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Doctor Who: A History
Premiering the day after the JFK assassination, Doctor Who humbly launched one of the entertainment world’s first super-brands. We begin with a look at TV programming of the day and the original pitch documents before delving into the Daleks, which almost didn’t make the cut but inspired many monsters to follow. After three years, First Doctor William Hartnell left, prompting the BBC to recast their hit rather than end it, giving us the first “regeneration” and making TV history. We follow the succession of Doctors—including Third Doctor Jon Pertwee, exiled to Earth and targeted by the Master—and see how the program reflected the feminism of the 1970s while gaining mainstream popularity with Fourth Doctor Tom Baker . . . until declining support from the BBC eventually led to cancelation. Fan outcry saved the series only for it to suffer a repeat cancelation. Yet many continued to enjoy the Whoniverse in syndication, novels, audio dramas, and Doctor Who Magazine. Paul McGann impressed many as the Eighth Doctor in a 1996 TV movie, but it failed to reignite the series.
A new age dawned in 2005 with Ninth Doctor Christopher Eccleston and a serious special effects budget before Tenth Doctor David Tennant helped rocket the series to international popularity and a new era of spinoffs. With Eleventh Doctor Matt Smith, the show became a bona fide success here in America. Following the program’s fiftieth anniversary, Whovians will meet the Twelfth Doctor, ushering in yet another era for the unstoppable Time Lord.
Featuring discussions of concepts and characters, with insights from producers, writers, and actors from across the years, here is a rich, behind-the-camera investigation into the dazzling multiverse of Doctor Who.
A new age dawned in 2005 with Ninth Doctor Christopher Eccleston and a serious special effects budget before Tenth Doctor David Tennant helped rocket the series to international popularity and a new era of spinoffs. With Eleventh Doctor Matt Smith, the show became a bona fide success here in America. Following the program’s fiftieth anniversary, Whovians will meet the Twelfth Doctor, ushering in yet another era for the unstoppable Time Lord.
Featuring discussions of concepts and characters, with insights from producers, writers, and actors from across the years, here is a rich, behind-the-camera investigation into the dazzling multiverse of Doctor Who.
299 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
January 11, 2016
Books about Doctor Who are a cottage industry. This isn’t surprising, considering the scope of the show, its record-breaking timespan, and the ravenous nature of Whovians. There are hundreds of titles centered on and in the Whoniverse; most are fiction commissioned by the BBC as tie-in materials, while a great many others are unauthorized fan fiction and criticism. The rarest beast is the authorized non-fiction, of which this is a shining example.
Doctor Who: A History is an authorized work, and as such tries its best to stick to the facts, of which there are many. It is not a treatise on the value of Doctor Who, but a clear, concise history of the show’s creation, production, setbacks, and transformations. It takes a lot of restraint to distill 50 years into a couple hundred pages (or about ten hours of audio, in this case), and Kistler certainly holds back--in a good way. He has produced a sweeping, if necessarily truncated, overview of a massive pop culture phenomenon without interjecting his own experience with the show, or digressing into criticism. Those sorts of analysis certainly have their place in fandom, but Kistler’s style works best for those of us trying to catch up on all of the things we may have missed as latecomers to the world of Who.
The structure of the book relies on simple, chronological storytelling, but also includes sidebars on everything from 1960s era television production to the birth of the show’s defining villain, the Daleks. The inner workings of the BBC are presented without commentary from the author, but not without a certain degree of analysis from primary sources- the book is chock full of interviews with writers, producers, actors, designers, and myriad other creators that brought the show to life. Frankly, the best parts of the book are the interviews, and the best interviews are, of course, with the actors that have played the Doctor. (Sylvester McCoy’s interviews are disarmingly charming).
It is actually rather astonishing that Doctor Who ever made it on the air, or stayed there for any length of time. Originally conceived as an educational children’s show with sci-fi trappings, it quickly outgrew its constraints and became something weirder and less easy to define. Science fiction was still a bit of a media ghetto in the 1960s, and most shows aimed at children were not looking to capture their parents as well. Doctor Who broke through these constraints, sometimes by lucky accident, but more often due to a very dedicated production team in the early days, before marketing became a driving force in television and could prompt some of Who’s more questionable decisions later down the road. Most fans probably know by now that the regenerative ability of the Time Lords was originally a straw grabbed by necessity; William Hartnell’s declining health demanded either an end to the show, or a recast of its lead. Instead of simply recasting the Doctor and pretending that nothing at changed, which was not uncommon, they used the already mysterious nature of the Time Lords to create an alternative- regeneration.
The correlation between necessity and invention kept the show alive and kicking for many years, so it should be no surprise that the worst decisions made behind the scenes were generally either prompted by budget constraints or pushes for marketing. Kistler gives a full breakdown of the constraints the show worked under, even at the height of its original popularity with Tom Baker in the 1970s, and how the show often triumphed, but also occasionally failed, leading to its temporary “end” in 1987. Thankfully, it had gained so much cultural traction by then, it was only a matter of time before it regenerated into our consciousness once again. Kistler covers not only the journey of the show, but many of the tie-in events and smaller elements that helped create an entire Whoniverse, and kept the mad man in his blue box alive in our imaginations for more than 50 years and counting.
Though not passionate in tone, the sheer amount of work that obviously went into this history is a testament to the passion of Doctor Who fans, and the information provided shows us why a television show that premiered to lackluster numbers the day after Kennedy’s assassination now holds a place of honor in hearts and minds five decades later.
(The audio version that I listened to was narrated by the author, who struggled a little at first, but actually did a very good job.)
Doctor Who: A History is an authorized work, and as such tries its best to stick to the facts, of which there are many. It is not a treatise on the value of Doctor Who, but a clear, concise history of the show’s creation, production, setbacks, and transformations. It takes a lot of restraint to distill 50 years into a couple hundred pages (or about ten hours of audio, in this case), and Kistler certainly holds back--in a good way. He has produced a sweeping, if necessarily truncated, overview of a massive pop culture phenomenon without interjecting his own experience with the show, or digressing into criticism. Those sorts of analysis certainly have their place in fandom, but Kistler’s style works best for those of us trying to catch up on all of the things we may have missed as latecomers to the world of Who.
The structure of the book relies on simple, chronological storytelling, but also includes sidebars on everything from 1960s era television production to the birth of the show’s defining villain, the Daleks. The inner workings of the BBC are presented without commentary from the author, but not without a certain degree of analysis from primary sources- the book is chock full of interviews with writers, producers, actors, designers, and myriad other creators that brought the show to life. Frankly, the best parts of the book are the interviews, and the best interviews are, of course, with the actors that have played the Doctor. (Sylvester McCoy’s interviews are disarmingly charming).
It is actually rather astonishing that Doctor Who ever made it on the air, or stayed there for any length of time. Originally conceived as an educational children’s show with sci-fi trappings, it quickly outgrew its constraints and became something weirder and less easy to define. Science fiction was still a bit of a media ghetto in the 1960s, and most shows aimed at children were not looking to capture their parents as well. Doctor Who broke through these constraints, sometimes by lucky accident, but more often due to a very dedicated production team in the early days, before marketing became a driving force in television and could prompt some of Who’s more questionable decisions later down the road. Most fans probably know by now that the regenerative ability of the Time Lords was originally a straw grabbed by necessity; William Hartnell’s declining health demanded either an end to the show, or a recast of its lead. Instead of simply recasting the Doctor and pretending that nothing at changed, which was not uncommon, they used the already mysterious nature of the Time Lords to create an alternative- regeneration.
The correlation between necessity and invention kept the show alive and kicking for many years, so it should be no surprise that the worst decisions made behind the scenes were generally either prompted by budget constraints or pushes for marketing. Kistler gives a full breakdown of the constraints the show worked under, even at the height of its original popularity with Tom Baker in the 1970s, and how the show often triumphed, but also occasionally failed, leading to its temporary “end” in 1987. Thankfully, it had gained so much cultural traction by then, it was only a matter of time before it regenerated into our consciousness once again. Kistler covers not only the journey of the show, but many of the tie-in events and smaller elements that helped create an entire Whoniverse, and kept the mad man in his blue box alive in our imaginations for more than 50 years and counting.
Though not passionate in tone, the sheer amount of work that obviously went into this history is a testament to the passion of Doctor Who fans, and the information provided shows us why a television show that premiered to lackluster numbers the day after Kennedy’s assassination now holds a place of honor in hearts and minds five decades later.
(The audio version that I listened to was narrated by the author, who struggled a little at first, but actually did a very good job.)
March 3, 2020
This is a sufficient history of the show, running from its roots up to the threshold of Peter Capaldi's tenure as the 12th Doctor. People less familiar with the show's history will likely find it better than say the rabid fan who knows who Frobisher is and can recite that Doctor Who Magazine story where the 1st Doctor becomes Santa by heart. I count myself in the second category, obviously, being a dedicated fan. To me, the book was just fine, a little rushed, perhaps, and dwelling on things that could've been dwelt on a little more. Shoot, the book could've been twice as long and still lacked detail, but for a moderate audience survey, it'll do. Kistler got to interview quite a few actors from the show old and new and even the most diehard fan will be likely to learn something new. Sadly, few photos!
April 1, 2014
This was fantastic!
While this might not be entirely comprehensive considering the page count the amount of information covered is impressive. This book is about 3/4 Classic Doctor Who, which I loved! As someone who has only had the opportunity to watch a few of the classic episodes I thoroughly enjoyed recaps of the most important and interesting stories. I loved seeing how the character progressed and developed over the years. It is amazing to find out how close the show came on several occasions to becoming something vastly different than the show we love today. I would read some terrible idea and even though I knew it was never carried through it still got me a little fired up.
