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Doctor Who: New Series Adventures #33
Doctor Who: Prisoner of the Daleks
The Daleks are advancing, their empire constantly expanding into Earth's space. The Earth forces are resisting the Daleks in every way they can. But the battles rage on across countless solar systems. And now the future of our galaxy hangs in the balance...
The Doctor finds himself stranded on board a starship near the frontline with a group of ruthless bounty hunters. Earth Command will pay them for every Dalek they kill, every eye stalk they bring back as proof.
With the Doctor's help, the bounty hunters achieve the ultimate prize: a Dalek prisoner - intact, powerless, and ready for interrogation. But where the Daleks are involved, nothing is what it seems, and no one is safe. Before long the tables will be turned, and how will the Doctor survive when he becomes a prisoner of the Daleks?
Featuring the tenth Doctor as played by David Tennant in the hit BBC Television Doctor Who series.
The Doctor finds himself stranded on board a starship near the frontline with a group of ruthless bounty hunters. Earth Command will pay them for every Dalek they kill, every eye stalk they bring back as proof.
With the Doctor's help, the bounty hunters achieve the ultimate prize: a Dalek prisoner - intact, powerless, and ready for interrogation. But where the Daleks are involved, nothing is what it seems, and no one is safe. Before long the tables will be turned, and how will the Doctor survive when he becomes a prisoner of the Daleks?
Featuring the tenth Doctor as played by David Tennant in the hit BBC Television Doctor Who series.
251 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
67 people are currently reading
2648 people want to read
About the author
Trevor Baxendale
84 books48 followersTrevor Baxendale is a novelist who has penned several Doctor Who tie-in novels and audio dramas. He lives in Liverpool, England with his wife and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 246 reviews
May 1, 2019
One of the best Tenth Doctor novels!
Set during the year of specials The Doctor travelling alone finds himself stranded on board a starship with of bounty hunters.
Between them they manage to capture a Dalek prisoner, but even one solo Dalek should not be taken lightly!
There’s so much to enjoy from this novel. The characteristics of Tennant’s Doctor is perfectly captured, especially as he first arrives on the planet.
As he’s traveling along the crew of the Wayfarer become the temporary companions for this story, all the crew are great interesting additions but it’s Bowman who stands out.
The exchanges between The Doctor and the Dalek are chillingly riveting, I love how calculating and cunning the Time Lords deadliest enemy are in this story.
Set during the year of specials The Doctor travelling alone finds himself stranded on board a starship with of bounty hunters.
Between them they manage to capture a Dalek prisoner, but even one solo Dalek should not be taken lightly!
There’s so much to enjoy from this novel. The characteristics of Tennant’s Doctor is perfectly captured, especially as he first arrives on the planet.
As he’s traveling along the crew of the Wayfarer become the temporary companions for this story, all the crew are great interesting additions but it’s Bowman who stands out.
The exchanges between The Doctor and the Dalek are chillingly riveting, I love how calculating and cunning the Time Lords deadliest enemy are in this story.
February 15, 2011
THIS is a Doctor Who novel! This is exactly what I've been talking about. Finally, I have found a new series novel that shows the harder side of The Doctor. This book shows him vulnerable, shows him dark, shows him terrified, and shows him victorious. This book shows how dangerous The Doctor really is to his enemies, and how unforgiving he can be.
About damned time someone went and wrote one like this.
About damned time someone went and wrote one like this.
November 28, 2014
"You're all going to burn and no matter how much you try to come back, or which of you remain, I'm always going to be there to stop you. So just remember; there's a storm coming!"
I loved this book. Loved it, loved it, loved it! And not just because it was a fantastic representation of the 10th Doctor, but because like all great Doctor Who stories; it was a story with roots we could all either relate to, or learn something from. Ideas regarding torture, justice, guerilla warfare, and violence all seep through this book, making you question your ideals and morals with each page. Just because a creature or person is your enemy does that give you the right to torture it? Is there ever a justification for that? Should violence be met with more violence? Or is there a better way? A way which doesn't involve us losing our humanity? Powerful questions, and there are no simple answers, unfortunately. But it was amazing to read a book that addressed these issues, made me think, made me feel, and entertained me all at the same time.
Just a wonderful story. :)
I loved this book. Loved it, loved it, loved it! And not just because it was a fantastic representation of the 10th Doctor, but because like all great Doctor Who stories; it was a story with roots we could all either relate to, or learn something from. Ideas regarding torture, justice, guerilla warfare, and violence all seep through this book, making you question your ideals and morals with each page. Just because a creature or person is your enemy does that give you the right to torture it? Is there ever a justification for that? Should violence be met with more violence? Or is there a better way? A way which doesn't involve us losing our humanity? Powerful questions, and there are no simple answers, unfortunately. But it was amazing to read a book that addressed these issues, made me think, made me feel, and entertained me all at the same time.
Just a wonderful story. :)
July 22, 2021
EXTERMINAR!! EXTERMINAAARRRR!!!!😂😂
Adoro a los Daleks♥️
Adoro a los Daleks♥️
April 26, 2009
I'm probably one of the few who doesn't know what Doctor Who is about. But I still bought this book, because I don't have enough other books with me and because it was on sale. And I thought that this could help me to see whether I'd like the series.
The book comes with just the tenth Doctor and besides that all new characters. I really liked the Doctor, he's a nice character, and I loved the way the other characters were brought to life. I have no clue about Daleks (I still don't) but that didn't stop this book from being exciting, a very nice and interesting read with the right amount of humour. Basically, it was a good book for which you didn't have to know the series. The advantages of being introduced to new characters!
Trevor Baxendale is an interesting writer who managed to fascinate me despite the fact that I had no clue what I was reading about. He's also very good with building up tension. That was really good. I can't give this book more than 3 stars though, because of a certain lack of understanding, which probably wouldn't have been there if I'd known the series.
But still: a very good book and I don't think anyone will be disappointed if they read it.
PS: Since reading this book I've started watching the series. Never regretted it, never will.
The book comes with just the tenth Doctor and besides that all new characters. I really liked the Doctor, he's a nice character, and I loved the way the other characters were brought to life. I have no clue about Daleks (I still don't) but that didn't stop this book from being exciting, a very nice and interesting read with the right amount of humour. Basically, it was a good book for which you didn't have to know the series. The advantages of being introduced to new characters!
Trevor Baxendale is an interesting writer who managed to fascinate me despite the fact that I had no clue what I was reading about. He's also very good with building up tension. That was really good. I can't give this book more than 3 stars though, because of a certain lack of understanding, which probably wouldn't have been there if I'd known the series.
But still: a very good book and I don't think anyone will be disappointed if they read it.
PS: Since reading this book I've started watching the series. Never regretted it, never will.
April 19, 2024
This was first time I read this book but on 20th (unlucky day as it's famous for been Hitler's birthday) my mother of aged aged 75 died Which rather spoilt this book.
The Doctor is on his own with load of nasty Dalek oh S**t ! My mother loved Doctor Who & she be so pleased that Jodie is now the Doctor. I detect this book to my mother.
I since then have read it a second time it was lot better the first time.This the third time because it's now 15th anniversary of my mother 's Death 20th April 2024. Each time it's difficult from my bad experience but it doesn't matter because I love the book
The Doctor is on his own with load of nasty Dalek oh S**t ! My mother loved Doctor Who & she be so pleased that Jodie is now the Doctor. I detect this book to my mother.
I since then have read it a second time it was lot better the first time.This the third time because it's now 15th anniversary of my mother 's Death 20th April 2024. Each time it's difficult from my bad experience but it doesn't matter because I love the book
June 30, 2021
YOUTUBE / INSTAGRAM
Lo he disfrutado muchísimo. Doctor Who es una de mis dos series favoritas y una aprovecha cualquier oportunidad de más Doctor Who en cualquier formato, así que me ilusionó mucho cuando se anunció que iban a traer las novelas canónicas a España.
Este libro pertenece a la etapa en la que el Décimo Doctor (el interpretado por David Tennat) viaja solo en su Tardis. Me ha parecido que está muy bien caracterizado prácticamente en todo momento (las veces que me ha parecido que había algo que no acababa de cuadrar con el doctor de Tennant han sido mínimas).
Los Daleks, que creo que son los archienemigos más icónicos del Doctor, también están muy bien reflejados. Su estructura jerárquica, su falta de sentimientos, su objetivo... Todo cuadra a la perfección con lo que sabemos de ellos gracias a la serie.
En cuanto a la trama, está muy bien trabajada y tiene la profundidad necesaria para ser incluso un capítulo de televisión. Mientras que con los cómics a veces me parece que falta chicha, con esta novela no he tenido ninguna queja al respecto.
Si hay algo que me hubiera gustado que fuera diferente, es el hecho de que hubiera preferido que alguno de los acompañantes canónicos de la serie de televisión apareciera también en la novela. Creo que ver a Donna, por ejemplo, a la que adoro, habría acabado de hacer la historia redonda. No es que no me hayan gustado los personajes inventados para esta novela que más o menos acompañan al Doctor a lo largo de esta aventura, pero con lo mucho que estos enemigos afectan al Doctor, habría estado bien que contara con el apoyo de una cara amiga.
Y ya como comentario friki final, debo decir que como traductora que siempre ha consumido Doctor Who en inglés, me ha parecido muy interesante el glosario o las explicaciones que aparecen al final sobre los términos que han conservado del doblaje oficial al castellano de la serie (al que por desgracia es superdificil acceder) y los términos que se han tenido que inventar pero conservando el espíritu del Doctor.
Lo he disfrutado muchísimo. Doctor Who es una de mis dos series favoritas y una aprovecha cualquier oportunidad de más Doctor Who en cualquier formato, así que me ilusionó mucho cuando se anunció que iban a traer las novelas canónicas a España.
Este libro pertenece a la etapa en la que el Décimo Doctor (el interpretado por David Tennat) viaja solo en su Tardis. Me ha parecido que está muy bien caracterizado prácticamente en todo momento (las veces que me ha parecido que había algo que no acababa de cuadrar con el doctor de Tennant han sido mínimas).
Los Daleks, que creo que son los archienemigos más icónicos del Doctor, también están muy bien reflejados. Su estructura jerárquica, su falta de sentimientos, su objetivo... Todo cuadra a la perfección con lo que sabemos de ellos gracias a la serie.
En cuanto a la trama, está muy bien trabajada y tiene la profundidad necesaria para ser incluso un capítulo de televisión. Mientras que con los cómics a veces me parece que falta chicha, con esta novela no he tenido ninguna queja al respecto.
Si hay algo que me hubiera gustado que fuera diferente, es el hecho de que hubiera preferido que alguno de los acompañantes canónicos de la serie de televisión apareciera también en la novela. Creo que ver a Donna, por ejemplo, a la que adoro, habría acabado de hacer la historia redonda. No es que no me hayan gustado los personajes inventados para esta novela que más o menos acompañan al Doctor a lo largo de esta aventura, pero con lo mucho que estos enemigos afectan al Doctor, habría estado bien que contara con el apoyo de una cara amiga.
Y ya como comentario friki final, debo decir que como traductora que siempre ha consumido Doctor Who en inglés, me ha parecido muy interesante el glosario o las explicaciones que aparecen al final sobre los términos que han conservado del doblaje oficial al castellano de la serie (al que por desgracia es superdificil acceder) y los términos que se han tenido que inventar pero conservando el espíritu del Doctor.
February 19, 2025
I’ve been a BadReader. A pile of 75% finished books continues to accumulate. Hopefully a little visit to the book town of Hay-on-Wye will steer me back on course.
This was good fun! The descriptive writing around the Daleks was excellent. They often came across as truly frightening. Classic Who vibes. I especially loved the imagery of the dead Dalek creature hanging from its casing, an ambiguous mass of flesh noosed to its whirring machinery. Very vivid, very evil.
Unfortunately the dialogue was extremely clunky. I could not hear the 10th Doctor at all; in fact, this Doctor felt more akin to Pertwee. Maybe? It’s awkward and I can’t place it. I also didn’t much like being allowed into The Doctor’s psyche. NuWho importantly positions the viewer from the perspective of the companion. Here, the supposed substitute companion (who the foreword ‘hopes we will learn to love’) is killed off in the opening chapters. Baffling, and the plot suffers consequently. Worse, it’s concluded with a deus ex machina that provides no explanation for how The Doctor has slipped into time before the Time War. The Daleks’ dialogue was often comically bad- interrogating the Doctor for the TARDIS key by asking ‘where he last had it’… ? Still fun, just not good.
This was good fun! The descriptive writing around the Daleks was excellent. They often came across as truly frightening. Classic Who vibes. I especially loved the imagery of the dead Dalek creature hanging from its casing, an ambiguous mass of flesh noosed to its whirring machinery. Very vivid, very evil.
Unfortunately the dialogue was extremely clunky. I could not hear the 10th Doctor at all; in fact, this Doctor felt more akin to Pertwee. Maybe? It’s awkward and I can’t place it. I also didn’t much like being allowed into The Doctor’s psyche. NuWho importantly positions the viewer from the perspective of the companion. Here, the supposed substitute companion (who the foreword ‘hopes we will learn to love’) is killed off in the opening chapters. Baffling, and the plot suffers consequently. Worse, it’s concluded with a deus ex machina that provides no explanation for how The Doctor has slipped into time before the Time War. The Daleks’ dialogue was often comically bad- interrogating the Doctor for the TARDIS key by asking ‘where he last had it’… ? Still fun, just not good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 9, 2012
I saw this book had good reviews so gave it ago. Often the books in this series are simplistic but Baxendale avoids this totally. Set somewhere after series 4 and before The End of Time, the Tenth Doctor is travelling alone in the TARDIS when it jumps a time track. The Doctor finds himself in the middle of a war between the human empire and his greatest enemies, the daleks. Along with a group of ruthless bounty hunters he must stop the daleks from developing time travel and changing history.
This book does many things right that other books in the series sometimes fail to do. The Tenth Doctor is capture wonderfully, the speech is really written for him. The daleks manage to be as daunting as if they were on screen, especially Dalek X (and idea I love). There's a strong supporting cast, a great story and lots of humour despite the darkness of the plot (A dalek saying "WHERE DID YOU LAST HAVE IT?" in reference to the TARDIS key is hilarious, as is the "Large Chronon Collider").
Fans of Doctor Who will love this and it's got to be one of the best novels featuring the Tenth Doctor, if not the best. Plus there's loads of daleks being properly scary and it doesn't mess with their chronology.
This book does many things right that other books in the series sometimes fail to do. The Tenth Doctor is capture wonderfully, the speech is really written for him. The daleks manage to be as daunting as if they were on screen, especially Dalek X (and idea I love). There's a strong supporting cast, a great story and lots of humour despite the darkness of the plot (A dalek saying "WHERE DID YOU LAST HAVE IT?" in reference to the TARDIS key is hilarious, as is the "Large Chronon Collider").
Fans of Doctor Who will love this and it's got to be one of the best novels featuring the Tenth Doctor, if not the best. Plus there's loads of daleks being properly scary and it doesn't mess with their chronology.
November 22, 2021
La verdad es que en los últimos tiempos no paran de caernos buenas noticias a los fans hispanohablantes de la serie Doctor Who. A los cómic que periódicamente saca la editorial Fandogamia , se une ahora la iniciativa de la editorial Dolmen de publicar en español las novelas oficiales de la serie de la BBC. “Prisionero de los Dalek” es la primera que ve la luz, y no se me ocurre mejor forma de celebrar la salida de la 13ª temporada de la serie que sumergiéndome en esta historia. Es algo que hago con especial ilusión porque nunca creí que pudiera ver en mi idioma publicado las novelas de una de mis series favoritas. Y no voy a negar que la editorial ha tenido muy buen ojo al empezar con una historia protagonizada por la décima encarnación del personaje (interpretado en la pequeña pantalla por David Tennat), la más icónica de todas las que ha aparecido desde que la serie volvió a emitirse en 2005, enfrentada a sus enemigos más temibles y famosos.
En esta aventura, como ya es habitual, la TARDIS, la famosa nave del Doctor con forma se cabina azul, vuelve a hacer de las suyas, y lleva a su piloto a un planeta desolado y abandonado. Ahí el destino llevará al Doctor a unirse a un grupo de mercenarios humanos que se dedican a cazar Daleks en medio de un conflicto bélico e interplanetario entre la tierra y los miembros del planeta Skavros. Una aventura con la que el doctor parece haberse topado por plena coincidencia, y que le llevará a descubrir un plan oculto y terrible por parte de sus archienemigos.
Si hay algo que me ha gustado especialmente de esta novela es su ritmo cinematográfico. Ha sido una lectura que no ha decaído en ningún momento, llena de acción y de giros interesantes que me han tenido totalmente atrapada mientras leía. Os juro que si no hubiera visto la serie, y me dicen que es uno de sus guiones me lo creo totalmente. De hecho, me ha gustado mucho más que algún que otro episodio, para que mentir. Con una pluma ligera y fresca, Trevor Baxendale idea una trama que casa perfectamente con todo lo visto en la serie, y que sin duda atrapa a los fans. Como he señalado antes hay mucha acción y muchos giros interesantes. Es cierto que ha habido momentos en que tenido la adrenalina a mil por hora ahora mientras leía. Pero no solo eso. También ha habido momentos más emocionales, situaciones tristes y escenas y diálogos que me han sacado la sonrisa, cuando no la carcajada.
Hay dos aspectos que he valorado bastante:
Por un lado, que la personalidad del Doctor quede tan bien reflejada en esta novela. Eso es algo que echo mucho de menos en los cómics que han salido en español protagonizados por él. En la novela he notado que estaba leyendo sobre el personaje que conocía de la serie de televisión, con su carácter carismático, vibrante, optimista, y aún así oscuro y más complejo que lo que aparece a simple vista. Y eso es algo que me ha gustado mucho. En este sentido, también tengo que decir que si hay algo que no me gusta especialmente de los cómic es que al doctor no le acompañan los mismos companion que si lo hacen en la serie de televisión (como añoro a los Ponds, o em el caso del Décimo, a Donna y Martha). En la novela, también he echado en falta que aparezca algún personaje que esté con él y le ayude constantemente. Pero también tengo que decir que esto se suple con el resto de caracteres que aparecen a lo largo de la lectura.
Y esto me lleva a la segunda cuestión que más me ha llamado la atención. Todos ellos me han parecido bastante bien perfilados, con personalidades muy bien creadas y pasados que explican sus comportamientos. En algunos casos me han parecido mucho mucho mejor creados y más realistas que algunos de los acompañantes del doctor en el cómic (pienso especialmente en el personaje de Gabriela, que es la chica que acompaña al Décimo en los cómics que ha sacado la editorial Fandogamia hasta ahora).
Y por supuesto, no podemos olvidar de los Dalek, los malvados oficiales ya no solo del libro, también de toda la serie. Creo que Baxendale ha sabido plasmar muy bien a los Dalek, con toda la hermética jerarquía que es la columna vertebral de esta raza. Y también a sabido captar a la perfección la necesidad que tienen de conquistar y exterminar a todo ser viviente que esté acerca de ellos. Me ha parecido un puntazo que se use diferente tipografía cuando ellos hablan, es un detalle que le ha dado mucha originalidad a la lectura.Mira que conozco estas criaturas desde hace ya varios años, pero leyendo esta novela novela habido momentos en los que aún he sentido un escalofrío de miedo al ver como se las montaban. No obstante tengo que señalar que si hay algo que no me acabado de convencer en este libro ha sido que me ha faltado mucha sustancia en los diálogos entre el doctor y Dalek X, que se supone que es el Dalek más terrible de todos. Me ha faltado intensidad y animosidad en esos encuentros, he notado mucha más tensión y odio en el diálogo que tuvo al principio de la novela el doctor con otro de Dalek, sinceramente.
Y no puede obviarse el mencionar las últimas páginas del volumen, en las cuales el autor habla un poco sobre la historia de la serie, algunos de los conceptos que aparecen en el libro y algunas cuestiones que ha tenido en cuenta a la hora de traducir. Es una parte muy ilustrativa y que he disfrutado porque me ha parecido muy interesante, aunque solo sea para recordar viejos conocimientos. Me ha gustado especialmente que el traductor se atreva a volcar a nuestro idioma ciertas cuestiones y frases que no quedaron especialmente acertadas en la traducción de la serie. No obstante, me gustaría precisar que ha habido ciertos momentos en que frases que estaban dichas por el Doctor, algunos de los otros personajes, o eran parte de la narración en tercera persona, aparecían con el tipo de letra usado para los Dalek. Y ha pasado no pocas veces.Creo que es el único error editorial que puedo achacarle al libro, por lo demás me ha parecido una edición muy correcta.
Hasta ahora las únicas novelas que había leído de Doctor Who habían sido en inglés (si se os da mal este idioma y os gusta la serie os las recomiendo. Están destinadas a un público infantil-juvenil, por lo que no tienen mucha complejidad y son bastante facilitas) o traducciones piratas que había encontrado por internet. Un motivo más por el que sentir bien de alegría por ver traducciones oficiales de estos libros publicados en España. Hay quien dice que los libros y los cómics son una buena forma de introducirse en el lore whoviano (siempre en permanente expansión), pero personalmente no lo recomiendo, creo firmemente que la mejor forma de empezar con las andanzas del Doctor es por medio de la serie (y si empiezas por el Newho, tirando de wikia en ingles y de internet). No obstante, para los fans de esta serie es una lectura casi que obligado, que se disfrutará muchísimo de principio a fin. Estoy deseando ya leer la segunda novela que Dolmen ha publicado hace poco, con el Undécimo Doctor (interpretado por Matt Smith) y los Ángeles Llorones, mis malos malísimos preferidos de la serie.
En esta aventura, como ya es habitual, la TARDIS, la famosa nave del Doctor con forma se cabina azul, vuelve a hacer de las suyas, y lleva a su piloto a un planeta desolado y abandonado. Ahí el destino llevará al Doctor a unirse a un grupo de mercenarios humanos que se dedican a cazar Daleks en medio de un conflicto bélico e interplanetario entre la tierra y los miembros del planeta Skavros. Una aventura con la que el doctor parece haberse topado por plena coincidencia, y que le llevará a descubrir un plan oculto y terrible por parte de sus archienemigos.
Si hay algo que me ha gustado especialmente de esta novela es su ritmo cinematográfico. Ha sido una lectura que no ha decaído en ningún momento, llena de acción y de giros interesantes que me han tenido totalmente atrapada mientras leía. Os juro que si no hubiera visto la serie, y me dicen que es uno de sus guiones me lo creo totalmente. De hecho, me ha gustado mucho más que algún que otro episodio, para que mentir. Con una pluma ligera y fresca, Trevor Baxendale idea una trama que casa perfectamente con todo lo visto en la serie, y que sin duda atrapa a los fans. Como he señalado antes hay mucha acción y muchos giros interesantes. Es cierto que ha habido momentos en que tenido la adrenalina a mil por hora ahora mientras leía. Pero no solo eso. También ha habido momentos más emocionales, situaciones tristes y escenas y diálogos que me han sacado la sonrisa, cuando no la carcajada.
Hay dos aspectos que he valorado bastante:
Por un lado, que la personalidad del Doctor quede tan bien reflejada en esta novela. Eso es algo que echo mucho de menos en los cómics que han salido en español protagonizados por él. En la novela he notado que estaba leyendo sobre el personaje que conocía de la serie de televisión, con su carácter carismático, vibrante, optimista, y aún así oscuro y más complejo que lo que aparece a simple vista. Y eso es algo que me ha gustado mucho. En este sentido, también tengo que decir que si hay algo que no me gusta especialmente de los cómic es que al doctor no le acompañan los mismos companion que si lo hacen en la serie de televisión (como añoro a los Ponds, o em el caso del Décimo, a Donna y Martha). En la novela, también he echado en falta que aparezca algún personaje que esté con él y le ayude constantemente. Pero también tengo que decir que esto se suple con el resto de caracteres que aparecen a lo largo de la lectura.
Y esto me lleva a la segunda cuestión que más me ha llamado la atención. Todos ellos me han parecido bastante bien perfilados, con personalidades muy bien creadas y pasados que explican sus comportamientos. En algunos casos me han parecido mucho mucho mejor creados y más realistas que algunos de los acompañantes del doctor en el cómic (pienso especialmente en el personaje de Gabriela, que es la chica que acompaña al Décimo en los cómics que ha sacado la editorial Fandogamia hasta ahora).
Y por supuesto, no podemos olvidar de los Dalek, los malvados oficiales ya no solo del libro, también de toda la serie. Creo que Baxendale ha sabido plasmar muy bien a los Dalek, con toda la hermética jerarquía que es la columna vertebral de esta raza. Y también a sabido captar a la perfección la necesidad que tienen de conquistar y exterminar a todo ser viviente que esté acerca de ellos. Me ha parecido un puntazo que se use diferente tipografía cuando ellos hablan, es un detalle que le ha dado mucha originalidad a la lectura.Mira que conozco estas criaturas desde hace ya varios años, pero leyendo esta novela novela habido momentos en los que aún he sentido un escalofrío de miedo al ver como se las montaban. No obstante tengo que señalar que si hay algo que no me acabado de convencer en este libro ha sido que me ha faltado mucha sustancia en los diálogos entre el doctor y Dalek X, que se supone que es el Dalek más terrible de todos. Me ha faltado intensidad y animosidad en esos encuentros, he notado mucha más tensión y odio en el diálogo que tuvo al principio de la novela el doctor con otro de Dalek, sinceramente.
Y no puede obviarse el mencionar las últimas páginas del volumen, en las cuales el autor habla un poco sobre la historia de la serie, algunos de los conceptos que aparecen en el libro y algunas cuestiones que ha tenido en cuenta a la hora de traducir. Es una parte muy ilustrativa y que he disfrutado porque me ha parecido muy interesante, aunque solo sea para recordar viejos conocimientos. Me ha gustado especialmente que el traductor se atreva a volcar a nuestro idioma ciertas cuestiones y frases que no quedaron especialmente acertadas en la traducción de la serie. No obstante, me gustaría precisar que ha habido ciertos momentos en que frases que estaban dichas por el Doctor, algunos de los otros personajes, o eran parte de la narración en tercera persona, aparecían con el tipo de letra usado para los Dalek. Y ha pasado no pocas veces.Creo que es el único error editorial que puedo achacarle al libro, por lo demás me ha parecido una edición muy correcta.
Hasta ahora las únicas novelas que había leído de Doctor Who habían sido en inglés (si se os da mal este idioma y os gusta la serie os las recomiendo. Están destinadas a un público infantil-juvenil, por lo que no tienen mucha complejidad y son bastante facilitas) o traducciones piratas que había encontrado por internet. Un motivo más por el que sentir bien de alegría por ver traducciones oficiales de estos libros publicados en España. Hay quien dice que los libros y los cómics son una buena forma de introducirse en el lore whoviano (siempre en permanente expansión), pero personalmente no lo recomiendo, creo firmemente que la mejor forma de empezar con las andanzas del Doctor es por medio de la serie (y si empiezas por el Newho, tirando de wikia en ingles y de internet). No obstante, para los fans de esta serie es una lectura casi que obligado, que se disfrutará muchísimo de principio a fin. Estoy deseando ya leer la segunda novela que Dolmen ha publicado hace poco, con el Undécimo Doctor (interpretado por Matt Smith) y los Ángeles Llorones, mis malos malísimos preferidos de la serie.
April 21, 2012
This is a Classic Masterpiece of Doctor Who fiction. Mr. Baxendale has succeeded in creating a story that fits perfectly into the Doctor Who universe. It is very easy to visualize the plot as a true DW episode, it reads as if it were an actual on screen story. What's better, it seems authentic; the Doctor's dialogue, the action, the plot and the supporting characters all seem as if they were written for the screen.
The plot is classic DW. The Doctor is captured, the Doctor escapes, he (and his companions) are then recaptured and placed in seemingly dire straits, and just when all seems hopeless, the Doctor tricks his foes and defeats them in spectacular fashion.
Truthfully, I do not think the new series of DW is as enjoyable as the original. But, this book is a true classic. It's regrettable that is wasn't made into a proper episode, because it practically begs to be on screen.
The plot is classic DW. The Doctor is captured, the Doctor escapes, he (and his companions) are then recaptured and placed in seemingly dire straits, and just when all seems hopeless, the Doctor tricks his foes and defeats them in spectacular fashion.
Truthfully, I do not think the new series of DW is as enjoyable as the original. But, this book is a true classic. It's regrettable that is wasn't made into a proper episode, because it practically begs to be on screen.
June 12, 2016
This features the Tenth Doctor post-Journey's End, travelling on his own, encountering Dalek bounty hunters in a separate time track that comes from Gauda Prime, one that he shouldn't be on since it crosses the Daleks timeline. Timey-Wimey. The Doctor and the hunters are captured (hey, it's in the title) and find themselves at the mercy of the very fascinating and dangerous 'Dalek X'.
June 24, 2015
i know why this one wasn't an episode, the ending is too cheezie.
November 5, 2015
"Não se pode conquistar nada importante sem riscos."
May 7, 2016
This book was pretty good. The only thing that I didn't like was the profanity.
April 30, 2020
Uma jornada fenomenal com Daleks!
Não é o primeiro livro de Doctor Who que leio, mas é o primeiro em que escrevo uma review aqui, no Goodreads. Reparei que existem poucas análises deste livro em português e cheguei a ponderar se deveria escrever algo em inglês, contudo, optei por escrever algo no "bom e velho" português, como podem ver.
Como já referi, é a minha primeira review, ou seja, será possivelmente a menos coesa e aquela cujas ideias estejam mais dispersas, mas farei o meu melhor para expressar tudo aquilo que senti com esta maravilha que foi ler Doctor Who: Prisoner of the Daleks. E já agora, a edição que li foi a The Monster Collection Edition (simplesmente pelo facto de querer começar a Monster Collection e porque as capas são bonitas haha).
Pois bem, vamos começar por um pequeno Resumo : O Doctor (mais especificamente o 10th Doctor) está a viajar sozinho e a TARDIS aterra no planeta Hurala, num período Pre-Time War onde conhece um grupo de caçadores de recompensas (Bounty Hunters) de Daleks.
Sobre o Autor: Eu não fazia a menor ideia de quem era o Trevor Baxendale e este foi o primeiro livro que li escrito pelo mesmo, mas daquilo que percebi, é um excelente escritor e, tal como muitos comentam, conseguimos perceber no decorrer da história que é um indivíduo com paixão naquilo que escreve e consegue envolver o leitor na narrativa. Trevor interpretou a essência do 10th Doctor muito bem, recorrendo às expressões características tais como Molto Bene e Allons-y! apesar desta história ter muito a "cara" do 9th Doctor devido aos momentos de maior tensão entre os personagens e à violência que é apresentada ao leitor, especialmente quando os Daleks aparecem. Tenciono futuramente ler mais livros deste autor!
Sobre a História: Em Doctor Who: Prisoner of the Daleks temos um Prólogo introdutório, a Narrativa com vinte e quatro capítulos e um Epílogo sensacional. O Prólogo tem como foco principal a chegada do Doctor a Hurala, onde percebemos que o Doctor está sozinho [e que leva os fãs da Série a acreditar que esta história possa estar durante o período dos Specials, ou seja, após a 4ª Temporada do New Who (2005-...)]. A Narrativa, do capítulo Um ao Vinte e Quatro é uma dose desenvolvimento de personagens e ação sem igual! Os primeiros capítulos, onde conhecemos a tripulação da Wayfarer e descobrimos todo o plot ligado ao título do livro . O Epílogo, por fim, é a derradeira e arrepiante conclusão de Doctor Who: Prisoner of the Daleks que fecha com uma chave-de-ouro esta maravilhosa narrativa
Sobre as Personagens: Os caçadores de recompensa da nave Wayfarer (Jon Bowman, Koral, Stella, Scrum e Cuttin'Edge ) e o Doctor são os personagens principais desta história e, ao longo dos capítulos, é apresentado ao leitor diferentes camadas das personagens que constroem os cliffhangers do fim de cada capítulo. Ao longo da narrativa também são apresentados outros personagens menos importantes que contribuem para o desenvolvimento dos protagonistas.
E os Daleks, bem... São maléficos e destrutivos como sempre. A presença deles ao longo da narrativa demonstra a Maldade e o quão perigosos são, não há muito que se possa dizer sobre eles.
Sobre o Doctor: Apesar de ser um "10th Doctor-quase-11th Doctor", senti muito a essência do lado "dark" do 9th Doctor (apesar do 10th Doctor também ter os seus momentos de fúria e "Poder God-Like"). Em muitas situações durante a história, a persuasão do Doctor não foi o suficiente para resolver conflitos . Há muitos momentos em que sentimos o sufoco do Doctor e a tensão do ambiente hostil onde se encontra, o que demonstra também que nem sempre o Doctor tem tudo controlado . O Doctor tem momentos de comédia, onde provoca alguns personagens e recorrendo às expressões mais conhecidas, como já referi. Também tem momentos de maior seriedade (tal como na Série) onde recorre ao famoso "I'm so sorry...". Com isto, acredito que o Doctor tenha sido uma boa performance durante toda a história.
E a minha Conclusão Final é: Sim, é uma boa história e, visto que é o primeiro livro ao qual escrevo uma review, ficará com um lugar especial na minha memória. Concordo com algumas opiniões de diferentes leitores que mencionam uma "desconstrução de personagem" em certos momentos da narrativa e que a existência de um pouco de "violência a mais" para Doctor Who é desnecessária, porém, é um livro equilibrado e honra todo o legado da Série. Devo dizer que Trevor Baxendale fez realmente um trabalho impressionante e o Doctor, como sempre, conseguiu "salvar o dia".
Não é o primeiro livro de Doctor Who que leio, mas é o primeiro em que escrevo uma review aqui, no Goodreads. Reparei que existem poucas análises deste livro em português e cheguei a ponderar se deveria escrever algo em inglês, contudo, optei por escrever algo no "bom e velho" português, como podem ver.
Como já referi, é a minha primeira review, ou seja, será possivelmente a menos coesa e aquela cujas ideias estejam mais dispersas, mas farei o meu melhor para expressar tudo aquilo que senti com esta maravilha que foi ler Doctor Who: Prisoner of the Daleks. E já agora, a edição que li foi a The Monster Collection Edition (
Pois bem, vamos começar por um pequeno Resumo : O Doctor (mais especificamente o 10th Doctor) está a viajar sozinho e a TARDIS aterra no planeta Hurala, num período Pre-Time War onde conhece um grupo de caçadores de recompensas (Bounty Hunters) de Daleks.
Sobre o Autor: Eu não fazia a menor ideia de quem era o Trevor Baxendale e este foi o primeiro livro que li escrito pelo mesmo, mas daquilo que percebi, é um excelente escritor e, tal como muitos comentam, conseguimos perceber no decorrer da história que é um indivíduo com paixão naquilo que escreve e consegue envolver o leitor na narrativa. Trevor interpretou a essência do 10th Doctor muito bem, recorrendo às expressões características tais como Molto Bene e Allons-y! apesar desta história ter muito a "cara" do 9th Doctor devido aos momentos de maior tensão entre os personagens e à violência que é apresentada ao leitor, especialmente quando os Daleks aparecem. Tenciono futuramente ler mais livros deste autor!
Sobre a História: Em Doctor Who: Prisoner of the Daleks temos um Prólogo introdutório, a Narrativa com vinte e quatro capítulos e um Epílogo sensacional. O Prólogo tem como foco principal a chegada do Doctor a Hurala, onde percebemos que o Doctor está sozinho [e que leva os fãs da Série a acreditar que esta história possa estar durante o período dos Specials, ou seja, após a 4ª Temporada do New Who (2005-...)]. A Narrativa, do capítulo Um ao Vinte e Quatro é uma dose desenvolvimento de personagens e ação sem igual! Os primeiros capítulos, onde conhecemos a tripulação da Wayfarer e descobrimos todo o plot ligado ao título do livro . O Epílogo, por fim, é a derradeira e arrepiante conclusão de Doctor Who: Prisoner of the Daleks que fecha com uma chave-de-ouro esta maravilhosa narrativa
Sobre as Personagens: Os caçadores de recompensa da nave Wayfarer (Jon Bowman, Koral, Stella, Scrum e Cuttin'Edge ) e o Doctor são os personagens principais desta história e, ao longo dos capítulos, é apresentado ao leitor diferentes camadas das personagens que constroem os cliffhangers do fim de cada capítulo. Ao longo da narrativa também são apresentados outros personagens menos importantes que contribuem para o desenvolvimento dos protagonistas.
E os Daleks, bem... São maléficos e destrutivos como sempre. A presença deles ao longo da narrativa demonstra a Maldade e o quão perigosos são, não há muito que se possa dizer sobre eles.
Sobre o Doctor: Apesar de ser um "10th Doctor-quase-11th Doctor", senti muito a essência do lado "dark" do 9th Doctor (apesar do 10th Doctor também ter os seus momentos de fúria e "Poder God-Like"). Em muitas situações durante a história, a persuasão do Doctor não foi o suficiente para resolver conflitos . Há muitos momentos em que sentimos o sufoco do Doctor e a tensão do ambiente hostil onde se encontra, o que demonstra também que nem sempre o Doctor tem tudo controlado . O Doctor tem momentos de comédia, onde provoca alguns personagens e recorrendo às expressões mais conhecidas, como já referi. Também tem momentos de maior seriedade (tal como na Série) onde recorre ao famoso "I'm so sorry...". Com isto, acredito que o Doctor tenha sido uma boa performance durante toda a história.
E a minha Conclusão Final é: Sim, é uma boa história e, visto que é o primeiro livro ao qual escrevo uma review, ficará com um lugar especial na minha memória. Concordo com algumas opiniões de diferentes leitores que mencionam uma "desconstrução de personagem" em certos momentos da narrativa e que a existência de um pouco de "violência a mais" para Doctor Who é desnecessária, porém, é um livro equilibrado e honra todo o legado da Série. Devo dizer que Trevor Baxendale fez realmente um trabalho impressionante e o Doctor, como sempre, conseguiu "salvar o dia".
September 23, 2022
Prisoner of the Daleks (Doctor Who: New Series Adventures #33) by Trevor Baxendale is my first Doctor Who book that I've read that doesn't feature a companion, but the Doctor himself is in top form. Plus, David Tennant's 10th Doctor is my favorite iteration of the character.
March 29, 2021
Having traveled for centuries the Doctor had shared his journeys with hundreds of companions. Some he called friend...some so much more. Most lived...some died. There was one companion, though, that had been with him from the beginning through eleven different faces and thousands of adventures. Unfortunately, THAT companion has a mind of her own and has a tendency to take them where they were NEEDED not necessarily where they were wanted.
That is the case as the doors of the TARDIS open upon the world of Hurala. A time and a place not of his choosing, but a world that will soon be the answer - and the key - to stopping a plan that could see the extermination of every living thing NOT a Dalek!
And so, the Doctor is thrown head first into another adventure with new companions on new worlds and a punishment that will take 5,000 years to achieve.
Trevor Baxendale is one of those special authors whose story telling and creative juices just seem to peak when penning new adventures in the DOCTOR WHO universe. With over 20 entries he has the ability to make the Doctor on paper feel and sound like the Doctor on our screens. This story was set in the journeys of the David Tennant rendition and reads as if it was a direct adaption of one of David's performances from the series. The humor, the snarkiness, the anger of 10 comes through page after page as Baxendale channels the Tennant charm.
The BBC Books and other various publication efforts have their highs and their lows. This was definitely one of the former.
That is the case as the doors of the TARDIS open upon the world of Hurala. A time and a place not of his choosing, but a world that will soon be the answer - and the key - to stopping a plan that could see the extermination of every living thing NOT a Dalek!
And so, the Doctor is thrown head first into another adventure with new companions on new worlds and a punishment that will take 5,000 years to achieve.
Trevor Baxendale is one of those special authors whose story telling and creative juices just seem to peak when penning new adventures in the DOCTOR WHO universe. With over 20 entries he has the ability to make the Doctor on paper feel and sound like the Doctor on our screens. This story was set in the journeys of the David Tennant rendition and reads as if it was a direct adaption of one of David's performances from the series. The humor, the snarkiness, the anger of 10 comes through page after page as Baxendale channels the Tennant charm.
The BBC Books and other various publication efforts have their highs and their lows. This was definitely one of the former.
May 24, 2009
I've given this 5 stars and I think, given that this is a Dr Who library resource, it's quite safe to do this. Up against the likes of Dickens or or JK Jerome, I'm not sure. But that's a debate for elsewhere.
Loads to discuss, but in the main this book is highly readable, most enjoyable and takes the reader on a wee bit of a journey with The Doctor.
There's quite a bit happens in the book but the author has said (in DWM 406) that he deliberately ramped up the cruelty levels of the Daleks. That makes it all the more interesting when the crew capture and torture a Dalek and whe find The Doctor sympathising with the Dalek.
All in all, a great read and highly, highly recommended.
Loads to discuss, but in the main this book is highly readable, most enjoyable and takes the reader on a wee bit of a journey with The Doctor.
There's quite a bit happens in the book but the author has said (in DWM 406) that he deliberately ramped up the cruelty levels of the Daleks. That makes it all the more interesting when the crew capture and torture a Dalek and whe find The Doctor sympathising with the Dalek.
All in all, a great read and highly, highly recommended.
June 11, 2014
If you are a fan of David Tennent as the Doctor this is a book for you! Although Martha and Donna are not in the story there is enough mention of things and sayings involving them that your heart will melt into the fond memories. The new characters introduced will sear themselves into your heart and the ending proves as always there is always winners to any Doctor Who story.
January 31, 2016
It was good to read a Dalek book where the Daleks are actually scary.
July 13, 2020
This was a really fun read. I already was a little familiar with Baxendale's stuff going into it and was happy to see that this held up well to the standards set for me by Doctor Who: Something Inside. The plot was good, and the references to the show - especially the Hartnell era - made me happy.
It wasn't like Evil of the Daleks or Fear of the Daleks(those are really truly original, creative Dalek stories) but it wasn't like some of the episodes where I'm just bored to death of the Daleks. Like, they WERE scary, Baxendale DID write them well, just not in a new way. Also, his writing, while good for inducing tension and fright, relies pretty heavily on gimmicks to characterize people, which cheapened that side of it a little bit.
Overall good though! I like seeing 10 here after losing Donna and how that effected him/his decision-making.
It wasn't like Evil of the Daleks or Fear of the Daleks(those are really truly original, creative Dalek stories) but it wasn't like some of the episodes where I'm just bored to death of the Daleks. Like, they WERE scary, Baxendale DID write them well, just not in a new way. Also, his writing, while good for inducing tension and fright, relies pretty heavily on gimmicks to characterize people, which cheapened that side of it a little bit.
Overall good though! I like seeing 10 here after losing Donna and how that effected him/his decision-making.
February 21, 2025
2020 52 Book Challenge - 48) Character Wears Glasses
This was a quite enjoyable Doctor Who novel, and it was good to see the Doctor interact with the Daleks without a companion there to hold him back. It was well written, well characterized, and even had decent side characters which can be hit and miss with these novels.
This was a quite enjoyable Doctor Who novel, and it was good to see the Doctor interact with the Daleks without a companion there to hold him back. It was well written, well characterized, and even had decent side characters which can be hit and miss with these novels.
November 27, 2021
One of the best 10th doctor novels
I think this is set between the special episodes when he's travelling alone, it's everything you want in a dalek book.
He finds himself stranded onboard a ship near the frontline with some bounty hunters and earth will pay them for every dalek kill and every eye stalk they bring back.
The doctor helps them capture a dalek prisoner and they begin to interrogate it but when the daleks are concerned nothing is what it seems and nobody is safe.
Fantastic book.
I think this is set between the special episodes when he's travelling alone, it's everything you want in a dalek book.
He finds himself stranded onboard a ship near the frontline with some bounty hunters and earth will pay them for every dalek kill and every eye stalk they bring back.
The doctor helps them capture a dalek prisoner and they begin to interrogate it but when the daleks are concerned nothing is what it seems and nobody is safe.
Fantastic book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 21, 2024
This was brilliant! It had a lot of suspense and could feel the fear of the Doctor. It was also a good reminder that the Doctor isn't always in control. I really enjoyed the darkness of both the story and the main characters. Really cool.
November 21, 2024
It’s bad when the Daleks have the most personality.
October 30, 2023
La verdad no podía pedir más de un libro de Doctor Who con los Daleks. Es entretenido y bien escrito y se lee como un episodio de la serie, una excelente historia si te quieres entretener.
Read
October 21, 2012Prior to the airing of Asylum of the Daleks lead writer Steven Moffat announced his intention to make the daleks scary again. In his eyes they had become “the most readily defeatable enemies in the universe” and lacked the fear factor of when he was a child. While an admirable goal, they’ve already been made scary in recent stories. Case and point – Prisoner of the Daleks.
Catapulted back in time the tenth Doctor finds himself in the middle of the First Earth Empire’s desperate with the daleks. Separated from the TARDIS and most of his resources he finds himself working with a group of desperate bounty hunters struggling to survive in the conflict.
But when the bounty hunters achieve their ultimate goal of capturing a dalek alive their situation only becomes more dangerous. Only the Doctor seems to understand that a dalek is never truly harmless and it’s not long before the tables are turned upon them…
The book’s biggest strength is it manages to show the daleks as frightening on both a galactic and personal scale. Whenever the war is spoken of it is presented as meatgrinder of attrition and brief glimpses show it to be devastating entire worlds. Worse still is the daleks understand how fear can work in their favour and ruthlessly exploit it to win battles before they even begin. We also find out that when prisoners are taken alive it is far from any mercy, even for those with seemingly no worth as captives.
Yet in spite of this the book does its best to avoid showing the galactic setting in favour of a much more controlled environment. For many chapters the only dalek present is the captive onboard the bounty hunters’ ship and it’s all the stronger for it. Author Trevor Baxendale goes out of his way to detail how dangerous just one dalek is through how people respond to it. With the Doctor heightening the suspense in his constant attempts to caution the bounty hunters and how the hunters themselves react to it; what they lower themselves to because of their hatred. It’s made very clear that the war has left its scars on them with half the fear factor of the daleks not being what they are capable of in war but what they turn survivors of their atrocities into.
“War is hell” stories are something rarely shown so well in Doctor Who and the fact it is done so well with aliens resembling giant pepper pots is a credit to Baxendale’s skills.
Better still is how he writes the atmosphere for each scene; giving aspects which add to the increasingly grim tone but never manage to push it to the point where it induces apathy in the reader. The conflict between the heroes is always meaningful rather than used to create pointless angst and never feels like it’s going against established personalities. Plus the bounty hunters don’t quite manage to cross the line into being morally no better than the daleks even after effectively committing a war crime. They’re closer to what you’d expect from a Blake’s 7 story than Doctor Who; driven to desperation but do not have the mistake of being written as the villains and expecting us to still side with them. In other words it dodges a lot of errors committed by Marvel: Civil War.
Unfortunately all this is in the first half and there’s a visible decline in quality when the book moves towards away from this an endgame. It really jumps off the deep end when the Doctor all but yells “THIS IS A TRAP!” when tricking a dalek to commit to a plan of his; making the villains which had seemed so effective act like gullible morons. The other problem is the Doctor’ mood. Despite acting perfectly fine early on acts too lighthearted during his darkest hour. The tenth Doctor was even more renowned for making jokes than the fourth, but it would be rare for him to make them in as desperate situation as he ends up in. It never manages to be completely bad but it’s just this sudden drop from it being an outstandingly Doctor Who novel to just an enjoyable one. It honestly would not have surprised me if the one half of the novel had been ghostwritten by someone else. The voice acting for the audio adaptation is what makes it worth buying over the novel. Nicholas Briggs, long time audio director, writer and current voice of the daleks, shows versatility with each character and after a while it’s easy to even ignore that David Tennant is not playing the Doctor.
While it has its flaws and a weak final act it’s still worth getting. At its best it’s of a quality par with Midnight and at its worst it’s still better than Evolution of the Daleks. Seek this one out if you’re looking for a decent audiobook.
Catapulted back in time the tenth Doctor finds himself in the middle of the First Earth Empire’s desperate with the daleks. Separated from the TARDIS and most of his resources he finds himself working with a group of desperate bounty hunters struggling to survive in the conflict.
But when the bounty hunters achieve their ultimate goal of capturing a dalek alive their situation only becomes more dangerous. Only the Doctor seems to understand that a dalek is never truly harmless and it’s not long before the tables are turned upon them…
The book’s biggest strength is it manages to show the daleks as frightening on both a galactic and personal scale. Whenever the war is spoken of it is presented as meatgrinder of attrition and brief glimpses show it to be devastating entire worlds. Worse still is the daleks understand how fear can work in their favour and ruthlessly exploit it to win battles before they even begin. We also find out that when prisoners are taken alive it is far from any mercy, even for those with seemingly no worth as captives.
Yet in spite of this the book does its best to avoid showing the galactic setting in favour of a much more controlled environment. For many chapters the only dalek present is the captive onboard the bounty hunters’ ship and it’s all the stronger for it. Author Trevor Baxendale goes out of his way to detail how dangerous just one dalek is through how people respond to it. With the Doctor heightening the suspense in his constant attempts to caution the bounty hunters and how the hunters themselves react to it; what they lower themselves to because of their hatred. It’s made very clear that the war has left its scars on them with half the fear factor of the daleks not being what they are capable of in war but what they turn survivors of their atrocities into.
“War is hell” stories are something rarely shown so well in Doctor Who and the fact it is done so well with aliens resembling giant pepper pots is a credit to Baxendale’s skills.
Better still is how he writes the atmosphere for each scene; giving aspects which add to the increasingly grim tone but never manage to push it to the point where it induces apathy in the reader. The conflict between the heroes is always meaningful rather than used to create pointless angst and never feels like it’s going against established personalities. Plus the bounty hunters don’t quite manage to cross the line into being morally no better than the daleks even after effectively committing a war crime. They’re closer to what you’d expect from a Blake’s 7 story than Doctor Who; driven to desperation but do not have the mistake of being written as the villains and expecting us to still side with them. In other words it dodges a lot of errors committed by Marvel: Civil War.
Unfortunately all this is in the first half and there’s a visible decline in quality when the book moves towards away from this an endgame. It really jumps off the deep end when the Doctor all but yells “THIS IS A TRAP!” when tricking a dalek to commit to a plan of his; making the villains which had seemed so effective act like gullible morons. The other problem is the Doctor’ mood. Despite acting perfectly fine early on acts too lighthearted during his darkest hour. The tenth Doctor was even more renowned for making jokes than the fourth, but it would be rare for him to make them in as desperate situation as he ends up in. It never manages to be completely bad but it’s just this sudden drop from it being an outstandingly Doctor Who novel to just an enjoyable one. It honestly would not have surprised me if the one half of the novel had been ghostwritten by someone else. The voice acting for the audio adaptation is what makes it worth buying over the novel. Nicholas Briggs, long time audio director, writer and current voice of the daleks, shows versatility with each character and after a while it’s easy to even ignore that David Tennant is not playing the Doctor.
While it has its flaws and a weak final act it’s still worth getting. At its best it’s of a quality par with Midnight and at its worst it’s still better than Evolution of the Daleks. Seek this one out if you’re looking for a decent audiobook.
October 10, 2022
I really hate Daleks but I love Doctor Who🤩
May 20, 2019
Towards the end of David Tennant's run, the Doctor was traveling by himself, fleeing his foretold destiny. On tv, this resulted in a series of specials with no companion, or a new one each time. It also gave us several books of varying quality. This was one of the better ones. Baxendale clearly gets Dr. Who, and understands one of the Doctor's worst enemies: the Daleks.
The TARDIS suffers a technical issue (what else is new?) and jumps to a section of time the Doctor isn't supposed to be in. The First Earth Empire is at war with the Daleks, and has hired bounty hunters who they reward with every eye-stalk they bring in. The solo Doctor ends up on the Wayfarer, working with a crew of these hunters as he tries to get back to the TARDIS, which he was separated from.
Hunting Daleks is a dangerous profession, and this crew is hardened and at times outright vicious. They decide to go after a larger prize: a live Dalek. Naturally, the Doctor's warnings go unheeded and things go from bad to worse. Daleks are to be avoided or killed, any middle ground is just a bad plan.
Baxendale captures the essence of Tennant's Doctor perfectly. He makes the Daleks actually frightening, which a lot of writers, book and tv both, don't manage. It's a dark story, but he works in some humor that fits the situations. Donna and Martha are gone, but not forgotten, as they mentioned in the book.
A really good Dr. Who story that could work on the screen. I don't say that about many of the books.
The TARDIS suffers a technical issue (what else is new?) and jumps to a section of time the Doctor isn't supposed to be in. The First Earth Empire is at war with the Daleks, and has hired bounty hunters who they reward with every eye-stalk they bring in. The solo Doctor ends up on the Wayfarer, working with a crew of these hunters as he tries to get back to the TARDIS, which he was separated from.
Hunting Daleks is a dangerous profession, and this crew is hardened and at times outright vicious. They decide to go after a larger prize: a live Dalek. Naturally, the Doctor's warnings go unheeded and things go from bad to worse. Daleks are to be avoided or killed, any middle ground is just a bad plan.
Baxendale captures the essence of Tennant's Doctor perfectly. He makes the Daleks actually frightening, which a lot of writers, book and tv both, don't manage. It's a dark story, but he works in some humor that fits the situations. Donna and Martha are gone, but not forgotten, as they mentioned in the book.
A really good Dr. Who story that could work on the screen. I don't say that about many of the books.
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