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Doctor Who: New Series Adventures #Special 2
Доктор Кто. Безмолвных звезд движение
На планете морфов наступает сезон зимнего пира — но ни у кого нет желания его праздновать. Многие тысячи лет морфы безропотно трудятся для того, чтобы превратить свою планету в подобие Старой Земли. Но с каждым годом это становится сложнее. Безжалостный холод уничтожает все, и, кажется, стуже не будет конца. Доктор, Эми и Рори прибывают в город морфов не в самый удачный момент. Ведь они не ожидали, что Рождество для них обернется встречей со старым врагом Доктора – беспощадными Ледяными воинами…
320 pages, Hardcover
First published September 29, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 318 reviews
August 12, 2013
The TARDIS takes a wrong turn on the way to Leadworth to drop the Ponds off for Christmas and The Doctor, Amy, and Rory find themselves on a far flung colony world that is in the grips of the worst winter the world has ever seen. But what's causing the hellish weather? And what's killing the livestock? And can the Doctor and the Ponds get to the bottom of things before it's too late?
Of course they can! After all, he's The Doctor.
In the wake of the announcement of the actor playing the Twelfth Doctor, I decided I'd better finish reading the Eleventh Doctor novels I have on the pile. While this isn't my favorite of the several Doctor Who novels I've read, it has its moments.
The Silent Stars Go By sees the Doctor and Amy get separated from Rory early on, wandering around the frozen colony world of Hereafter. If only Rory hadn't gone back to the TARDIS for a heavier coat. After some mistaken identity shenanigans and disbelieving colonists, the meat of the story gets flung on the table in all it's frozen glory in the form of classic Who enemies, The Ice Warriors.
Abnett does a fairly good job. Rory and the Doctor both ring true to form from the TV series. It was hard not to hear the actor's voices in my head while reading. Amy, on the other hand, doesn't get to do much and is on the weaker side of things.
TSSGB felt like an old adaptation of a Doctor Who episode, lots of banter, running from things, and timey-whimey, which was the main problem I had with it. The whole thing felt really thin, like maybe Abnett had written a Doctor Who script at some point and slapped a few descriptions on it. The book was very dialogue-heavy and I could almost pick out where the commercial breaks would go.
Still, it wasn't all bad. There was a twist at the 75% mark, just like a lot of Doctor Who episodes, that was unexpected and saved the book from being a monster of the week affair. Abnett did a lot more with the Ice Warriors than I thought he would and the colony had some secrets of its own. Overall, I enjoyed the experience but I really wanted to love it. 3 out of 5 stars.
Of course they can! After all, he's The Doctor.
In the wake of the announcement of the actor playing the Twelfth Doctor, I decided I'd better finish reading the Eleventh Doctor novels I have on the pile. While this isn't my favorite of the several Doctor Who novels I've read, it has its moments.
The Silent Stars Go By sees the Doctor and Amy get separated from Rory early on, wandering around the frozen colony world of Hereafter. If only Rory hadn't gone back to the TARDIS for a heavier coat. After some mistaken identity shenanigans and disbelieving colonists, the meat of the story gets flung on the table in all it's frozen glory in the form of classic Who enemies, The Ice Warriors.
Abnett does a fairly good job. Rory and the Doctor both ring true to form from the TV series. It was hard not to hear the actor's voices in my head while reading. Amy, on the other hand, doesn't get to do much and is on the weaker side of things.
TSSGB felt like an old adaptation of a Doctor Who episode, lots of banter, running from things, and timey-whimey, which was the main problem I had with it. The whole thing felt really thin, like maybe Abnett had written a Doctor Who script at some point and slapped a few descriptions on it. The book was very dialogue-heavy and I could almost pick out where the commercial breaks would go.
Still, it wasn't all bad. There was a twist at the 75% mark, just like a lot of Doctor Who episodes, that was unexpected and saved the book from being a monster of the week affair. Abnett did a lot more with the Ice Warriors than I thought he would and the colony had some secrets of its own. Overall, I enjoyed the experience but I really wanted to love it. 3 out of 5 stars.
January 2, 2022
This is a book based on the television series. This one has Matt Smith's Doctor with Amy and Rory. Rory and Amy want to go home for Christmas. Instead they end up on a planet where the winters are getting worse and worse and the inhabitants have very little chance of survival.
When I read a media tie-in novel the first thing I need is a true portrayal of the established characters. I believe the author did this. There were several scenes where I had no problem visualizing the frantic nature of The Doctor or Rory's compassion and willingness to help. I did think Amy was a little bit too much in the background which I did not care for. As for the story it fits in with this universe as it is a story about an alien race invading. There is a twist and that was a nice touch. The author incorporated messages within the story and I am always pleased when science fiction writers accomplish this without being heavy handed. The finale fits in perfectly with the mood of the actual show and throughout this book I felt like I was back in this universe.
I enjoyed this book and it was a quick read as most books from this universe are quick reads. I could picture this being a filler episode for the show with no problem. Everything evoked the television show. From the characters to the story everything was quintessential Doctor Who.
When I read a media tie-in novel the first thing I need is a true portrayal of the established characters. I believe the author did this. There were several scenes where I had no problem visualizing the frantic nature of The Doctor or Rory's compassion and willingness to help. I did think Amy was a little bit too much in the background which I did not care for. As for the story it fits in with this universe as it is a story about an alien race invading. There is a twist and that was a nice touch. The author incorporated messages within the story and I am always pleased when science fiction writers accomplish this without being heavy handed. The finale fits in perfectly with the mood of the actual show and throughout this book I felt like I was back in this universe.
I enjoyed this book and it was a quick read as most books from this universe are quick reads. I could picture this being a filler episode for the show with no problem. Everything evoked the television show. From the characters to the story everything was quintessential Doctor Who.
November 28, 2025
it was a true Doctor Who episode! I miss so much the days of the 10th and 11th Doctors!