This book really made me appreciate Doctors that I previously had very little interest in such as Colin Baker's Doctor. The greatest part of this book is that you are moved by the amount of people who love it and how far it has come.
While the author mostly focuses on the television program he does mention the audio programs and other tie-in medias. The vastness of the Doctor Who universe is amazing and helped remind me not to get so worked up about continuity....we'll see if I can stick to that revelation...
The tone of the book is very informative and objective, but is also filled with tons of great quotes from both the actors and the characters.
Overall, this was a great look into the past of Doctor Who and the Classic series. However, if you are looking for details about the modern series, look elsewhere this is NOT the book for you.
While this might not be entirely comprehensive considering the page count the amount of information covered is impressive. This book is about 3/4 Classic Doctor Who, which I loved! As someone who has only had the opportunity to watch a few of the classic episodes I thoroughly enjoyed recaps of the most important and interesting stories. I loved seeing how the character progressed and developed over the years. It is amazing to find out how close the show came on several occasions to becoming something vastly different than the show we love today. I would read some terrible idea and even though I knew it was never carried through it still got me a little fired up.
This book really made me appreciate Doctors that I previously had very little interest in such as Colin Baker's Doctor. The greatest part of this book is that you are moved by the amount of people who love it and how far it has come.
While the author mostly focuses on the television program he does mention the audio programs and other tie-in medias. The vastness of the Doctor Who universe is amazing and helped remind me not to get so worked up about continuity....we'll see if I can stick to that revelation...
The tone of the book is very informative and objective, but is also filled with tons of great quotes from both the actors and the characters.
Overall, this was a great look into the past of Doctor Who and the Classic series. However, if you are looking for details about the modern series, look elsewhere this is NOT the book for you.
September 15, 2020
This was a blast to read. It read very quickly and was quite informative. I've seen several Doctor Who interviews and behind-the-scenes and have read a few other 'about' books, and there was still new information in here that I didn't know previously. The author had an easy, conversational manner about his writing, almost like he is sitting down with you at a coffee house, enjoying a latte and his love for the science fiction cultural phenomenon that is Doctor Who. Each Doctor is given a fair amount of page time, delving into how the actor was chosen for the role, where he went to school and what other parts he had played in the past. Companions are fleshed out as well, and I enjoyed reading about Louise Jameson, Elizabeth Sladen and others. There's also quite a bit of talk about the producers and the writers, and how they often struggled with ideas and rewrites, clashes of opinion and keeping the show on the air. Kistler also goes into specials and spin-offs and current popular opinion of the show. I really in particular feel bad for Colin Baker, who got a raw deal behind the scenes- a horrible outfit due to the flamboyant producer, and terrible scripts from writers who just didn't like him personally. I also never realized how much the show was struggling to stay current and afloat all through the 1980's. The other thing that stuck in my craw was how much better The Five Doctors movie could have been had it not been strangled and stymied by the producer, John-Nathan Turner. I wasn't aware of how many potentials and could-have-beens there were in the Whoniverse, only to be crushed behind the scenes before anyone could see it.
On a positive note, it is very obvious who the author's favorite Doctor is- Paul McGann. He constantly quotes him and attempts to bring him into the conversation whenever possible- as well as having an entire chapter devoted to the 8th Doctor expanded universe stories via BBC novels (all 73 of them, which Kistler has surely read as he summarized the over-arching plots) and the huge library of audioplays, mentioning Zagreus several times (one of McGann's best). As Doctor 8 is one of my favorites, I can't say I blame him, and that certainly added to the reading experience for me. The only downside to reading this? It was published in 2013, before the 50th Anniversary special- as Kistler is unaware of The Doctor gaining a new set of regeneration cycles, and of course the knowledge of who is Doctor 12; Peter Capaldi. I almost wish he would write several new chapters and re-release the book so it is completely up to date. I would recommend this book to anyone who has watched Doctor Who in the past, and is curious about the history, the actors and how the program has changed over the years. Absolutely an enjoyable ride, and one I will probably re-visit in the future.
On a positive note, it is very obvious who the author's favorite Doctor is- Paul McGann. He constantly quotes him and attempts to bring him into the conversation whenever possible- as well as having an entire chapter devoted to the 8th Doctor expanded universe stories via BBC novels (all 73 of them, which Kistler has surely read as he summarized the over-arching plots) and the huge library of audioplays, mentioning Zagreus several times (one of McGann's best). As Doctor 8 is one of my favorites, I can't say I blame him, and that certainly added to the reading experience for me. The only downside to reading this? It was published in 2013, before the 50th Anniversary special- as Kistler is unaware of The Doctor gaining a new set of regeneration cycles, and of course the knowledge of who is Doctor 12; Peter Capaldi. I almost wish he would write several new chapters and re-release the book so it is completely up to date. I would recommend this book to anyone who has watched Doctor Who in the past, and is curious about the history, the actors and how the program has changed over the years. Absolutely an enjoyable ride, and one I will probably re-visit in the future.
