing style so i didn't ever have to worry about confusing verbage.
All in all, it was...fine? But nothing to write home about.
even 3 out of 5.
August 26, 2025
The characterisation of the Doctor in this is second to none - so evocative of that archetypal version of the mysterious Time Lord. It’s a dark, brooding story, very grim in places, sometimes relentlessly so, but there’s that glimmer of hope at the end that, I think, won me over. It’s got me looking forward to reading a couple more that’s for sure.
December 15, 2020
Ver basic Doctor Who storytelling, that is also the starting point of the six books long story arc which The Earth Arc that really supposes to soft reset the Eighth Doctor Adventures.
It's good nothing much to say about this one.
It's good nothing much to say about this one.
April 17, 2023
Not a great story but not terrible
December 8, 2014
Well written and filled with thought provoking conversations, this novel finds Eight wandering into a Victorian town on the verge of some very strange happenings. It's a very classic Doctor Who tale, the supporting characters are all rather effective and even memorable, the villain is pathetic and horrific and really, this is just a good, good science fiction novel.
January 11, 2016
The Doctor arrives in a small village, where he is drawn to a mine. The owner has started acting unusual since his guest, a gentleman obsessed with fire, moved in. This is a surprisingly good read. A stand alone story where the Doctor is back to saving lives and stopping the fire. It is a refreshing read after the previous continuity driven novels. A really good read.
October 3, 2017
This was the book where I went to look up the author because SO much of the description of desiccated bodies, etc, was straight out of The Banquo Legacy. Aaand, yup, Justin Richards again. Dude is copacetic with his favourite tropes, I'll give him that. It's just that his favourite tropes include burned, messed-up bodies (loving descriptions thereof, including eyeball horror) which may or may not come alive, horror generally, and brother/sister obsession shading to incest. These are not my favourite tropes; in fact you could say the opposite.
I did love the Doctor's amnesia, though. His note from Fitz! His feeling that somehow he just felt more like himself in a bottle-green velvet coat and fancy waistcoat, so he went and got one! I very much enjoyed his conversations with the Anglican minister (who, spoiler, is one of the few characters who makes it out alive) but wasn't so into how the Doctor's (believable, Doctorish) randomness and sudden changes of mood meant in this book that he didn't show much visible compassion for the dead. That didn't seem right to me, not even when he's lost his memory.
Loving all the amnesiac Doctor and baby TARDIS stuff, though, and am delighted to get a few more books in a row on that theme!
I did love the Doctor's amnesia, though. His note from Fitz! His feeling that somehow he just felt more like himself in a bottle-green velvet coat and fancy waistcoat, so he went and got one! I very much enjoyed his conversations with the Anglican minister (who, spoiler, is one of the few characters who makes it out alive) but wasn't so into how the Doctor's (believable, Doctorish) randomness and sudden changes of mood meant in this book that he didn't show much visible compassion for the dead. That didn't seem right to me, not even when he's lost his memory.
Loving all the amnesiac Doctor and baby TARDIS stuff, though, and am delighted to get a few more books in a row on that theme!
May 30, 2025
The Doctor is finally without companions, but he has no memories and no TARDIS. He's got a note from Fitz in his pocket and a mysterious cube that directs him where to go based on heat. Following the directions from the cube, he ends up in a small town in a valley whose work prospects have just dried up. Coincidentally, another stranger has arrived in town at the same time, bringing quiet chaos in his wake. Suddenly, the townspeople are acting weird, and the stranger is offering jobs in the mine as well as a strange substance that can change its shape with heat.
This installment could be considered a stand-alone, a monster-of-the-week, mysterious-happenings-that-slowly-unfurl type of story. The fire creature conveniently takes just enough time to ramp up to the main event for the Doctor to figure out what's going on and to put a stop to it. It's fun, it reads quickly, and it feels very much like a classic DW.
The only pause I take is with the lack of backstory of the creature. I wish Richards went more into depth with Nepath's history, how he came in contact with it, and where it came from.
Other than that, I had fun with it.
This installment could be considered a stand-alone, a monster-of-the-week, mysterious-happenings-that-slowly-unfurl type of story. The fire creature conveniently takes just enough time to ramp up to the main event for the Doctor to figure out what's going on and to put a stop to it. It's fun, it reads quickly, and it feels very much like a classic DW.
The only pause I take is with the lack of backstory of the creature. I wish Richards went more into depth with Nepath's history, how he came in contact with it, and where it came from.
Other than that, I had fun with it.
October 5, 2025
Book 351 - Justin Richards - Doctor Who The Burning
In 2000 the classic TV series had been off air 11 years and the Paul McGann TV Movie was now 4 years old and the new 2005 series was still barely a thought in Russell T Davies mind. The ongoing BBC approved Doctor Who books were in danger of becoming stale and so they did something, at that stage, that was really radical….
Firstly they had one of the Doctor’s hearts stolen… then they killed the Doctor in his Third incarnation… add to that the destruction of Gallifrey for the first time and then they had him trapped on earth in the 19th Century with an incomplete memory and a small black cube.
The story begins with an old closed mine being opened and a strange black substance being sought. When a gentleman moves in to take charge… soon the deaths begin… bodies are found.. burnt… beyond recognition and in the midst of all this unearthly madness stands the Doctor but probably not the one we were expecting.
Richard’s writes for the Doctor brilliantly… a nailed characterisation… youthful… but lost… intelligent but scatter brained… human but alien.
In 2000 the classic TV series had been off air 11 years and the Paul McGann TV Movie was now 4 years old and the new 2005 series was still barely a thought in Russell T Davies mind. The ongoing BBC approved Doctor Who books were in danger of becoming stale and so they did something, at that stage, that was really radical….
Firstly they had one of the Doctor’s hearts stolen… then they killed the Doctor in his Third incarnation… add to that the destruction of Gallifrey for the first time and then they had him trapped on earth in the 19th Century with an incomplete memory and a small black cube.
The story begins with an old closed mine being opened and a strange black substance being sought. When a gentleman moves in to take charge… soon the deaths begin… bodies are found.. burnt… beyond recognition and in the midst of all this unearthly madness stands the Doctor but probably not the one we were expecting.
Richard’s writes for the Doctor brilliantly… a nailed characterisation… youthful… but lost… intelligent but scatter brained… human but alien.
December 8, 2024
A very enjoyable book in the long line of eighth doctor adventures. I’ve read a few of Justin Richards’ Doctor Who books prior to this and I have to say this is probably my favourite of his that I’ve read so far.
What really drew me into this book was the setting and some of it’s burning concepts. While I did enjoy this book a lot of the time I do feel like it’s ending let it down a little bit. However I was satisfied with how the story panned out but unfortunately the main villain felt pretty under developed and the ending was a bit anticlimactic
The doctor himself is good in his book and the supporting characters are good as well. It is a really well written book but it’s just the plot itself is very basic and it’s nothing to ride home about. It’s a decent EDA but a fairly mediocre one. I’d still recommend it if you’re new to this range and if you’re a fan of the 8th Doctor.
What really drew me into this book was the setting and some of it’s burning concepts. While I did enjoy this book a lot of the time I do feel like it’s ending let it down a little bit. However I was satisfied with how the story panned out but unfortunately the main villain felt pretty under developed and the ending was a bit anticlimactic
The doctor himself is good in his book and the supporting characters are good as well. It is a really well written book but it’s just the plot itself is very basic and it’s nothing to ride home about. It’s a decent EDA but a fairly mediocre one. I’d still recommend it if you’re new to this range and if you’re a fan of the 8th Doctor.
January 22, 2021
”The Ancestor Cell"でターディスも記憶も失った状態で19世紀末の地球、イギリスを一人彷徨うドクターの物語。
何かに引き寄せられるようにして、真冬の炭鉱街を訪れたドクター。 そこの領主がついに炭鉱を閉じることを決心し、他の働き口をもとめて人々が他の街に移りだしたとき、ロジャー・ネパスという男が領主の元を訪れ、炭鉱に新しい資源が眠っておりそれを採掘したいと申し出る。
記憶がないドクターは、記憶がないだけでドクターらしさは健在。 今回ドクターは地中に埋もれたターディスに惹かれてこの地にやってきて、炎の化身のような意識体に街全体が飲み込まれそうになるのを防ごうとする。
今回はドクターの気持ちや人柄を代弁してくれるコンパニオンはいないので、関わった人たちの信頼を得るのにちょっと苦労したり、先を見通しすぎてわかってもらえなかったりと孤独な状況に追い込まれることもあるのだけれど、基本的にどこででもコミュニティに溶け込め、うまくやっていける人なんだなぁと感心してみたり。
ファクションパラドックスやギャリフレイのゴタゴタ騒ぎから解放され、ドクターは記憶もなく一人ぼっちで孤独なんだけど、自由でかろやかで魅力増し。
フィズとの再会まであと100年近く。
なんだかドクター大丈夫そうだ。
何かに引き寄せられるようにして、真冬の炭鉱街を訪れたドクター。 そこの領主がついに炭鉱を閉じることを決心し、他の働き口をもとめて人々が他の街に移りだしたとき、ロジャー・ネパスという男が領主の元を訪れ、炭鉱に新しい資源が眠っておりそれを採掘したいと申し出る。
記憶がないドクターは、記憶がないだけでドクターらしさは健在。 今回ドクターは地中に埋もれたターディスに惹かれてこの地にやってきて、炎の化身のような意識体に街全体が飲み込まれそうになるのを防ごうとする。
今回はドクターの気持ちや人柄を代弁してくれるコンパニオンはいないので、関わった人たちの信頼を得るのにちょっと苦労したり、先を見通しすぎてわかってもらえなかったりと孤独な状況に追い込まれることもあるのだけれど、基本的にどこででもコミュニティに溶け込め、うまくやっていける人なんだなぁと感心してみたり。
ファクションパラドックスやギャリフレイのゴタゴタ騒ぎから解放され、ドクターは記憶もなく一人ぼっちで孤独なんだけど、自由でかろやかで魅力増し。
フィズとの再会まであと100年近く。
なんだかドクター大丈夫そうだ。
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 15, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. There's obviously a book somewhere that explains the Doctor's amnesia.
May 27, 2024
Horror-fantasy more than sci-fi, with some nice imagery, but as an introduction to Amnesia Georg's latest bout, the outsider POV -- which I normally like -- does not present much insight into the Doctor's mental state.
Read
December 1, 2016I'm just not into horror, and The Burning has way more to do with supernatural horror than it does science fiction. For that reason, I'm not going to try to rate it. I mostly skimmed; it's a lot of people dying messily while Eight fails to care much.
Nepath's motivation is sketched in broad outlines but the details don't work.
Also, doesn't everybody know that mines are hotter the deeper you go? It's not cold underground.
Nepath's motivation is sketched in broad outlines but the details don't work.
Also, doesn't everybody know that mines are hotter the deeper you go? It's not cold underground.
February 15, 2013
I was very excited about this one and I was a little bit disappointed--which isn't to say that it was terrible. The plot was well-paced, the villain was moderately scary, and the local characters were intriguing. I particularly liked the minister. It's not often one finds such a complementary face applied to Christianity and religion. He's probably the first Christian character I've ever met in the Whoniverse who does a fair job of representing the people he stands for. I appreciated that a lot.
Possibly because of his condition, the Doctor seems a bit out of character. There is too strong a focus on his every move or expression--which makes him seem fake. (A trend which continues throughout the next several books, unfortunately.)
I'm really enjoying the story arc right now though. The Doctor stranded on earth is always an interesting situation.
If you love the Doctor, read it.
Possibly because of his condition, the Doctor seems a bit out of character. There is too strong a focus on his every move or expression--which makes him seem fake. (A trend which continues throughout the next several books, unfortunately.)
I'm really enjoying the story arc right now though. The Doctor stranded on earth is always an interesting situation.
If you love the Doctor, read it.
April 8, 2009
http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/2041514.html[return][return] I felt that this time Justin Richards got it right; we have a well-realised late Victorian industrial/mining setting, a blasted heath, an alien presence which tempts gullible locals with promises of mineral wealth and military power, and some complex family relations among friends and foe. (Even some Biblical references, which is rare for Who.) The audio Industrial Evolution had a similar setting in some ways, but this is better. My only doubt is about the Doctor's amnesia - not an immediate fan of that storyline - but there is so much else happening here that one can let it go, and indeed perhaps it makes the book more accessible for non-Who fans.
April 5, 2010
Well look at that. A Doctor with no memory can be a real asshole. A good asshole, but an asshole none the less.
March 2, 2010
For a relaunch of a book series, this couldn't have been done much better. The Doctor, stranded alone on Earth, his memory erased. Superb restart after the madness of Faction Paradox.
March 2, 2014
From being an amnesia story, this was okay.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews