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Doctor Who: The Secret Lives of Monsters
Doctor The Secret Lives of Monsters (Dr Who) [Hardcover] Richards, Justin
288 pages, Hardcover
First published October 9, 2014
14 people are currently reading
259 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 - 28 of 28 reviews
December 31, 2025
FINAL REVIEW: Glad to finish this now, and so end the year on a brighter note! 😄
The book takes it's handling on each of its dozen or so "monsters" semi-seriously, first using photos, police and UNIT reports, newspaper clippings, historical documents, and other sources to examine sightings and reports over the course of history, with NO mention of Doctor Who himself other than being occasionally noted as "unidentified man" in a few photos, (although there is a lot of UNIT and even some mention of TORCHWOOD) — pretty nice way to handle it, I thought. And then the second "making of" bits discussed each monster's genesis, discussing how they were made and their evolution from first appearance (often as far back as the first and second Doctors) up through the Matt Smith era, (although he's on the cover, Capaldi and even Clara aren't really included here), as well as listing "key episodes" for those who want to go back and watch them again.
A good and unique read for fans, best in small doses.
____________________________________
PRE-READ COMMENTS:
NERD ALERT! I came late to the Doctor, so for me it has always — and only — been Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi. And okay, Christopher Eccleston was better than I expected (the few episodes I've randomly seen along the way), but watching David Tennant as the Doctor is like watching Roger Moore as James Bond.
Anyway — found this in our used bookstore (as usual), and it nicely covers only a dozen or so of the major monsters/aliens up through early Capaldi (and don't get me started on the post-Capaldi era); and really, there only were about that many regulars or even semi-regulars — Daleks, Cybermen, Weeping Angels, Zygons, Sontarans, etc. As such, the book has the time and space to go into each one in nice detail, including both descriptions of them "in character" (i.e., as if they were real), as well as then "behind-the-scenes" info on how each character was developed and then evolved over the show's 60 year history. Good fun in small chunks.
The book takes it's handling on each of its dozen or so "monsters" semi-seriously, first using photos, police and UNIT reports, newspaper clippings, historical documents, and other sources to examine sightings and reports over the course of history, with NO mention of Doctor Who himself other than being occasionally noted as "unidentified man" in a few photos, (although there is a lot of UNIT and even some mention of TORCHWOOD) — pretty nice way to handle it, I thought. And then the second "making of" bits discussed each monster's genesis, discussing how they were made and their evolution from first appearance (often as far back as the first and second Doctors) up through the Matt Smith era, (although he's on the cover, Capaldi and even Clara aren't really included here), as well as listing "key episodes" for those who want to go back and watch them again.
A good and unique read for fans, best in small doses.
____________________________________
PRE-READ COMMENTS:
NERD ALERT! I came late to the Doctor, so for me it has always — and only — been Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi. And okay, Christopher Eccleston was better than I expected (the few episodes I've randomly seen along the way), but watching David Tennant as the Doctor is like watching Roger Moore as James Bond.
Anyway — found this in our used bookstore (as usual), and it nicely covers only a dozen or so of the major monsters/aliens up through early Capaldi (and don't get me started on the post-Capaldi era); and really, there only were about that many regulars or even semi-regulars — Daleks, Cybermen, Weeping Angels, Zygons, Sontarans, etc. As such, the book has the time and space to go into each one in nice detail, including both descriptions of them "in character" (i.e., as if they were real), as well as then "behind-the-scenes" info on how each character was developed and then evolved over the show's 60 year history. Good fun in small chunks.
April 9, 2018
This book is a remarkable resource to aid in watching Doctor Who. The artwork is absolutely incredible and I appreciate the additional artwork in the back of the book. From Daleks to Torchwood, the top secret information contained in this book is unparalleled.
September 10, 2015
3.5 stars. A fun companion to a fantastic TV show. :)
This book is written partially as if the monsters of Doctor Who are real, (for example, it references historic Dalek attacks) and the other half is behind-the-scenes. It has beautiful, glossy pages and a folder of lovely Doctor Who artwork in the back that you can take out and sort through.
It's definitely not a "sit down and read cover-to-cover" kind of book - you'll get bored and confused that way - it's more of a "flip-through-for-fun-once-in-a-while" encyclopedia that's large and lovely and looks fabulous on your bookshelf.