January 4, 2016
A look back at fifty years of Doctor Who, profiling the tenures of each of the 13 Doctors (you can't not count John Hurt, despite what Nine through Twelve say), their companions, and their most notable adventures. Most interesting to me were the tales of what happened behind the scenes: what the early actors went through to immortalize a children's show, how the BBC began to disown it as ratings slipped in the 1980's, how the Eighth Doctor came to be, and how the modern series finally got kicked off. A really nice summary of one of my all time favorite shows.
September 27, 2013
Received a copy through the goodreads giveaway. Very well written book that gave a lot of interesting behind the scenes information about why certain things took place with in the show and the reasons behind the various doctor switches. i must read for any whovian.
June 12, 2018
I listened to the audio book read by the author and it was a fantastic, informative, trip into the past. Sure, that was a timey whimey reference. It was super fun and contained a lot of great info that I didn't even know about the history of the show. I highly recommend if you're a fan of the show, past and present ;)
April 29, 2016
For such a short book, this really managed to cover a LOT. I'm not ordinarily big on Non-fiction or biographies, so I was surprised at how much I truly enjoyed reading this - at least half of my ebook is highlighted and bookmarked for easy reference (because I am a Ravenclaw and that's how we express literary affection). [I was late on the Harry Potter train too - but when I got going, I STUDIED those books more than any school text-book, lol.]
This book was fantastic, I love knowing the history of the show, especially because I only recently became a Whovian - which, I'm sure, ALL of my school teachers and university lecturers can be really glad about - else I would have pulled a David McDonald (Tennant) and tried to pass off Doctor Who fan fiction/ art work for all school projects. (They were subjected to the Matrix instead - I knew most of the dialogue off by heart anyway so drama class was easy in that regard). Luckily for my educators, I was born in 1989 (when the show was cancelled) and remained mostly unaware of it until after I was done with my education. I also have to gripe a bit because I happened to get obsessed with the show just as they announced taking a bloody year's break from production (I'm sorry fellow Whovians, it breaks both my hearts, but I'm your bad luck charm).
I absolutely devoured this book, it was well-written and obviously well-researched by a big fan, with actual interviews from most of the surviving actors. It was something that I literally could not put down until 6am, when I decided to leave the last 20% for the next day. Unfortunately, I was reading the ebook and failed to notice the last 15% of the book is basically an index, so I was terribly disappointed when I resumed reading. I still have too many feelings to adequately describe here, especially about the struggle to get New Who started, but I am so much more appreciative of Chris Eccleston (we only bonded in the "Dalek" episode, before that I nearly gave up on the show). Without Chris' ultimately fantastic take on the role, and a very determined production team, David would probably never have had the chance to realise his ultimate dream to play The Doctor, and the world would have missed out on stellar performances by Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi.
This book was fantastic, I love knowing the history of the show, especially because I only recently became a Whovian - which, I'm sure, ALL of my school teachers and university lecturers can be really glad about - else I would have pulled a David McDonald (Tennant) and tried to pass off Doctor Who fan fiction/ art work for all school projects. (They were subjected to the Matrix instead - I knew most of the dialogue off by heart anyway so drama class was easy in that regard). Luckily for my educators, I was born in 1989 (when the show was cancelled) and remained mostly unaware of it until after I was done with my education. I also have to gripe a bit because I happened to get obsessed with the show just as they announced taking a bloody year's break from production (I'm sorry fellow Whovians, it breaks both my hearts, but I'm your bad luck charm).
I absolutely devoured this book, it was well-written and obviously well-researched by a big fan, with actual interviews from most of the surviving actors. It was something that I literally could not put down until 6am, when I decided to leave the last 20% for the next day. Unfortunately, I was reading the ebook and failed to notice the last 15% of the book is basically an index, so I was terribly disappointed when I resumed reading. I still have too many feelings to adequately describe here, especially about the struggle to get New Who started, but I am so much more appreciative of Chris Eccleston (we only bonded in the "Dalek" episode, before that I nearly gave up on the show). Without Chris' ultimately fantastic take on the role, and a very determined production team, David would probably never have had the chance to realise his ultimate dream to play The Doctor, and the world would have missed out on stellar performances by Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi.
October 27, 2015
This is a concise, straightforward story of the Doctor Who TV show from its beginnings in the early 1960's up through the casting of Peter Capaldi as the Twelfth Doctor. The show has had its ups and downs through the years (particularly the 1990's) but interest in it lasted through magazines, comics, novels, and audiobooks. So it wasn't really a surprise when the BBC brought it back in 2005.
Nice biographical sketches of the actors who've played the Doctor, along with those who played his various companions. A good introduction for Who newbies and a nice source for others (like me) who have followed the show for decades.
Nice biographical sketches of the actors who've played the Doctor, along with those who played his various companions. A good introduction for Who newbies and a nice source for others (like me) who have followed the show for decades.
December 4, 2015
This was a really interesting and informative book. And there were a lot of times where I actually laughed out loud. But I did listen to the audio book along with reading the book and I really hated the audio book. Which is awful to say because it was narrated by the author, but he was really monotone. I don't appreciate monotone.
January 22, 2016
Why I enjoyed this book:
I read this book because at age 70 I have finally become a fan of Dr. Who. My daughter-in-law and grandsons convinced me to give it a go, and I found I liked it a lot, but didn't understand a lot of the background. So this is how I chose to learn.
I read this book because at age 70 I have finally become a fan of Dr. Who. My daughter-in-law and grandsons convinced me to give it a go, and I found I liked it a lot, but didn't understand a lot of the background. So this is how I chose to learn.
November 4, 2022
This is a nicely written book about Doctor Who, and a wonderful celebration of its 50 year history. The book is written in an informative and accessible manner, and provides a nice rundown of its first run, now known as the Classic Era, and a nice overview of the "Wilderness Years".
The only drawback is that it seems the author seemed to run out of steam when he reached the modern era. It could be that they were rushing to capitalize on the show's 50th Anniversary, since it ends with allusions to Matt Smith meeting John Hurt's previously unseen version of The Doctor (at the time), and doesn't mention Peter Capaldi at all.
I would love to see this book updated with more commentary, especially when considering the controversies of the past few years.
The only drawback is that it seems the author seemed to run out of steam when he reached the modern era. It could be that they were rushing to capitalize on the show's 50th Anniversary, since it ends with allusions to Matt Smith meeting John Hurt's previously unseen version of The Doctor (at the time), and doesn't mention Peter Capaldi at all.
I would love to see this book updated with more commentary, especially when considering the controversies of the past few years.
September 2, 2017
Does what says on tin but that is just peachy. It is a fun read and fast with lots of random information. Having never seen any Classic Who, it was super fun to learn more about how the show was imagined, how it grew, and all of the tidbits about the various actors chosen for the role. As it stops at Matt Smith, it is even more interesting that the last chapter deals with the idea of a female Doctor and various actors takes on the concept. The same ones who have been 100% supportive of the casting choice were back then, too. The one who spoke somewhat dismissively of it then is the same one that did now.
August 25, 2018
Want to know what inspired the longest running sci-fi series? This book gives the history behind it all, from the series itself to the actors/actresses that helped define the series. It all started in the most challenging of times around the fact it was written by a woman in the time when women couldn't take the lime light. There is so much more in the series than just the adventures of a crazy guy in a blue box. I thoroughly enjoyed all it had and learned a whole lot more about it all than I ever knew before.
December 16, 2023
I gave it four stars not because it wasn’t a really well researched book - it was. It has so much information that sometimes for me it got a little tedious. But truly, it was interesting, overall finding out about behind-the-scenes activity of the people acting, writing and producing the show. I’m a fan and I’ve seen all of the classic Doctor Who as well as the new modern Doctor Who but I have not read all of the extra materials and audio plays and all that. For a mega fan who’s also delved into that I think this book is absolutely outstanding.
November 5, 2017
Un excelente libro para conocer la historia de la produccion de la serie DOCTOR WHO desde los 60s hasta su 50 aniversario. Sus inicios, los diferentes doctores y companions, los productores y directores. Todo contado en lenguaje ameno aunque casi ninguna imagen o foto de produccion. Los principales plots o arcos son tocados someramente, pues se hace enfasis en la produccion del show en si. Para fans acerrimos del Doctor Who.
November 2, 2021
A good general summary of Doctor Who through the years, with stories about the production team, anecdotes, and the usual fannish stuff. If you are a fan (and I am) you will enjoy it, but don't expect any surprising revelations. I have this e-book on my phone and it was the perfect book to pull up whenever I found myself waiting in line or otherwise needing a few minutes pleasant diversion. But if you are not a fan, I doubt you would find this interesting.
January 9, 2018
Could now be subtitled, "The First 50 Years." Wrapping up in 2013, mere months before the anniversary special, this book can only speculate on the identity of our most recent Doctor, and has of course no inkling of the next - though the ground is laid. Complete and easy to read for the curious, full of fun tidbits for fans.
September 17, 2019
This book was...fantastic!
November 14, 2021
In depth overview of the history of the series, some scuttlebutt, but mostly factual.
December 15, 2022
A great book for someone who likes Doctor Who, as it gives history of the shows roots, which was very interesting, and info on the first 11 doctors.
October 19, 2019
For the fiftieth anniversary of the premiere of Doctor Who, there’s no shortage of information available about the TV series (and one TV movie), up to and including BBC America’s entertaining Doctors Revisited documentaries. But as a fan of the show, I’d been looking for a more comprehensive history of the program. I hadn’t found any such book until I received an advance reading copy of Doctor Who: A History.
Contrary to its subtitle, this book is actually two histories: the fictional history presented in the series and its real-life production history. As a fictional history, the book does a good job of summarizing a half-century of the show’s sometimes convoluted stories. The author, clearly a fan of the program, provides a very readable analysis of each incarnation of the Doctor, describing key storylines, important villains and the bewildering array of companions that have traveled with them.
As a production history, the book contains behind-the-scenes information that provides the context for the on-screen stories. Starting with a detailed account of the show’s creation, Doctor Who: A History works its way through the different eras of the program, showing how it changed and evolved under different production teams. The author has interviewed numerous actors, writers and production staff (including a majority of the living Doctors), supplemented by information from numerous other sources. All of this information is brought together in a way that entertainingly tells the story behind Doctor Who.
The author frequently touches on the novels, audio dramas and other tie-in media, though never in a way that takes the focus off the show itself. As a relatively new fan of Doctor Who, I thought it was a helpful introduction to the other adventures of the Doctors.
My only quibbles with Doctor Who: A History are minor. At just under 300 pages, the book’s length isn’t sufficient to get into a great amount of detail about any one topic--the less fortunate Doctors only get a chapter each--making the book a better overview of the program as a whole than a reference work for someone interested in a particular era of the show. And although the book contains a good number of photographs, as an unlicensed publication, it doesn’t contain any from the show itself. While some production photos might have been nice, their absence doesn’t take away from the book’s well-researched content.
For the most part, this is the Doctor Who reference book I’d been looking for: a comprehensive look at the show throughout the years, told with the enthusiasm of someone who clearly enjoys what he’s writing about.
Contrary to its subtitle, this book is actually two histories: the fictional history presented in the series and its real-life production history. As a fictional history, the book does a good job of summarizing a half-century of the show’s sometimes convoluted stories. The author, clearly a fan of the program, provides a very readable analysis of each incarnation of the Doctor, describing key storylines, important villains and the bewildering array of companions that have traveled with them.
As a production history, the book contains behind-the-scenes information that provides the context for the on-screen stories. Starting with a detailed account of the show’s creation, Doctor Who: A History works its way through the different eras of the program, showing how it changed and evolved under different production teams. The author has interviewed numerous actors, writers and production staff (including a majority of the living Doctors), supplemented by information from numerous other sources. All of this information is brought together in a way that entertainingly tells the story behind Doctor Who.
The author frequently touches on the novels, audio dramas and other tie-in media, though never in a way that takes the focus off the show itself. As a relatively new fan of Doctor Who, I thought it was a helpful introduction to the other adventures of the Doctors.
My only quibbles with Doctor Who: A History are minor. At just under 300 pages, the book’s length isn’t sufficient to get into a great amount of detail about any one topic--the less fortunate Doctors only get a chapter each--making the book a better overview of the program as a whole than a reference work for someone interested in a particular era of the show. And although the book contains a good number of photographs, as an unlicensed publication, it doesn’t contain any from the show itself. While some production photos might have been nice, their absence doesn’t take away from the book’s well-researched content.
For the most part, this is the Doctor Who reference book I’d been looking for: a comprehensive look at the show throughout the years, told with the enthusiasm of someone who clearly enjoys what he’s writing about.
June 3, 2016
Doctor Who: A History - Alan Kistler
I originally downloaded this book thinking is would be a good, quick read about the history of a series that I am a casual viewer of. (Full disclosure: I started watching Doctor Who when it aired on the Sci-Fi channel, with the Ninth Doctor, played by Christopher Eccleston, in the middle of the season.) As to a quick read: Was I ever wrong! This is a thick, dense book, with not many images (I thought were would be many set images.) Be warned: do not let the 299 pages deceive you...each chapter; each page packs a punch. This takes the reader through the thought process for not only the characters, but plot lines and stories.
This is a very complete (-ish, this book was written in 2014, at the start of Doctor Twelve,) account of Doctor Who: how it was created, the producers, the Doctors, the TARDIS, the companions and all the bits in between. It's very informative in that way. For example,
If you are really interested in the whole background of Doctor Who, then this is definitely the book for you.
I'm glad I read it, and it does make me want to try and track down the first original episodes
The writing is interesting enough, but I found myself having to step away at times because it's non-fiction, so it felt taxing after reading several chapters. (I also stepped away so I could look up some of the actors on Wikipedia!)
The best way to approach this book is to keep in mind: it will take longer to read.
Four stars, for being a very complete, and seemingly accurate, account in a very non-biased way.
Doctor Who: A History - Alan Kistler
I originally downloaded this book thinking is would be a good, quick read about the history of a series that I am a casual viewer of. (Full disclosure: I started watching Doctor Who when it aired on the Sci-Fi channel, with the Ninth Doctor, played by Christopher Eccleston, in the middle of the season.) As to a quick read: Was I ever wrong! This is a thick, dense book, with not many images (I thought were would be many set images.) Be warned: do not let the 299 pages deceive you...each chapter; each page packs a punch. This takes the reader through the thought process for not only the characters, but plot lines and stories.
This is a very complete (-ish, this book was written in 2014, at the start of Doctor Twelve,) account of Doctor Who: how it was created, the producers, the Doctors, the TARDIS, the companions and all the bits in between. It's very informative in that way. For example,
If you are really interested in the whole background of Doctor Who, then this is definitely the book for you.
I'm glad I read it, and it does make me want to try and track down the first original episodes
The writing is interesting enough, but I found myself having to step away at times because it's non-fiction, so it felt taxing after reading several chapters. (I also stepped away so I could look up some of the actors on Wikipedia!)
The best way to approach this book is to keep in mind: it will take longer to read.
Four stars, for being a very complete, and seemingly accurate, account in a very non-biased way.
February 6, 2014
Doctor Who: A History
Leading up to the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary; Comic Book Historian and Doctor Who expert Alan Kistler decided to put together a history of the oldest running sci-fi show in television History.
The book starts with the getting the show off the ground and ending with Matt Smith announcing that he would be leaving the show, this book beautifully constructs a history for Whovians who are more familiar with the modern show and don't know where to start if they want to go back and watch Classic Who.
Even though it is only a brief history of each doctor and his many companions, it is just enough information to start getting a feel of who the Doctor is and how he changes through out the fifty years of the show. It also points out key episodes that can be found on netflix where you can go and watch a specific Doctor or a specific companion.
The book also mentions how each actor felt after they left and what it felt like to be replaced as the Doctor. You learn how each doctor regenerated, and how not all of them were shown in the series.
I highly recommend this to all Whovians especially those who want to know more about Classic Who. This book is filled with like pockets of information that is really cool like the inspiration for River Song came from Aubrey Nieffeneger's novel "The Time Travelers Wife" or the fact that the Doctor Who movie starring Paul McGann as the 8th Doctor was filmed in Vancouver, Canada. This book in my opinion is a much have in a Whovians collection.
Leading up to the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary; Comic Book Historian and Doctor Who expert Alan Kistler decided to put together a history of the oldest running sci-fi show in television History.
The book starts with the getting the show off the ground and ending with Matt Smith announcing that he would be leaving the show, this book beautifully constructs a history for Whovians who are more familiar with the modern show and don't know where to start if they want to go back and watch Classic Who.
Even though it is only a brief history of each doctor and his many companions, it is just enough information to start getting a feel of who the Doctor is and how he changes through out the fifty years of the show. It also points out key episodes that can be found on netflix where you can go and watch a specific Doctor or a specific companion.
The book also mentions how each actor felt after they left and what it felt like to be replaced as the Doctor. You learn how each doctor regenerated, and how not all of them were shown in the series.
I highly recommend this to all Whovians especially those who want to know more about Classic Who. This book is filled with like pockets of information that is really cool like the inspiration for River Song came from Aubrey Nieffeneger's novel "The Time Travelers Wife" or the fact that the Doctor Who movie starring Paul McGann as the 8th Doctor was filmed in Vancouver, Canada. This book in my opinion is a much have in a Whovians collection.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2015
For those with more than a nodding acquaintance of the good Doctor, or those who are neophytes and want to learn the backstory, this is a pleasant book that fills in the background details that will make the show all the more enjoyable by offering reference points. For those who are true fans and can quote bits of dialogue and story references with the best of them, this book will be much too general in nature.
The writer provides a very high level overview of the series in its two incarnations, and the movies and other ancillary outlets such as comic books, novelizations, and audio dramas. There are moments of deeper exploration, such as whether or not the Doctor really intended to commit murder when he picked up that rock in the first story arc. Mostly, it skims across the major events and plot turns in the history of the series, making note of them while avoiding any in-depth exploration. There are new things to be learned here, but not many.
It would have been terrific to have many more photographs available. There are so many references to characters or specific scenes that would have benefited from a reference picture. Also, even though we do learn some of the intriguing stories behind the making of the episodes, these revelations are sparse and far between. Several times, enough was said to tantalize me, but then the writer moves along further in the timeline.
If you want to catch up with the world of Doctor Who, this is an excellent way to do it. If you are looking for the intrigue, plotting, gossip and adventures behind the creation of the character and those who joined him, you will need to look elsewhere.
The writer provides a very high level overview of the series in its two incarnations, and the movies and other ancillary outlets such as comic books, novelizations, and audio dramas. There are moments of deeper exploration, such as whether or not the Doctor really intended to commit murder when he picked up that rock in the first story arc. Mostly, it skims across the major events and plot turns in the history of the series, making note of them while avoiding any in-depth exploration. There are new things to be learned here, but not many.
It would have been terrific to have many more photographs available. There are so many references to characters or specific scenes that would have benefited from a reference picture. Also, even though we do learn some of the intriguing stories behind the making of the episodes, these revelations are sparse and far between. Several times, enough was said to tantalize me, but then the writer moves along further in the timeline.
If you want to catch up with the world of Doctor Who, this is an excellent way to do it. If you are looking for the intrigue, plotting, gossip and adventures behind the creation of the character and those who joined him, you will need to look elsewhere.
April 9, 2017
I did not get into Doctor Who while growing up and even with the series reboot in the early 2000s, I largely avoided it. However, a friend got me to try Torchwood and I really enjoyed that towards the end. So I started to flirt with Doctor Who and was slowly making my way through the show. David Tennant was growing on me but I still wasn't sold on the show--it was something to have on in the background while playing games and such. Then, I listened to Alan Kistler's book and that changed pretty quick. Kistler provides a keen history of Doctor Who from inception to it's forthcoming new doctor (the 12th) and strikes a great balance between the background of the show such as the actors, the writers, the politics of it all and explaining the ongoing character development of the doctor from season to season and from doctor to doctor. It's a complete joyride for fans and for those who are interested in fully understanding Doctor Who without having to watch (or re-watch) all the older episodes (though I will likely do that at some point). It's clearly a work of passion and one that readers will definitely enjoy if you're looking to know more about Doctor Who.
If you enjoyed this review, feel free to check out my other reviews and writings at By Any Other Nerd /
If you enjoyed this review, feel free to check out my other reviews and writings at By Any Other Nerd /
October 22, 2014
I haven't been entertained by a non-fiction book like I was with this one, but of course, it's based on some fabulous fiction. A lighthearted read, this book is a good resource for anyone who has not and probably will not see the classic episodes and delve into the tie-in and spinoff media. It's got enough information to make you appreciate the layers and complexity of the newer seasons.
It's a shame that this book was published before we learned anything of The War Doctor or Peter Capaldi's Twelfth Doctor but short of a rift in time and space we can't do anything about that.
I found two downsides to this book: first, the lack of photographs which would have added so much depth to the text. Sure, I know who Paul McGann and Sylvester McCoy are but I didn't know what their Doctors looked like.
Second, there was an alarming lack of references and credit to source material in this book. For all I knew, the whole thing could have been made up or plagiarized.
It's a shame that this book was published before we learned anything of The War Doctor or Peter Capaldi's Twelfth Doctor but short of a rift in time and space we can't do anything about that.
I found two downsides to this book: first, the lack of photographs which would have added so much depth to the text. Sure, I know who Paul McGann and Sylvester McCoy are but I didn't know what their Doctors looked like.
Second, there was an alarming lack of references and credit to source material in this book. For all I knew, the whole thing could have been made up or plagiarized.
March 18, 2014
As a Doctor Who fan I loved this. I've been trying to learn the history of the show and about what is now known as "Classic Who" and this was definitely wonderful for that. I feel it was a little "jumpy" in sections but that may be because I listened to the book rather than read it, there is always some disconnect when you listen to a book like this, and I feel that is why I rate it as a 4 rather than a 5. I will try to settle down and READ it in the future but audio was the best for me in the moment.
I feel there was appropriate focus on each of the Doctors and the way the actors slightly changed or brought back parts of the character in each regeneration. The author seemed to know his stuff and the information was straightforward without the book seeming bland or dull.
Very enjoyable and I highly recommend.
I feel there was appropriate focus on each of the Doctors and the way the actors slightly changed or brought back parts of the character in each regeneration. The author seemed to know his stuff and the information was straightforward without the book seeming bland or dull.
Very enjoyable and I highly recommend.
February 28, 2016
Finally - a Doctor Who book that indirectly blames John Nathan Turner for ruining the show! Kistler doesn't try to hide his own opinions; by constantly including quotes from people involved with the show's reactions to JNT's idiotic decisions, Kistler makes its intentions abundantly clear. Like not wanting the show's characters to demonstrate any emotions because it'd become too much like a soap opera...or not using experienced TV writers to write TV shows...or Colin Baker's...well...just Colin Baker.
An INCREDIBLY comprehensive look at the complete Whoniverse, including out-of-canon work by Big Finish audio adventures a myriad of novelizations - Alan Kistler is a truly dedicated nerd.
An INCREDIBLY comprehensive look at the complete Whoniverse, including out-of-canon work by Big Finish audio adventures a myriad of novelizations - Alan Kistler is a truly dedicated nerd.
May 12, 2014
Kistler presents his history of Doctor Who in a rushed, barely-skim-the-surface manner. There is a lack of in-depth research, interviews, and commentary that made this book very frustrating for me. He hints at troubles between actors and management in just about every series, but fails to provide any true insights as to their nature. It's as if Kistler wants to keep his Fanboy Access status with all of the people behind-the-scenes and, therefore, leaves out anything that might be the least bit controversial.
The lack of photographs in this book is inexcusable. Whether Kistler's decision or Lyon's Press' decision, any book on a show as brilliant in imagery as Doctor Who, needed far better representation than this.
Overall, very disappointing.
The lack of photographs in this book is inexcusable. Whether Kistler's decision or Lyon's Press' decision, any book on a show as brilliant in imagery as Doctor Who, needed far better representation than this.
Overall, very disappointing.
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