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Doctor Who: New Series Adventures #28
Doctor Who: The Story of Martha
For a year, while the Master ruled over the Earth, Martha Jones traveled the world telling people stories about the Doctor. She told people of how the Doctor has saved them before, and how he will save them again.
This is her story. It tells of Martha's travels from her arrival on Earth as the Toclafane attacked and decimated the population through to her return to Britain to face the Master. It tells how she spread the word and told people about the Doctor. The story of how she survived that terrible year.
But it's more than that. This is also a collection of the stories she tells - the stories of adventures she had with the Doctor that we haven't heard about before. The stories that inspired and saved the world...
The full story of Martha Jones' 'lost year' helping defeat the Master - from the bestselling BBC Books Doctor Who fiction range
This is her story. It tells of Martha's travels from her arrival on Earth as the Toclafane attacked and decimated the population through to her return to Britain to face the Master. It tells how she spread the word and told people about the Doctor. The story of how she survived that terrible year.
But it's more than that. This is also a collection of the stories she tells - the stories of adventures she had with the Doctor that we haven't heard about before. The stories that inspired and saved the world...
The full story of Martha Jones' 'lost year' helping defeat the Master - from the bestselling BBC Books Doctor Who fiction range
238 pages, Hardcover
First published December 26, 2008
21 people are currently reading
1845 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
August 6, 2009
While I adore the premise of this book--following Martha on her journey around the world during the year-that-wasn't--I'm sorry to say it didn't quite live up to my expectations. I mean, don't get me wrong, I still loved it or I wouldn't have rated it four stars *g*, but there were two things that stopped me from enjoying it as much as I could have. One, several segments (flasbacks to Martha's time with the Doctor) were written by different authors and I'm afraid it shows. While each one individually is pretty good (some MUCH stronger than others), they don't mesh well. The second and bigger problem I had with the book is that it pretty much ends with the destruction of Japan, skipping straight from there right back to where we picked up in "Last of the Time Lords." Which means that we get some good detail on the first few months of her journey...and then nothing. So it really doesn't fill the gap it promised to.
Even so, though, I'd definitely say it's a must-read for any Martha fan. If for no other reason than because it shows her being the strong, insecure, brilliant, compassionate individual that we know her to be, persevering in the face of unimaginable odds because she has to (even though she's terrified and overwhelmed), because she made a promise and she wouldn't be who she is if she didn't keep it.
Even so, though, I'd definitely say it's a must-read for any Martha fan. If for no other reason than because it shows her being the strong, insecure, brilliant, compassionate individual that we know her to be, persevering in the face of unimaginable odds because she has to (even though she's terrified and overwhelmed), because she made a promise and she wouldn't be who she is if she didn't keep it.
February 20, 2021
This whovian thinks Martha Jones is an underrated companion. She deserved better!
This book tells us part of what Martha got up to during the Year That Never Was interspersed with tales of off-screen adventures with the Doctor. I do think that Martha wasn't as centre stage as I would have liked her to be here which is unfair because have I mentioned that she is awesome.
Soundtrack while reading this: Martha's Theme on a loop. It gives me (good) chills every time I hear it.
This book tells us part of what Martha got up to during the Year That Never Was interspersed with tales of off-screen adventures with the Doctor. I do think that Martha wasn't as centre stage as I would have liked her to be here which is unfair because have I mentioned that she is awesome.
Soundtrack while reading this: Martha's Theme on a loop. It gives me (good) chills every time I hear it.
August 17, 2015
i saw this story from the important side already.
April 4, 2025
2025 Alphabet Challenge - The Letter S
Honestly, if I wasn't doing a read of the entire NSA Doctor Who range, I would have skipped this book, because I'm not a fan of Martha, and I really don't like the Master episodes that this book is set in.
This book just wasn't the one to make me like either of them. Numerous times Martha is described as wearing sparkly earrings, or perfume or high heels and its like, aren't you on the run? Do you really have time to be faffing about with all of this stuff when you're trying to save the world? And the stories she tells to the people she sees, they don't really tell the story of the Doctor and his importance and compassion, which is what the TV show tried to emphasize in the episode.
Try this book if you're a DW completionist, but be prepared to be disappointed.
Honestly, if I wasn't doing a read of the entire NSA Doctor Who range, I would have skipped this book, because I'm not a fan of Martha, and I really don't like the Master episodes that this book is set in.
This book just wasn't the one to make me like either of them. Numerous times Martha is described as wearing sparkly earrings, or perfume or high heels and its like, aren't you on the run? Do you really have time to be faffing about with all of this stuff when you're trying to save the world? And the stories she tells to the people she sees, they don't really tell the story of the Doctor and his importance and compassion, which is what the TV show tried to emphasize in the episode.
Try this book if you're a DW completionist, but be prepared to be disappointed.
July 20, 2011
This is a Doctor Who novel but it's not like any of the others. It does feature the Doctor in his Tenth incarnation with Martha Jones, but here the main character is actually Martha! I think this book sums up exactly what a Doctor Who novel should be: it takes an event that's mentioned in the show and expands on it. I think there are a couple of other novels that have done this, where there's a throw-away line in an episode which mentions an adventure that's never actually shown but it becomes the plot of a book instead and we get to experience it that way. I was rather looking forward to reading this particular book because it's nice to be able to find out what happened to Martha during the Year That Never Was. Although it's not the Official story as such because it doesn't come from Russell T Davies, it's a good alternative.
The book is credited to Dan Abnett but he isn't the sole author. He wrote the main storyline that runs through the book and follows Martha in her trip round the world. Along the way, she tells of adventures she has had with the Doctor and these adventures are all written by different people. It's quite well done and hard to tell the different authors as there's no obvious jump in writing styles. I did feel that the book wasn't long enough, the adventures that Martha shared were only very short and it didn't seem as though they were enough to convince anyone how amazing the Doctor is.
I was really enjoying the book until Martha got to Japan where the story seemed to forget what it was supposed to be about and deviated from the original storyline. Martha gets captured in Japan because the perception filter becomes extremely dodgy. Just as she is in danger it randomly stops working all of a sudden and only starts working again when the factories are destroyed and she is free again. That didn't make sense at all and is laughably convenient. Considering the entire book up to that point was showing how Martha was Enemy Number One and had to be captured at all costs, it then didn't seem feasible that she would be captured and not returned to the Master. This was explained by saying that Japan wasn't under the Master's rule which again doesn't make sense and goes against the plot of the episode that the book is related to. There's no indication of exactly how long Martha is held captive but it seems to be quite lengthy and I got the impression it was several weeks. It doesn't seem possible that she could spend that amount of time there and still have enough of the year left to see the rest of the world, bearing in mind at this point, she's only done mainland Europe.
The reason given for Japan not being under the control of the Master is that the factories there are controlled by the Drast. This is another bunch of aliens who have crashed onto Earth and are trying to get off it. I couldn't believe this bit, there was no reason to introduce these aliens. As if the Master wasn't enough to contend with - and judging by the episodes of the show, he really was - there's now an alien invasion to deal with as well. It was just a bit much and seemed as if the author(s) got bored with the Year That Never Was storyline and decided to write something else instead. And after all that, the way the Drast were made to surrender was a bit puerile.
The final section of the book just didn't make sense at all and I spent the entire time boggling at it in disbelief. The book as a whole needed more of the Master in it, and not some random bloke who was chasing Martha. He was then blown up by the Toclafane at the end, something else that made no sense. The Master was mentioned only rarely and seemed to be a distant threat. It didn't come across as though there was any real danger from the Master right until the end when he ordered the destruction of Japan. At that point, there were only a few pages left so it was much too late. There didn't seem to be much sense of urgency or danger from the random bloke who was chasing Martha either and any threat seemed to be more from the fact that he was a bit mentally unstable than anything else.
The book is credited to Dan Abnett but he isn't the sole author. He wrote the main storyline that runs through the book and follows Martha in her trip round the world. Along the way, she tells of adventures she has had with the Doctor and these adventures are all written by different people. It's quite well done and hard to tell the different authors as there's no obvious jump in writing styles. I did feel that the book wasn't long enough, the adventures that Martha shared were only very short and it didn't seem as though they were enough to convince anyone how amazing the Doctor is.