This book is written partially as if the monsters of Doctor Who are real, (for example, it references historic Dalek attacks) and the other half is behind-the-scenes. It has beautiful, glossy pages and a folder of lovely Doctor Who artwork in the back that you can take out and sort through.
It's definitely not a "sit down and read cover-to-cover" kind of book - you'll get bored and confused that way - it's more of a "flip-through-for-fun-once-in-a-while" encyclopedia that's large and lovely and looks fabulous on your bookshelf.
July 30, 2024
Another great Doctor Who reference book. Secret Lives... is an alphabetical guide of some of the most famous DW monsters through the years - everything from classic adversaries such as the Cybermen, Daleks & Ice Warriors to newer enemies like the Slitheen, Ood and the totally kick-ass Weeping Angels.
The majority of the book reads like a whistle-blower's expose with each monster explained using lifted UNIT files, diary entries, newspaper articles & the like. The end of each monster's chapter, though, is a behind-the-scenes look at how they were created for the show, and for the longer-running monsters, how they evolved in the series.
Pure nerd fun.
The majority of the book reads like a whistle-blower's expose with each monster explained using lifted UNIT files, diary entries, newspaper articles & the like. The end of each monster's chapter, though, is a behind-the-scenes look at how they were created for the show, and for the longer-running monsters, how they evolved in the series.
Pure nerd fun.
May 20, 2017
Loved this insight of the monsters.
September 14, 2017
This book is half in-universe bestiary and half behind-then-scenes extras. I mean that literally. Half of each chapter is one and half the other. Each chapter focuses on one species: Daleks, Cybermen, Weeping Angels, Judon, Sontarans, Silence, Silurians. It looks as though all of them are New Who species or ones that were carried over from the classical series to the revival.
The framing device for the first half is that someone in the Doctor Who universe put together information on the species in question and their encounters with humans. This takes the form of publicly available information, observation from eye witnesses, hacked documents from UNIT or Torchwood etc. It presents an outside and rear-view-mirror of the events, like someone investigating after-the-fact. This includes "speculation" that is often correct and used to contrast the official/cover up story. There's also a running gag of the person doing the investigation failing to recognize the importance of the Doctor. It's interesting to see this perspective because we, the viewers, have a front-row seat that someone else in-universe would not.
The behind-the-scenes stuff talks about the creation and conception of the aliens and monsters. This involves how the props are made, the real life circumstances that affected their portrayal, and excerpts from scripts saying how the writer wants the creatures to move and appear.
This is definitely a book written for fans because there's jokes/references/bonus understanding for those that have seen the episodes alluded to here. I've only seen part of the First Doctor's run so much of the Classic Who stuff went over my head.
This kind of book is further outside my norm than I usually go so I'm not sure what grade to give it. I'll just say that I enjoyed reading it and I'm going to keep it and let you decide from there.
Trickster Eric Novels gives "Doctor Who: The Secret Life of Monsters" a +
The framing device for the first half is that someone in the Doctor Who universe put together information on the species in question and their encounters with humans. This takes the form of publicly available information, observation from eye witnesses, hacked documents from UNIT or Torchwood etc. It presents an outside and rear-view-mirror of the events, like someone investigating after-the-fact. This includes "speculation" that is often correct and used to contrast the official/cover up story. There's also a running gag of the person doing the investigation failing to recognize the importance of the Doctor. It's interesting to see this perspective because we, the viewers, have a front-row seat that someone else in-universe would not.
The behind-the-scenes stuff talks about the creation and conception of the aliens and monsters. This involves how the props are made, the real life circumstances that affected their portrayal, and excerpts from scripts saying how the writer wants the creatures to move and appear.
This is definitely a book written for fans because there's jokes/references/bonus understanding for those that have seen the episodes alluded to here. I've only seen part of the First Doctor's run so much of the Classic Who stuff went over my head.
This kind of book is further outside my norm than I usually go so I'm not sure what grade to give it. I'll just say that I enjoyed reading it and I'm going to keep it and let you decide from there.
Trickster Eric Novels gives "Doctor Who: The Secret Life of Monsters" a +
July 14, 2019
https://nwhyte.livejournal.com/3217610.html
I grumble sometimes that Justin Richards is either rather good or rather average in his Who writing. This is a good one. Published in 2014 (so covering the first Capaldi season), it looks at the classic and new monsters of Who, with chapters on the Cybermen, the Daleks, the Great Intelligence, the Ice Warriors, the Judoon, the Krillitanes, the Nestenes & Autons, the ood, the Silence, the Silurians & Sea Devils, the Slitheen, the Sontarans, the Weeping Angels and the Zygons. Most of each chapter is an in-universe account of the history of each alien and their televised encounters with the Doctor (all spinoffs are excluded, which is a bit of a missed opportunity for cross-marketing), finishing with a few pages from the real-world perspective about how the monsters were actually made and brought to the screen. It's well-written and gorgeously produced. There wasn't a lot that I didn't already know, but I enjoyed looking at it.
I grumble sometimes that Justin Richards is either rather good or rather average in his Who writing. This is a good one. Published in 2014 (so covering the first Capaldi season), it looks at the classic and new monsters of Who, with chapters on the Cybermen, the Daleks, the Great Intelligence, the Ice Warriors, the Judoon, the Krillitanes, the Nestenes & Autons, the ood, the Silence, the Silurians & Sea Devils, the Slitheen, the Sontarans, the Weeping Angels and the Zygons. Most of each chapter is an in-universe account of the history of each alien and their televised encounters with the Doctor (all spinoffs are excluded, which is a bit of a missed opportunity for cross-marketing), finishing with a few pages from the real-world perspective about how the monsters were actually made and brought to the screen. It's well-written and gorgeously produced. There wasn't a lot that I didn't already know, but I enjoyed looking at it.
February 12, 2020
First of all, I won this book in a Doctor Who themed pub quiz, so bonus nerd points.
This was a fun look through some of the more famous Doctor Who monsters. Each part was split between behind the scenes stuff, covering how the costumes and make up were done, and some in-canon ramblings from UNIT files and whatnot.
I found the behind the scenes stuff more interesting, but a lot of the UNIT ramblings were based on Classic Who which I haven't seen as much.
Having the 12th Doctor on the cover was a bit of a misnomer, as none of his stories or monsters were in the book. If they were, we would have had a better cyberman section (as his cyberman stories are the best of new Who) and Zygon section, and I would have swapped out the Krillitane for the Monks from Series 12.
Looking at the 13th Doctor, I don't think any of the monsters would get into this book. I think that is pretty telling for the show at the moment.
This was a fun look through some of the more famous Doctor Who monsters. Each part was split between behind the scenes stuff, covering how the costumes and make up were done, and some in-canon ramblings from UNIT files and whatnot.
I found the behind the scenes stuff more interesting, but a lot of the UNIT ramblings were based on Classic Who which I haven't seen as much.
Having the 12th Doctor on the cover was a bit of a misnomer, as none of his stories or monsters were in the book. If they were, we would have had a better cyberman section (as his cyberman stories are the best of new Who) and Zygon section, and I would have swapped out the Krillitane for the Monks from Series 12.
Looking at the 13th Doctor, I don't think any of the monsters would get into this book. I think that is pretty telling for the show at the moment.
August 26, 2020
Purchase Doctor Who: The Secret Lives of Monsters here for just $8!
The complete Adipose to Zygon of alien foes, new and old. Containing detailed in-universe facts and revealing production notes, this is perfect for any fan of Doctor Who. Arguably the greatest science fiction program ever made. (I am prepared to argue this point)
Ciaran - The Book Grocer
The complete Adipose to Zygon of alien foes, new and old. Containing detailed in-universe facts and revealing production notes, this is perfect for any fan of Doctor Who. Arguably the greatest science fiction program ever made. (I am prepared to argue this point)
Ciaran - The Book Grocer
July 29, 2021
A great book for Doctor Who fans as it not only provides some great story details about the various enemies the Doctor has dealt with during the show but it also provides some behind the scenes stuff like reasons for the designs and other really cool facts. My only issue is that I would have liked if they covered a few of the old school doctor who only villains like the Rutans as most of these monsters are focused on New Who stuff which is not bad but it still would have been a fun way of having New Who fan be introduced into some old school stuff.
November 13, 2025
A look at 14 monsters from "Doctor Who" - mainly the most popular, of course - written as a supposed expose and mentioning conspiracy theories and cover-ups. It's quite amusing at first, but gets awfully silly the longer it goes on. Lots of photos and artwork, and there are behind the scenes articles on the creation and filming of each of the monsters. Plenty to like, and some things to regret.
May 22, 2020
Simple guide to doctor who's monsters such as the daleks and cybermen. It gives backstage info into how each creature/monster was created and like a found footage quality to it in the form audio transcripts, letters and other media that helps the reader through the key events of each monster.
September 27, 2017
Good doctor who book enjoyied reading this
December 13, 2017
I am a huge whovian and seeing how long it took for all of the designing and other things that the monsters/actors had to do, very informational.
November 9, 2018
I love the cards and the envelope they come in, in the back of the book. I love this piece of lore and I love this book. Did I already mention that I am in love with the art?
May 1, 2021
I loved the book. It was funny and enlightening.
March 6, 2016
A very impressively illustrated volume, featuring photographs from the show plus some excellent new artwork, showcasing a selection of the most memorable 'Doctor Who' monsters.
It's an informative and entertaining read, which has only two flaws:
The body text is written as if extracted from secret files and recordings, a fiction which is abruptly broken every time the reader reaches the next 'behind the scenes' section on the making of the TV show. It makes for a more comprehensive volume, but the two styles fail to gel at all well and the book would have been better going with one approach or the other, not trying to do both.
Only monsters which have featured in the relaunched, post-2005 show are included, which is a great shame which results in a few notable omissions. Those which have featured in both current and classic series are given full coverage from all eras, but those which are classic era only are excluded.
Not a deep read, and contained nothing I didn't already know as a fan, but worth it for the photos and illustrations alone.
It's an informative and entertaining read, which has only two flaws:
The body text is written as if extracted from secret files and recordings, a fiction which is abruptly broken every time the reader reaches the next 'behind the scenes' section on the making of the TV show. It makes for a more comprehensive volume, but the two styles fail to gel at all well and the book would have been better going with one approach or the other, not trying to do both.
Only monsters which have featured in the relaunched, post-2005 show are included, which is a great shame which results in a few notable omissions. Those which have featured in both current and classic series are given full coverage from all eras, but those which are classic era only are excluded.
Not a deep read, and contained nothing I didn't already know as a fan, but worth it for the photos and illustrations alone.
August 28, 2018
As a Whovian, I was quick to add this to my list and didn’t bother to read the summary which ended up a little disappointing. From the title I thought it was going to be short essays from the aliens POV: how they thought humans were little better than bugs or how they made a mistake about our customs or how the Doctor kept foiling their plans (someone please write this book) but instead it was just a decent reference like ones I already had. It had alternating sections “this really happened OMG there are aliens and Unit is covering it up” and “behind the scenes” where they give interesting costume, location, and actor facts.
May 9, 2016
If it wasn't for the pretty pictures I would have (sadly) given this one star. The layout made it confusing to follow who or what they were talking about. They also regularly switch perspectives, level of background knowledge of the writer, and time period randomly and without warning. As well for something that is quiet interesting and exciting the book was dull, and very boring.
May 22, 2015
It was an average book and I liked the behind the scenes bit but the rest of it was a bit heavy going and I didn't really see the point of it. One part I particularly liked was the evolution of the Cybermen and what some of the Doctor Who monsters looked like in the 70's.
March 23, 2015
Once you get past the fact that they seem to involve only those adventures seen on TV, that UNit and Torchwood appear to have access to information from the future and stop asking exactly why the Krillitane are included this is slightly interesting.
May 28, 2016
A gorgeous book about the most famous creatures depicted in the longest running sci-fi show, and one of the best. The design is fantastic, and the memorabilia inside is unique. An absolute must for Doctor Who fans, and an imagination opener for kids!
December 9, 2014
Fun read for Doctor Who fans....as if all the monsters and events really happen...speculation on documents from UNIT....etc
December 24, 2014
A must have for all Whovians. The artwork is superb. For those that haven't seen the latest UK season, there are spoilers in the book.
January 25, 2015
A Must read for all Whovians and believe me not for the faint of heart whovian.
July 26, 2015
A very interesting read! Learnt lots about the monsters of doctor who and the process of making them
March 16, 2016
A cool book for a Whovian super-nerd. I especially liked the beautiful artwork throughout. :)
March 16, 2016
loved this!! showed the history and stories of the different monsters in Doctor Who. it even showed what episodes they were in!
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews