Доктор Кто. День Доктора

Doctor Who Target Books (Numerical Order) #160

by Steven Moffat, Мария Шмидт (Translator)

На кону – целая Вселенная, и трем Докторам предстоит объединиться, чтобы ее спасти.

Десятый охотится на оборотней-зайгонов в Елизаветинской Англии. Одиннадцатый исследует таинственные картины в Национальной галерее в наши дни. А третий – человек, которым они были когда-то, но о ком никогда не говорят, – сражается с далеками на Войне Времени. Ведомый отчаянием, Военный Доктор готовится принять страшное решение, от которого зависит судьба всего мира… решение, которое даже Повелитель времени не может принять в одиночку.

В этот день разные воплощения Доктора станут плечом к плечу, чтобы спасти Землю, Вселенную и собственную душу.

Genres: Doctor Who, Science Fiction, Fiction, Time Travel, Fantasy, Audiobook, Adventure

320 pages, Hardcover

First published April 5, 2018

About the author

Steven Moffat is a Scottish television writer and producer.

Moffat's first television work was the teen drama series Press Gang. His first sitcom, Joking Apart, was inspired by the breakdown of his first marriage; conversely, his later sitcom Coupling was based upon the development of his relationship with television producer Sue Vertue. In between the two relationship-centred shows, he wrote Chalk, a sitcom set in a comprehensive school inspired by his own experience as an English teacher.

A lifelong fan of Doctor Who, Moffat has written several episodes of the revived version and succeeded Russell T Davies as lead writer and executive producer when production of its fifth series began in 2009. In 2008 he scripted the first The Adventures of Tintin film for director Steven Spielberg. He co-created Sherlock, an adaptation of the Sherlock Holmes detective stories.

Many of the programmes upon which he has worked have won awards, including BAFTAs and Hugo Awards for some of his episodes of Doctor Who.

Reviews

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chapter nine was instantly forgettable.

[Eliza Clara Hemming · Rating 5 out of 5]

A magical, alternate take on the 50th anniversary special. Rather than translating what happened on-screen, Moffat shows us the things we didn't see on television, and tweaks the things we did see to make the piece more suitable for prose. As a result, the Day of the Doctor novel stands apart from the TV version, becoming a totally separate and wonderful entity of its own.

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is so much more than the Day of the Doctor episode that was shown on TV. It's a chance for Steven Moffat to expand his ideas with plenty of throwbacks to all Doctor Who eras.
This was an enjoyable yet wibbly wobbly timey wimey romp that was so witty at times. It worked well that the story was non-linear as it really reflected the nature of the Doctor.
There were inconsistent switches between first person and third person which I'm not sure were deliberate and that made it a tiny bit confusing.
Overall, though, I really liked reading the novelisation of one of my favourite episodes.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most extraordinarily brilliant Doctor Who novel I’ve ever read. An absolute masterpiece.

[Polly Batchelor · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Charley. C’rizz, Lucie, Tamsin, Molly. Fitz. Friends and
companions I have known, I salute you.’ He looked to the broken child on the
altar stone. ‘And Cass … I apologise."



“Fear is only a disadvantage if you want to attack-it's brilliant if all you want to do is run away.”

[Lalla · Rating 2 out of 5]

Liked it but some scenes were out of place and nonsense (like the bathtub one...WTF!)
Some stuff didn't really work out and/or made sense with what has been shown in the TV show and its timeline (I can't picture the Tenth doctor having fun at a picnic with River between the Journey's end and the End of time. It was really puzzling. All in all, I think Moffat didn't get Tenth doctor quite right but alas--). Plus I don't like to be force-fed Clara's greatness in whatever format being it a book or a TV shows at least on the show she had a mercifully smaller part than in the book (damn it. I would have gladly kept it that way...)
Still an enjoyable ready, sort of.

[Chris Wing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone reading this review will already know what this book, and the range of books it is part of, is all about.
Of the four New Series novelisations, I was the most excited to read this one first and, flicking through the books when I got them, it did look like something... unconventional was going on in the pages.

And it was!

Stephen Moffat has taken an episode that is, arguably, one of the most (if not *the* most) famous Doctor Who episodes ever, and rather than give it a straight conversion from script to prose (as many others have expertly done before), he's done something a bit special.
For a start, he's turned it into an interesting mix of first and third person (it's a multi-Doctor story, let's put it that way),
But he's also added context, or switched perspectives and even turned scenes around by simply putting it down from a different character's point of view. This is particularly prominent in the chapter that novelises the minisode The Night of the Doctor (yes, he did - isn't that awesome?!!) - which also brings me to tone, whilst we're here. I can sense Moffat's tone throughout and, whilst I enjoyed it it, I couldn't quite tell if he loves Doctor Who or loathes it. He dabbles with concepts that are kinda sacred, but showing that, probably, there shouldn't shouldn't be anything so 'important' in one's appreciation that it becomes untouchable. So, that was something interesting to think about.

We do get a lot of internalisation too, from all three Doctor's perspectives, we get their feelings on the Time War (and it's iminent demise/prior destruction (depending on which Doctor was doing the thinking)), which is also a little more depth on the topic that's never really been touched upon in the novels.
Indeed, it may have just been me, but I got a lot more out of the differences/additions thatn I did the scenes we'd already experienced.

The bit at the end, where the Doctor is putting into effect his plan to remove Gallifrey from time and space is lovingly expanded and gave me the anniversary welling up feeling. 1st Doctor gets something to say, the 12th Doctor actually turns up in the war room, and Doctors 1-8 all do a lot of 'saving the world' huminatarian work on Gallifrey proper. each get a little mention, but it's the ninth that pricked at me - I wonde rhow he was responding to what was going on up above. Him being the earliest post-war Doctor, I would have thought his mind was reeling at the notion of what was going on. I think it would have been good to have some kind of scene regarding that, since I think he's most pained by what he (believed) he had done.

The Curator turns up too and has a little more to say than we realised (hint hint) and there's even a little post-episode scene which ties up a few little ends (that didn't really need tying up, but was absolutely lovely and touching, featuring a character that remained completely mysterous until the very last word.
Brilliant stuff.

Being an anniversary, we get to see some other favourites in flashback, River turns up, Sarah Jane gets a mention, even Peter Cushing's Dr Who! But the most poignant was the Brigadier. We get to learn a little more about his final days and I feel that Moffat got to say a few things that he wasn't able to on-screen, and even a scene or two inspired by some things Tom Baker said about Nicholas Courtney not too long before his sad passing. It took the sting out of the scene where the 11th Doctor hears of the Brigadier's passing a little. Which, for me, is a good thing.

So, all in all, a fabulous novelisation and, perhaps, the manner in which is was was only possible due to it's actual existence.
I very much would like to read more novelisations from Moffat, but I'm pretty sure that this kind of approach wouldn't really work with many other episodes (if any) - Smith's swansong episode would certainly work (and I'm dead certain Moffat would expand that right out!)...

I've given this a rare and lofty 5 out of 5 stars because I can't honestly think of how I could imagine it being bettered, or rather, which bits let it down.

So,there you go.

[Katherine Sas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, go on then, give this one 5 stars. A few rookie mistakes — mostly some repetitive sections, although under the circumstances that might be entirely intentional — but jeez, it’s the guy’s first novel. I hope it’s the first of many more, both Who and not. I’m tempted to blog about the wonderful book, though I can’t decide to focus on comparisons to The Princess Bride or NK Jemisen’s Broken Earth trilogy. No really.

[Stephen Robert Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally after lot looking I found the right Amazon Kindle a deluxe £186 one with large print audio so listen to Who plays too White paper waterproof Cat proof. So I had . To start it right I chose this book.
The new Three other Doctors, Queen Elizabeth I Zygons.
The book starts at chapter 8 which funny way to go is it not?

[Parker · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5
-------
You know, Moffat had a vision and I got to respect that. It’s not every day you get to publish fan fiction of your own TV episode. We mere mortals only have A03.

Please do not take any of this review seriously. When it comes to all things Doctor Who, I am a mumbling, nonsensical, quippy mess. Also, remember this comes from the perspective of someone with an RTD-era obsession and personal gripes against Moffat. I'm just here to have fun folks.

Overall, this novelization does a pretty effective job at translating the episode into prose. I think the timey-wimey format is especially fun and fitting for the show. Chapter 9 is particularly fascinating. However, MOFFAT WHYYYYYYYYYY

Here we go...

Moffat, for some reason: "Did you know that the Doctor fucks? Because the Doctor fucks."

There's this strange obsession with the Doctor's sexual exploits. I feel like every twenty pages there's a reference to his threesomes with River and her clone(yes that is actually in here), or an entire section about his false "virginal image." Yes, Moffat, I know that the Doctor has had sex at least once in his 1,200 years of living. Just a hunch. You don't need to remind me constantly.

Speaking of River, MOFFAT WHYYYYY???? There were quite a few things I wish I saw in the 50th anniversary. A bathtub scene with River and Ten was not one of them. I like River Song, I really do. She's iconic. HOWEVER, I just can't imagine her having dates and picnics with Ten at that stage in his life. He's quite lonely and depressed and a teensy bit insane, so maybe that's just my issue with Ten in the story in general. His personality is quite off in this episode, considering this is supposed to be him post series 4. The Ten here is more accurate to series 2-3 Ten.

Now we have my biggest disappointment, which is The Moment. I love The Moment. She is THE MOMENT! She's my favorite part of the special honestly. Her conversations with the War Doctor are so intriguing, but she's pretty much written out of the story in the book. As a Billie Piper/Rose Tyler stan maybe I'm obligated to complain, but I am sad times. Just a shame that the dialogue was cut in favor of

MOFFAT TELLING US THAT THE DOCTOR FUCKS

...

ok goodnight

[Ashley Stangl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Steven Moffat's writing, and "The Day of the Doctor" is objectively a masterpiece of story construction. So a Moffat-written novelization was an automatic purchase for me, but it exceeded even my high expectations.

This book is brilliant. It's wild and mad and clever and funny and terrifying and maybe trying a bit too hard to dazzle, yet you can't help loving it anyway as it sweeps you along and doesn't let you go. If the Doctor wrote a book, this is exactly what it would look like. There are countless clever storytelling conceits--a book being written by psychic paper ten years after the publishing date, out-of-order chapters, mysterious points-of-view, the Doctor's struggles with personal pronouns and crossed timelines, and the mysterious Chapter 9 (It's terrifying. Trust me, you do not want to read it alone in the dark at two in the morning).

This is more than a novelization. It's an entirely new presentation. There are few direct lines of dialogue from the episode, and those that exist are surrounded by so much new detail that they feel completely new. There are lots of funny asides (so *that's* how they made "Rogue One"!) and heartbreaking details. The narrative conceits sometimes obscure character, and sometimes enhance it, but it's all so fun that it doesn't really matter.

I have to take off half a star (or maybe more) because of the sexual content. I've always hated that part of Moffat's writing, and it's definitely present here. Nothing too overt or onscreen, but there are quite a few uncomfortable moments (there was no reason for River and the Doctor to be in a bathtub, even if the Doctor is clothed and nothing else is described. And quite a few of the characters make bisexual comments). There are a bunch of innuendos and mentions of sexual encounters between various genders--just enough to stain the book's brilliance, and make me wonder if Moffat forgot that these books are traditionally written for children.

Aside from that, I can't complain about the book. This is a novelization that makes full use (and then some) of the literary format. It's not perfect, but it's impressive, and I wanted it to keep going on and on.

[Derek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite a contrast to the workmanlike Terrance Dicks novelizations from back in the day. It continues and culminates the excesses that marked Moffat's tenure in the program. The Doctor is tortured and haunted, the Doctor is some sort of magical Chosen One, and everything has deep backstory and connections to everything else. The overall effect is overwhelming and just this side of twee, sometimes spilling over to the other side.

The most curious thing--in this book of many curious things--is the innovative and circular use of narration. Not only is the reader seeing the story from three perspectives of the same person, but it is being narrated by multiple perspectives of that same person affecting the third person except when personally affected by events, and wrapped in a framing device (?) of some other future version of the same person. Except, of course, when narrated by some other person who might actually be a different person who might not be considered a person in certain circles. And a few other persons stuck in there as well, just to round it all out.

Spoilers, there, if you can make sense of what I wrote.

(It begs the question: All those earlier novelizations, written in workmanlike third person...were those narrated by the Doctor as well, who didn't feel it necessary to intrude into first person like this?)

There is something essentially touching below the sad-clown whimsy and the crackling dialog of a man bickering with himself. But then it proceeds to a climax even more extravagant than the filmed version, and twice as self-indulgent. I'm glad I read it, but now need to work off this sugar high.

[Alex Sarll]

Moffat revisits one of the gems of his uneven era, the 50th anniversary special, and freed of the constraints of making it vaguely appealing to the general public, turns it into something even better. Well, I say that, because I'm a dick, but maybe think of this more like the 12" 80s compilation: it's great that you have these perfect pop singles, for entryist purposes and as an art form in their own right – but every so often the weirder extended mix really takes them to the next level. The events of the televised story are here, more or less – but rejigged, expanded, recontextualised, and of course no longer limited by BBC budgets, or rights issues, or time. There are descriptions which are at once the Doctor self-deprecatingly describing himself, and Moffat gently mocking his stars, and absolutely hilarious either way. There are other moments – fewer, thank heavens, but just as perfectly targeted – where Moffat sets out for tears rather than guffaws: Kate Lethbridge-Stewart remembering the Brigadier's last words is especially devastating. And there are moments of absolute fanwank, daft little in-jokes which nonetheless charm rather than annoy, or at least they did me, but I never pretended to any kind of objectivity here. The Doctor remembering his first two incarnations in monochrome! Fitz restored to his rightful place in the Eighth Doctor's farewells! And of course, in some senses this is also Moffat's last word on Who, at least for a time. As often as not, particularly when writing from the War Doctor's perspective, he's picking at the very groundwork of the show – this self-satisfied know-it-all who waltzes into disaster areas, convinced that he's exactly what they need and everyone except the bad lots will love him. This also ties in to the tricksy framing devices, the text which comments on itself, the chapters out of order and the one not listed in the contents. It's no secret that the Time War and related stories always took a certain amount contextually from the Faction Paradox stories (cf arse pictures passim), but here the borrowings become stylistic too, and for me it works just as well. Lawrence Miles was not available for comment, but that's maybe for the best. But what it all twists back around to, every time, is reaffirming the beauty and wonder of the Doctor as a concept and a character.

It's not perfect, obviously - this was probably the only TV story I loved despite the presence of the worst companion ever, and boy, hearing Moffat describe her alleged wonderfulness in narrator voice doesn't make it any less inexplicable or infuriating. And even Osgood, whom on screen I love, gets a bit trying when Moffat tries to do her internal monologue. I find the idea that he can't write women a terrible generalisation, when I know women who identify so much with Amy Pond in particular, but yeah, he certainly doesn't pull it off every time.

Overall, though: a joy. Albeit the sort of joy that leaves me blubbing every time. Gallifrey Falls No More.

[Lori S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great joy to read. Though the set up is very different from the show upon which it is based, the story really does reflect the way several time lines converge and separate to cover the whole of the story. What's more Moffat has proven himself to be capable of a great deal of humor, creative ideas (where have those been the in the past few years?), and to be the Whovian I've missed since he became show runner (that this book was influenced by the books and audios of the so called Wilderness Years is obvious).

I also really liked the narrative structure and how he manages to convey different Doctors without giving away the prize of the story. The ending left me grinning and really looking forward to October.

Why do we have to wait until October?! >Whine<

[K. Anna Kraft · Rating 5 out of 5]

I arranged my takeaway thoughts on this book into a haiku as best I could:

"Things you surrender,
Parts you’d lop off to not face,
Ache 'til they’re reclaimed."

[Tony · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a superb novelisation. It manages to tell the story of the television episode with style, wit and a no lack of skill. Steven Moffat does a stonkingly good job of telling the story from multiple points of view making you understand the timey-wimey stuff. For example when we get the account of the Doctor's trip to the Tower from the point of view of all three versions of the Doctor. We get an idea of what it is like to be a time traveller.

He also does a fine job of telling Osgood's (or the Osgoods as they will be) story. And there's a fantastic set of Peter Cushing jokes.

It's packed full of good stuff some of which didn't make it into the television version and some of which did. I can't recommend it enough. It's the best of the new Target novelisations I think, although RTD's Rose comes pretty darn close. But all of them are worth reading.

I'm not going to add 'The City of Death' review because I understand it is an abridged version of the original novel, which I read when it came out and I don't see the point of re-reading a diet version of that book. [I'm a Doctor Who fan. I had to be grumpy about something.]

[Rachel Redhead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable, lots of little flourishes here and there to cater for the prose format, Chapter 9 was my favourite, and I liked the subtle little coda at the end a lot too :)

[Gabriel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't think anyone could've quite prepared me for this book. As someone whose favourite TV series in the world is Doctor Who, I've never quite been impressed by its novels like I have Star Wars. So you can imagine I was surprised when this turned out one of the greatest reads of my entire life and one of my all-time favourite books.

Transcending the barriers of television and contemporary prose, Steven Moffat establishes a style so *him* it shines off of the page. With a mysterious narrator left unknown until the end of the book (I figured it out!) and various format-breaking decisions like deciding to tell the story in out of order chapters (follow the narrator's instructions and turn the page like any old book regardless!), Moffat displays his mastery as a Doctor Who writer with how effortlessly he constructs such a complex and layered read that is somehow also a breeze to read, and shows his absolute domination in understanding each facet of the Doctor.

This is a thrilling read no matter how big a fan of the series you are, but if you're as deep in as I am, having seen 99% of the classic series, most spin-offs, listened to a lot of Big Finish, and seen the entirety of the revival, you will be shocked repeatedly by how well fun fan service can be slotted in that is actually insightful, deep, and meaningful, and contributes to the overarching narrative and story. It feels totally outside of the ongoing story arcs of Matt Smith's final season, as we receive a different point of view in the book than we did in the episode, and it reads even better for it.

Steven Moffat KNOWS we have experienced this story before, so we get a new version of the events. Expanded sequences, new stories, and different viewpoints and insights into any scene from the episode. It is never, ever a retelling for one second. In fact, Moffat sometimes AVOIDS retreading by flat out writing around bits you already know by offering new moments or different things to focus on or figure out, or at least give a new perspective to enhance it.

With new thrilling mysterious and exciting things to look out for, plenty of self-aware jokes and borderline fourth wall breaking commentary, this book is constantly exciting and expands upon the lore of the entire series and expanded universe, not just this one episode it is 'adapting'.

Masterful work from my dearest Steven Moffat.

[Lupi_reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finally understand whatever confused I had back then during the episode. I had so many questions and no answers.
Although, I'm still chasing that chapter 9, I think I'm going nuts

[William Ingram-Wain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic!

[Y.I. Washington · Rating 5 out of 5]

10 Stars!

I became a fan of Doctor Who as a child when Four and Sarah Jane Smith materialized on my television set on PBS. I've never stopped.

The 50th Anniversary tv movie was spectacular in my mind. I own the Blu-Ray and watch it repeatedly. Having this novelization only added to the top-notch storytelling and increased my enjoyment and love of the franchise immensely. I will re-read this novel with great pleasure over the years to come.

[John Peel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Steven Moffat novelizes his own confusing script into an even more confusing book. Poorly written, dragged out and with questionable humor. Possibly one of the worst novels in the series.

[Aidan · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I'm the man who never would, I told them all, but I know I was the man who had."

Immediately after reading Russell T. Davies' novelisation of 𝘙𝘰𝘴𝘦, I was so impressed that I ordered this one. I have stated many times that 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘰𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 is my favourite episode of all time so it was inevitable that I would read this book at some point. I am so glad I did, because it did something I never even thought possible: It made it better.

Across my ongoing journey of reading 𝘋𝘰𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘞𝘩𝘰 novels, I have found that the ones that take advantage of the prose format are the ones that come out best. Writing a story for a book is enhanced when that story cannot be told in any other medium. So taking a story that has already been on television (and in cinemas) and turning it into a book is a hard task. Yet this manages it completely. The thing I was most impressed with and kept me captivated at every turn, was the book's ability to play with whose perspective the story was being told from. Every chapter was written from a different character - or, at least, different versions of the same characters - and it was up to the reader to decide who those characters were. There were times it described the Doctor in third person, so you could rule him out, only to realise it was in fact the War Doctor telling this story and disassociating himself from the title. Or another chapter where the story invited the reader to imagine the storyteller as a Time Lord soldier only to then reveal the storyteller as - you guessed it - the Doctor. Or another chapter where it was seemingly Kate Stewart, before being revealed to be a Zygon. It worked every time. As well as this, in between every chapter was a small section in italics designed as a fourth wall breaking piece to the reader. I viewed this as a reference to the cinema introduction that played before the episode on the night of the 50th anniversary, where the 10th and 11th Doctors spoke to the cinema audience and instructed them to wear their 3D glasses. It was only during the penultimate section that I realised the narrator was in fact The Curator (with his cameo appearance at the end of the episode being written as a livestream told from his perspective). The story is also told totally out of sequence. Though the chapters are told in vaguely the same order as the TV episode, they are labelled in totally mismatched ways. The first chapter is Chapter 8 and the last is Chapter 13, with all the others jumbled in the middle. It would be interesting to read these chapters in numbered order, though I don't think it would make any sense. Especially as Chapter 13 is a prequel to Chapter 8 - which in itself is a prequel to the wider story.

It is hard to go into specific scenes as it would essentially be reviewing the TV episode (which I have already done in a podcast), but what separates this novelisation from 𝘙𝘰𝘴𝘦 is that there is a substantial amount of new story. I was thoroughly impressed by just how much new material there was. This was, at times, at the expense of some of my favourite quotes and moments in this episode, but I didn't even care. The iconic "no sir, all thirteen!" was disappointingly removed, but instead replaced with a whole scene featuring the Twelfth Doctor - so no complaints from me. Perhaps my favourite of these new scenes was the three Doctors' journey from the forest to the Tower of London during the Elizabethan England subplot (which actually took up the majority of the story. For a book with Daleks on the front cover, they played a surprisingly small second fiddle to the Zygons in this version of the story). This scene was played out three times. Once from the perspective of the War Doctor, then the 10th, and then the 11th through his varying opinions and vague memories of the same conversation.

This is what elevated this book to an even higher level than the already perfect TV episode: the deep levels of character study. While the War Doctor is accompanied by The Moment throughout 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘰𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 on TV, she only ever appears in the barn in the book. This instead allows for the War Doctor to take some deep contemplations across the story about his past and his future as he watches his fellow incarnations. The haunting of these memories stretching across hundreds of years and affecting who the Doctor tries to be. This book really delved into what makes the Doctor the Doctor and how, the War Doctor AKA "the one who broke the promise" is actually the one who kept the promise more than anyone else. There were so many beautiful character moments across this book that I'd be here all day if I were to list them all. And they weren't even limited to the Doctor either. Osgood somehow turning Classic Who's outdated screaming companions into something tactical and empowering was impressive, and the descriptions of the Brigadier's final moments and times he was visited by the Doctor/the Curator at the end of his life were truly emotional.

Overall, I have nothing bad to say about this book. The episode was already incredible before it was novelised, and this has only managed to make it even better. A must read for anyone who enjoys this episode, these Doctors, or character studies in this fictional world.

[Vik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly brilliant, even if you have watched it before. Funny, witty, timey-wimey, goofy and just warm. Loved it

[Ellen Schoener · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer- I really love Stephen Moffats work. And I just waited for him to write a book. And what can I say?
Amazing.
What a great read. This book is funny, witty and timey-wimey and shows all the best qualities of Moffat as a writer.
If you expect a simple re-telling of the TV episode, this is NOT it.
The text and scenes are different in parts and the point of view is unique in that the book is supposedly written by the Doctor- SPOILER !- in real time. There are many narrative and perspective jumps and even some interactive bits, so I would not recommend this as an on-the-side read while when you cannot pay full attention, because you might get lost. But on the other hand, you might still discover new things on a second read through.
I love all the easter eggs and the cameos by some characters who were not in the TV episode (River Song!), which fit nicely into the narrative and also help explain some things that were previously unclear and unexplained.
So if you loved the TV episode, go get this book. Even if you already know the text by heart, this book will still surprise you and show you a new perspective.
Highly recommended.

[Nicholas Whyte · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://nwhyte.livejournal.com/3018506.html

Of course, I really enjoyed the 2013 50th anniversary special, which in retrospect we now see as a last salute to the Tennant era from almost the end of the Smith era. And I am glad to report that this is by far the best of the four new Doctor Who novels published last month. Moffat has veered further from the script than any of the other writers; the chapters are told by alternating narrators, in non-sequential numbers, interspersed with reports from other characters (Chapter Nine, significantly, is missing); the basics of the storyline (starting with the Eighth Doctor's regeneration, and ending with the Curator) remain the same, but the transmission to the printed page has been done in a very different way. And there are some lovely shout-outs to odd bits of continuity - Peter Cushing's Doctor is canonicalised; there is a desperate attempt to explain the black and white era. In general, it's just good fun, and it feels like the process of writing the book was much more enjoyable for the author than was notoriously the case with the original script.

[Sona Alikr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Это впервые, когда я прочитала новеллу, основанную на телесериале, и изначально я относилась к этой идее с некоторым скепсисом. В конце концов, зачем пересказывать уже хорошо снятый фильм? Однако единственная мысль которая у меня осталась после прочтения: «Это было потрясающе.»

Вообще, открыла я себе этот телесериал относительно недавно, но это не помешало мне быстро проникнуться и полюбить его всей душой. Посмотрев большую часть сезонов, этот конкретный эпизод, описанный в книге, стал одним из моих фаворитов. Хотя в сериале очень много действий, где каждый эпизод это отдельный поток приключений и хаоса, именно этот эпизод выделяет, объединяет, переплетая детали всего сериала, помогает нам увидеть цельную картину и понять, наконец-таки(!), мотивацию Доктора, узнать про его прошлое. И данная книга еще более глубоко раскрывает многие моменты, показывает действия, которые остались за кадром, и позволяет читателю почувствовать события на эмоциональном уровне. К тому же книга достаточно красиво написана и переведена на русский язык - порой слова так и струятся шелком, лаская душу.

Несколько любимых моментов, чтобы показать насколько качественно она написана и переведена на русский язык (читала я книгу в издательстве АСТ с переводом М.Шмитд, 2018 г.):

И, будто болезнь, его настигло понимание: истина, от которой он бежал столетиями. Давным-давно он решил стать воином, а много лет спустя вздумал, что сможет забыть об этом. Как глупо. Разумеется, не сможет! Он выпил яд, шагнул в бурю, а назад так и не выбрался. Он отказался от своего имени, отправился на войну и в один день ужасный миг небывалой жестокости уничтожил их всех – и Далеков, и Повелителей времени. Все кричали, а затем всё прекратилось.
Убийца стоял, одинокий и живой, в страшном безмолвии и говорил себе, что поступил как до́лжно. Что заветный мир оправдывает любые средства. Что война наконец закончилась.

Молчание звенело каплями воды, шуршало беготней крыс, шелестело шагами.
Я был стариком, сидевшим понурив голову и ожидавшим ответа, который мне совсем не хотелось слышать.
Много лет спустя я бродил по той же комнате, пытаясь и не решаясь заговорить.
В далеком будущем я замер у стены со старым гвоздем в руках и смотрел на цифры, высеченные в камне.
И все же я молчал. Я знал, что отвечу, и знал, что, когда ответ прозвучит, разразится буря – так как же мог я произнести эти слова?

Мне пришлась по душе структура книги, где каждая глава является новым временным переплетением, а каждая регенерация Доктора - отдельной нитью в этой сложной сети. В то же время в книге Доктор выступает как единая личность, не раздробленная на разные лица и регенерации. Я считаю, что это потрясающе, так как многие фанаты привыкли выбирать среди его регенераций своих любимцев и не любимцев, ориентируясь на их внешность и временный характер, при этом забывая, что это все одна и та же личность. Книга прекрасно справилась с этим, поскольку она не уточняет, о каком именно Докторе в разных главах идет речь, и нам самим при желании приходится догадываться об этом.

Понравилось использование первого лица в повествовании, так как оно проникает в самую суть событий, позволяя почувствовать каждую эмоцию и переживание Доктора. Не малую долю слез я пролила из-за этого. А порой, использование первого лица сменялось обращением к нам, читателям, словно общаются с нами прямо сейчас, в настоящий момент времени, что создавало иллюзию личного контакта и заставляло чувствовать, что именно ко мне обращается каждое слово книги.

И кроме того, книга внушила мне надежду, что Тардис и весь этот мир, все любимые вселенные из книг и фильмов, могут существовать на самом деле. 😭

Вселенная огромна и существует уже очень давно. Знаешь, что это значит? Все, что только может произойти на свете, рано или поздно произойдет. Таковы правила. Это значит, что любая история, какую только можно сочинить, однажды в самом деле случится где-то в пространстве и времени. Разница между книгами о реальных событиях и книгами о событиях вымышленных только в том, что первые пишутся после этих событий, а вторые – до. Выходит, что книги о вымысле куда полезнее, разве не понимаешь? Записывая факты, ты просто копируешь их. А когда пишешь о вымысле, ты заглядываешь в будущее.

Образ фанатов (которые наверняка в основном и дошли до этой книги), представленных в роли Петронеллы, невольно заставляет ассоциировать себя с ней (или с зайгоном ;)) и пережить слова на новом уровне.

Сегодня я многому научилась. Петронелла. Доктор – мой герой и был им всегда, но глупо и неверно ожидать, что он будет героем каждый день – потому что это не так. Ровно так же я никогда не смогу быть с Макгиллопом, потому что он считает меня принцессой, и это тоже не так. Я никогда не понимала, зачем люди хотят, чтобы их считали другими и любили именно за это, – ведь так в конце концов любой станет разочарованием. Но если мы не герои и не принцессы, можно постараться получше распорядиться тем, что мы имеем. Верно?

Особенно мне (не)запомнилась девятая глава. Я была так же напугана после него, как когда впервые смотрела серию про плачущих Ангелов и Тишину. Это такой страх, который проникает в твоё подсознание и не дает тебе спать по ночам, потому что ты можешь закрыть глаза и не увидеть Ангела или забыть про Тишину, который прячется у тебя на потолке. Такие моменты оставляют след в сознании, вызывая чувство беспокойства и тревоги даже после того, как книга закрыта или серия завершена.

Также одной из тем затронутой в этой книге, является впечатляющая сила, с которой один человек может воздействовать на другого, даже, казалось бы старого, испытанного временем Повелителя Времени.

В общем мне очень понравилось, ставлю пятерку, лайк, в общем гуд. My inner child can now rest peacefully, dreaming of space and adventures within the Tardis.

[James Kinsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard not to get swept up in the pure joy of this. Fleshed out from the TV version, with plenty of humour that nearly always hits the mark (though occasionally overshoots), and a real sense of the glorious majesty that Moffat always tried to imbue his Doctor with, that somehow works better on the page than he ever pulled off onscreen.
The relationship between the Doctor(s) is masterfully executed, and there are a lot of lovely touches. The final resolution of the Zygon crisis is very satisfying, and again has additional flourishes that raise a chuckle. Simply put, very enjoyable.

[Blaine Tiu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is worth it for Chapter 9 alone.

Other than that, if you love Steven Moffat's style (like I do), this is the book for you. This is what I hoped Doctor Who books were always like: fast, brilliant, witty, introspective, confusing, and tear-jerking.

It also affords itself as being concrete evidence that Mr. Moffat can write a novel and I hope he writes another, whatever the subject maybe.

[Tim Trewartha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent little novelization of the 50th anniversary special. Moffat has out-Moffatted himself in terms of timey-whimeyness, with chapters being out of order (but not really). Chapter 9 was a real highlight. What, you don't remember it? Wasn't that the bit where, um, er, all that, um...my point is this is well worth a read.