July 12, 2014
Nothing better to get you in the mood than a festive orientated novel from the Doctor, Amy & Rory returning to a Christmas-ish or Christmasesque locale that turns out not to be Leadworth Christmas 2011. But who does expect such precision when travelling with the Doctor, while he might be willing the TARDIS always send them where they are needed. And while Rory gets a coat Amy & Doctor meet some folks that seem mighty upset with them.
Upon the return of Rory he finds himself stalked by a size sixteen footed green giant and the running begins.
The Doctor and his companions have landed on a terraformed colony where the weather has changed for the worse. And as always it turns out to be an invasion by some chilly old foes/friends of the Doctor. But even they find out that all is not as it seems. The planet and the terraforming process does contain some surprising aspects for all on the surface.
The "Matt Smith" Doctor with Amy"sex on legs"Pond and Rory Williams Pond adventure which is faithfull to the television characters and the whole book is easy to read. Which should be expected as the writer does have some experience with writing for the Doctor Who series in comics, books and audio-adventures for Big Finish.
An enjoyable outing a few weeks before his regeneration with Christmas, while this Doctor always was a bit too ADHD for my taste, my lustfull feeling for the Amy Pond never wavered.
If you enjoy Doctor Who tales it is a pleasant outing, for those unfamiliar it is easy too understand and enjoy as well as a decent scifi thriller.
Upon the return of Rory he finds himself stalked by a size sixteen footed green giant and the running begins.
The Doctor and his companions have landed on a terraformed colony where the weather has changed for the worse. And as always it turns out to be an invasion by some chilly old foes/friends of the Doctor. But even they find out that all is not as it seems. The planet and the terraforming process does contain some surprising aspects for all on the surface.
The "Matt Smith" Doctor with Amy"sex on legs"Pond and Rory Williams Pond adventure which is faithfull to the television characters and the whole book is easy to read. Which should be expected as the writer does have some experience with writing for the Doctor Who series in comics, books and audio-adventures for Big Finish.
An enjoyable outing a few weeks before his regeneration with Christmas, while this Doctor always was a bit too ADHD for my taste, my lustfull feeling for the Amy Pond never wavered.
If you enjoy Doctor Who tales it is a pleasant outing, for those unfamiliar it is easy too understand and enjoy as well as a decent scifi thriller.
July 18, 2016
The Doctor, Amy and Rory arrive in the midst of a post-technological society, facing a looming crisis.
For a long term fan, there's a lot of fun in 'The Silent Stars Go By'. We have a returning monster and countless references (some tongue in cheek) to past, classic Doctor Who, if Dan Abnett isn't a fan of Patrick Troughton then I'll give up the contents of my Tardis moneybox. The result is a cracking adventure with a fantastic twist.
There are other books – even Doctor Who spin off books - which have a more exciting prose style, and some of the supporting characters remain oddly character-less. But really I’m nit-picking. I read the whole book in a weekend and had a big geeky smile on my face the whole time.
For a long term fan, there's a lot of fun in 'The Silent Stars Go By'. We have a returning monster and countless references (some tongue in cheek) to past, classic Doctor Who, if Dan Abnett isn't a fan of Patrick Troughton then I'll give up the contents of my Tardis moneybox. The result is a cracking adventure with a fantastic twist.
There are other books – even Doctor Who spin off books - which have a more exciting prose style, and some of the supporting characters remain oddly character-less. But really I’m nit-picking. I read the whole book in a weekend and had a big geeky smile on my face the whole time.
November 14, 2021
The Silent Stars Go By (Doctor Who: New Series Adventures #S1) by Dan Abnett really got the Doctor and Rory's voice right. A little less so when it came to Amy, but I'll admit that I was just glad Rory got to do a lot of good stuff in this story. Rory is one of my favorite companions and it's always good to see get to stand in the spotlight.
March 26, 2013
A very high four stars!
The story was epic in scope, with brilliant characterisation of the Doctor and company, so much so that it was easy to hear and imagine the actors saying the lines.
The characters beyond the trio were a bit bland mind you, but not enough to take too much depth away from the story.
And the story itself was epic in scope, much more so than I'd imagined it would be.
The finale, battle and revelations kept me hooked. From about 70% in I read the last of it in one helping with no break. Not an amazing feat, but a testament to the story nonetheless.
It's quite an easy read, never challenging, but not too immature that its not suitable for adults. Although it does feel perhaps like the language has been watered down a little to suit a wider audience. Its well written nonetheless.
sometimes though it would have been nice to have a little insight into the doctors thoughts. As that is the benefit of reading as opposed to television, is it not?
In fact, it read just like you'd imagine the show to look on-screen. A slightly higher budget, double-bill episode.
So overall, the story is the winner here. Twists, turns, and applaudable scope. Watered down a little to suit a wider audience perhaps, but with a blockbuster-like story, the negatives can be overlooked. Although don't expect too much out of the usual doctor who formula. In other words, lots of running from monsters.
A fantastic book!
That is all ;)
The story was epic in scope, with brilliant characterisation of the Doctor and company, so much so that it was easy to hear and imagine the actors saying the lines.
The characters beyond the trio were a bit bland mind you, but not enough to take too much depth away from the story.
And the story itself was epic in scope, much more so than I'd imagined it would be.
The finale, battle and revelations kept me hooked. From about 70% in I read the last of it in one helping with no break. Not an amazing feat, but a testament to the story nonetheless.
It's quite an easy read, never challenging, but not too immature that its not suitable for adults. Although it does feel perhaps like the language has been watered down a little to suit a wider audience. Its well written nonetheless.
sometimes though it would have been nice to have a little insight into the doctors thoughts. As that is the benefit of reading as opposed to television, is it not?
In fact, it read just like you'd imagine the show to look on-screen. A slightly higher budget, double-bill episode.
So overall, the story is the winner here. Twists, turns, and applaudable scope. Watered down a little to suit a wider audience perhaps, but with a blockbuster-like story, the negatives can be overlooked. Although don't expect too much out of the usual doctor who formula. In other words, lots of running from monsters.
A fantastic book!
That is all ;)
January 17, 2018
When this book was first published The Ice Warriors hadn't appeared in the modern series, so it was great to finally have a story featuring them.
