What do you think?
Rate this book
Eighth Doctor Adventures #26
Interference Book Two
They call it the Dead Frontier. It's as far from home as the human race ever went -- the planet where mankind dumped the waste of its thousand-year empire and left its culture out in the sun to rot.
But while one Doctor faces both his own past and his own future on the Frontier, another finds himself on Earth in 1996, where the seeds of the Empire are only just being sown.
314 pages, Paperback
First published October 2, 1999
3 people are currently reading
401 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
August 12, 2019
Interference really benefits from reading both volumes back to back, this epic adventure has so many bold and fascinating ideas that at timed even the two novels doesn’t seem enough.
This story is aimed at those who have read all the previous entries in the series, whilst an extensive knowledge of Classic Who helps make this more of a rewarding read.
It’s also reignited my aim to finally complete the series.
Most of the EDAs I’d previously read in the 2000’s are directly after these volumes, so I had some idea on how this story would pan out.
This felt like a massive part of that jigsaw has now been put place and I liked the various foreshadowing to big event at the end of this book casually mentioned throughout the story (once you know it, it’s so easy to spot!).
I’m sure that I’ve read at least the next 20 books in the series before.
So now that I’m up to speed on the overall arc, it’s going to be interesting to see how much I enjoy that series with that added bit of nostalgia.
This story is aimed at those who have read all the previous entries in the series, whilst an extensive knowledge of Classic Who helps make this more of a rewarding read.
It’s also reignited my aim to finally complete the series.
Most of the EDAs I’d previously read in the 2000’s are directly after these volumes, so I had some idea on how this story would pan out.
This felt like a massive part of that jigsaw has now been put place and I liked the various foreshadowing to big event at the end of this book casually mentioned throughout the story (once you know it, it’s so easy to spot!).
I’m sure that I’ve read at least the next 20 books in the series before.
So now that I’m up to speed on the overall arc, it’s going to be interesting to see how much I enjoy that series with that added bit of nostalgia.
March 16, 2025
The best bits of this two-part novel have been saved for last, with Sam’s journey coming to an end, Fitz’s story looping back through the first book in interesting ways and the Doctor — mostly via Third Doctor flashbacks — changing in seismic ways that set up future books.
Lawrence Miles continues to ask interesting questions about his characters and setups, but all that said, Interference is stronger as an exercise or a statement than as a novel, with its focus on what the book range *could do* rather than on telling a completely satisfying story right now. The Third Doctor stuff is quite cool and exciting but it takes the heat off of the Sam and Fitz stuff; an experiment that creates pacing issues. It’s a recommendable endeavour on the whole, but perhaps more for a reader working their way through the entire book line than someone who just fancies a good book.
3.5
Lawrence Miles continues to ask interesting questions about his characters and setups, but all that said, Interference is stronger as an exercise or a statement than as a novel, with its focus on what the book range *could do* rather than on telling a completely satisfying story right now. The Third Doctor stuff is quite cool and exciting but it takes the heat off of the Sam and Fitz stuff; an experiment that creates pacing issues. It’s a recommendable endeavour on the whole, but perhaps more for a reader working their way through the entire book line than someone who just fancies a good book.
3.5
March 26, 2025
A Lot happens in interference but you know when youre reading a slightly older book & they say something about The Modern World and then it rings true like 20 years later. well. yeah. 'we arent directly controlled by the media per se, but we still make all our decisions based on what the media tells us' god yeah. i bet the remote loves short form video. gonna miss sam i wont lie 😔 i want to say that idk why all the authors seemed to hate her but its probably just cos she's a teenage girl with opinions & ideas so. not entirely sure what was going on with fitz here just in how he got out of that??? something about the bottle universe?? but wow. fucked up. i also really loved the like. scripted bit of the fake sam & fake doctor inside the media and how they Think sam would act i love it when media deals with the fact that its characters are characters not real people i love when media gets meta with it....... probably well worth a reread at some point to understand it better
May 15, 2018
Big and clever are how I like my books, particularly ones set in the Doctor Who universe. And this one was so big and so clever.
And a little anarchist too. :D
And a little anarchist too. :D
June 25, 2023
Well, i've finally done it. I finished Sam's run of being with the 8th doctor. and...the culmination of this two parter was...well...uneventful. That's the best way to put it.
The 2nd part of the story is very complicated in Lawrence Miles fashion, so suffice it to say, Wacky complicated shenanigans ensue, the doctor and Sam save the day, and Sam peaces out.
That's the main part of the story. The weird part of this book is that, i was hoping for something but it didn't pan out the way i wanted. i was hoping and expecting that Sam leaving would be a big deal. It was not. I was expecting 3 and 8 to hang out. They did not. This book was a lot of missed opportunity while also being confusing.
The first book was so much build up, when, in essence, it didn't really need it. That's the crux of this two-parter. Did it NEED to be a two parter? The answer is no. No it did not. This story could have easily been told in 1 book with just removing needless stuff like the point of view of this arms dealer named "llewis" and just removing the 3rd doctor's story entirely.
I SEE what the author was trying to do by including the 3rd doctor, but it took up way too much time and only really amounted to one thing they could have easily accomplished in a much smaller time. Now don't get me wrong, i LOVE the third doctor, but he didn't really need to be here for more than a quick cameo.
These 2 books essentially do 3/4 8th doctor story 1/4 3rd doctor. and they really don't intersect. And it's kind of annoying. I was hoping for like a 5 doctors or a "twice upon a time" where they hang out, but no, they hardly even interact. I almost feel like it was a marketing ploy for this. Get your hopes up and then be like "lol just kidding. no. you get no fun crossover." I know it didn't promise it persay, but your imagination and hope runs away with you.
I raced through this book as i excited to see what happened. Sadly, my excitement did not pay off. It was....fine? but it's sad the majority of the book is Sarah Jane and Sam while Fitz is stuck in goofy land and 8 doesn't really start doing anything until about 1/3 of the way through the 2nd book.
I AM excited to see what they do with Compassion, and the next book is written by Paul Magrs who i like, so we'll see how that goes. As for this one, I KNOW they're setting something up for "Ancestor Cell" With this book, but for now, i wasn't very impressed with this one. Not enough payoff for the 450 page buildup it had me read.
All in all, 2.5 out of 5. But...how to round it? i REALLY want to give it a 2.5...but.......since i can't...... just from the disappointment i can't in good conscience give it a 3. sorry. rounded down to a 2 out of 5.
The 2nd part of the story is very complicated in Lawrence Miles fashion, so suffice it to say, Wacky complicated shenanigans ensue, the doctor and Sam save the day, and Sam peaces out.
That's the main part of the story. The weird part of this book is that, i was hoping for something but it didn't pan out the way i wanted. i was hoping and expecting that Sam leaving would be a big deal. It was not. I was expecting 3 and 8 to hang out. They did not. This book was a lot of missed opportunity while also being confusing.
The first book was so much build up, when, in essence, it didn't really need it. That's the crux of this two-parter. Did it NEED to be a two parter? The answer is no. No it did not. This story could have easily been told in 1 book with just removing needless stuff like the point of view of this arms dealer named "llewis" and just removing the 3rd doctor's story entirely.
I SEE what the author was trying to do by including the 3rd doctor, but it took up way too much time and only really amounted to one thing they could have easily accomplished in a much smaller time. Now don't get me wrong, i LOVE the third doctor, but he didn't really need to be here for more than a quick cameo.
These 2 books essentially do 3/4 8th doctor story 1/4 3rd doctor. and they really don't intersect. And it's kind of annoying. I was hoping for like a 5 doctors or a "twice upon a time" where they hang out, but no, they hardly even interact. I almost feel like it was a marketing ploy for this. Get your hopes up and then be like "lol just kidding. no. you get no fun crossover." I know it didn't promise it persay, but your imagination and hope runs away with you.
I raced through this book as i excited to see what happened. Sadly, my excitement did not pay off. It was....fine? but it's sad the majority of the book is Sarah Jane and Sam while Fitz is stuck in goofy land and 8 doesn't really start doing anything until about 1/3 of the way through the 2nd book.
I AM excited to see what they do with Compassion, and the next book is written by Paul Magrs who i like, so we'll see how that goes. As for this one, I KNOW they're setting something up for "Ancestor Cell" With this book, but for now, i wasn't very impressed with this one. Not enough payoff for the 450 page buildup it had me read.
All in all, 2.5 out of 5. But...how to round it? i REALLY want to give it a 2.5...but.......since i can't...... just from the disappointment i can't in good conscience give it a 3. sorry. rounded down to a 2 out of 5.
December 4, 2023
There is zero reason why this narrative needed two full books. As it stands, there are two completely separate stories that could have been their own entries, and no need to intertwine them in the complicated fashion that Miles deemed was necessary. Both covers sell the story, incorrectly, as a crossover between Doctors 3 and 8, which completely not the case. Their paths never cross except once in the previous book, and even then it was just a fever dream. The way this story drags out is almost criminal. There are a few interesting revelations, but certainly not worth the slog that Miles dragged us through to get there. There's a whole chapter that's an interview about an arms deal that lends no bearing to the novel. Sequences are expanded upon that could have been summed up in sentences.
This bloated story had some good ideas, certainly. I enjoyed the resurgence of the Faction Paradox, and the idea of the Remote people being constantly plugged into the media and using that for guidance. The population of Anathema and its ultimate location was a good addition too. The last 40 or so pages back on Dust with I.M. Foreman was the best part- had it been an entire book about that I would have rated this title four stars.
Interference could have stood another thorough editing, and ultimate separation of the two stories into separate entries into the EDA. As it is, I can't in good conscience rate it higher than a 2, for its meandering, soul-sucking toll it took on the last week of my life.
This bloated story had some good ideas, certainly. I enjoyed the resurgence of the Faction Paradox, and the idea of the Remote people being constantly plugged into the media and using that for guidance. The population of Anathema and its ultimate location was a good addition too. The last 40 or so pages back on Dust with I.M. Foreman was the best part- had it been an entire book about that I would have rated this title four stars.
Interference could have stood another thorough editing, and ultimate separation of the two stories into separate entries into the EDA. As it is, I can't in good conscience rate it higher than a 2, for its meandering, soul-sucking toll it took on the last week of my life.
August 4, 2024
‘I.M. Foreman sighed at him. “You really are a complete mess, aren’t you?” she said.
“Increasingly,” said the Doctor.’
I feel like this one exchange sort of sums up the whole book really.
Mixed feelings on this one to be honest. But I can’t deny its ambition and scope.
“Increasingly,” said the Doctor.’
I feel like this one exchange sort of sums up the whole book really.
Mixed feelings on this one to be honest. But I can’t deny its ambition and scope.
December 7, 2020
非常にややこしかったがとても面白かった。
I.M.フォアマンの正体は太古の昔のギャリフレイ人。タイムロードではなく”神官（モンク）”、当時は神官もタイムロードと同じくタイムトラべルの技術・知識に精通していた。タイムロードにはギャリフレイ人の中でもラシロンが発明したDNAを持った少数のエリートのみがなれる。
フォアマンもタイムロードと同じく13回リジェネレーションするがリジェネレーションするたびにヒューマノイドから遠ざかっていく。タイムロードは食したもののDNAをとりこむが、そこから大きな影響をうけない防御機能ももっている。しかし、フォアマンはその機能を持たず、取り込んだDNA全ての影響をうけ、最終形態で宇宙すべてのDNAを取り込んだ生態となる定めとあった。太古の昔、フォアマンはギャリフレイで全ての自分のリジェネレーション形態と遭遇し、その日より、ギャリフレイからできるだけ遠ざかる旅をスタートさせる。その旅で行う"ショー”が宇宙に小さな影響を及ぼしはじめ、ドクターがターディスを盗んでギャリフレイを飛び出したのも、無意識にその影響をうけていたため。
ギャリフレイはほぼ宇宙の中心に近いところにあり、そこから離れ、この宇宙の外を目指した結果、フォアマンは遠い未来、塵しかそんざいしなくなった地球にたどり着く。フォアマンは移動に、ターディスをつかっている。ただし、このターディスは箱の中に入っていない状態。
ファクション・パラドックスはギャリフレイァンがDNAをとりこむ性質があること、フォアマンの最終形態と運命を先につきとめており、フォアマンが惑星の生命力そのものとなったとき、ファクション・パラドックスのDNAを滑り込ませようとする。しかし、そのDNAを放った瞬間、3thドクターがタイムトラベラー全てを嫌悪したマグナルダに殺され、リジェネレーション周期にはいっており、ファクション・パラドックスのDNAはドクターに組み込まれてしまう。タイムロードの防御機能凌駕し、ファクション・パラドックスの影響がドクターにで始めるのはまだ何リジェネレーション先。おそらく８thドクターで出てくるはず。兆候としてまず影を失うだろうと、ファクション・パラドックスは予見。
ファクション・パラドックスのファーザーはフィズ。2000年生き続けることに。ファクション・パラドックスの手先となったリモートのうちコードはリモートのメディアの補完するためのメモリーが生み出したコピー。
ドクターはフィズがどうなったか、コード見た瞬間に理解していた。
3thドクターの死は、本来起こるはずでないところでおこっているのでファクション・パラドックスの影響がすでに宇宙におよびはじめている。
ファクション・パラドックスの影響が及んだ宇宙の話なので、本来あってはならないストーリーということになる。タイムロードの暗黒史。ドクターですら知らなかった、虐殺や奴隷などの事実が語られる。時系列を守るためなら、それに害をなす種族を根本から消滅させることも辞さないタイムロード。宇宙の事象に関して干渉してはならないというルールはこのあたりの反省から出ている面もあるようだ。しかし、ドクターはギャリフレィを飛び出し、そしてフォアマンのように、ドクターの存在自体が宇宙の時系列に影響を与えることになっていることが明かされる。
8thドクターの体にはファクション・パラドックスの影響がやはり出始めており、ドクターも異変に気がつきある。そこで今回のストーリーは終わるが。
先にこのあとの話を読んでいたので、ようやく何故ドクターがファクション・パラドックスのDNAに感染したのか判明。戦争に巻き込まれないために武装するタイムロードの暴走をとめるためギャリフレイを滅ぼすことになるドクター。うーーん。つらいなぁ。
I.M.フォアマンの正体は太古の昔のギャリフレイ人。タイムロードではなく”神官（モンク）”、当時は神官もタイムロードと同じくタイムトラべルの技術・知識に精通していた。タイムロードにはギャリフレイ人の中でもラシロンが発明したDNAを持った少数のエリートのみがなれる。
フォアマンもタイムロードと同じく13回リジェネレーションするがリジェネレーションするたびにヒューマノイドから遠ざかっていく。タイムロードは食したもののDNAをとりこむが、そこから大きな影響をうけない防御機能ももっている。しかし、フォアマンはその機能を持たず、取り込んだDNA全ての影響をうけ、最終形態で宇宙すべてのDNAを取り込んだ生態となる定めとあった。太古の昔、フォアマンはギャリフレイで全ての自分のリジェネレーション形態と遭遇し、その日より、ギャリフレイからできるだけ遠ざかる旅をスタートさせる。その旅で行う"ショー”が宇宙に小さな影響を及ぼしはじめ、ドクターがターディスを盗んでギャリフレイを飛び出したのも、無意識にその影響をうけていたため。
ギャリフレイはほぼ宇宙の中心に近いところにあり、そこから離れ、この宇宙の外を目指した結果、フォアマンは遠い未来、塵しかそんざいしなくなった地球にたどり着く。フォアマンは移動に、ターディスをつかっている。ただし、このターディスは箱の中に入っていない状態。
ファクション・パラドックスはギャリフレイァンがDNAをとりこむ性質があること、フォアマンの最終形態と運命を先につきとめており、フォアマンが惑星の生命力そのものとなったとき、ファクション・パラドックスのDNAを滑り込ませようとする。しかし、そのDNAを放った瞬間、3thドクターがタイムトラベラー全てを嫌悪したマグナルダに殺され、リジェネレーション周期にはいっており、ファクション・パラドックスのDNAはドクターに組み込まれてしまう。タイムロードの防御機能凌駕し、ファクション・パラドックスの影響がドクターにで始めるのはまだ何リジェネレーション先。おそらく８thドクターで出てくるはず。兆候としてまず影を失うだろうと、ファクション・パラドックスは予見。
ファクション・パラドックスのファーザーはフィズ。2000年生き続けることに。ファクション・パラドックスの手先となったリモートのうちコードはリモートのメディアの補完するためのメモリーが生み出したコピー。
ドクターはフィズがどうなったか、コード見た瞬間に理解していた。
3thドクターの死は、本来起こるはずでないところでおこっているのでファクション・パラドックスの影響がすでに宇宙におよびはじめている。
ファクション・パラドックスの影響が及んだ宇宙の話なので、本来あってはならないストーリーということになる。タイムロードの暗黒史。ドクターですら知らなかった、虐殺や奴隷などの事実が語られる。時系列を守るためなら、それに害をなす種族を根本から消滅させることも辞さないタイムロード。宇宙の事象に関して干渉してはならないというルールはこのあたりの反省から出ている面もあるようだ。しかし、ドクターはギャリフレィを飛び出し、そしてフォアマンのように、ドクターの存在自体が宇宙の時系列に影響を与えることになっていることが明かされる。
8thドクターの体にはファクション・パラドックスの影響がやはり出始めており、ドクターも異変に気がつきある。そこで今回のストーリーは終わるが。
先にこのあとの話を読んでいたので、ようやく何故ドクターがファクション・パラドックスのDNAに感染したのか判明。戦争に巻き込まれないために武装するタイムロードの暴走をとめるためギャリフレイを滅ぼすことになるドクター。うーーん。つらいなぁ。
April 20, 2012
Stunning. I was very nearly late to lectures because of sitting in bed reading the end of this one morning. It is (of course) a two-part book, so by it's nature this one 'feels' better simply because narrative threads are tied up and a number of excellent twists are revealed here, whereas Book One merely sets things up, so to speak.
The one problem I had was: The two books are structured in four sections; What Happened on Earth Part 1 and What Happened on Dust (a desert-y planet) Part 1 in Book One, and What Happened on Earth Part 2 and What Happened on Dust Part2 in Book Two. The Earth sections make up the majority of the text, but I found the sections on Dust immesurably better. The Earth sections are a little preachy, and take an awfully long time to really get anywhere, whereas the sections on Dust are punchy and full of fascinating ideas. Also, neither book made any real reference to 'The War', a concept Miles had established in his previous book, Alien Bodies, which I was a little disappointed by.
On the whole, definitely worth reading. Miles is a wonderful writer, incredibly witty, and has more brilliant ideas than most Who writers put together. It is a constant source of annoyance to me that he has been ostracized by the Dr Who 'community' simply for telling it like it is, and is therefore unofficially banned from writing any more Who books. See sense, Steven Moffat! Give him another chance!
The one problem I had was: The two books are structured in four sections; What Happened on Earth Part 1 and What Happened on Dust (a desert-y planet) Part 1 in Book One, and What Happened on Earth Part 2 and What Happened on Dust Part2 in Book Two. The Earth sections make up the majority of the text, but I found the sections on Dust immesurably better. The Earth sections are a little preachy, and take an awfully long time to really get anywhere, whereas the sections on Dust are punchy and full of fascinating ideas. Also, neither book made any real reference to 'The War', a concept Miles had established in his previous book, Alien Bodies, which I was a little disappointed by.
On the whole, definitely worth reading. Miles is a wonderful writer, incredibly witty, and has more brilliant ideas than most Who writers put together. It is a constant source of annoyance to me that he has been ostracized by the Dr Who 'community' simply for telling it like it is, and is therefore unofficially banned from writing any more Who books. See sense, Steven Moffat! Give him another chance!
February 13, 2011
Just like the first part of this story, this sequel is both brilliant, and absolutely bonkers. An excellent end to the two volume storyline, I enjoyed my ride the whole way through. Finding out the about the mysterious I.M Forman was groundbreaking as a Doctor Who fan, and those who are yet to read are in for a treat. Definitely read this series if you love paradoxical, throw back to classic, craziness Dr Who (and really, who of us fans doesn't?)
January 5, 2025
So here we are. It's finally time to conclude Interference and say goodbye to Sam. I loved the first installment of this story and can't wait to see how this two-novel epic concludes. The stakes are high and time is off-balance. Interference is the end of one arc and the start of another.