I was really enjoying the book until Martha got to Japan where the story seemed to forget what it was supposed to be about and deviated from the original storyline. Martha gets captured in Japan because the perception filter becomes extremely dodgy. Just as she is in danger it randomly stops working all of a sudden and only starts working again when the factories are destroyed and she is free again. That didn't make sense at all and is laughably convenient. Considering the entire book up to that point was showing how Martha was Enemy Number One and had to be captured at all costs, it then didn't seem feasible that she would be captured and not returned to the Master. This was explained by saying that Japan wasn't under the Master's rule which again doesn't make sense and goes against the plot of the episode that the book is related to. There's no indication of exactly how long Martha is held captive but it seems to be quite lengthy and I got the impression it was several weeks. It doesn't seem possible that she could spend that amount of time there and still have enough of the year left to see the rest of the world, bearing in mind at this point, she's only done mainland Europe.
The reason given for Japan not being under the control of the Master is that the factories there are controlled by the Drast. This is another bunch of aliens who have crashed onto Earth and are trying to get off it. I couldn't believe this bit, there was no reason to introduce these aliens. As if the Master wasn't enough to contend with - and judging by the episodes of the show, he really was - there's now an alien invasion to deal with as well. It was just a bit much and seemed as if the author(s) got bored with the Year That Never Was storyline and decided to write something else instead. And after all that, the way the Drast were made to surrender was a bit puerile.
The final section of the book just didn't make sense at all and I spent the entire time boggling at it in disbelief. The book as a whole needed more of the Master in it, and not some random bloke who was chasing Martha. He was then blown up by the Toclafane at the end, something else that made no sense. The Master was mentioned only rarely and seemed to be a distant threat. It didn't come across as though there was any real danger from the Master right until the end when he ordered the destruction of Japan. At that point, there were only a few pages left so it was much too late. There didn't seem to be much sense of urgency or danger from the random bloke who was chasing Martha either and any threat seemed to be more from the fact that he was a bit mentally unstable than anything else.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 1, 2018
A collection of four short stories featuring the Tenth Doctor and Martha with the overhanging narration set during the Series Three finale.
It's something different from the NSA range, I liked how it seamlessly fits into the canon.
It's something different from the NSA range, I liked how it seamlessly fits into the canon.
May 10, 2021
There's good, and there is bad. I felt the short stories with the Doctor really took away from Martha's story, I kept waiting for them to end and get back to her journey across the globe. Not that the stories themselves were bad, they were good but when stitched together in this manner I felt they really took away from what was pitched by the title as being the Story of Martha. I understand she was traveling telling the Doctors story but there was so much left behind or just glossed over in favour of the short stories. This could have been a time for a companion to shine but spent too much time on that Companion just retelling stories about the Doctor.
April 14, 2024
I'm not the biggest fan of Martha but this story made me like her more.
March 25, 2023
Estoy segura de que puedo encontrar fanfics sobre la misma trama mucho mejores, pero es entretenido.
May 23, 2009
I really enjoyed this book although it wasn't fully what I hoped it would be.
My real hopes were that it would fill in the all important events between the final 2 episodes of series 3/29 and it sort of does that. However, it's really nothing more than a selection of short stories with the "Martha" bits little more than a convenient linking narration. Nothing terribly out of the ordinary happens to Martha and she spends the year travelling relatively safely.
That's a minor complaint however, as the book is great reading and does add to the myth a wee bit more. I just hoped it could have been a bit more, well dramatic. Martha is a great character and had a whole host of personal resources she could have dranw upon in a war against The Master.
OK we all know she comes out the other side at the end of the year but I can;t help feeling I wanted something else to, well, "happen".
Great though and thoroughly recommended. My wife read it and she only watches the TV serial. She's not into Dr Who on the same level as me....
My real hopes were that it would fill in the all important events between the final 2 episodes of series 3/29 and it sort of does that. However, it's really nothing more than a selection of short stories with the "Martha" bits little more than a convenient linking narration. Nothing terribly out of the ordinary happens to Martha and she spends the year travelling relatively safely.
That's a minor complaint however, as the book is great reading and does add to the myth a wee bit more. I just hoped it could have been a bit more, well dramatic. Martha is a great character and had a whole host of personal resources she could have dranw upon in a war against The Master.
