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Doctor Who: New Series Adventures #Special 6
Doctor Who: At Childhood’s End
Past or future, which path do you choose?
Past, present and future collide as the Thirteenth Doctor meets classic Doctor Who companion Ace, in an epic novel written and read by Sophie Aldred.
Once, a girl called Ace travelled the universe with the Doctor – until, in the wake of a terrible tragedy they parted company. Now, decades on, she is known as Dorothy McShane, the reclusive millionaire philanthropist who heads the global organisation A Charitable Earth.
But Dorothy is being haunted by terrible nightmares in which she’s abducted to an alien world. Nightmares that begin just as scores of young runaways are vanishing from the dark alleyways of London. Could the disappearances be linked to sightings of sinister creatures – part man, part rat – lurking in the city shadows? Why has an alien satellite entered a secret orbit around the Moon? And how has Dorothy become a target for the victors in an interstellar war?
Investigating the satellite with Ryan, Graham and Yaz, the Doctor is thrown together with Ace once more. Together they must unravel a malevolent plot that will cost of thousands of lives. But can the Doctor atone for her past incarnation’s behaviour – and how much must Ace sacrifice to win victory not only for herself, but for the Earth?
Sophie Aldred, who played Ace in the BBC TV serial, reads her own thrilling novel.
Past, present and future collide as the Thirteenth Doctor meets classic Doctor Who companion Ace, in an epic novel written and read by Sophie Aldred.
Once, a girl called Ace travelled the universe with the Doctor – until, in the wake of a terrible tragedy they parted company. Now, decades on, she is known as Dorothy McShane, the reclusive millionaire philanthropist who heads the global organisation A Charitable Earth.
But Dorothy is being haunted by terrible nightmares in which she’s abducted to an alien world. Nightmares that begin just as scores of young runaways are vanishing from the dark alleyways of London. Could the disappearances be linked to sightings of sinister creatures – part man, part rat – lurking in the city shadows? Why has an alien satellite entered a secret orbit around the Moon? And how has Dorothy become a target for the victors in an interstellar war?
Investigating the satellite with Ryan, Graham and Yaz, the Doctor is thrown together with Ace once more. Together they must unravel a malevolent plot that will cost of thousands of lives. But can the Doctor atone for her past incarnation’s behaviour – and how much must Ace sacrifice to win victory not only for herself, but for the Earth?
Sophie Aldred, who played Ace in the BBC TV serial, reads her own thrilling novel.
270 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 6, 2020
79 people are currently reading
861 people want to read
About the author
Sophie Aldred
250 books60 followersSophie was brought up in Blackheath, South East London. After leaving school she took a degree in drama at Manchester University. By singing in working men's clubs she gained her equity card and began her acting career in the theatre. She was appearing in 'Fiddler on the Roof' with Topol when she heard from her agent that she had an audition for a part in Doctor Who. Initially she believed her role would be playing Ray in 'Delta and the Bannermen'. She eventually found out that she'd landed the role of Ace in 'Dragonfire'. Later still she discovered that Ace would be the new travelling companion of the Doctor, then played by Sylvester McCoy. Two further seasons followed before the show was finally cancelled. Sophie has had much television work since and has continued to demonstrate her acting and singing talents in the theatre. She married Vince Henderson on July 12 1997 and now has a son named Adam John Henderson, born on the 10th February 2000. Sophie maintains her connections with Doctor Who by attending many fan conventions and by starring in spin-off projects on video and audio.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 170 reviews
June 19, 2024
I've been thoroughly enjoying Ncuti Gatwa's first series of Doctor Who. His portrayal of the Doctor (& the excellent writing from Russell T Davies) brings a real breath of much needed fresh air to the series. So, with my renewed interest in Doctor Who, I thouhgt I'd reread At Childhood's End....
Dorothy McShane is a millionaire & the head of A Charitable Earth. However, thirty years ago she was known as Ace & travelled through time & space with a Time Lord known as The Doctor.
Back in the 1980s actress Sophie Aldred played Ace alongside Sylvester McCoy's Doctor in the final "classic" series of Doctor Who. Here she brings an older version of Ace to life who meets the latest incarnation of The Doctor.
The story starts well & builds up nicely to Dorothy/Ace meeting the Doctor again. There are plenty of references back to old adventures, & the reaction of an old companion of The Doctor meeting her new companions is well handled.
The second half of the story is more standard sci fi fare, but at least it's fast paced. Sophie Aldred, along with co authors Steve Cole & Mike Tucker, deliver a good old fashioned Doctor Who yarn. There's perhaps more of an emotional tie to this story for fans of Ace like myself. This is obviously enhanced by the fact that Aldred is also the author.
There are plenty of poor Doctor Who novels on the market (I've lost count of how many I've started reading & given up on) so it's nice that once in a while a decent one like this comes along.
Dorothy McShane is a millionaire & the head of A Charitable Earth. However, thirty years ago she was known as Ace & travelled through time & space with a Time Lord known as The Doctor.
Back in the 1980s actress Sophie Aldred played Ace alongside Sylvester McCoy's Doctor in the final "classic" series of Doctor Who. Here she brings an older version of Ace to life who meets the latest incarnation of The Doctor.
The story starts well & builds up nicely to Dorothy/Ace meeting the Doctor again. There are plenty of references back to old adventures, & the reaction of an old companion of The Doctor meeting her new companions is well handled.
The second half of the story is more standard sci fi fare, but at least it's fast paced. Sophie Aldred, along with co authors Steve Cole & Mike Tucker, deliver a good old fashioned Doctor Who yarn. There's perhaps more of an emotional tie to this story for fans of Ace like myself. This is obviously enhanced by the fact that Aldred is also the author.
There are plenty of poor Doctor Who novels on the market (I've lost count of how many I've started reading & given up on) so it's nice that once in a while a decent one like this comes along.
January 22, 2021
The best aspect of modern Doctor Who was the simple choice of continuing the show with a Ninth Doctor rather than a reboot.
It's often been noted on how similar the 1989 series was to the revival in 2005 and that Sophie Aldred's Ace is very much in the mould of a modern companion, so I was really excited to hear the announcement that her character would meet the current Thirteenth Doctor.
Aldred's debut novel is a collaboration with Steve Cole (NSA) and Mike Turker (PDA) which helps strike the balance for fans of both classic and modern Who.
Theres so many nods to older stories that added to my enjoyment.
Dorothy 'Ace' McShane now heads a charitable organisation (first mentioned in the Sarah Jane Adventures) and the early parts of the novel shes her investigating disappearances of young runaways.
It's great to see the former companion take so much of the focus during the first third of the novel and makes the eventual reunion with The Doctor even more rewarding.
At times it felt like reading a Target novelisation with the usual descriptions of a battered old police box being used.
But where the novel really delivers is the perfect characterisation of the current TARDIS team being brilliantly captured.
With no on screen departure, the interludes with The Seventh Doctor were nice touches.
The final third does feel like a genetic Who story (if that's a bad thing?) with my only small complaint is Ace not featuring as prominently in these sections.
This novel yet again highlights that the entirety of Doctor Who is just the same show with multiple eras, it's certainly made me wish that this was a TV episode.
It's often been noted on how similar the 1989 series was to the revival in 2005 and that Sophie Aldred's Ace is very much in the mould of a modern companion, so I was really excited to hear the announcement that her character would meet the current Thirteenth Doctor.
Aldred's debut novel is a collaboration with Steve Cole (NSA) and Mike Turker (PDA) which helps strike the balance for fans of both classic and modern Who.
Theres so many nods to older stories that added to my enjoyment.
Dorothy 'Ace' McShane now heads a charitable organisation (first mentioned in the Sarah Jane Adventures) and the early parts of the novel shes her investigating disappearances of young runaways.
It's great to see the former companion take so much of the focus during the first third of the novel and makes the eventual reunion with The Doctor even more rewarding.
At times it felt like reading a Target novelisation with the usual descriptions of a battered old police box being used.
But where the novel really delivers is the perfect characterisation of the current TARDIS team being brilliantly captured.
With no on screen departure, the interludes with The Seventh Doctor were nice touches.