The Third Doctor, Sarah Jane Smith, and a traveling show stand up to The Remote on Dust to protect a town of people. The Eighth Doctor is trapped and his mind is slowly collapsing. Sarah Jane Smith and K9 are on the verge of revealing a political conspiracy years in the making. Fitz is slowly becoming something other than human and Sam is on another planet preparing to save the universe one last time. Faction Paradox are about to make their biggest mistake yet, but for them, their mistakes often tend to be happy ones.
Lawrence Miles concludes the Interference storyline with plenty of action, insane imagery, mind-boggling ideas, and controversy. It's a novel willing to rewrite Doctor Who's history and make it part of the ongoing arc in the series. Depending on your perspective it's a risky move that's either very clever or very silly.
The characters are on fire here, the ideas are fully fleshed out and the world-building is terrific. The second installment continues the threads from the previous book and wraps them all up well. Sure one of the decisions in the novel is incredibly controversial, but it contributes something to the ongoing arc and has consequences. It's not as political as the previous novel since this installment is more of a sci-fi epic than the previous installment. Yet it still manages to carry out what the last novel set out to do and Lawrence does a brilliant job bringing it all together.
Overall: It's hard to say much about this novel since what I said about the previous book can also be said about this one. Interference is an underrated if not controversial masterpiece that has me in awe. Only Lawrence Miles would have the balls and audacity to pull off something this insane and creative. 10/10
The Third Doctor, Sarah Jane Smith, and a traveling show stand up to The Remote on Dust to protect a town of people. The Eighth Doctor is trapped and his mind is slowly collapsing. Sarah Jane Smith and K9 are on the verge of revealing a political conspiracy years in the making. Fitz is slowly becoming something other than human and Sam is on another planet preparing to save the universe one last time. Faction Paradox are about to make their biggest mistake yet, but for them, their mistakes often tend to be happy ones.
Lawrence Miles concludes the Interference storyline with plenty of action, insane imagery, mind-boggling ideas, and controversy. It's a novel willing to rewrite Doctor Who's history and make it part of the ongoing arc in the series. Depending on your perspective it's a risky move that's either very clever or very silly.
The characters are on fire here, the ideas are fully fleshed out and the world-building is terrific. The second installment continues the threads from the previous book and wraps them all up well. Sure one of the decisions in the novel is incredibly controversial, but it contributes something to the ongoing arc and has consequences. It's not as political as the previous novel since this installment is more of a sci-fi epic than the previous installment. Yet it still manages to carry out what the last novel set out to do and Lawrence does a brilliant job bringing it all together.
Overall: It's hard to say much about this novel since what I said about the previous book can also be said about this one. Interference is an underrated if not controversial masterpiece that has me in awe. Only Lawrence Miles would have the balls and audacity to pull off something this insane and creative. 10/10
October 25, 2024
Everything I said about the first book of Lawrence Miles's Interference is also true of Book Two, but let's not leave it at just that. First, the Remote storyline has an epic climax which gives Sam - in her last adventure - a great deal to do and contribute. And then there's more than 100 pages left. Ah yes, because Interference interferes with itself with a Third Doctor story that rather boldly short-circuits continuity, and that too has a big, timey-wimey climax. I wasn't sure it was structurally a good idea, but it pays off. Of course, Miles is much more interested in his own ideas than the nominal leads of the series. While the ladies - Sam and Sarah Jane - do well, neither Doctor has much agency, and things are solved by guests like "I.M. Foreman". But those ideas are blazingly good (he makes something of the Ogrons, which in itself, is amazing) so I never felt robbed. It'd be like complaining about "Blink". Speaking of complaints... I remember the author being the biggest grump imaginable re: the new television series, and seeing as it took up many of the ideas he develops or helps develop here (a Time War among them), I wonder if it partly had to do with not being given credit, or seeing his ideas simplified or "ruined". That said, he signs a check we might not be able to cash. This is a multi-author, editor-guided book series and some of the cool stuff he seeds may not be as cool once it blossoms under a different writer's pen. Or so I've heard...
January 24, 2022
Hmmm. Where to begin. So I M Foreman was basically a Time Lord. Well he had the ability to regenerate so I'll class him as a Time Lord for the purposes of this review. Disappointed that the author decided to rewrite the Third Doctor's regeneration.
April 30, 2024
I'm TRAUMATIZED?!
More coherent thoughts later, if I become capable of them.
But Fitz Kreiner definitely suffered and died so that Rory Williams could...suffer and die.
More coherent thoughts later, if I become capable of them.
But Fitz Kreiner definitely suffered and died so that Rory Williams could...suffer and die.
October 6, 2024
Bullet fast, hugely ambitious, full of big, weighty ideas and unforgettable character beats.
May 4, 2025
The lore started blowing my mind about 2/3rds in. I'm a Faction stan for life (also - you wouldn't do this to anyone who didn't look like Paul McGann!)
August 11, 2025
Tuned out early in this book, and just read without following what was going on.
Read
April 8, 2009http://nhw.livejournal.com/1114003.html[return][return]A typically rambling Lawrence Miles story, rambling in this case over two volumes, linking together his Faction Paradox concept with the truth about I.M. Foreman, and bringing in also Sarah Jane Smith as an investigative journalist to supplement EDA regulars Sam and Fitz. There are some passages of vivid writing (the Saudi prison cell, Sam's experiments with LSD) and a fairly spectacular plot resolution, with an intricate narrative structure which I suspect actually does make sense (though I remained a little confused about the various versions of Fitz' story). I think really one for completists only (as with almost the whole Eighth Doctor range), but engaging enough to keep my interest over both volumes.
December 10, 2014
"Ambitious" is the understatement of the year when describing Lawrence Miles' sweeping epic featuring two Doctors and three companions (four if you include the young Sarah Jane and her older self as separate). It is admittedly disappointing that there is no multiple Doctor interaction, but this is overshadowed the sweeping ideas presented. The subplot featuring the Third Doctor seems (and is) a little bit of an afterthought, but this is forgiven but the abrupt and shocking conclusion. The problem with the story is that its ideas are so ambitious, they're just barely within the imagination of the reader. The Eighth Doctor story also seems a bit padded and seems to just taper out, but for the most part it's a solid read.
October 6, 2014
The 2nd part, only read this after reading the 1st part. The Doctor is still a prisoner, Sam is on another planet, and Fitz is on the same planet but hundreds of years in the past. My main problem with this is what did the author have against Fitz, it is truely heartbreaking what he does to him. It's a good story that looks at paradox, you even get a mini adventure with the 3rd Doctor. If you're not prepared to accept that every time the Doctor steps out of the TARDIS the canon changes then you will not like this book. Me, I really liked it, clever and unpredictable plot twists. And lots, and lots of character moments. A really good read.
December 22, 2012
oooh. This one was scary. I won't spoil anything because it was really awesome and you absolutely must read it for yourself!
Okay, I will mention that the change of endings for the Third Doctor was a very interesting twist, and I'd like to think that it's completely canon.
If you love the Doctor, READ IT.
Okay, I will mention that the change of endings for the Third Doctor was a very interesting twist, and I'd like to think that it's completely canon.
If you love the Doctor, READ IT.
August 24, 2015
More later. I need someone to discuss this with, because it's way too fucking complicated, in the best possible way. I tried to explain about the Remote to Julia because anarchist politics, and she respectfully (and correctly) refused.
February 19, 2016
Book Two continues straighforwardly on from Book One. It has many of the same issues (and a few weird new ones), but resolved things in a way that turned out more interesting and satisfying than expected.
June 11, 2011
Brought to you by Lawrence Miles...who decided that "Alien Bodies" wasn't scrubbing enough brains clean! Though he seems to be determined to ensure otherwise...
March 2, 2010
Singularly bonkers. Must revisit.
October 8, 2017
Building on the narrative, metafiction, theme, and structure established in the first book, the second book of Interference picks up right where Miles left off with flying colors. If you like the first book, you'll like the second--there's not a lot to draw them away from each other. One small complaint I would voice is the ultimate conclusion to I.M. Foreman's character. While narratively effective and enjoyable, the pacing of this ending is a little too quick and might leave something to be desired. Overall this book is extremely thought-provoking and an engaging read for anyone who's a fan of the series.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews