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Past Doctor Adventures #19
Doctor Who: The Wages of Sin
From the wastes of Siberia to the intrigue of the imperial court at St. Petersberg, 1916, the Third Doctor, Jo and Liz are involved in the machinations of the mad monk Rasputin.
As history plunges onward inexorably, the Doctor's companions realize that history books can lie. But the Doctor can see the threads that hold all time together -- can he and his companions escape the depravities of this decadent Russia without unraveling the history of Earth?
288 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 1999
253 people want to read
About the author
David A. McIntee
77 books30 followersDavid A. McIntee was a British author who specialised in writing spin-offs and nonfiction commentaries for Doctor Who and other British and American science-fiction franchises.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
July 19, 2017
A revolutionary reading!
WHO
The Doctor:
The Third Doctor
Companions:
Professor Elizabeth “Liz” Shaw
Josephine “Jo” Grant
WHERE & WHEN
St. Petersburg, Russia. Earth. December, 1916.
WHAT
Not always is easy to fit a prose novel into the TV chronology, but happily it’s easy in this case, due it’s the first “test trip” of the TARDIS by the Third Doctor, right after being pardoned by the Time Lords’ Council, and giving back to him the memories of how to operate the TARDIS. So, this story is properly fit rigth after “The Three Doctors” but before of “Carnival of Monsters”, during Season 10 of the Classic Era of Doctor Who.
But this got better!
Since the Third Doctor not only has Jo Grant as his current companion, but Liz Shaw is back for the “test trip”, since during her time as Doctor’s companion, she never was able to travel in the TARDIS, so this is a really special adventure! (Especially for me, since Liz Shaw is one of my favorite companions in Doctor Who.)
Prof. Liz Shaw is versed in several scientific fields but her speciality is about meteorites, so the Doctor wanted to take her, along with Jo, to Tunguska, 1908, to observe the famous meteoroid blast event at the moment that happened, but…
…as you know, the TARDIS always have its own mind about where to take The Doctor and his companions, not matter what coordinates would be inserted…
…so, The Doctor, Liz and Jo, ended in Russia alright, but, in St. Petersburg, in 1916, just some few month before the infamous Russian Revolution!
Definitely it’s not a good place or date to be, but…
…they can’t leave, since the TARDIS is stolen!!!
So, from an expected scientific exploration, the situation turned into an unexpected political struggle!
They are seen with suspicion, especially since Russia is in the middle of the WWI against Kaiser’s Germany, and they are worried for spies, but relationships with England aren’t in the best moment, and while The Doctor is an alien in reality, he looks like your good next door British old chap in the company of two (definitely) British ladies, so all the political powers in St. Petersburg: the Romanov Royal Family, the Ochrana Secret Police, the Bolsheviks, the British Intelligence and even Grigori Rasputin aka the Mad Monk, become interested in all movements of the new trio around the city and speculating how they may impact on the local political agendas, in this particular convulted period.
One priceless bonus in this novel is that David A. McIntee, the author, shows a remarkly deep knowledge (previous or done for the book) about Russia and the political situation there, before and after the Russian Revolution, where he doesn’t limit himself what the official history book say (since it’s clear that history is written by the victors and it’s not necessarily the truth) but also making great speculative development based on logic and sense, turning the reading experience into a real tangible journey through the street of St. Petersburg, getting in touch with its people and feeling the ambiance of that time.
Moreover, the author presented a really mature narrative, presenting unusual (in the case of Doctor Who franchise) situations with sexual tension and also crude violence, giving you the real feeling that you’re dealing with adult characters in adult situations, definitely you’ll be amazed of how far can The Doctor go to avoid time anomalies that could lead into unsuspected and dangerous paradoxes.
So, if you’re looking for an adventure of Doctor Who in the angle of real historic situations, without any science-fiction villains,…
…don’t look anymore! This is it, tovarich!
WHO
The Doctor:
The Third Doctor
Companions:
Professor Elizabeth “Liz” Shaw
Josephine “Jo” Grant
WHERE & WHEN
St. Petersburg, Russia. Earth. December, 1916.
WHAT
Not always is easy to fit a prose novel into the TV chronology, but happily it’s easy in this case, due it’s the first “test trip” of the TARDIS by the Third Doctor, right after being pardoned by the Time Lords’ Council, and giving back to him the memories of how to operate the TARDIS. So, this story is properly fit rigth after “The Three Doctors” but before of “Carnival of Monsters”, during Season 10 of the Classic Era of Doctor Who.
But this got better!
Since the Third Doctor not only has Jo Grant as his current companion, but Liz Shaw is back for the “test trip”, since during her time as Doctor’s companion, she never was able to travel in the TARDIS, so this is a really special adventure! (Especially for me, since Liz Shaw is one of my favorite companions in Doctor Who.)
Prof. Liz Shaw is versed in several scientific fields but her speciality is about meteorites, so the Doctor wanted to take her, along with Jo, to Tunguska, 1908, to observe the famous meteoroid blast event at the moment that happened, but…
…as you know, the TARDIS always have its own mind about where to take The Doctor and his companions, not matter what coordinates would be inserted…
…so, The Doctor, Liz and Jo, ended in Russia alright, but, in St. Petersburg, in 1916, just some few month before the infamous Russian Revolution!
Definitely it’s not a good place or date to be, but…
…they can’t leave, since the TARDIS is stolen!!!
So, from an expected scientific exploration, the situation turned into an unexpected political struggle!
They are seen with suspicion, especially since Russia is in the middle of the WWI against Kaiser’s Germany, and they are worried for spies, but relationships with England aren’t in the best moment, and while The Doctor is an alien in reality, he looks like your good next door British old chap in the company of two (definitely) British ladies, so all the political powers in St. Petersburg: the Romanov Royal Family, the Ochrana Secret Police, the Bolsheviks, the British Intelligence and even Grigori Rasputin aka the Mad Monk, become interested in all movements of the new trio around the city and speculating how they may impact on the local political agendas, in this particular convulted period.
One priceless bonus in this novel is that David A. McIntee, the author, shows a remarkly deep knowledge (previous or done for the book) about Russia and the political situation there, before and after the Russian Revolution, where he doesn’t limit himself what the official history book say (since it’s clear that history is written by the victors and it’s not necessarily the truth) but also making great speculative development based on logic and sense, turning the reading experience into a real tangible journey through the street of St. Petersburg, getting in touch with its people and feeling the ambiance of that time.
Moreover, the author presented a really mature narrative, presenting unusual (in the case of Doctor Who franchise) situations with sexual tension and also crude violence, giving you the real feeling that you’re dealing with adult characters in adult situations, definitely you’ll be amazed of how far can The Doctor go to avoid time anomalies that could lead into unsuspected and dangerous paradoxes.
So, if you’re looking for an adventure of Doctor Who in the angle of real historic situations, without any science-fiction villains,…
…don’t look anymore! This is it, tovarich!
February 26, 2021
A straightforward historical set in St Petersburg during the winter of 1916.
The Third Doctor who’s just regained his ability to time-travel after the events of The Three Doctors offers to take former companion Liz Shaw on a test flight with him and Jo, a planned trip to Siberia in 1908 is instead replaced by a visit to the then Russian Capital and an encounter with Rasputin.
It’s great that Liz has finally had a chance to travel aboard the TARDIS.
Whilst the cold setting is perfectly captured and a famous historical figure is well captured, this felt like a great throwback to early-Who.
The Third Doctor who’s just regained his ability to time-travel after the events of The Three Doctors offers to take former companion Liz Shaw on a test flight with him and Jo, a planned trip to Siberia in 1908 is instead replaced by a visit to the then Russian Capital and an encounter with Rasputin.
It’s great that Liz has finally had a chance to travel aboard the TARDIS.
Whilst the cold setting is perfectly captured and a famous historical figure is well captured, this felt like a great throwback to early-Who.