The final third does feel like a genetic Who story (if that's a bad thing?) with my only small complaint is Ace not featuring as prominently in these sections.
This novel yet again highlights that the entirety of Doctor Who is just the same show with multiple eras, it's certainly made me wish that this was a TV episode.
February 19, 2020
This novel is written in collaboration with Steve Cole & Mike Tucker by the last companion of the Doctor in the classic TV series when it ended in 1989, her leading character is of course Dorothy McShane better know as the teenager Ace who traveled with the seventh Doctor. And now she finds her Doctor, she called him Professor, in her thirteenth face and in a female version. It is basically a book that tells us why Ace left the Doctor and how she finally finds closure in her dealings with the Doctor.
I like a decent former companion meets a later version of the Doctor but the TV episode with Sarah-Jane Smith is for me the highest rating of all, every time I watch it I feel the tears welling up, it is such a powerfull moment when she meets Tennants Doctor and yet she feels that is clearly the same fella as the fourth version of the Doctor she travelled with who left her back on earth. This reunion is less powerful for me perhaps because I found Ace and the seventh Doctor less interesting and they got stopped too early in their adventures by the brass from the BBC.
This story features the thirteenth Doctor and her companions who together with Ace will have to stop a war that has been won but never seemed to have stopped and is being reignited by one party who kidnaps galaxy wide people from their planets for his/its purpose. It is up to the Doctor and Ace again to stop the galaxy from being returned to an all out war once again.
The Doctor and Ace finally unite and find their peace with each other.
An enjoyable tale from the Whovianverse not the best read ever but fun and enjoyable, I like Ace enough and the thirteenth Doctor is actually very likable, my daughters enjoy her being a female, but still like Tennant & Smith best as their Doctor.
Great fun for the fans of Doctor Who.
I like a decent former companion meets a later version of the Doctor but the TV episode with Sarah-Jane Smith is for me the highest rating of all, every time I watch it I feel the tears welling up, it is such a powerfull moment when she meets Tennants Doctor and yet she feels that is clearly the same fella as the fourth version of the Doctor she travelled with who left her back on earth. This reunion is less powerful for me perhaps because I found Ace and the seventh Doctor less interesting and they got stopped too early in their adventures by the brass from the BBC.
This story features the thirteenth Doctor and her companions who together with Ace will have to stop a war that has been won but never seemed to have stopped and is being reignited by one party who kidnaps galaxy wide people from their planets for his/its purpose. It is up to the Doctor and Ace again to stop the galaxy from being returned to an all out war once again.
The Doctor and Ace finally unite and find their peace with each other.
An enjoyable tale from the Whovianverse not the best read ever but fun and enjoyable, I like Ace enough and the thirteenth Doctor is actually very likable, my daughters enjoy her being a female, but still like Tennant & Smith best as their Doctor.
Great fun for the fans of Doctor Who.
Want to read
January 31, 2020I don't really like reading tie-ins for movies and shows, but Ace is one of my favourite companions from the whole show, and it's written by the actress who played her so my heart needs to read this book.
March 9, 2020
I would give this four stars but I can't bring myself to because WHY WOULD YOU WRITE ACE AS STRAIGHT WHY
Anyway aside from the aggressive heterosexuality the characters display, this book is actually a pretty enjoyable read. The alien plot is a bit generic 'theyre bad oh no wait maybe they arent', but it is well-executed and the plethora of good character moments more than make up for it.
Ace as a multi-millionaire CEO of a charity instead of, you know, a queer anti-capitalist community activist, also isn't exactly inspired, but I'm just gonna chalk that one up to pre-established lore and get on with it.
So yeah, where the book really shines is in the interactions between the Fam, Thirteen and Ace, and in particular Ace and/or Fam calling out Thirteen. "The Doctor has no problems using weapons of mass destruction when it suits her" is quite possibly one of my favourite character call-outs, right up there with Rory's "you make people so dangerous around themselves" and Martha's "stand too close and people get burned". Coming from Ace? Delicious, delicious stuff.
Ace and Yaz seeing parallels in each other and finding it difficult to get on is not something I'd personally thought of, but I loved it. Only wish it'd had been explored further: Ace tells Yaz she dislikes cops bc the cops did dick all when her (girl)friend was murdered by racists, but then Yaz being a (queer) woman of colour and a cop herself isn't really touched upon.
Similarly, the Doctor's astonishingly poor job at parenting Ace is touched on multiple times, and she's definitely called out on it, but it doesn't really resolve itself to a satisfactory point (in my humble opinion, anyway, but then maybe that's because my favourite Doctor Who fanfic ever written is pretty much exactly this book except Ace is gay and she and Eleven take A Lot longer to be okay again).
Still, all in all, I basically listened to this in one sitting, and had a mostly great time while doing so. Can't wait for Thirteen to be held that viciously accountable for her actions in the show itself.
So, tl; dr: fun story, interesting characters and plenty of nods to bygone eras. Shame about the heterosexuality of it all.
Anyway aside from the aggressive heterosexuality the characters display, this book is actually a pretty enjoyable read. The alien plot is a bit generic 'theyre bad oh no wait maybe they arent', but it is well-executed and the plethora of good character moments more than make up for it.
Ace as a multi-millionaire CEO of a charity instead of, you know, a queer anti-capitalist community activist, also isn't exactly inspired, but I'm just gonna chalk that one up to pre-established lore and get on with it.
So yeah, where the book really shines is in the interactions between the Fam, Thirteen and Ace, and in particular Ace and/or Fam calling out Thirteen. "The Doctor has no problems using weapons of mass destruction when it suits her" is quite possibly one of my favourite character call-outs, right up there with Rory's "you make people so dangerous around themselves" and Martha's "stand too close and people get burned". Coming from Ace? Delicious, delicious stuff.
Ace and Yaz seeing parallels in each other and finding it difficult to get on is not something I'd personally thought of, but I loved it. Only wish it'd had been explored further: Ace tells Yaz she dislikes cops bc the cops did dick all when her (girl)friend was murdered by racists, but then Yaz being a (queer) woman of colour and a cop herself isn't really touched upon.
Similarly, the Doctor's astonishingly poor job at parenting Ace is touched on multiple times, and she's definitely called out on it, but it doesn't really resolve itself to a satisfactory point (in my humble opinion, anyway, but then maybe that's because my favourite Doctor Who fanfic ever written is pretty much exactly this book except Ace is gay and she and Eleven take A Lot longer to be okay again).
Still, all in all, I basically listened to this in one sitting, and had a mostly great time while doing so. Can't wait for Thirteen to be held that viciously accountable for her actions in the show itself.
So, tl; dr: fun story, interesting characters and plenty of nods to bygone eras. Shame about the heterosexuality of it all.
May 14, 2020
This is not what I expected.
the story is good, but at the beginning of the book I felt that nothing happened.
The protagonist of this story is Dorothy McShane, better known as Ace, the ex-partner of the Doctor. In general, it is explained why Ace decided to leave the Doctor or as she called him professor, and continue on his own.
30 years later, she meets the Doctor again (now as a woman) and meets her new companions, now all together they will have to work together to prevent a long-ended war from starting again.
the story is good, but at the beginning of the book I felt that nothing happened.
The protagonist of this story is Dorothy McShane, better known as Ace, the ex-partner of the Doctor. In general, it is explained why Ace decided to leave the Doctor or as she called him professor, and continue on his own.
30 years later, she meets the Doctor again (now as a woman) and meets her new companions, now all together they will have to work together to prevent a long-ended war from starting again.
February 13, 2020
I really wanted to like this more than I did. It started off so well. A young homeless girl on the streets of London. This is a bit more realistic and darker than a normal Doctor Who book, I thought. Trust Sophie to come up with some good social commentary on young women. But then she disappeared never to be seen again. And instead we got Bruce Wayne Ace. Now I know that the Ace as a corporate charity worker came from RTD but it's an idea that never sat well with me. It got much worse when it was a "charity" that spent Millions and millions (if not billions) of pounds on a towering monstrosity of a new build next to the Tower of London (which people who objected to on aesthetic grounds were silly for thinking) purely because Ace wanted to see who was driving into UNIT??? So she became gentrification corporate Ace! With a basement full of vehicles and her own "batcave". (Seems like the memo that billionaires are bad and not environmentalists was somehow missed) Then there was her friend the famous model who was constantly being shamed for being middle aged and still drinking and partying. And therefore having an empty life...
When the story did get started it was a typical aliens Doctor who story. I was really hoping for some wonderful bits between 13 and Ace. But they were hardly in it together at all. There initial meeting was quite nice but then they went their own ways for the rest of the book and it seemed like a huge missed opportunity. Then there was added confrontations between Ace and Yaz, which seemed totally out of character for both of them. Graham and Ryan were both totally fine with Ace but because women=jealousy the two girls had to be competitive with each other???
I fear this was a missed opportunity.
But I'm sure Ace fans will love it.
When the story did get started it was a typical aliens Doctor who story. I was really hoping for some wonderful bits between 13 and Ace. But they were hardly in it together at all. There initial meeting was quite nice but then they went their own ways for the rest of the book and it seemed like a huge missed opportunity. Then there was added confrontations between Ace and Yaz, which seemed totally out of character for both of them. Graham and Ryan were both totally fine with Ace but because women=jealousy the two girls had to be competitive with each other???
I fear this was a missed opportunity.
But I'm sure Ace fans will love it.
April 6, 2020
It reads like an expanded Target novelization...but a very well written Target novelization. It's breezy, fast-paced, with great dialogue, and captures the current team of the 13th Doctor & her companions with deft skill. It may seem like it sacrifices depth for pace on the surface, but it knows how to write a story that makes the reader read between the lines. In fact, some of that reading, especially for long term fans, is very rewarding indeed. A very impressive authorial debut for former Ace actress Sophie Aldred.
March 17, 2021
An unexpectedly proficient debut novel. The prose rarely sparkles but Aldred builds the story well, bridging the 30-year divide between Season 26 (dark manipulations) and Series 12 (sparkly rainbow TARDIS family). Her audiobook reading affords Ace’s journey a further layer of authenticity.
November 13, 2022
This starts our brilliantly. The opening of the narrative focuses on former companion Ace and her current occupation running a charitable organization and delving into investigations of other worldly origins. This stuff is wonderful. Then we get flashbacks to Ace’s time with the (seventh) Doctor, also good, and then we get introduced to the current (thirteenth) Doctor and her companions, Yaz, Graham and Ryan. The initial presentation of both of these incarnations into the story are handled very well. But as we move into the final third of the book, things fall into a much more expected and formulaic structure. While it’s not bad, it certainly doesn’t live up to the promise and excitement of the opening third. Entertaining, but really just unique or special.
For the audio book: having Sophie Aldred reading the story does add some wonderful gravitas to the narrative, but again, by the time we reach the closing third act, the novelty aspects have warn off and it’s just dressing on a rather typical story.
For the audio book: having Sophie Aldred reading the story does add some wonderful gravitas to the narrative, but again, by the time we reach the closing third act, the novelty aspects have warn off and it’s just dressing on a rather typical story.
December 6, 2020
I honestly wish this had been more consistent. I was thrilled at the prospect of Sophie Aldred writing the reunion of her character Dorothy 'Ace' McShane with an incarnation of the Doctor who is very different to the cold, manipulative 'Professor' that she remembers.
However the impact of this get-together is diminished by a rather clumsy abduction premise. There are some great sci-fi concepts in there such as the Quantum Anvil and people trafficking being presented as a form of charitable donation between planets, but this all never quite cohered for me. I didn't care for the Ratts or the Astingir: rat people and horse people inhabiting the same story doesn't seem quite as alien as a book about one or the other.
Also, the finer details of this plot get in the way of this novel's real unique selling point: the awkward mending of Ace and the Doctor's relationship. There is some fury from Ace and guilt from the Doctor but neither get a chance to explore these feelings in a credible way. Rather than confronting the problem of past cruelty and neglect as they should, it reads more like they're doing their best to evade it.
That being said I do like what Aldred has done with Ace, she captures the distinct voices of the Seventh and Thirteenth Doctors well respectively and the Squidget is a saving grace for most compatibility issues. Yaz, Ryan and Graham get plenty to do even while the Doctor is incapacitated and Chantelle was clearly written with Adele Silva, who played her in the Classic serial Survival, in mind. I also adored the little references to the multiple fates of Ace during the 'Wilderness Years', a detail I assume Cole and Tucker contributed.
To summarise, Doctor Who: At Childhood's End could have been a lot better but then it was lovely to see Aldred interacting with the current run of the show and pay homage to her time on Doctor Who. I recommend this novel to fellow Whovians and Ace sympathisers.
However the impact of this get-together is diminished by a rather clumsy abduction premise. There are some great sci-fi concepts in there such as the Quantum Anvil and people trafficking being presented as a form of charitable donation between planets, but this all never quite cohered for me. I didn't care for the Ratts or the Astingir: rat people and horse people inhabiting the same story doesn't seem quite as alien as a book about one or the other.
Also, the finer details of this plot get in the way of this novel's real unique selling point: the awkward mending of Ace and the Doctor's relationship. There is some fury from Ace and guilt from the Doctor but neither get a chance to explore these feelings in a credible way. Rather than confronting the problem of past cruelty and neglect as they should, it reads more like they're doing their best to evade it.
That being said I do like what Aldred has done with Ace, she captures the distinct voices of the Seventh and Thirteenth Doctors well respectively and the Squidget is a saving grace for most compatibility issues. Yaz, Ryan and Graham get plenty to do even while the Doctor is incapacitated and Chantelle was clearly written with Adele Silva, who played her in the Classic serial Survival, in mind. I also adored the little references to the multiple fates of Ace during the 'Wilderness Years', a detail I assume Cole and Tucker contributed.
To summarise, Doctor Who: At Childhood's End could have been a lot better but then it was lovely to see Aldred interacting with the current run of the show and pay homage to her time on Doctor Who. I recommend this novel to fellow Whovians and Ace sympathisers.
January 30, 2021
https://nwhyte.livejournal.com/3592547.html
Sophie Aldred is not the first Doctor Who actor to have written books in the continuity - both Bakers have turned their hand to it, as did Ian Marter back in the day and John Barrowman more recently. Noel "Mickey Smith" Clarke actually wrote a TV episode of Torchwood. She gives Steve Cole and Mike Tucker credit for assisting with the writing process here.
It's a story of Ace meeting up with the Thirteenth Doctor (and Ryan, Yaz, and Graham) in the present day, though a present day where Ace's ex-boyfriend is in charge of a rather small British manned space programme. Although there are some implausibilities in the set-up, I totally forgive this for a satisfying exploration of how Ace feels about the Doctor leaving her to it for decades. The alien threat, which I guess is meant to be the mainplot, is kidnapping young folks from London and the two protagonists get to grips with it. Ryan, Yaz, and Graham don't get a lot to do, but that's not the point. Plenty of continuity references, but also I think not too many to put off the non-Whovian reader.
Sophie Aldred is not the first Doctor Who actor to have written books in the continuity - both Bakers have turned their hand to it, as did Ian Marter back in the day and John Barrowman more recently. Noel "Mickey Smith" Clarke actually wrote a TV episode of Torchwood. She gives Steve Cole and Mike Tucker credit for assisting with the writing process here.
It's a story of Ace meeting up with the Thirteenth Doctor (and Ryan, Yaz, and Graham) in the present day, though a present day where Ace's ex-boyfriend is in charge of a rather small British manned space programme. Although there are some implausibilities in the set-up, I totally forgive this for a satisfying exploration of how Ace feels about the Doctor leaving her to it for decades. The alien threat, which I guess is meant to be the mainplot, is kidnapping young folks from London and the two protagonists get to grips with it. Ryan, Yaz, and Graham don't get a lot to do, but that's not the point. Plenty of continuity references, but also I think not too many to put off the non-Whovian reader.
May 29, 2025
2025 52 Book Challenge - 37) Genre Chosen By Somebody Else
I asked a friend for a genre for this prompt, and they returned with the incredibly specific, "Have you read any 7th Doctor stories? Because Ace is the best. Try one of them." So I haven't quite fulfilled that, as while the 7th Doctor is in this novel, it's more of an Ace and the 13th Doctor story. I think it's close enough.
I actually really enjoyed this book, and honestly this managed to give more characterisation to the 13th Doctor and companions than the show managed in like five years. I also really liked Ace grown up after her time with the Doctor and her charity, and Nitro-90. I loved the interactions between Ace and the 7th Doctor in the interludes, highlighting a problem that was evident back in Classic Who, and her interactions with the 13th Doctor in the present, highlighting the need for closure, which barely anybody in Doctor Who ever gets. I did also like the friction between Ace and Yaz, I thought it was nice to highlight that subplot from the show. Overall, I just thought it was a really decent book.
I asked a friend for a genre for this prompt, and they returned with the incredibly specific, "Have you read any 7th Doctor stories? Because Ace is the best. Try one of them." So I haven't quite fulfilled that, as while the 7th Doctor is in this novel, it's more of an Ace and the 13th Doctor story. I think it's close enough.
I actually really enjoyed this book, and honestly this managed to give more characterisation to the 13th Doctor and companions than the show managed in like five years. I also really liked Ace grown up after her time with the Doctor and her charity, and Nitro-90. I loved the interactions between Ace and the 7th Doctor in the interludes, highlighting a problem that was evident back in Classic Who, and her interactions with the 13th Doctor in the present, highlighting the need for closure, which barely anybody in Doctor Who ever gets. I did also like the friction between Ace and Yaz, I thought it was nice to highlight that subplot from the show. Overall, I just thought it was a really decent book.
November 1, 2022
What a stunning book! There's so many nods to the classic era, and not just the 7th Doc stories - the black cat called Sorin was one of the nicest, though I did like the reference to Trial of a Time-Lord. The plot makes sense, and the character of Dorothy is, not surprisingly, spot on. I presume having Dorothy naked at one point is a deliberate nod to the Virgin New Adventures, while the few typos in the book almost qualify it as being a Target novel. Recommended for all fans of this beloved series ( particularly classic Who fans), and I just hope Sophie plans to do a sequel soon.
June 25, 2025
3.5 stars
i loved ace and 13 together so much! & lots of call backs to the 7th doctors era which i also love
making yaz be really been though because she’s jealous is very out of character. yes jealous yaz 100% would happy but my girl would never be mean.
sophie is also the most perfect voice actor for this!
(audio book listen)
i loved ace and 13 together so much! & lots of call backs to the 7th doctors era which i also love
making yaz be really been though because she’s jealous is very out of character. yes jealous yaz 100% would happy but my girl would never be mean.
sophie is also the most perfect voice actor for this!
(audio book listen)
March 9, 2020
Scritto (e letto) da Sophie Aldred, con protagonista Dorothy Ace McShane, companion del settimo Dottore.
La storia convolge ovvianente anche il Dottore, sia nell'incarnazione interpretata da Sylvester McCoy che in quella interpretata da Jodie Whittaker.
Oltre ai nuovi companion e a vari riferimenti alla stagione 11 del nuovo corso, ci sono anche personaggi e riferimenti dai serial che hanno visto Ace protagonista, soprattutto da Doctor Who: Survival, ultimo serial classico trasmesso.
La storia ha un ritmo più da serie classica, con varie situazioni separate che, nel tempo, convergono verso il finale con tutto il gruppo riunito.
L'incontro tra 13 e Ace e i dialoghi tra Ace e Yaz sono ben realizzati e, pur sentendosi forte la voce di Ace, non si fa nessun torto alla nuova fam.
Veniamo a scoprire quando e perché Ace ha lasciato il Dottore e di quanto poco in realtà questo sia cambiato.
Nell'insieme tutto funziona egregiamente e la storia può servire ai nuovi fan come spinta per interessarsi al (gigantesco) mondo che si nasconde nella serie classica.
La storia convolge ovvianente anche il Dottore, sia nell'incarnazione interpretata da Sylvester McCoy che in quella interpretata da Jodie Whittaker.
Oltre ai nuovi companion e a vari riferimenti alla stagione 11 del nuovo corso, ci sono anche personaggi e riferimenti dai serial che hanno visto Ace protagonista, soprattutto da Doctor Who: Survival, ultimo serial classico trasmesso.
La storia ha un ritmo più da serie classica, con varie situazioni separate che, nel tempo, convergono verso il finale con tutto il gruppo riunito.
L'incontro tra 13 e Ace e i dialoghi tra Ace e Yaz sono ben realizzati e, pur sentendosi forte la voce di Ace, non si fa nessun torto alla nuova fam.
Veniamo a scoprire quando e perché Ace ha lasciato il Dottore e di quanto poco in realtà questo sia cambiato.
Nell'insieme tutto funziona egregiamente e la storia può servire ai nuovi fan come spinta per interessarsi al (gigantesco) mondo che si nasconde nella serie classica.
April 25, 2023
"Older and wiser? Older and brilliant."
This was a thoroughly enjoyable read. Of the three actor-turned-writer 𝘋𝘰𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘞𝘩𝘰 books that I've read (along with Alex Kingston's 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘶𝘣𝘺'𝘴 𝘊𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦 and Tom Baker's 𝘚𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘮𝘢𝘯), this has the best written prose and felt the most professional. Even the cover is evocative of crime dramas you'd see on shelves in book shops. The book is split into three parts and each moves the narrative along by exploring different aspects of the story. The first sees Dorothy McShane respond to an alien incursion on Earth, the second sees her pair up with the 13th Doctor and fam, then the third sees them take on the threat at hand. Each part interluded with a great flashback to Ace's time with the 7th Doctor to provide context. I will say that part three was perhaps too long as it felt as though it meandered for a chunk, but the climactic pay off made this feel worth it.
As for the specifics, I liked the story's connection to Ace's transportation to Iceworld and that original confrontation with Fenric, so it was nice for this story to be somewhat of a coda to those unanswered questions. The idea of dedicating a whole book to those questions by marrying that Cartmel era of 𝘋𝘰𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘞𝘩𝘰 with the current Chibnall era was well thought out and worked really well. The plot flowed well and the threat always felt great and present. Between the Wraiths, the Astingir, and the Ratts, the aliens and monsters introduced were all unique and interesting antagonists. The descriptions were very good and it was easy to imagine exactly what they looked like, behaved like, and what each of their motives were. I'd say my favourite of these were the Ratts and the descriptions of these during the parts set on Earth were gross and unsettling. The Earth-based story was probably the strongest as it had the biggest focus and sense of unravelling a mystery. That's not to say the parts on the Wraith ship or the alien planet were weak, but the Earth one for me was the most entertaining.
Though 𝘈𝘵 𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘥'𝘴 𝘌𝘯𝘥 is contradicted and removed from canon by 2022's 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘰𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳, it doesn't really matter too much as this book provides a fun explanation for diverging timelines within 𝘋𝘰𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘞𝘩𝘰 continuity. Following the show's cancellation in 1989, numerous platforms took the show in different directions. Virgin New Adventures, BBC Books, Big Finish - all of these provided different explanations for why Ace left the Doctor. This book opted to create its own reason, while simultaneously allowing those other continuities to remain canon for those who want them to. Ace's interaction with the quantum anvil and witnessing those many possibilities means that they were all timelines that have been witnessed within the 𝘋𝘰𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘞𝘩𝘰 universe, even if not necessarily the primary one. This book itself functions as one of those alternate possibilities as the aforementioned 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘰𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 opted to create a further explanation for why Ace left the Doctor and had the 13th Doctor meet Ace for the first time... despite their meeting here.
This book's highlight was its characters. It was like the Chibnall era's equivalent of 2006's 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘙𝘦𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯, but instead of being told from the perspective of the incumbent TARDIS team, it was told from the perspective of the returning classic companion. Beginning with Dorothy McShane and following her response to this alien incursion was a lot of fun and fascinating to see her flex her resources at A Charitable Earth. The gradual shift from using the name Dorothy to using the name Ace as the action increased was apt and brought a smile as you realised it was happening. As Sophie Aldred has lived with this character for so long, she just understands Ace to a T. There are countless nods and references made to quirks and characteristics from the character from over the years that makes this a delight for those long term fans who have also lived with this character for that time. So it was also nice to explore how she would interact with a later incarnation of the Doctor all these years later. Aldred portrayed this interaction exactly as it should be told. Unlike 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘰𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 mostly brushing this off, this book faced the relationship head on and had Ace and the Thirteenth Doctor openly discuss the Seventh Doctor's manipulation over her and the impact that had on her. This was really fascinating and each moment this was discussed were my favourites in the whole book. The jealousy element of current companions over past companions too is one that has been explored before in the show, but this is easily the best example of it. Yaz actively confronts the Doctor over her treatment of past companions and this is something I really enjoyed seeing in this book.
As someone who is far from a fan of the Chibnall era, one of my biggest takeaways from 𝘈𝘵 𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘥'𝘴 𝘌𝘯𝘥 is the way it handled those Chibnall era characters. This book finally allowed me to understand just who Yaz, Graham, and Ryan are. As well as being stripped of their wooden performances, a book allows a reader to spend more time with a set of characters and see them do more. This was greatly beneficial here as I could finally get a gauge on just who these people are. Yaz's determination to learn more and use her unspent potential, Graham's constant confusion at what's going on but willingness to make sure whatever it is that's happening works out for the best, and Ryan's clumsy enthusiasm to get stuck in even if he hasn't quite thought it through. The essence of the 13th Doctor was also captured well here and I really enjoyed her in this story (perhaps my favourite story to feature the incarnation) as she was consistently cheery and positive throughout - even if hiding a lot from her companions and showing elements reminiscent of the 7th Doctor's master manipulator self. Plus, reading along with the audiobook read by Aldred was a treat as she did the voices and accents for all characters and really brought the written words to life.
Though the pacing of this book could have used slightly more work, I found the rest of it to be a very entertaining read. The characters were perfectly written in a plot that was well thought out and engaging. When this story focused in on its characters, it really shone to its full potential. From the outside looking in, maybe all it needed was for 𝘋𝘰𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘞𝘩𝘰's past to show how great 𝘋𝘰𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘞𝘩𝘰's present could be.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable read. Of the three actor-turned-writer 𝘋𝘰𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘞𝘩𝘰 books that I've read (along with Alex Kingston's 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘶𝘣𝘺'𝘴 𝘊𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦 and Tom Baker's 𝘚𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘮𝘢𝘯), this has the best written prose and felt the most professional. Even the cover is evocative of crime dramas you'd see on shelves in book shops. The book is split into three parts and each moves the narrative along by exploring different aspects of the story. The first sees Dorothy McShane respond to an alien incursion on Earth, the second sees her pair up with the 13th Doctor and fam, then the third sees them take on the threat at hand. Each part interluded with a great flashback to Ace's time with the 7th Doctor to provide context. I will say that part three was perhaps too long as it felt as though it meandered for a chunk, but the climactic pay off made this feel worth it.
As for the specifics, I liked the story's connection to Ace's transportation to Iceworld and that original confrontation with Fenric, so it was nice for this story to be somewhat of a coda to those unanswered questions. The idea of dedicating a whole book to those questions by marrying that Cartmel era of 𝘋𝘰𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘞𝘩𝘰 with the current Chibnall era was well thought out and worked really well. The plot flowed well and the threat always felt great and present. Between the Wraiths, the Astingir, and the Ratts, the aliens and monsters introduced were all unique and interesting antagonists. The descriptions were very good and it was easy to imagine exactly what they looked like, behaved like, and what each of their motives were. I'd say my favourite of these were the Ratts and the descriptions of these during the parts set on Earth were gross and unsettling. The Earth-based story was probably the strongest as it had the biggest focus and sense of unravelling a mystery. That's not to say the parts on the Wraith ship or the alien planet were weak, but the Earth one for me was the most entertaining.
Though 𝘈𝘵 𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘥'𝘴 𝘌𝘯𝘥 is contradicted and removed from canon by 2022's 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘰𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳, it doesn't really matter too much as this book provides a fun explanation for diverging timelines within 𝘋𝘰𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘞𝘩𝘰 continuity. Following the show's cancellation in 1989, numerous platforms took the show in different directions. Virgin New Adventures, BBC Books, Big Finish - all of these provided different explanations for why Ace left the Doctor. This book opted to create its own reason, while simultaneously allowing those other continuities to remain canon for those who want them to. Ace's interaction with the quantum anvil and witnessing those many possibilities means that they were all timelines that have been witnessed within the 𝘋𝘰𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘞𝘩𝘰 universe, even if not necessarily the primary one. This book itself functions as one of those alternate possibilities as the aforementioned 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘰𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 opted to create a further explanation for why Ace left the Doctor and had the 13th Doctor meet Ace for the first time... despite their meeting here.
This book's highlight was its characters. It was like the Chibnall era's equivalent of 2006's 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘙𝘦𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯, but instead of being told from the perspective of the incumbent TARDIS team, it was told from the perspective of the returning classic companion. Beginning with Dorothy McShane and following her response to this alien incursion was a lot of fun and fascinating to see her flex her resources at A Charitable Earth. The gradual shift from using the name Dorothy to using the name Ace as the action increased was apt and brought a smile as you realised it was happening. As Sophie Aldred has lived with this character for so long, she just understands Ace to a T. There are countless nods and references made to quirks and characteristics from the character from over the years that makes this a delight for those long term fans who have also lived with this character for that time. So it was also nice to explore how she would interact with a later incarnation of the Doctor all these years later. Aldred portrayed this interaction exactly as it should be told. Unlike 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘰𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 mostly brushing this off, this book faced the relationship head on and had Ace and the Thirteenth Doctor openly discuss the Seventh Doctor's manipulation over her and the impact that had on her. This was really fascinating and each moment this was discussed were my favourites in the whole book. The jealousy element of current companions over past companions too is one that has been explored before in the show, but this is easily the best example of it. Yaz actively confronts the Doctor over her treatment of past companions and this is something I really enjoyed seeing in this book.
As someone who is far from a fan of the Chibnall era, one of my biggest takeaways from 𝘈𝘵 𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘥'𝘴 𝘌𝘯𝘥 is the way it handled those Chibnall era characters. This book finally allowed me to understand just who Yaz, Graham, and Ryan are. As well as being stripped of their wooden performances, a book allows a reader to spend more time with a set of characters and see them do more. This was greatly beneficial here as I could finally get a gauge on just who these people are. Yaz's determination to learn more and use her unspent potential, Graham's constant confusion at what's going on but willingness to make sure whatever it is that's happening works out for the best, and Ryan's clumsy enthusiasm to get stuck in even if he hasn't quite thought it through. The essence of the 13th Doctor was also captured well here and I really enjoyed her in this story (perhaps my favourite story to feature the incarnation) as she was consistently cheery and positive throughout - even if hiding a lot from her companions and showing elements reminiscent of the 7th Doctor's master manipulator self. Plus, reading along with the audiobook read by Aldred was a treat as she did the voices and accents for all characters and really brought the written words to life.
Though the pacing of this book could have used slightly more work, I found the rest of it to be a very entertaining read. The characters were perfectly written in a plot that was well thought out and engaging. When this story focused in on its characters, it really shone to its full potential. From the outside looking in, maybe all it needed was for 𝘋𝘰𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘞𝘩𝘰's past to show how great 𝘋𝘰𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘞𝘩𝘰's present could be.
March 20, 2020
Wow, this was excellent! I picked the audiobook version, partially because the print edition isn't out in the US yet and partially because I liked that Sophie Aldred read it herself, and it was definitely worth it. Aldred does the different accents for everyone excellently, and the story itself is great. It follows up on Ace as an adult, and what it's like to go about your "regular" life, once one's time travelling with the Doctor is over. Plus, it's always fun to see newer Doctors interact with older companions. I definitely recommend this for any Doctor Who fan.
February 17, 2020
The following review was originally published in the online newspaper The Orkney News in February 2020. Link here. https://theorkneynews.scot/2020/02/17...
Doctor Who: At Childhood’s End by Sophie Aldred
Hello to my readers once again! It certainly feels like it’s been a while! Now…I think I should have a reunion with a certain Dorothy McShane. I have made it abundantly clear throughout several different reviews that I am quite the Doctor Who fan. Much like every fan of any long running series I have a few favourite eras. So…when I heard that Sophie Aldred – who played the part of the Doctor’s final companion Ace during the classic era of the show (1963-1989 and in Ace’s case specifically 1987-1989) – was going to write a Doctor Who novel where Ace meets up with the current TARDIS crew I HAD to give it a listen! You could think of this as Sophie’s version of Doctor Who: Scratchman written by Tom Baker which I reviewed previously. However…before I discuss the plot I feel I should be honest about my general opinion on the show currently. If you wish to skip ahead to the review of the book feel free and jump to paragraph 5. I do feel though that this section does give my review context.
When Peter Capaldi left the show along with Stephen Moffat and various other behind the scenes figures I was fairly enthusiastic. Even more so when Jodie Whittaker was announced as the new Doctor. I’d heard from others that she had been really good in numerous TV projects so I was reasonably optimistic. Not so much when Chris Chibnall was announced as the new person in charge behind the scenes. For years with a few exceptions he came across as middle of the road at best with his Doctor Who work.
Unfortunately my low opinion of him did not change when Jodie’s era started. I still maintain that Jodie herself and her companions are talented or at the very least have some potential. However the way they have been written for the majority of her run – Jodie herself especially suffers from this – they either come across as one of three things: Excessively quirky to an annoying degree, utterly idiotic (Who doesn’t know who Nikola Tesla is for Pete’s sake!) or incredibly preachy. Case in point the big long speech at the end of one of the more recent episodes about climate change that felt like it came out of nowhere and went on for 6 hours. Even if Doctor Who is a family show I get the feeling that a lot of people who watch the show currently like I still do feel that the show has become self important and condescending to its viewers.
I still love the show for what it did for me when I was first introduced to it 15 or 16 years ago but I don’t want it to lose its’ soul. Even in the classic era which I adore or the David Tennant years the show could sometimes stand on a soapbox with a megaphone going ‘THIS IS THE MORAL OF THE STORY’ but even then it still felt like there was a fun story built around it and the show didn’t feel like it was condescending to me and treating me like an idiot or a three year old. I genuinely hope the Whittaker era improves and gets some generally better writing. Like I said I think everyone in front of the camera could do brilliantly if they were allowed to.
The plot of At Childhood’s End is as follows: It has been several years for Dorothy McShane, CEO of reputable charity A Charitable Earth since her days of travelling with The Doctor – or as she called him The Professor. Since the days of Ace. They didn’t exactly part on good terms. But things have been getting strange recently. Dorothy has been having terrible recurring nightmares. Nightmares about being abducted to a strange alien world. Again. At the same time groups of young runaways are disappearing and there is quite the bad rat infestation in Perivale, Dorothy’s old home town. Last but not least an alien satellite has just appeared above Earth. How is the Doctor involved in all this? Can Dorothy and The Doctor work past their old issues? Will they be able to solve this mess together for the good of the Earth? And will Dorothy be trusted by Graham, Yaz and Ryan? Is it time for Ace to come out of adventuring retirement?
This audiobook is solid gold! It feels like the perfect mix between the end of the classic era and Doctor Who as it is now. Sophie perfectly captures Ace once again after all these years (Big Finish audios notwithstanding) and her changes in character and mindset feel believable. It’s also lovely to have the odd reference here and there to non televised Doctor Who stories – Cybermen in the Blitz, the Ground Zero incident, Ace on Gallifrey – and a few others. Not forgetting the classic references to Ace’s era. Her writing is excellent, both exciting and engaging enough for you to get lost in the story and intelligent enough for it to feel like it is naturally what is required in the situation. Her choices of phrase can be wonderfully evocative at points. Both her original characters written for the book and her interpretations of the current TARDIS crew feel wonderful. Graham and Ryan got more than a few smiles out of me – as did Jodie herself – and the character development for Yaz in particular was very much appreciated. Any chance we could persuade Sophie to write for the TV series?
The narration for the audiobook is also done by Sophie who has fulfilled the role of narrator on several Doctor Who audiobooks and others as well. Her voice is very good in my opinion at keeping the listener’s attention and matching the character’s emotions at the time. Her narration for Jodie isn’t exactly perfect with regards to accent but I’ve definitely heard worse attempts at the Thirteenth Doctor! I’m almost certainly going to hear Sophie’s narration again soon.
In conclusion I highly recommend this book. It is the perfect mix of Classic and New Who. I couldn’t stop grinning through most of the book. The adventure was very gripping and I certainly hope that Sophie could be persuaded to do another Who story of her own in some capacity. It might not be perfect for everyone but regardless if you enjoy the modern era, Classic Who or its all the same to you I’m sure this story will give you more than a few reasons to smile. After all this story…IS WICKED!
Sayonara!
Nephrite
Doctor Who: At Childhood’s End by Sophie Aldred
Hello to my readers once again! It certainly feels like it’s been a while! Now…I think I should have a reunion with a certain Dorothy McShane. I have made it abundantly clear throughout several different reviews that I am quite the Doctor Who fan. Much like every fan of any long running series I have a few favourite eras. So…when I heard that Sophie Aldred – who played the part of the Doctor’s final companion Ace during the classic era of the show (1963-1989 and in Ace’s case specifically 1987-1989) – was going to write a Doctor Who novel where Ace meets up with the current TARDIS crew I HAD to give it a listen! You could think of this as Sophie’s version of Doctor Who: Scratchman written by Tom Baker which I reviewed previously. However…before I discuss the plot I feel I should be honest about my general opinion on the show currently. If you wish to skip ahead to the review of the book feel free and jump to paragraph 5. I do feel though that this section does give my review context.
When Peter Capaldi left the show along with Stephen Moffat and various other behind the scenes figures I was fairly enthusiastic. Even more so when Jodie Whittaker was announced as the new Doctor. I’d heard from others that she had been really good in numerous TV projects so I was reasonably optimistic. Not so much when Chris Chibnall was announced as the new person in charge behind the scenes. For years with a few exceptions he came across as middle of the road at best with his Doctor Who work.
Unfortunately my low opinion of him did not change when Jodie’s era started. I still maintain that Jodie herself and her companions are talented or at the very least have some potential. However the way they have been written for the majority of her run – Jodie herself especially suffers from this – they either come across as one of three things: Excessively quirky to an annoying degree, utterly idiotic (Who doesn’t know who Nikola Tesla is for Pete’s sake!) or incredibly preachy. Case in point the big long speech at the end of one of the more recent episodes about climate change that felt like it came out of nowhere and went on for 6 hours. Even if Doctor Who is a family show I get the feeling that a lot of people who watch the show currently like I still do feel that the show has become self important and condescending to its viewers.
I still love the show for what it did for me when I was first introduced to it 15 or 16 years ago but I don’t want it to lose its’ soul. Even in the classic era which I adore or the David Tennant years the show could sometimes stand on a soapbox with a megaphone going ‘THIS IS THE MORAL OF THE STORY’ but even then it still felt like there was a fun story built around it and the show didn’t feel like it was condescending to me and treating me like an idiot or a three year old. I genuinely hope the Whittaker era improves and gets some generally better writing. Like I said I think everyone in front of the camera could do brilliantly if they were allowed to.
The plot of At Childhood’s End is as follows: It has been several years for Dorothy McShane, CEO of reputable charity A Charitable Earth since her days of travelling with The Doctor – or as she called him The Professor. Since the days of Ace. They didn’t exactly part on good terms. But things have been getting strange recently. Dorothy has been having terrible recurring nightmares. Nightmares about being abducted to a strange alien world. Again. At the same time groups of young runaways are disappearing and there is quite the bad rat infestation in Perivale, Dorothy’s old home town. Last but not least an alien satellite has just appeared above Earth. How is the Doctor involved in all this? Can Dorothy and The Doctor work past their old issues? Will they be able to solve this mess together for the good of the Earth? And will Dorothy be trusted by Graham, Yaz and Ryan? Is it time for Ace to come out of adventuring retirement?
This audiobook is solid gold! It feels like the perfect mix between the end of the classic era and Doctor Who as it is now. Sophie perfectly captures Ace once again after all these years (Big Finish audios notwithstanding) and her changes in character and mindset feel believable. It’s also lovely to have the odd reference here and there to non televised Doctor Who stories – Cybermen in the Blitz, the Ground Zero incident, Ace on Gallifrey – and a few others. Not forgetting the classic references to Ace’s era. Her writing is excellent, both exciting and engaging enough for you to get lost in the story and intelligent enough for it to feel like it is naturally what is required in the situation. Her choices of phrase can be wonderfully evocative at points. Both her original characters written for the book and her interpretations of the current TARDIS crew feel wonderful. Graham and Ryan got more than a few smiles out of me – as did Jodie herself – and the character development for Yaz in particular was very much appreciated. Any chance we could persuade Sophie to write for the TV series?
The narration for the audiobook is also done by Sophie who has fulfilled the role of narrator on several Doctor Who audiobooks and others as well. Her voice is very good in my opinion at keeping the listener’s attention and matching the character’s emotions at the time. Her narration for Jodie isn’t exactly perfect with regards to accent but I’ve definitely heard worse attempts at the Thirteenth Doctor! I’m almost certainly going to hear Sophie’s narration again soon.
In conclusion I highly recommend this book. It is the perfect mix of Classic and New Who. I couldn’t stop grinning through most of the book. The adventure was very gripping and I certainly hope that Sophie could be persuaded to do another Who story of her own in some capacity. It might not be perfect for everyone but regardless if you enjoy the modern era, Classic Who or its all the same to you I’m sure this story will give you more than a few reasons to smile. After all this story…IS WICKED!
Sayonara!
Nephrite
July 11, 2021
Whatever happened to Ace? It's a question that has a variety of answers, either from the New Adventures series from Virgin books, or the audios from Big Finish, or even the Doctor Who comic strip. Sophie Aldred gives you her answer based on a seed planted in the Sarah Jane Adventures.
Sophie takes that seed mentioned in Sarah Jane Adventures and further hinted at in the season 26 blu ray trailer and does some world building, creating a future for Ace where she is in charge of a philanthropic foundation; A Charitable Earth. She is a successful businesswoman who lives a Tony Stark like lifestyle, driving electric cars and a la Torchwood experimenting with scavenged alien technology in her secret lab.
Dad's reunion with The Doctor is handled in much the same fashion as School Reunion reintroduced Sarah Jane Smith to a new generation of Doctor Who fans. There's an initial period of some resentment, but as the plot unfolds our heroes out aside their differences and Get to work saving the day.
As someone who has always loved Ace as a character, I'm happy with the adventure that unfolded in the pages of this book.
Sophie takes that seed mentioned in Sarah Jane Adventures and further hinted at in the season 26 blu ray trailer and does some world building, creating a future for Ace where she is in charge of a philanthropic foundation; A Charitable Earth. She is a successful businesswoman who lives a Tony Stark like lifestyle, driving electric cars and a la Torchwood experimenting with scavenged alien technology in her secret lab.
Dad's reunion with The Doctor is handled in much the same fashion as School Reunion reintroduced Sarah Jane Smith to a new generation of Doctor Who fans. There's an initial period of some resentment, but as the plot unfolds our heroes out aside their differences and Get to work saving the day.
As someone who has always loved Ace as a character, I'm happy with the adventure that unfolded in the pages of this book.
July 5, 2020
When I first heard about this novel and saw the, I thought, ‘Ace, this is going to be brilliant.’ It certainly lived up to the hype.
Sophie Aldred played Ace in the run-up to the end of the classic series revisits her character. This time she writes for my favourite companion. If ever I had a bias, this is its zenith.
The first half of the book is a powerful character piece. We explore what it’s like for Ace decades after leaving the Doctor and boy, have her travels left their scars. None the less, it’s nice to hear so many references throughout the show’s history interlaid throughout the story. It’s marvellous to read about post-Doctor companion adventures, to see that Dorothy is trying to get along with her life and move on from the Doctor, and to see what she took away from all her travels. I wish we could have had more of it. It’s simply superb to read Ace’s thoughts and inner conflict written (mostly) by the actress who best understands her.
The rest of the book gets on with the story, and it’s pretty much your standard Doctor Who adventure with a dark-ish twist. It mixes well with the overarching theme of Ace’s trust in the Doctor and the people around her, to see how Ace and the Doctor consider each other's development since their travels and to see their different approaches towards the antagonist.
Oh, and then there is the pun about one of the species’ “herdworld”. Love a good pun!
Overall, a solid story, and a wonderful and deep exploration of a former companion from the actress who best understands her.
Sophie Aldred played Ace in the run-up to the end of the classic series revisits her character. This time she writes for my favourite companion. If ever I had a bias, this is its zenith.
The first half of the book is a powerful character piece. We explore what it’s like for Ace decades after leaving the Doctor and boy, have her travels left their scars. None the less, it’s nice to hear so many references throughout the show’s history interlaid throughout the story. It’s marvellous to read about post-Doctor companion adventures, to see that Dorothy is trying to get along with her life and move on from the Doctor, and to see what she took away from all her travels. I wish we could have had more of it. It’s simply superb to read Ace’s thoughts and inner conflict written (mostly) by the actress who best understands her.
The rest of the book gets on with the story, and it’s pretty much your standard Doctor Who adventure with a dark-ish twist. It mixes well with the overarching theme of Ace’s trust in the Doctor and the people around her, to see how Ace and the Doctor consider each other's development since their travels and to see their different approaches towards the antagonist.
Oh, and then there is the pun about one of the species’ “herdworld”. Love a good pun!
Overall, a solid story, and a wonderful and deep exploration of a former companion from the actress who best understands her.
May 25, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Ace has remained my all time favorite Doctor Who Companion, between Classic and Nu-Who. As this is my first venture into the extended universe of Doctor Who (having only watched (many many times) the TV show, this was the perfect start for me. To see what Ace had gotten up to since she strolled off with Seven to where the tea was getting cold.
This novel does a fantastic (dare I say brilliant!) job of capturing the personality of Thirteen, as well as Graham, Ryan, and Yaz. And it was a joy to have Ace back again. I had a feeling I would enjoy this. But I ended up loving it way more than I expected to.
I really enjoyed getting glimpses of Ace and Seven, as we learn what lead to their parting of ways. And how those events tied back around to Ace running into Thirteen. Fans of both Classic and Nu-Who will have something for each of them here.
A very well done adventure.
This novel does a fantastic (dare I say brilliant!) job of capturing the personality of Thirteen, as well as Graham, Ryan, and Yaz. And it was a joy to have Ace back again. I had a feeling I would enjoy this. But I ended up loving it way more than I expected to.
I really enjoyed getting glimpses of Ace and Seven, as we learn what lead to their parting of ways. And how those events tied back around to Ace running into Thirteen. Fans of both Classic and Nu-Who will have something for each of them here.
A very well done adventure.
May 22, 2020
There is a great deal to enjoy in this novel. The merging of the classic series and the new is done deftly, with references to both nicely layered in without feeling laboured. Ace also gets yet another leaving backstory to add to the various endings provided by DWM, Big Finish & the New Adventures! Maybe the proto-effect of the Time War...!😊
The plot is a solid adventure story but the novel’s true strengths lie in Aldred’s characterisation of a woman she has played for more than 30 years, particular through the lens of an older & wiser Dorothy. Ace’s engagement with the new TARDIS crew is the novel’s highlight. Years fall away as Ace is reacquainted with her ‘Professor’.
Oh to see this done in the series on telly. After all there is now an empty house on Bannerman Road with its own super computer just waiting for the right tenant...
The plot is a solid adventure story but the novel’s true strengths lie in Aldred’s characterisation of a woman she has played for more than 30 years, particular through the lens of an older & wiser Dorothy. Ace’s engagement with the new TARDIS crew is the novel’s highlight. Years fall away as Ace is reacquainted with her ‘Professor’.
Oh to see this done in the series on telly. After all there is now an empty house on Bannerman Road with its own super computer just waiting for the right tenant...
July 2, 2020
Ace is my all time favorite companion, so when I saw that Sophie Aldred was writing a book about Ace and 13 I was super excited. In the original series we never saw what happened to Ace after the events of Survival. Just that years later when Seven is shot he is alone. To find out what happened to Ace and that Seven caused a huge rift between them was saddening but of course in character. Ace in this novel is amazing exactly the companion I know and love. Seeing her interactions with Thirteen was interesting, I like how Aldred handles the awkwardness of a companion meeting up with the doctor after years and meeting her new companions. (It reminded me of when Rose met Sarah Jane Smith— you had jealousy and then understanding) I know this was a one off book but I need more!!! Give me more Ace! It’ll be brilliant!
July 6, 2024
One in a series of novels that are written by the stars of the show (with a bit of help, if you read the copyright advice), this has a good first half reintroducing an older Ace in a modern post Classic series, post Torchwood Britain where teenagers are mysteriously disappearing. In the second half, however, the 13th Doc and her fam turn up, and whilst I'm a big fan of them in general, their "cameo" ends up sidelining Ace and the story as a whole becomes a generic "fight the evil aliens" TV-style story. And the game attempts at sorting out Ace's convoluted spin off media storyline are scuppered by the fact that this plot contradicts her later appearance in a Jodie episode!
May 13, 2020
Entertaining space adventure which enjoyably imagines how Ace and the Thirteenth Doctor would react to meeting each other again, especially when Ace is a 50-something billionaire with a charitble organisation, a "batcave" full of alien tech, and a lot of resentment towards her old friend. Wrapped around that is a space opera with colourful alien races and a fast moving pulp plot.
January 3, 2022
Having seen all of Classic Who, this story was such a treat! Having Thirteen and Ace meet is something I never knew I wanted until now!
March 26, 2023
The 13th doctor is my least favorite doctor, but this book wasn’t bad!
June 11, 2020
Блог: https://olegeightnine.wordpress.com/2...
Эту книгу написала Софи Олдред, сыгравшая роль Эйс, спутницы Седьмого Доктора в последних сезонах классического Doctor Who в конце 80-х, так что «At Childhood’s End» стоит читать только знакомым хотя бы с той эпохой с истории франчайза.
(Меня очень повеселила логика героев книги «волна необъяснимых похищений и неожиданное появление космического корабля явно связаны между собой», как будто на докторктошной Земле в любой момент времени не разворачивается как минимум десять злодейских планов в разных стадиях.)
В романе прошло тридцать лет с расставания Доктора и Эйс/Дороти, и сейчас уже не подросток возглавляет всемирно известную благотворительную организацию, но еще и держит руку на пульсе фантастических событий. Ее внимание привлекает совпадение обстоятельств серии пропаж людей в Лондоне с мучающими ее необычными снами, затем возле Луны материализуется НЛО, что ведет к встрече с Тринадцатой Доктором и командой.
Сюжет не заслуживает особого обсуждения, так что давайте просто будет рваный набор аспектов, которые мне нравятся и не нравятся:
Потому что у Эйс не было концовки в сериале, но есть слишком большое количество несовместимых судеб в других медиумах (спросите меня когда-нибудь), каждая новая история о ней после Доктора читается все страннее. Даже несмотря на то, что это не особенно сложная книга без темпоральных завитушек, здесь все равно есть комментарий о тех других версиях Эйс, которому не хватает только пожилого Хана Соло из «Пробуждения Силы».
Но механизм, позволяющий этот комментарий, приводит к концовке, которая мне нравится так сильно, что оправдывает существование всей книги, и это вызывает еще более странные ощущения.
Взрослая Дороти изображена гораздо более сдержанной и компетентной версией брутальной космодесантницы, в которую ее превратили авторы 90-х: кроме благотворительной деятельности она, успешно скрываясь от вообще всех секретных организаций (авторы, я не верю, что пенсионеры из Intrusion Counter-Measures Group до сих пор активны), собрала огромную коллекцию инопланетной техники в секретном ангаре и как обычно усовершенствовала свою фирменную взрывчатку. Она — классная и занимается классными вещами.
Разрыв с Седьмым Доктором во флэшбеках довольно неуклюжий, потому что этому Доктору нужно быть зловеще манипулятивным, но все обстоятельства должны целиком влезть в две сцены, и получается манипуляция от человека, который настолько зависим от манипуляций, что даже не может попросить передать соль без манипулирования.
Странное чувство, что у Тринадцатой как и в сериале сильная нехватка индивидуальности, но я отчетливо слышу Уиттакер в репликах. Это что-то о ком-то означает.
Я не помню, чтобы в сериале Райан так часто употреблял восклицание «Oh my days!».
Серьезно смущает, что никто из трех авторов якобы не знают, как работают пилоты телепрограмм.
И я уже говорил, но концовка мне очень понравилась. Прям философски. Вдруг такое чувство, что, может, оно того стоило, аж так настроение поднялось. Черт побери. Спасибо, Софи и ко.
Эту книгу написала Софи Олдред, сыгравшая роль Эйс, спутницы Седьмого Доктора в последних сезонах классического Doctor Who в конце 80-х, так что «At Childhood’s End» стоит читать только знакомым хотя бы с той эпохой с истории франчайза.
(Меня очень повеселила логика героев книги «волна необъяснимых похищений и неожиданное появление космического корабля явно связаны между собой», как будто на докторктошной Земле в любой момент времени не разворачивается как минимум десять злодейских планов в разных стадиях.)
В романе прошло тридцать лет с расставания Доктора и Эйс/Дороти, и сейчас уже не подросток возглавляет всемирно известную благотворительную организацию, но еще и держит руку на пульсе фантастических событий. Ее внимание привлекает совпадение обстоятельств серии пропаж людей в Лондоне с мучающими ее необычными снами, затем возле Луны материализуется НЛО, что ведет к встрече с Тринадцатой Доктором и командой.
Сюжет не заслуживает особого обсуждения, так что давайте просто будет рваный набор аспектов, которые мне нравятся и не нравятся:
Потому что у Эйс не было концовки в сериале, но есть слишком большое количество несовместимых судеб в других медиумах (спросите меня когда-нибудь), каждая новая история о ней после Доктора читается все страннее. Даже несмотря на то, что это не особенно сложная книга без темпоральных завитушек, здесь все равно есть комментарий о тех других версиях Эйс, которому не хватает только пожилого Хана Соло из «Пробуждения Силы».
Но механизм, позволяющий этот комментарий, приводит к концовке, которая мне нравится так сильно, что оправдывает существование всей книги, и это вызывает еще более странные ощущения.
Взрослая Дороти изображена гораздо более сдержанной и компетентной версией брутальной космодесантницы, в которую ее превратили авторы 90-х: кроме благотворительной деятельности она, успешно скрываясь от вообще всех секретных организаций (авторы, я не верю, что пенсионеры из Intrusion Counter-Measures Group до сих пор активны), собрала огромную коллекцию инопланетной техники в секретном ангаре и как обычно усовершенствовала свою фирменную взрывчатку. Она — классная и занимается классными вещами.
Разрыв с Седьмым Доктором во флэшбеках довольно неуклюжий, потому что этому Доктору нужно быть зловеще манипулятивным, но все обстоятельства должны целиком влезть в две сцены, и получается манипуляция от человека, который настолько зависим от манипуляций, что даже не может попросить передать соль без манипулирования.
Странное чувство, что у Тринадцатой как и в сериале сильная нехватка индивидуальности, но я отчетливо слышу Уиттакер в репликах. Это что-то о ком-то означает.
Я не помню, чтобы в сериале Райан так часто употреблял восклицание «Oh my days!».
Серьезно смущает, что никто из трех авторов якобы не знают, как работают пилоты телепрограмм.
И я уже говорил, но концовка мне очень понравилась. Прям философски. Вдруг такое чувство, что, может, оно того стоило, аж так настроение поднялось. Черт побери. Спасибо, Софи и ко.
March 30, 2021
Superb! Sophie Aldred really has proven herself as an author here. The best part of this book, is that it brings back a beloved character, but not as a cameo or gimmick, it really shows how Ace has changed and adds to her current character. Lots of little nuggets for fans old and new. The 13th doctor and the fam are written brilliantly, dare I say, better than the show? An absolute joy to read and leaves the reader wishing there was more from the author and the characters.
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