OK we all know she comes out the other side at the end of the year but I can;t help feeling I wanted something else to, well, "happen".
Great though and thoroughly recommended. My wife read it and she only watches the TV serial. She's not into Dr Who on the same level as me....
February 8, 2013
A good concept, filling in the gap between two televised episodes, and certainly more adult oriented than most of the new range of novels...but that may be part of why I didn't enjoy it as much as I expected (the fill in the gap part, not the more adult bit...I liked that!). The main problem is that there is little suspense, as we already know how it all turns out. Martha is also my least favorite companion from the new series, so that may also have added to my disappointment. I'm just not sure she can carry a story on her own. And Dan Abnett is such a great writer, so my expectations were high. Another trouble was with the short stories peppered throughout...they weren't any great shakes, the third story being the best. All in all...interesting, and a good time-filler. Just not as thrilling as I'd hoped.
May 13, 2009
To be honest I think this is the worst Doctor Who book I've ever read. I was soooo excited when I heard about it. Martha's story in the year that never was, wow, it would surely be great! Now I don't think I'm that great a writer but I think even I could write a better version of the story. No offence to the writer's or anything but I don't think this could be much worse. There wasn't much detail in the thinks she saw. There wasn't much in her feeling of terror. She met a little girl who couldn't find her family and yet it didn't have me close to tears or worried for her or anything, it was just like 'yeah, right, so that's what's happening'. It wsn't really gripping or anything. Now I hate writing bad reviews but it's impossible for me to give this book a good review :-\!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2015
Martha Jones, the girl who walked the earth. While the Doctor was at the mercy of the Master, Martha travelled around the world, telling stories to bring hope to survivors.
This is what happened between series 3 episode 12: The Sound of Drums and 13: Last of the Time Lords, as well as some extra new short stories about the Doctor and Martha.
I really enjoyed this collection - there's something about DW that lends itself to short story format, although they usually feel shorter and less dramatic than a full episode.
This is what happened between series 3 episode 12: The Sound of Drums and 13: Last of the Time Lords, as well as some extra new short stories about the Doctor and Martha.
I really enjoyed this collection - there's something about DW that lends itself to short story format, although they usually feel shorter and less dramatic than a full episode.
July 25, 2013
Such a good book, probably even if you're not into Doctor Who. Documents the year Martha travels the world telling everyone stories about the Doctor.
Fits into the TV series between 'The Sound of Drums' and 'Last of the Timelords'
A really great read.
Fits into the TV series between 'The Sound of Drums' and 'Last of the Timelords'
A really great read.
December 11, 2016
The best DW book yet. The short stories were only so-so, but the main story, the story of Martha's lonely year walking the earth, was excellent. A great missing piece.
February 23, 2022
Now We Know...
...what Martha Jones did during the Year That Never Was. How did she walk the Earth? What went through her mind as she witnessed the Master's worldwide "utopia" firsthand? What did the Master do to try to find her? How did the islands of Japan burn and why? How did she tell her story? Who helped her? How did it change her? Who did she meet?
Dan Abnett--an author I knew from his terrific Torchwood work--gives us some of the answers while maintaining the cannon of the tv show. He has a wonderful way of creating supporting characters that you care about in a couple of paragraphs. He has Martha's character voice down pat. He includes things I wondered about, like what small careless things might have given her away. Like the refugee slaves she spoke to, I want to hear even more of Martha's stories.
I'm a lightning fast reader, but this book I finished in a couple of hours; I simply could not put it down. It left me both satisfied and hungry. I won't be sleeping tonight until I decide which Doctor Who novel to read next...and I think I'll start by finding out what else Dan Abnett has written.
If you love the trilogy Utopia/The Sound of Drums/Last of the Time Lord, if you love Freema Agyeman's Martha Jones....well, why haven't you read this already?? You're missing out!
...what Martha Jones did during the Year That Never Was. How did she walk the Earth? What went through her mind as she witnessed the Master's worldwide "utopia" firsthand? What did the Master do to try to find her? How did the islands of Japan burn and why? How did she tell her story? Who helped her? How did it change her? Who did she meet?
Dan Abnett--an author I knew from his terrific Torchwood work--gives us some of the answers while maintaining the cannon of the tv show. He has a wonderful way of creating supporting characters that you care about in a couple of paragraphs. He has Martha's character voice down pat. He includes things I wondered about, like what small careless things might have given her away. Like the refugee slaves she spoke to, I want to hear even more of Martha's stories.
I'm a lightning fast reader, but this book I finished in a couple of hours; I simply could not put it down. It left me both satisfied and hungry. I won't be sleeping tonight until I decide which Doctor Who novel to read next...and I think I'll start by finding out what else Dan Abnett has written.
If you love the trilogy Utopia/The Sound of Drums/Last of the Time Lord, if you love Freema Agyeman's Martha Jones....well, why haven't you read this already?? You're missing out!
May 29, 2022
This Doctor Who story follows Martha throughout the year that never was when the Master takes over Earth at the end of series 3. Tasked with a mission that will take her all over the world, Martha teleports out of the Valiant and starts her tremendous task.
The book is split up into Martha's journey and stories about her and the Doctor and their adventures as she tells the people of Earth the message she must share. I really enjoyed the writing in this book and I think some of the stories really captured the Doctor and Martha's characters very well. I loved hearing about more of their escapades and it's great to see the Doctor in this book in snippets through Martha's stories, yet not detracting from this being well and truly Martha's story.
A brilliant story about Martha and how she struggled to spread the message to start with but then ends up embracing her mission despite some horrendously tough times. It ends a little abruptly with a new creature introduced then suddenly vanishing and we only get a glimpse of the Master as well. It would have been great to see more of the world that Martha traverses and end up where the book begins - it misses out a chunk of her time going to the Americas which is a bit disappointing. That being said, I did really enjoy this book and I think it compliments the TV series greatly.
The book is split up into Martha's journey and stories about her and the Doctor and their adventures as she tells the people of Earth the message she must share. I really enjoyed the writing in this book and I think some of the stories really captured the Doctor and Martha's characters very well. I loved hearing about more of their escapades and it's great to see the Doctor in this book in snippets through Martha's stories, yet not detracting from this being well and truly Martha's story.
A brilliant story about Martha and how she struggled to spread the message to start with but then ends up embracing her mission despite some horrendously tough times. It ends a little abruptly with a new creature introduced then suddenly vanishing and we only get a glimpse of the Master as well. It would have been great to see more of the world that Martha traverses and end up where the book begins - it misses out a chunk of her time going to the Americas which is a bit disappointing. That being said, I did really enjoy this book and I think it compliments the TV series greatly.
March 26, 2021
Again there is a touch of bias here because of my love of Doctor Who and for Martha in particular so take my rating with a pinch of salt.
I've had this book since I was very young but never actually read through it properly until now. I've always found the concept of discovering what Martha did during the year that never was fascinating, and for the most part it was. I enjoyed the stories Martha told the slaves and finding out details like why Japan was set on fire and how she got from here to there throughout the year.
The only reason I didn't give five stars is because I found the book very rushed. The ending in particular is so sudden that it actually took me aback in a, "wait, that's IT?" way. I also found it rather confusing how the story Martha tells the Drast also includes the Doctor's POV during moments she wasn't even present for. That's a small gripe, though.
On the whole I liked reading The Story of Martha. It gives more depth to her journey and allows you to view what she has gone through when she arrives back in the UK at the start of The Last of the Timelords (that moment also serving as the prologue and epilogue for this book). And as someone who adores Martha and finds her painfully underrated, it was the perfect read for me!
I've had this book since I was very young but never actually read through it properly until now. I've always found the concept of discovering what Martha did during the year that never was fascinating, and for the most part it was. I enjoyed the stories Martha told the slaves and finding out details like why Japan was set on fire and how she got from here to there throughout the year.
The only reason I didn't give five stars is because I found the book very rushed. The ending in particular is so sudden that it actually took me aback in a, "wait, that's IT?" way. I also found it rather confusing how the story Martha tells the Drast also includes the Doctor's POV during moments she wasn't even present for. That's a small gripe, though.
On the whole I liked reading The Story of Martha. It gives more depth to her journey and allows you to view what she has gone through when she arrives back in the UK at the start of The Last of the Timelords (that moment also serving as the prologue and epilogue for this book). And as someone who adores Martha and finds her painfully underrated, it was the perfect read for me!
February 14, 2020
The Doctor has been defeated by the Master who now controls all of Earth. But, the hope for humanity has not ended. Martha Jones still remains free. Making her way around the world and reaching out to resistance fighters and lost survivors, she is sharing stories of the Doctor in an effort to keep the sparks of that hope alive and to fan it into a flame that will take back what they had lost.
In a unique story format, this book contains four of those stories, interwoven with a coordinating story arc by Dan Abnett. With the flashback tales authored by David Roden, Steve Lockley & Paul Lewis, Robert Shearman, and Simon Jowett, the book is basically a collection of short stories of the Doctor tied together to create one novel.
While the stories are entertaining and well written, the only drawback was Abnett leading us to the fight, but not giving us the end of the war. While this story can be tied into the main TV series, a few pages at the end to wrap up the conflict would have been a good way to end the effort.
Regardless, this was an enjoyable book to read with old AND new fans being able to pick it up and find heroes and villains along the way to entertain.
In a unique story format, this book contains four of those stories, interwoven with a coordinating story arc by Dan Abnett. With the flashback tales authored by David Roden, Steve Lockley & Paul Lewis, Robert Shearman, and Simon Jowett, the book is basically a collection of short stories of the Doctor tied together to create one novel.
While the stories are entertaining and well written, the only drawback was Abnett leading us to the fight, but not giving us the end of the war. While this story can be tied into the main TV series, a few pages at the end to wrap up the conflict would have been a good way to end the effort.
Regardless, this was an enjoyable book to read with old AND new fans being able to pick it up and find heroes and villains along the way to entertain.
May 28, 2022
There´s zero fun in this book. Zero. A poor dog gets shot right in the first part, so that should´ve been a warning for the rest of the book. It is full of destruction, executions, starvation, enslaving, torture, and all in all war sh*t that you don´t want to read these days… (or just never, if you´re me). Also the first part felt weirdly sexist for a New Who novel. Although Martha has already been on the run for some time and had many opportunities to adapt her outfit, she is described as wearing sparkly earrings, shoes with heels and even perfume! And all of these things are almost blowing her cover, so they´re double stupid! Then some soldiers take a look at her photo and they call her "sexy" multiple times – at the end of the book the Master is also sexist to a female soldier so I get that the message is "the bad guys are aholes" but still, no fun reading that.
TL;DR: If you are a snowflake like me, skip this book.
TL;DR: If you are a snowflake like me, skip this book.
January 26, 2018
So I am a very big fan of doctor who, especially the episode the book is based off. The book is set when Martha is left alone to spread word of the Doctor which you are shown a little bit of during the Series 3 Volume 4 of the TV series. It definitely goes into more depth of her adventures and makes you appreciate her character more. Martha was definitely my favourite companion when I was growing up and I never felt she was truly appreciatedo but this book proves she is as good as an companion as Rose (in my opinion). This book also allows you to see more of the Doctor through the stories Martha tells the survivors however the book hardly has any main Doctor speaking parts hence the name "Martha's Story" not the doctor's story. Overall a very enjoyable book, eventhough it did take be a while to finish!
August 12, 2018
Since this is made up of more stories, this review is divided into sections.
1) The Story of Martha (the lost year)
This one of the dark Doctor Who stories, with death and genocide. And I just wont have animal cruelty in my books!
2) The Weeping
I must admit I dont get why she is so sad. The Doctor is right; it is a happy ending!
3) Breathing Space
It is so short it seems irrelevant.
4) The Frozen Wastes
The timejumps makes it confusing to point where it degrades the story. And the ending is just SO bland!
5) Star-Crossed
Definitely the best of the bunch. Also a story, where it is okay that it is shot, because it does not seem either rushed or irrelevant. Just a small anekdote which represents the travels with the Doctor well.
1) The Story of Martha (the lost year)
This one of the dark Doctor Who stories, with death and genocide. And I just wont have animal cruelty in my books!
