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Doctor Who: The Darksmith Legacy #6
The Game of Death
The hunter becomes the hunted, as the Doctor tracks the Agent's journey from Paris across the Milky Way towards the Silver Devastation. Where is it heading? What force can destroy the crystal? Where is the robot Agent, and why did it come here? What is the strange and sinister game is taking place in an elegant house in the Home Counties? Find out by reading the next thrilling adventure in "The Darksmith Legacy".
128 pages, Paperback
First published May 28, 2009
About the author
Trevor Baxendale
85 books47 followersTrevor Baxendale is a novelist who has penned several Doctor Who tie-in novels and audio dramas. He lives in Liverpool, England with his wife and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 29, 2026
Book 6.
The Doctor and his android companion Gisella pursue the Darksmith Agent into the Silver Devastation and there, bizarrely, find themselves caught in a murder mystery game. Soon, however, it is clear that this game is deadly and a murderous alien is on the prowl.
The Darksmith series, never really great, had really slumped by the time I started this book and it was a huge relief to find that this is the book the series needed to reinvigorate my interest.
One of the things it does differently than what came before, for example, is not to have the dumbing-down of Doctor Who's style as part of being aimed at younger readers. This is the first book in the whole series (as far as I can remember) where named characters actually die, adding actual stakes to the plot.
I think the highest praise I could give this book is the two-fold assertion that not only would this have made an excellent full-length adult novel, but it would also have made for a very good episode of the TV show itself (sure, I know they did a murder mystery with Agatha Christie, but this is different enough to fit in the genre without feeling derivative).
On top of having a good story of its own to tell, this book also resolves one of the major ongoing elements of the Darksmith series, which definitely felt like it was stagnating a bit.
So, overall, a surprisingly good read.
* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.page *
The Doctor and his android companion Gisella pursue the Darksmith Agent into the Silver Devastation and there, bizarrely, find themselves caught in a murder mystery game. Soon, however, it is clear that this game is deadly and a murderous alien is on the prowl.
The Darksmith series, never really great, had really slumped by the time I started this book and it was a huge relief to find that this is the book the series needed to reinvigorate my interest.
One of the things it does differently than what came before, for example, is not to have the dumbing-down of Doctor Who's style as part of being aimed at younger readers. This is the first book in the whole series (as far as I can remember) where named characters actually die, adding actual stakes to the plot.
I think the highest praise I could give this book is the two-fold assertion that not only would this have made an excellent full-length adult novel, but it would also have made for a very good episode of the TV show itself (sure, I know they did a murder mystery with Agatha Christie, but this is different enough to fit in the genre without feeling derivative).
On top of having a good story of its own to tell, this book also resolves one of the major ongoing elements of the Darksmith series, which definitely felt like it was stagnating a bit.
So, overall, a surprisingly good read.
* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.page *
December 17, 2020
エターナル・クリスタルの破壊方法を探るため、ロボ・エージェントの裏をかいて追跡するドクターとジセラ。しかし、アクシデントでターディスはシルバー・ディバーステーションという様々な悪評ただよう星に漂着。ドクターとジセラはそこで死のゲームというサバイバルゲームに巻き込まれる。しかし、そのゲームの主催者はノクターンという恐ろしい捕食生物で、サバイバルゲームに集められたメンバーはノクターンの餌でしかなかった。そのうちドクターはロボ・エージェントの裏をかいて追跡していたつもりが、まんまとロボ・エージェントにこの地に誘導されたことを悟る。ロボ・エージェントのねらいはジセラだった。
アンドロイドとしてジセラが強さを発揮。サバイバルゲームは途中までハラハラさせられた。ロボ・エージェントのコアデーターから次の行き先をきめた二人。ジセラとドクターはとてもいいコンビだと思う。
アンドロイドとしてジセラが強さを発揮。サバイバルゲームは途中までハラハラさせられた。ロボ・エージェントのコアデーターから次の行き先をきめた二人。ジセラとドクターはとてもいいコンビだと思う。
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 22, 2018
As expected from Trevor Baxendale, this is a brilliant entry into the Darksmith set. Set in an elegant country house, it starts off like a traditional Christie murder mystery - there's even one of her books mentioned for eagle eyed readers.
February 7, 2018
Easy to read & fun to read
December 7, 2020
As I am unable to watch television, I am finding these books to be an amazing introduction to Doctor Who. I knew the basics of what it was about, but these books really have fed my imagination.
November 25, 2012
Trevor Baxendale's contribution to "The Darksmith Legacy"-saga is the best the series has offered so far. The beginning is completely marvelous; an isolated island drifting in space offers an idyllic simulation of Earthlike countryside, but harbors a mystery. Very Twilight Zone, and very intriguing tonewise.
The plot doesn't really live up to the tone and intrigue, but Baxendale's prose makes up for that quite nicely. This one has some surprisingly dark stuff in it, and the text reflects those darker tones by containing an edge absent from the series so far.
The plot doesn't really live up to the tone and intrigue, but Baxendale's prose makes up for that quite nicely. This one has some surprisingly dark stuff in it, and the text reflects those darker tones by containing an edge absent from the series so far.
March 14, 2015
Very satisfying, continuing this series' reliance upon Gothic horror, something I heartily approve of.
The setting of this instalment is fairly unique: an asteroid with an artificial atmosphere containing a mansion and gardens, in the centre of an area of devastated apace where two galaxies collided.
The strange 'party' and game that takes place at the house is reminiscent of such old horror movies as 'The Beast Must Die', with the guests nervously trying to work out who's secretly the murderous monster. It all escalates nicely, with plenty of rampaging horrors.
The setting of this instalment is fairly unique: an asteroid with an artificial atmosphere containing a mansion and gardens, in the centre of an area of devastated apace where two galaxies collided.
The strange 'party' and game that takes place at the house is reminiscent of such old horror movies as 'The Beast Must Die', with the guests nervously trying to work out who's secretly the murderous monster. It all escalates nicely, with plenty of rampaging horrors.
October 28, 2015
Review written: sometime before April 21, 2015
The Game of Death by Trevor Baxendale
Why I read it: It was a Doctor Who book.
Rating: 3/5
What I thought: Important stuff happened, but the plot was so fillery it was a bit hard to care. Some of the twists were nice though, and it had robots punching each other really hard, so I had a great time eventually.
The Game of Death by Trevor Baxendale
Why I read it: It was a Doctor Who book.
Rating: 3/5
What I thought: Important stuff happened, but the plot was so fillery it was a bit hard to care. Some of the twists were nice though, and it had robots punching each other really hard, so I had a great time eventually.
April 18, 2015
My favourite of the series, the Doctor finds himself involved in a murder mystery game where, as always with the Doctor, things don't go quite to plan.
I love the subtle references to the Master, which tied in perfectly with information given in the TV series at the time, and it gave a little more info to this super fan of the series.
I love the subtle references to the Master, which tied in perfectly with information given in the TV series at the time, and it gave a little more info to this super fan of the series.
November 4, 2016
Honestly the best chapter of the Darksmith Legacy not only is the plot creepy and mysterious but it also has well written action also. The story is excellently written with brilliant plot twists and a great location, the characters are also brilliant especially the Doctor and Gisella who are better than they have been in the entire series.
January 9, 2016
Read originally in 2012. Re-read in 2016.
The book was very good, but it was too short for the plot to be great. This made the book a bit too rushed for the mystery to develop well. Still, a good fast-paced book.
Full review soon.
The book was very good, but it was too short for the plot to be great. This made the book a bit too rushed for the mystery to develop well. Still, a good fast-paced book.
Full review soon.
March 25, 2010
Jolly good fun, though there are horrible nocturn monsters that kill you & suck your blood.
May 30, 2011
For full review please visit: http://shadowsireview.blogspot.com/20...
August 28, 2011
Suitable for 8 - 11 year olds.
This is the best book in the series up to now. It rockets along in a murder mystery with monsters type way that keeps you turning the pages. A good read.
This is the best book in the series up to now. It rockets along in a murder mystery with monsters type way that keeps you turning the pages. A good read.
December 31, 2015
Good story. The different chase scenes were really vividly described.
June 30, 2021
2.75 stars
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews