Mindgame

by David J. Howe

‘A Sontaran, a Draconian and a Human … It sounds like the beginning of a bad joke.’

Sontaran Field-Major Sarg, Draconian Colonel Eskon and a Human mercenary who cannot remember her name have nothing in common … that is until they are each snatched from their everyday lives to do battle in an alien arena on an asteroid suspended in the void! With a massive clash of cultures looming, can they each settle their differences and work together to defeat the alien intelligence which is trying to pit them against each other …?

And then, once returned to their own times and places, can they continue as they were before, or has the experience changed them all?

An exciting adventure from the Worlds of Doctor Who.

Genres: Doctor Who

138 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2020

Reviews

[Bookcollector · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an adaptation, like the old target doctor who novels, of two reeltime pictures films. Mindgame first released in 1998 written by who legend Terrance dicks and mindgame trilogy from 1999 written by Terrance dicks, miles Richardson (who played the draconian) and roger Stevens. Confession time. I love the mindgame stories. Written by a favourite writer the late and missed Terrance. Featuring two classic monsters from old who, the sontarans and in their only screen return the draconians and the return of sophie aldred as... well its ace really but unnamed in the dramas. They are well made dramas and made with an obvious love of doctor who.
So here we are 22 years later and we have a book of them at last. Something which I'm so pleased to see. Telos have presented this in the style of the old target novels. The cover on this version is the photo cover not the target version I have, this means it doesn't have the photo insert that is included in that version. Written by David j. Howe this is a great little book. It starts with the same prologue opening as the mindgame film but then presents three chapters of new material introducing the three main characters. The book then adapts the original film reasonably closely but making a few nice adjustments that weren't possible in the studio and on the budget.
Then we come to mindgame trilogy. Howe has changed quite a bit here. The sontaran story is very different and has a nice twist with a nod to new who. The story order changes and scout ship is next which does make more sense story wise. Finally we get a more straightforward adaptation of prisoner 451 albeit topped and tailed with new material.
I enjoyed the alterations as I used to enjoy them in the old target books. Overall this is a good read. It's an easy read that passes the time nicely. And it's a book I'm just so happy to add to my collection.

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this. Mindgame is set in the Doctor Who universe where a Draconian, a Sontaran and a human (basically Ace, the 7th Doctor companion but not directly named) find themselves in a cell together, captured and subjected to tests by an undefined alien race. What is good about this story is that it shows what can be done with only a handful of characters, in a limited location, and still create a story that you need to keep reading.
This story expands on the original Mindgame films from the late 1990s and gives a lot more depth to the characters and their backgrounds.
Highly recommended read for not only the Doctor Who connection but a good example of classic storytelling.

[Kieran McAndrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Sontaran, a Draconian and a Human are all abducted by an extra galactic entity who Ella them that the first to assist with their invasion plan will be allowed to rule the galaxy.

As with other Telos properties, this is an interesting 'almost Doctor Who' story. The characters are not named correctly (for contractual and legal reasons), but should still be recognisable.

[Chris Griffin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would be a 4 except for the overuse of oily spittle...