2) The Weeping
I must admit I dont get why she is so sad. The Doctor is right; it is a happy ending!
3) Breathing Space
It is so short it seems irrelevant.
4) The Frozen Wastes
The timejumps makes it confusing to point where it degrades the story. And the ending is just SO bland!
5) Star-Crossed
Definitely the best of the bunch. Also a story, where it is okay that it is shot, because it does not seem either rushed or irrelevant. Just a small anekdote which represents the travels with the Doctor well.
October 26, 2017
This is very specific; it's set after the Master dominates the world during the time of the 10th Doctor "Sound of Drums" episode. During this time, Ten is captured and aged by the Master, Capt. Jack and Martha's family are trapped, and eventually, Martha is able to sort of Deus Ex Machina the world back into shape, erasing the previous genocidal year, and helping the Doctor focus his psychic energy to plot twist. Without the bookend episodes, I don't think this volume would make a lot of sense, or at least the bridge material and motivation (half the book?) would not. Otherwise, this is a lot of fun, focuses on Martha, and is a must for serious fans of 10.
October 26, 2021
Martha Jones yearlong trek across the face of the planet Earth is used as the backdrop of this novel. As Martha flees across the globe trying to avoid attracting the attention of The Master and his troops, she makes new friends and goes about the task of enacting The Doctor's plan. Everywhere Martha goes she shares stories about The Doctor and the adventures she shared with him.
The book itself is split between Martha's travels across Earth and stories of a few of her adventures with The Doctor, stories of his heroism, compassion, and stories of people helped because The Doctor was there.
The book itself is split between Martha's travels across Earth and stories of a few of her adventures with The Doctor, stories of his heroism, compassion, and stories of people helped because The Doctor was there.
August 17, 2025
BOOK 16 (OUT OF 27) OF MY HOLIDAY READS - AUGUST 2025
I really enjoyed this and I really thought I wouldn't - 3*
I normally haaatteeee 10th Doctor and Martha books. It's one of the reasons why I've left this book on my TBR for so long. (9 years to be exact.) I often find Martha's character to be 2D and dependent on the Doctor.
This book was not that - perhaps because the Doctor was only there for three/maybe four chapters… I really enjoyed hearing about Martha and her story. It was nice for this book to develop a storyline already shown in season 3 of NewWho.
I really enjoyed this and I really thought I wouldn't - 3*
I normally haaatteeee 10th Doctor and Martha books. It's one of the reasons why I've left this book on my TBR for so long. (9 years to be exact.) I often find Martha's character to be 2D and dependent on the Doctor.
This book was not that - perhaps because the Doctor was only there for three/maybe four chapters… I really enjoyed hearing about Martha and her story. It was nice for this book to develop a storyline already shown in season 3 of NewWho.
December 19, 2018
The Story was good. It was nice to hear more about Martha's side of the story and what she got up to. However the ending could have been better. The master wasn't really mentioned much so didn't really seem like the enemy. I like the fact that the different parts were written by different authors. These chapters seemed to fit in well with the book.
December 12, 2019
I really really loved this story. I have always been curious about the year that never was when Martha walked the Earth because even though time was reversed Martha still had all the memories and that leaves a lot of fodder for stories. This book told some of the stories from that year. Honestly I would love a sequel if they ever decided to write one. All in all a very well written story!
December 26, 2019
A fair representation of the indomitable Martha. This one was closely linked with an episode, which I had seen, but a long time ago. I think I would have done well to rewatch it before reading this. Nevertheless, I mostly enjoyed it, but I felt the ending was very rushed. It was as if the author(s) ran out of page allowance and so wound it up in a couple of pages.
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July 8, 2025Martha is my favorite companion, and the idea of a book about her year traveling the world seemed really neat. It was ok, but I feel like it could have been much better than it was. Of the 4 mini-stories, starcrossed was the best one, but why even have the stories? Martha on her mission is more than enough. As always with Doctor Who, they drop the ball when it comes to Martha.
June 29, 2020
3.5 stars because I really loved the short stories "The Weeping" and "The Frozen Wastes". I thought the point where the actual main narrative ends was a little strange but other than that, I really liked having a story centered on Martha and her actions and views.
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