The author really captures Matt Smith's incarnation of The Doctor perfectly.
The author really captures Matt Smith's incarnation of The Doctor perfectly.
July 18, 2014
Really really liked this one - without doubt the best Eleventh Doctor book I've read yet. Granted, there are several I've yet to read, but there was really very little to not like about this one for me.
I've not made a secret about not being happy with the last few years of Doctor Who on TV - I don't mind Matt Smith as Eleven, and Amy & Rory were always likeable enough, but I didn't care for the season arcs, or for the entire River plot, or, well, basically anything. I gave up mid-season six and only watched the specials / last few episodes of Eleven's run after that, and didn't feel like I'd missed much, sadly.
Reading the tie-in books starring Eleven, Amy and Rory has been a much more pleasant experience, all in all. And The Silent Stars Go By was just - well, what I'd have liked the TV show to be. It feels a lot more like Classic Who, granted - I felt it would have made a great Classic Who story, really (probably a four-parter - not enough meat on the bones of the story for more).
I liked the plot, I liked the pacing, I loved the banter and the writing (it's been a while since a Doctor Who book has actually made me grin so much), I loved that we got adversaries with some complexity to them rather than just plain old evil villains, I loved the twist... Yeah. Good stuff.
(Not five stars worth of good stuff, only because I'd have liked an even longer and more complex story. Or, alternatively, Three in charge instead of Eleven. I'm fickle like that.)
I've not made a secret about not being happy with the last few years of Doctor Who on TV - I don't mind Matt Smith as Eleven, and Amy & Rory were always likeable enough, but I didn't care for the season arcs, or for the entire River plot, or, well, basically anything. I gave up mid-season six and only watched the specials / last few episodes of Eleven's run after that, and didn't feel like I'd missed much, sadly.
Reading the tie-in books starring Eleven, Amy and Rory has been a much more pleasant experience, all in all. And The Silent Stars Go By was just - well, what I'd have liked the TV show to be. It feels a lot more like Classic Who, granted - I felt it would have made a great Classic Who story, really (probably a four-parter - not enough meat on the bones of the story for more).
I liked the plot, I liked the pacing, I loved the banter and the writing (it's been a while since a Doctor Who book has actually made me grin so much), I loved that we got adversaries with some complexity to them rather than just plain old evil villains, I loved the twist... Yeah. Good stuff.
(Not five stars worth of good stuff, only because I'd have liked an even longer and more complex story. Or, alternatively, Three in charge instead of Eleven. I'm fickle like that.)
June 23, 2023
Fun story with the Doctor, Amy, and Rory
May 31, 2012
This Doctor Who book for adults sees the Doctor, Amy and Rory arrive on a snowy planet which is being terraformed. But someone has gone missing and there are giants in the woods!
The aliens in this book are the Ice Warriors which have not been seen on TV for many a year. They are written wonderfully and appear just like they did on TV. The Doctor makes various references to his past adventures with them including mentioning some past companions. It’s a great nod back but as Amy is meeting the Ice Warriors for the first time it makes for a great introduction to them.
It would make a brilliant episode with the return of the Ice Warriors in. The three main characters are captured perfectly and the supporting cast is varied and believable. The story itself is fairly simple but is very effective. It’s a fun romp through snowy forests with Ice Warriors and other creatures in pursuit. There’s loads of humour, mostly from the Doctor of course.
A fantastic book for Doctor Who fans seeking something a bit longer than the young adult novels which successfully brings back the Ice Warriors. Whovians will love it!
The aliens in this book are the Ice Warriors which have not been seen on TV for many a year. They are written wonderfully and appear just like they did on TV. The Doctor makes various references to his past adventures with them including mentioning some past companions. It’s a great nod back but as Amy is meeting the Ice Warriors for the first time it makes for a great introduction to them.
It would make a brilliant episode with the return of the Ice Warriors in. The three main characters are captured perfectly and the supporting cast is varied and believable. The story itself is fairly simple but is very effective. It’s a fun romp through snowy forests with Ice Warriors and other creatures in pursuit. There’s loads of humour, mostly from the Doctor of course.
A fantastic book for Doctor Who fans seeking something a bit longer than the young adult novels which successfully brings back the Ice Warriors. Whovians will love it!
February 28, 2016
Отличная докторская книжка с участием Пондов. Пролог прослушала раз 5, мозги отказывались включаться в новый мир – но от последних глав уже не отлипала, а ревелейшн оказался необычайно трагичным и бесконечно грустным, так что даже трансформация врагов в мирных соседей прошла практически незамеченной. Я начала забыв��ть, что Доктор – это не только детские решения проблем, это еще и потрясающие фантастические сюжеты в новой интерпретации. В данном случае – потрясающие И жестокие, несущие в себе дилеммы и километры потраченных впустую жизней. Как-то неожиданно книга, начинавшаяся с привычной беготни от монстров, обросла философскими вопросами и опустошающими открытиями. За одно это большое спасибо Абнетту – последние попытки пообщаться с Доктором вызывали лишь легкое чувство снисходительности к этой франшизе, ориентированной на детей. Какие дети, помилуйте. Убрать докторские декорации, сгустить краски да превратить в отдельный фант-роман – и я бы тут уже ревела от невысказанных восторгов.
Рецептура типично Докторская – an awful lot of running и спасение мира. А еще Доктор подошел к определенной границе – кажется, вот-вот его улыбку и шутливые каламбуры сменит смертоубийственная, практически осязаемая, едва сдерживаемая ярость последнего таймлорда. И все же в финале он возвращается к своей проповеди: no fate but what we make, оставляя в руках спасенных возможность сделать правильный выбор на своих условиях. От чего становится еще грустнее, ибо люди склонны повторять свои ошибки раз за разом, и судьба их, вероятно, будет еще страшнее, чем предотвращенная Доктором. Но в этом есть определенная гармония: он не разрушает жизни. Он позволяет этому произойти, даруя свободу воли и сохраняя веру в лучшее. И уходя, он не оборачивается – ведь он уже летит навстречу следующему приключению...
annikeh.net
Рецептура типично Докторская – an awful lot of running и спасение мира. А еще Доктор подошел к определенной границе – кажется, вот-вот его улыбку и шутливые каламбуры сменит смертоубийственная, практически осязаемая, едва сдерживаемая ярость последнего таймлорда. И все же в финале он возвращается к своей проповеди: no fate but what we make, оставляя в руках спасенных возможность сделать правильный выбор на своих условиях. От чего становится еще грустнее, ибо люди склонны повторять свои ошибки раз за разом, и судьба их, вероятно, будет еще страшнее, чем предотвращенная Доктором. Но в этом есть определенная гармония: он не разрушает жизни. Он позволяет этому произойти, даруя свободу воли и сохраняя веру в лучшее. И уходя, он не оборачивается – ведь он уже летит навстречу следующему приключению...
annikeh.net
December 4, 2011
I blazed through this in less than a day...and for good reason. It's the most amazing, exciting, unpretentious "Doctor Who" action-adventure I've read in some time. Featuring the superb return of a great monster, a well-worn traditional plot device that feels like an old friend, and spot-on characterization of the 11th Doctor, Amy & Rory. A wonderful, wintry, Christmas literary gift indeed.
April 2, 2014
Hard to review because I'm so familiar with the characters, enjoyed the book because of that. I knew what the characters looked like, how they acted, their backstory. Definitely recommended to fans of the show but uncertain of reception by the uninitiated.
November 22, 2013
*Special Content only on my blog, Strange and Random Happenstance during I ♥ ♥ The Doctor (October-December 2013)
The Doctor has promised to get Rory and Amy home to Leadworth for Christmas. Rory should know by now that, well, there's a strong chance this won't happen. The Doctor does find them a very Christmasy/Christmas-esque, planet. Meaning it's not the planet Earth, but an Earth like planet. At least there are humans though... humans that are scared. Getting quickly separated, The Doctor and Amy are taken to the small settlement and put under arrest, while Rory is the first to encounter the creatures that are terrorizing this small community. The Doctor and his trusty companions are faced with two of their more common problems that can be summed up in one sentence, save the people who don't trust them. So The Doctor vows to help them and his suspicions are soon confirmed... but there are perplexing inconsistencies... what else might be going on here? And can The Doctor ever get Rory home for Christmas... the right one?
My journey with The Doctor has not been the smoothest of rides, but at least it ended on just the right note. The Silent Stars Go By was a quick read that would translate easily to screen and had a wonderful Firefly meets Salem, Massachusetts circa 1692 vibe. While there were things I could nitpick about, instead I will revel in what it nailed. The anticipatory glee that this pre-holiday time of year can bring means that this was a case of right book right time. In this week leading up to Thanksgiving, snow still holds a mystical quality. The big fluffy flakes as they tumble out of the sky have a mesmeric quality. Just last night I watched snow come from the heavens holding my breath to see if the temperature had decreased enough to allow for a little ground covering. I'm not yet at the stage where I wish I had heat vision to melt the snow off my car or am screaming into the wind because it's so cold it's literally making me cry. Dan Abnett caught this elusive and fleeting feeling with his book. He marvelled in the snow with both his Morphan settlers and in Rory's glee to get home for Christmas. There was a childlike wonder that this reverence of the snow captured with this book, a childlike wonder that I think embodies what Doctor Who is all about. Well done Abnett, well done.
With the snow the adversary might be easy to guess, and is really easy to guess if you've seen the non-fiftieth cover. Ice Men... I mean Warriors, Ice Warriors. A lot was made of the Ice Warriors return earlier this year in the episode "Cold War." That episode left me cold... ok, yes, I know, bad bad pun. The redesign of the Warrior itself wasn't the problem, I think that was actually wicked awesome, it was the lack of suspense or any real plot. It was Alien on a sub... so Alien written by Tom Clancy? There's a part of me that so wishes that this book had been the Ice Warriors return to Doctor Who, and not just because I'm a Clara hater... which I am. Abnett was able to capture the menace, yet still show us the multifaceted nature of the Ice Warriors. Oh... just thought of that, the Ice Warriors are like a snowflake, multifaceted, could be good, could be bad, like the first lovely snow fall verses the blizzard that takes out your roof... hmmm, this is something to think more about. But I was seriously almost dancing up and down, if I hadn't been comfortably lounging, because for one of the rare occasions in these books there was a proper use of a monster! Also, near the end, he brings out the big guns and it turns into this Island of Dr. Moreau tribute that made it go above and beyond what I expected and I felt it tied in very well with the show and it's moral questions raised in "The Rebel Flesh."
Yet it wasn't just that Abnett used the monster properly, he also understood how to write the story to introduce the monsters to new readers by also to give little jokes to those who are long time fans. Instead of just being an inside joke of saying, oh, Victoria thought of the name Ice Warriors, instead he adds that Victoria was his friend and fellow time traveller! See what a little qualifying can do? It can make a book work for new and old readers alike! The Doctor's throw away line about having a coat around somewhere would just make sense on it's own, but if you know the ridiculous coat that Patrick Troughton wore when he and Jamie, with the aforementioned Victoria, first met the Ice Warriors... well, a little inside joke that works for both levels of readers. Thank you so much for writing a book that didn't require prior knowledge! I didn't have to spend half my time on Wikipedia.
I have seen some reviews that felt it stagnated at parts, which I can't disagree with, because there's only so many chase scenes you can read. You say run on a tv show, it's a nice little romp. You say run in a book, it's pages and pages of boredom, or at least, partial boredom. But then I'd say the feeling of stagnation is one that came and went as I read all the Doctor Who books for the fiftieth. There are some that are wonderful and some that made me want to cut people. A show like Doctor Who which has been on for fifty years will have times when it's right on and times when it doesn't just miss, it strikes out. Yet, at the end, am I glad I did this challenge? Am I glad I read all these books? Yes I am! I feel more connected to The Doctor then ever before. I think I have a deeper understanding of his universe, and I have to say, our world would be a far far sadder place without him. Oh, and just a heads up authors, stop referencing you old covers in your intros. You got pretty new ones, get over it, signed the Graphic Designing book junkie Miss Eliza.
The Doctor has promised to get Rory and Amy home to Leadworth for Christmas. Rory should know by now that, well, there's a strong chance this won't happen. The Doctor does find them a very Christmasy/Christmas-esque, planet. Meaning it's not the planet Earth, but an Earth like planet. At least there are humans though... humans that are scared. Getting quickly separated, The Doctor and Amy are taken to the small settlement and put under arrest, while Rory is the first to encounter the creatures that are terrorizing this small community. The Doctor and his trusty companions are faced with two of their more common problems that can be summed up in one sentence, save the people who don't trust them. So The Doctor vows to help them and his suspicions are soon confirmed... but there are perplexing inconsistencies... what else might be going on here? And can The Doctor ever get Rory home for Christmas... the right one?
My journey with The Doctor has not been the smoothest of rides, but at least it ended on just the right note. The Silent Stars Go By was a quick read that would translate easily to screen and had a wonderful Firefly meets Salem, Massachusetts circa 1692 vibe. While there were things I could nitpick about, instead I will revel in what it nailed. The anticipatory glee that this pre-holiday time of year can bring means that this was a case of right book right time. In this week leading up to Thanksgiving, snow still holds a mystical quality. The big fluffy flakes as they tumble out of the sky have a mesmeric quality. Just last night I watched snow come from the heavens holding my breath to see if the temperature had decreased enough to allow for a little ground covering. I'm not yet at the stage where I wish I had heat vision to melt the snow off my car or am screaming into the wind because it's so cold it's literally making me cry. Dan Abnett caught this elusive and fleeting feeling with his book. He marvelled in the snow with both his Morphan settlers and in Rory's glee to get home for Christmas. There was a childlike wonder that this reverence of the snow captured with this book, a childlike wonder that I think embodies what Doctor Who is all about. Well done Abnett, well done.
With the snow the adversary might be easy to guess, and is really easy to guess if you've seen the non-fiftieth cover. Ice Men... I mean Warriors, Ice Warriors. A lot was made of the Ice Warriors return earlier this year in the episode "Cold War." That episode left me cold... ok, yes, I know, bad bad pun. The redesign of the Warrior itself wasn't the problem, I think that was actually wicked awesome, it was the lack of suspense or any real plot. It was Alien on a sub... so Alien written by Tom Clancy? There's a part of me that so wishes that this book had been the Ice Warriors return to Doctor Who, and not just because I'm a Clara hater... which I am. Abnett was able to capture the menace, yet still show us the multifaceted nature of the Ice Warriors. Oh... just thought of that, the Ice Warriors are like a snowflake, multifaceted, could be good, could be bad, like the first lovely snow fall verses the blizzard that takes out your roof... hmmm, this is something to think more about. But I was seriously almost dancing up and down, if I hadn't been comfortably lounging, because for one of the rare occasions in these books there was a proper use of a monster! Also, near the end, he brings out the big guns and it turns into this Island of Dr. Moreau tribute that made it go above and beyond what I expected and I felt it tied in very well with the show and it's moral questions raised in "The Rebel Flesh."
Yet it wasn't just that Abnett used the monster properly, he also understood how to write the story to introduce the monsters to new readers by also to give little jokes to those who are long time fans. Instead of just being an inside joke of saying, oh, Victoria thought of the name Ice Warriors, instead he adds that Victoria was his friend and fellow time traveller! See what a little qualifying can do? It can make a book work for new and old readers alike! The Doctor's throw away line about having a coat around somewhere would just make sense on it's own, but if you know the ridiculous coat that Patrick Troughton wore when he and Jamie, with the aforementioned Victoria, first met the Ice Warriors... well, a little inside joke that works for both levels of readers. Thank you so much for writing a book that didn't require prior knowledge! I didn't have to spend half my time on Wikipedia.
I have seen some reviews that felt it stagnated at parts, which I can't disagree with, because there's only so many chase scenes you can read. You say run on a tv show, it's a nice little romp. You say run in a book, it's pages and pages of boredom, or at least, partial boredom. But then I'd say the feeling of stagnation is one that came and went as I read all the Doctor Who books for the fiftieth. There are some that are wonderful and some that made me want to cut people. A show like Doctor Who which has been on for fifty years will have times when it's right on and times when it doesn't just miss, it strikes out. Yet, at the end, am I glad I did this challenge? Am I glad I read all these books? Yes I am! I feel more connected to The Doctor then ever before. I think I have a deeper understanding of his universe, and I have to say, our world would be a far far sadder place without him. Oh, and just a heads up authors, stop referencing you old covers in your intros. You got pretty new ones, get over it, signed the Graphic Designing book junkie Miss Eliza.
May 19, 2018
5/5 on the Who scale. A good choice as the "representative" Eleventh Doctor anniversary adventure. Dan Abnett is usually a good bet for Who stories, an opinion supported by this fun, adrenaline- pumping little jaunt into a post-Earth future.
January 21, 2021
"Would fans of the TV show like reading Doctor Who novels?" Apparently the answer is yes! I love the show but had never read one of the novels before. It was short and precise, and reads like an episode.
September 15, 2020
great story i really love 11
November 15, 2020
Nice but not festive at all
October 26, 2022
Thoroughly enjoyed this. A great story, I can easily see this being a full length episode for sure. The writing for each character is very spot on.
July 18, 2025
This was a fun read especially when the Doctor mentioned The Last of the Mohicans and how bad of a tracker Davy Crockett was, that cracked me up
March 26, 2013
I have been a fan of Doctor Who for several years now. I've been aware of the good Doctor since early eighties, when, as an impressionable youth, I happened to catch a few Tom Baker repeats on PBS, but I never became a true fan until I happened to run across the entire season five (of the new series) on BBC America On Demand. These episodes starred Mat Smith as the eleventh Doctor, and I was immediately drawn in by his madcap energy and enthusiasm. This youthful madman of a Doctor was not quite the Doctor I remembered, but nevertheless I was entranced. I devoured the entire season, and then was forced to wait what seemed an eternity for season six.
As I write this we are half-way through season seven. We've said goodbye to the Ponds, and a new companion is on the way. This year is the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who, and I for one couldn't be more excited. Since discovering the revived series, I have caught up on seasons one through four, and have thoroughly enjoyed both Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant as the Doctor. But everyone has their own Doctor, and mine will always be Matt Smith.
Having enjoyed the show, I finally decided to give one of the books a try. I picked up The Silent Stars Go By partly because it features my favorite Doctor (and the amazing Amy and Rory Pond), and partially because of the clever way the book title and chapters are named after lines from Christmas carols.
The story begins as the Doctor is trying to get his companions back to Earth for Christmas, but, as is usually the case, they end up somewhere else entirely--a snowy planet sometime in the far future. As they explore they become separated. They discover planet has been colonized by people from Earth, who for generations have been maintaining terraforming machines to make the planet more Earth-like (or Earth-esque, as the case may be). These "Morphans," as they call themselves, have become a superstitious, agrarian society, barely understanding the "Formers" they watch over.
Enter the Ice Warriors. Tall, bulky humanoids formerly of Mars, they, too, seek to colonize new worlds. They are trying to make the planet colder and more Mars-like, and their manipulation of the Formers threatens to make the planet uninhabitable by humans. And thus, conflict erupts between the mighty Ice Warriors and peaceful Morphans, with the Doctor, Amy, and Rory stuck, as usual, in the middle.
The story kept me entertained, and Dan Abnett captured the voices of the main characters relatively well. For most of the book, the Doctor and Amy are separated from Rory, which helps keep the tension high. The action really ramps up for the last third of the book as the conflict with the Ice Warriors comes to a head, and another even more fearsome menace appears.
All in all, a great read, and a worthy addition to Doctor Who canon.
As I write this we are half-way through season seven. We've said goodbye to the Ponds, and a new companion is on the way. This year is the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who, and I for one couldn't be more excited. Since discovering the revived series, I have caught up on seasons one through four, and have thoroughly enjoyed both Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant as the Doctor. But everyone has their own Doctor, and mine will always be Matt Smith.
Having enjoyed the show, I finally decided to give one of the books a try. I picked up The Silent Stars Go By partly because it features my favorite Doctor (and the amazing Amy and Rory Pond), and partially because of the clever way the book title and chapters are named after lines from Christmas carols.
The story begins as the Doctor is trying to get his companions back to Earth for Christmas, but, as is usually the case, they end up somewhere else entirely--a snowy planet sometime in the far future. As they explore they become separated. They discover planet has been colonized by people from Earth, who for generations have been maintaining terraforming machines to make the planet more Earth-like (or Earth-esque, as the case may be). These "Morphans," as they call themselves, have become a superstitious, agrarian society, barely understanding the "Formers" they watch over.
Enter the Ice Warriors. Tall, bulky humanoids formerly of Mars, they, too, seek to colonize new worlds. They are trying to make the planet colder and more Mars-like, and their manipulation of the Formers threatens to make the planet uninhabitable by humans. And thus, conflict erupts between the mighty Ice Warriors and peaceful Morphans, with the Doctor, Amy, and Rory stuck, as usual, in the middle.
The story kept me entertained, and Dan Abnett captured the voices of the main characters relatively well. For most of the book, the Doctor and Amy are separated from Rory, which helps keep the tension high. The action really ramps up for the last third of the book as the conflict with the Ice Warriors comes to a head, and another even more fearsome menace appears.
All in all, a great read, and a worthy addition to Doctor Who canon.
June 4, 2013
See more reviews at The Best Books Ever!
In honor of the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who, BBC Books has reissued/redesigned/reawesomed a series of eleven books -- one for, you guessed it, each Doctor. The Silent Stars Go By follows our current Doctor, Amy, and Rory, as they try to get back to Leadworth for Christmas. As usual, though, their TARDIS trip is more than a bit... off.
Instead of present day England, the trio winds up in the far, far, far future on a planet colonized by Morphans, people who are distant descendants of humans as we know them. It wouldn't be a Doctor Who story if trouble didn't almost immediately ensue, of course, and that happens when Rory goes back to the TARDIS to get something and the trio gets split up. Most of the first half of the book involves a lot of running and hiding and trying to explain why they have suddenly shown up on this planet; the back half involves a lot of running and hiding and fighting alien monsters, and then finally solving the mystery. In other words, just another day in the life of the Doctor and his companions.
The author really nails the voices of Amy, Rory, and the Doctor. I could hear their voices in my head when I was reading the dialogue. There's one particular dramatic monologue by the Doctor that I could practically envision Matt Smith acting out, it was just that spot on with his voice, speech patterns, etc. There are also lots of recurring jokes and humorous moments in the story, both in the banter between the characters, and in some rather witty verbal misunderstandings from the Morphans.
There were some parts where the book dragged a little, particularly in the sections which only focused on the Morphans. And like any Who story, the final conclusion and how the Doctor works out the problem felt rushed and a little convoluted, but if you're a Who fan, you're probably used to that. I don't think you need much prior knowledge about the show to read this book and understand it, but the book's real strengths -- the dialogue and relationship between Amy, Rory, and the Doctor -- have more meaning if you're familiar with the characters already. There is some violence of the scary-alien-monster kind, but otherwise, this is a very clean read.
In honor of the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who, BBC Books has reissued/redesigned/reawesomed a series of eleven books -- one for, you guessed it, each Doctor. The Silent Stars Go By follows our current Doctor, Amy, and Rory, as they try to get back to Leadworth for Christmas. As usual, though, their TARDIS trip is more than a bit... off.
Instead of present day England, the trio winds up in the far, far, far future on a planet colonized by Morphans, people who are distant descendants of humans as we know them. It wouldn't be a Doctor Who story if trouble didn't almost immediately ensue, of course, and that happens when Rory goes back to the TARDIS to get something and the trio gets split up. Most of the first half of the book involves a lot of running and hiding and trying to explain why they have suddenly shown up on this planet; the back half involves a lot of running and hiding and fighting alien monsters, and then finally solving the mystery. In other words, just another day in the life of the Doctor and his companions.
The author really nails the voices of Amy, Rory, and the Doctor. I could hear their voices in my head when I was reading the dialogue. There's one particular dramatic monologue by the Doctor that I could practically envision Matt Smith acting out, it was just that spot on with his voice, speech patterns, etc. There are also lots of recurring jokes and humorous moments in the story, both in the banter between the characters, and in some rather witty verbal misunderstandings from the Morphans.
There were some parts where the book dragged a little, particularly in the sections which only focused on the Morphans. And like any Who story, the final conclusion and how the Doctor works out the problem felt rushed and a little convoluted, but if you're a Who fan, you're probably used to that. I don't think you need much prior knowledge about the show to read this book and understand it, but the book's real strengths -- the dialogue and relationship between Amy, Rory, and the Doctor -- have more meaning if you're familiar with the characters already. There is some violence of the scary-alien-monster kind, but otherwise, this is a very clean read.
March 2, 2012
I enjoyed, it was Traditional Doctor Who by numbers. It has all the elements that Doctor Who has had over the years. Monsters, runnings, secrets, long lost Earth colonists. It could have come out of the Troughton era or the early Baker era, it's fun, great great fun, the characters are well written and the Doctor, Amy and Rory shine just as much on the page as they do on screen...
Unfortunatly, it's Traditional Doctor Who by numbers and I've got to be honest, I kinda wanted more to it then that. After the mixed reception of 'Coming of the Terraphiles' which I enjoyed, despite it's strangeness and tendency to sideline the Doctor and Amy for a good deal of the book, I can see why the BBC would follow an incredibly outlandish book with a much more 'like the TV show' book, perhaps it was a reaction in some corners of the fanbase towards Moorcock's novel. When I read an original Doctor Who novel, I really want to read a novel, not something that reads like one of the old Target novelisations. I want to be able to see and read adventures and experiences and characters that the TV series cannot approach, either through format or money or simply because it can't be done as a TV show. This has been one of the greater flaws in the Doctor Who books since the show's return, leading to an infuriatingly tendency of the books to fluctuate in quality. With the 'adult hardbacks' such as this and 'Terraphiles' and the forthcoming books, I'd hoped that a happy middle ground could have been reached, being able to bring across all the Doctor Who thrills, but with extra ground and depth the novels can give us.
In the end, I enjoyed it, but had issues with it. If you want to read an exciting Dr. Who adventure like the series, it's perfect, if you want to have a story with a little more depth to it, you might be disappointed like me.
Read
November 11, 2017DNF
I won't bother to put a rating on this book because I never got into it. I am a classic Doctor Who fan. I will be honest, I don't really care for the New Series. I began to loose interest during series 5 and ever since, I've always been hit and miss. I like the 12th doctor but his era and stories have been on the mixed side. The show needs to do some big changes, which it has because I think it's on the verge of dying and perhaps leading to cancellation.
Nobody can argue to the point that Doctor Who is in a 'diversified' state at the moment. It's not doing well as before. All I hope is the big changes they've done, the execution delivers. It needs to improve and do what Doctor Who did in the early 70s. Rise from its dying situation as during Season 06 of classic who, a lot of BIG problems were happening that could of cancelled the show and potentially ended by The War Games.
Anyway, enough of my babbling on The New Series.
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The Silent Stars Go By I got half way through and it never clicked with me. It also features The Ice Warriors. The characterisation I remember being okay but the story took too long to get going and nothing grabbed my interest. I think it goes to show the new series range is something I don't really care about. Most of my fans who follow my YouTube channel know this already as I never bring up the new series on TJ Productions. I will make an exception of 'Prisoner of the Daleks' and 'Touched by an Angel' but the rest I don't think I will ever bother with. There has been two occasions I have DNF a book. This one and Drift from the Doctor Who PDA range. I am willing to give Drift another chance and not give an opinion on it yet. I don't have any thoughts on given this one a second chance. One of the worst things a book can do is being 'dull.' and this one was.
I won't bother to put a rating on this book because I never got into it. I am a classic Doctor Who fan. I will be honest, I don't really care for the New Series. I began to loose interest during series 5 and ever since, I've always been hit and miss. I like the 12th doctor but his era and stories have been on the mixed side. The show needs to do some big changes, which it has because I think it's on the verge of dying and perhaps leading to cancellation.
Nobody can argue to the point that Doctor Who is in a 'diversified' state at the moment. It's not doing well as before. All I hope is the big changes they've done, the execution delivers. It needs to improve and do what Doctor Who did in the early 70s. Rise from its dying situation as during Season 06 of classic who, a lot of BIG problems were happening that could of cancelled the show and potentially ended by The War Games.
Anyway, enough of my babbling on The New Series.
____________________________________________________________
The Silent Stars Go By I got half way through and it never clicked with me. It also features The Ice Warriors. The characterisation I remember being okay but the story took too long to get going and nothing grabbed my interest. I think it goes to show the new series range is something I don't really care about. Most of my fans who follow my YouTube channel know this already as I never bring up the new series on TJ Productions. I will make an exception of 'Prisoner of the Daleks' and 'Touched by an Angel' but the rest I don't think I will ever bother with. There has been two occasions I have DNF a book. This one and Drift from the Doctor Who PDA range. I am willing to give Drift another chance and not give an opinion on it yet. I don't have any thoughts on given this one a second chance. One of the worst things a book can do is being 'dull.' and this one was.
December 17, 2016
Read if: you're a Doctor Who fan, esp. of Matt Smith's Eleventh Doctor
Read when: it's snowy outside, and you're curled up by a window
Read while: you're feeling nostalgic, lighthearted, and adventurous
Read with: a hot bowl of soup at chp. 13
I've read a few of these Doctor Who novels now, and each time, they read like an adventurous episode of the series, something full of running from monsters, sonic screwdrivers, and trusty companions. I've learned that I can't go into them expecting any more or any less, and I enjoy them quite a bit.
In THE SILENT STARS GO BY, the Eleventh Doctor, Amy, and Rory, land the TARDIS on a snow-covered planet that's being preyed on by Ice Warriors! Oh no! The plot isn't very deep or extraordinary, but it's fun. The writing isn't outstanding, but it's still decent. I liked the imaginitive concepts, and I liked the gruesome monsters (and that twist!), but I would still rather watch an episode of Doctor Who than read one.
The story did do a grand job of bringing the characters to life, though, especially the Doctor. I could imagine Matt Smith acting out the part perfectly, goofy hand gestures, tangents and all.
Read when: it's snowy outside, and you're curled up by a window
Read while: you're feeling nostalgic, lighthearted, and adventurous
Read with: a hot bowl of soup at chp. 13
I've read a few of these Doctor Who novels now, and each time, they read like an adventurous episode of the series, something full of running from monsters, sonic screwdrivers, and trusty companions. I've learned that I can't go into them expecting any more or any less, and I enjoy them quite a bit.
In THE SILENT STARS GO BY, the Eleventh Doctor, Amy, and Rory, land the TARDIS on a snow-covered planet that's being preyed on by Ice Warriors! Oh no! The plot isn't very deep or extraordinary, but it's fun. The writing isn't outstanding, but it's still decent. I liked the imaginitive concepts, and I liked the gruesome monsters (and that twist!), but I would still rather watch an episode of Doctor Who than read one.
The story did do a grand job of bringing the characters to life, though, especially the Doctor. I could imagine Matt Smith acting out the part perfectly, goofy hand gestures, tangents and all.
February 13, 2016
After years of watching the TV show, I finally decided to pick up one of the Doctor Who books, and I absolutely loved it!
The plot moves a bit slower than a typical DW episode, prioritizing detail over action. Don't get me wrong - it's still very engrossing - but it takes the time to fully flesh out the world and characters in a way the TV show doesn't have time to do.
The world in which the story takes place, one of Earth's colony planets in the distant future, is very intricate, complete with a vibrant structure, culture, and history. I really felt like I knew what it was like to be a part of this world. We even get to spend some time getting to know the side characters. They aren't incredibly well-developed, but they're more than just nameless plot devices.
The main trio - the Doctor, Amy, and Rory - are written very faithfully to their television counterparts; I found myself easily picturing their actors in the story. I especially appreciated the fun banter between the three of them.
Highly recommended for fans of Doctor Who.
The plot moves a bit slower than a typical DW episode, prioritizing detail over action. Don't get me wrong - it's still very engrossing - but it takes the time to fully flesh out the world and characters in a way the TV show doesn't have time to do.
The world in which the story takes place, one of Earth's colony planets in the distant future, is very intricate, complete with a vibrant structure, culture, and history. I really felt like I knew what it was like to be a part of this world. We even get to spend some time getting to know the side characters. They aren't incredibly well-developed, but they're more than just nameless plot devices.
The main trio - the Doctor, Amy, and Rory - are written very faithfully to their television counterparts; I found myself easily picturing their actors in the story. I especially appreciated the fun banter between the three of them.
Highly recommended for fans of Doctor Who.
October 22, 2015
Okay yes, I admit it. I only bought this book because it has Matt Smiths face on the cover and he is my favourite Doctor. But I was still expecting to enjoy this.
How very wrong I was. It seemed like all the characters were dumbed down. I hated the fact that Amy came across as stupid and the complete opposite to how she really is. I think in future I'll be sticking to the program. I really didn't want Matt Smith to leave as doctor and his final episode had me in tears. I felt absolutely no emotion towards this book what so ever. All that happened was they ran away from things. Then they ran again. And then they ran some more!
Urgh I'm just so disappointed. I so wanted to enjoy this. I wanted to be right back there with the 11th Doctor living it all again. But I wasn't.
I don't know whether my hopes were too high or if the book just didn't deliver. Either way I'm disappointed.
How very wrong I was. It seemed like all the characters were dumbed down. I hated the fact that Amy came across as stupid and the complete opposite to how she really is. I think in future I'll be sticking to the program. I really didn't want Matt Smith to leave as doctor and his final episode had me in tears. I felt absolutely no emotion towards this book what so ever. All that happened was they ran away from things. Then they ran again. And then they ran some more!
Urgh I'm just so disappointed. I so wanted to enjoy this. I wanted to be right back there with the 11th Doctor living it all again. But I wasn't.
I don't know whether my hopes were too high or if the book just didn't deliver. Either way I'm disappointed.
October 21, 2013
This book was definitely not what I expected. What began as a simple romp with Ice Warriors rapidly transformed into a tale of socialism in space! The story describes an agricultural people's existence on a hostile ice planet. However, despite the amount of hoes and trowels at their disposal, they were not prepared for an invasion of mighty lizard men. Now this all sounds a bit silly. But that is where Abnett made this a success. Unlike previous authors attempts' at writing Doctor Who, Abnettt perfects the art of laughing in the face of danger. Doctor Who teaches us a lesson, that despite how bad a foe you face, how dark a time you live in, we must not be afraid to stare it in the eye and laugh. Because what else do we have really? Good on ya Abnett!
August 14, 2022
I enjoyed this Doctor Who book very much. Dan Abnett created a very Whovian atmosphere in the book that kept me interested and wondering what would happen next. I loved his ability to write Rory, Amy and the Doctor's personalities.
SECOND READING:
While I had no memory of reading this before (face palm), I felt the exact same way, it was like being transported back into Matt Smith's time as the Doctor. I understand what Abnett means... Matt Smith will always be my doctor.
"If they had still been standing there, the three travellers in the TARDIS, would have been able to see the silent stars go by for the very last time." (page 279).
SECOND READING:
While I had no memory of reading this before (face palm), I felt the exact same way, it was like being transported back into Matt Smith's time as the Doctor. I understand what Abnett means... Matt Smith will always be my doctor.
"If they had still been standing there, the three travellers in the TARDIS, would have been able to see the silent stars go by for the very last time." (page 279).
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