July 22, 2025
Freed at last from the Time Lords’ restrictions on his ability to travel through time and space, the Doctor decides to treat his former companion Liz Shaw to a trip to any destination she desired. Instead of arriving in Siberia in 1908 to witness the Tunguska event, however, the TARDIS lands in St. Petersburg in December 1916, amidst the tensions of war and the rumblings of revolution. No sooner do they get their bearings than the Doctor, Liz, and Jo Grant find themselves trapped when someone steals their mode of transport. As the trio search the city for the TARDIS, they soon find themselves drawn into the conspiratorial atmosphere permeating St. Petersburg, with assassination plotters and secret policemen threatening their lives. And at the center of it all is Grigory Rasputin, the legendary “mad monk” whose death is fated to take place in only a matter of days. Or is it?
Given the possibilities in a story involving Rasputin, the Tunguska event, and the Russian Revolution, what is most notable about David McIntee’s novel is his restraint in injecting the elements familiar to fans of the Doctor Who franchise. The Tunguska event is never revealed to be a crashing spaceship, Rasputin does not turn out to be the Master in disguise, and any number of other opportunities are passed over. Instead, McIntee gives us that rarest of Doctor Who stories: a straight historical adventure in which the Doctor and his companions find themselves merely in the midst of momentous developments. Without aliens or supernatural forces interfering, the Doctor instead counsels restraint in the name of maintaining the natural course of events, despite urging from an enraptured Jo that Rasputin was a misunderstood man who deserves to be saved. It may not measure up to the momentous events of Lords of the Storm or have the excitement of The Face of the Enemy, but it is nonetheless a fun tale told in McIntee’s knowing and entertaining style.
Given the possibilities in a story involving Rasputin, the Tunguska event, and the Russian Revolution, what is most notable about David McIntee’s novel is his restraint in injecting the elements familiar to fans of the Doctor Who franchise. The Tunguska event is never revealed to be a crashing spaceship, Rasputin does not turn out to be the Master in disguise, and any number of other opportunities are passed over. Instead, McIntee gives us that rarest of Doctor Who stories: a straight historical adventure in which the Doctor and his companions find themselves merely in the midst of momentous developments. Without aliens or supernatural forces interfering, the Doctor instead counsels restraint in the name of maintaining the natural course of events, despite urging from an enraptured Jo that Rasputin was a misunderstood man who deserves to be saved. It may not measure up to the momentous events of Lords of the Storm or have the excitement of The Face of the Enemy, but it is nonetheless a fun tale told in McIntee’s knowing and entertaining style.
June 5, 2015
It was inevitable that at some point, the Doctor’s path would cross with Rasputin. There’s an enduring fascination with the man and his reputation, and how far his influence over the Russian royal family eroded their credibility to the extent where revolution became possible. So, he makes an appearance in a Third Doctor story, which conjures up images of epic confrontations between the two, and the seemingly inevitable revelation that this bearded master of hypnotism should turn out to be the Master. After all, David A McIntee has a particular flair for writing for the Master, which is why his earlier works such as ‘First Frontier’, ‘The Dark Path’ and ‘The Face of the Enemy’ worked so well.
It is to McIntee’s credit that these temptations were so studiously avoided here. What we get instead is a pleasingly unfamiliar TARDIS crew – in this, the Doctor’s first adventure since the Time Lords restored his ability to pilot his ship, he is joined by his assistant Jo Grant as well as her predecessor Liz Shaw, who never entered the TARDIS in her time on screen. I am aware that this unusual combination is down to McIntee being obliged to change his novel from a First Doctor to a Third Doctor story – it follows hot on the heels of a First Doctor story, ‘Salvation’, which wouldn’t have worked with any other Doctor.
Also, without that major change, I think ‘The Wages of Sin’ would have suffered in comparison to the previous year’s ‘The Witch Hunters’, which has similar things to say about trying to changed known historical events and may have come across as a rehash of an old theme. This way, though, it all feels pretty fresh and new – Third Doctor historical stories are pretty rare, and if you add to this Liz and Jo’s approaches to stepping into history, there’s a lot going on beneath the surface.
The only shame is that the promising TARDIS crew at the end of the novel – with the Doctor, Jo and Liz being joined by special agent Kit – is one we won’t ever see again. Who knows how many adventures they had before the Doctor returned Kit to England? And how long did Liz decide to stay with the TARDIS?
Ah well.
It is to McIntee’s credit that these temptations were so studiously avoided here. What we get instead is a pleasingly unfamiliar TARDIS crew – in this, the Doctor’s first adventure since the Time Lords restored his ability to pilot his ship, he is joined by his assistant Jo Grant as well as her predecessor Liz Shaw, who never entered the TARDIS in her time on screen. I am aware that this unusual combination is down to McIntee being obliged to change his novel from a First Doctor to a Third Doctor story – it follows hot on the heels of a First Doctor story, ‘Salvation’, which wouldn’t have worked with any other Doctor.
Also, without that major change, I think ‘The Wages of Sin’ would have suffered in comparison to the previous year’s ‘The Witch Hunters’, which has similar things to say about trying to changed known historical events and may have come across as a rehash of an old theme. This way, though, it all feels pretty fresh and new – Third Doctor historical stories are pretty rare, and if you add to this Liz and Jo’s approaches to stepping into history, there’s a lot going on beneath the surface.
The only shame is that the promising TARDIS crew at the end of the novel – with the Doctor, Jo and Liz being joined by special agent Kit – is one we won’t ever see again. Who knows how many adventures they had before the Doctor returned Kit to England? And how long did Liz decide to stay with the TARDIS?
Ah well.
December 12, 2024
It’s Doctor Who vs Rasputin in this historical adventure - except not quite, as the impending murder is an event that the TARDIS crew want to avoid taking part in, and the man himself is portrayed with some degree of sympathy, without excusing his many failings. It’s a sort of calm-before-the-storm story about life right before the Russian revolution, with spy shenanigans set against an eerily calm atmosphere. Liz Shaw puts in a good showing in a rare return appearance, although I wish more was made of the fact this is happening. A quietly strong bit of work.
3.5
3.5
May 18, 2008
Great historical adventure. Love the idea of having Liz and Jo travel with the Doctor together. Too bad they never did it on the show. I always liked it when the Doctor had two companions.
Nice, straightforward historical adventure as our heroes get mixed up in Russian politics and discover history wasn't 100% accurate about Rasputin.
Nice, straightforward historical adventure as our heroes get mixed up in Russian politics and discover history wasn't 100% accurate about Rasputin.
May 12, 2020
Having recovered his knowledge of the TARDIS, the Third Doctor (Jon Pertwee) decides to take both Jo Grant and Liz Shaw on a jaunt into the past. Aiming for Tunguska in 1908, the TARDIS instead materialises in the St. Petersburg in 1916. When the time machine is then stolen, the Doctor, Jo and Liz become embroiled in the plots and paranoia of wartime Russia, as well as the final days of Grigory Efimovich Rasputin.
Once upon a time I was very wary of so-called ‘pure historical’ Who stories, which is to say time-travel stories that have no sci-fi elements except for the TARDIS travellers themselves. However, having enjoyed Mark Gatiss’ ‘The Roundheads’ I was much more open-minded going into this one and found myself really quite enjoying it. There is plenty of narrative milage in 1916 St. Petersburg, with the First World War, the impending revolution, the secret police, the scheming nobles and, of course, the infamous Rasputin, all of which McIntee cleverly weaves into this novel.
The author’s real masterstroke in how he uses the setting, however, is taking the time to make all of the historical characters seem like genuinely complex human beings instead of the charicatures that come down to us through history and popular culture.
Rasputin is the most obvious example of this and it would’ve been all too easy to attribute the mystical powers he was alleged to have to some kind of alien influence, but McIntee instead takes the far more subtle and interesting tack of trying to explain the so-called Mad Monk’s reputation in a realistic way, having the TARDIS travellers swayed by Rasputin’s charisma despite themselves, much as happened in real-life.
So, as a historical novel, this book is really very good.
Unfortunately, it’s not quite so good as a Doctor Who novel and I was a little disappointed at the end in how the Doctor is portrayed as behaving. For all that he knows the sanctity of the Web of Time, I still don’t think it fit his character not to save someone when he has the opportunity.
* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.com/ *
Once upon a time I was very wary of so-called ‘pure historical’ Who stories, which is to say time-travel stories that have no sci-fi elements except for the TARDIS travellers themselves. However, having enjoyed Mark Gatiss’ ‘The Roundheads’ I was much more open-minded going into this one and found myself really quite enjoying it. There is plenty of narrative milage in 1916 St. Petersburg, with the First World War, the impending revolution, the secret police, the scheming nobles and, of course, the infamous Rasputin, all of which McIntee cleverly weaves into this novel.
The author’s real masterstroke in how he uses the setting, however, is taking the time to make all of the historical characters seem like genuinely complex human beings instead of the charicatures that come down to us through history and popular culture.
Rasputin is the most obvious example of this and it would’ve been all too easy to attribute the mystical powers he was alleged to have to some kind of alien influence, but McIntee instead takes the far more subtle and interesting tack of trying to explain the so-called Mad Monk’s reputation in a realistic way, having the TARDIS travellers swayed by Rasputin’s charisma despite themselves, much as happened in real-life.
So, as a historical novel, this book is really very good.
Unfortunately, it’s not quite so good as a Doctor Who novel and I was a little disappointed at the end in how the Doctor is portrayed as behaving. For all that he knows the sanctity of the Web of Time, I still don’t think it fit his character not to save someone when he has the opportunity.
* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.com/ *
January 1, 2024
I like David A McIntee as an author for the Doctor Who book series, but he's not perfect. I had trouble getting into this book. Eventually, I did get the vibe he was going for. This is a Doctor Who historical story in the mold of Reign of Terror and Marco Polo. This is the story of the conspiracy against Rasputin. It's not just about what eventually happened to Rasputin, it's about the Russian aristocracy and the type of people who felt threatened by Rasputin's influence over the Czar and the Romanov family.
Since this is meant to be a Doctor Who historical it also employs one of the tropes of Classic Doctor Who. The Tardis goes missing early on in the plot forcing The Doctor, Liz Shaw, and Jo Grant to become involved in the historical events in order to find the Tardis. The Doctor is mistaken for a foreign agent. Liz Shaw becomes involved in the conspiracy against Rasputin. Jo Grant becomes the target of Rasputin's womanizing, but don't worry Jo holds her own against Rasputin. There's lots of suspense and drama in this story even if it is set during actual historical events.
Since this is meant to be a Doctor Who historical it also employs one of the tropes of Classic Doctor Who. The Tardis goes missing early on in the plot forcing The Doctor, Liz Shaw, and Jo Grant to become involved in the historical events in order to find the Tardis. The Doctor is mistaken for a foreign agent. Liz Shaw becomes involved in the conspiracy against Rasputin. Jo Grant becomes the target of Rasputin's womanizing, but don't worry Jo holds her own against Rasputin. There's lots of suspense and drama in this story even if it is set during actual historical events.
January 23, 2022
One of the great things off screen who did was bring back the historical stories from the TV series early years , and this fun historical set in the run up to the Russian Revolution and featuring the Pertwee crew is very enjoyable. WE could have seen more of the amin players suvh as Lenin and Stalin but still a good read.
December 20, 2021
A very disappointing Doctor Who adventure. The regulars are really poorly sketched, there is no good use made of Liz and Jo being in the same story and it is an unimaginative telling of a very well known piece of history. Not what I hoped for at all.
February 9, 2019
The Wages of Sin is an interesting book. Within the Doctor Who book line it falls under as a historical story. Since it has been a long since reading one, this threw me off.
The story starts off shortly after the Doctor, Jo, and Liz have arrived at the wrong destination. It skips the usual arrival scene of the Doctor and his companions. Speaking of companions it is nice to see Liz back for one more adventure. From there the story has them getting involved with events leading up to Rasputin's assassination.
Because there is nothing involving science fiction at all, you are reading a book going over historical events. It is not quite as exciting since it involves people getting caught up in the different plots at the time. There is no mystery as you know what happens to Rasputin. When the story heads towards the end the action does step up.
What adds interest is Liz. For once you 'listen' to how a companion feels about their first time traveling back in time. How they find it odd they know what is going to happen and living during that time. A minor point is the Doctor trying to remember a key event, but can't. It is nice seeing that he can't remember everything.
The other character that comes across with more depth is Rasputin. Here you get to see him as he probably was while getting to see how people though of him. This combination brings him down from the rumors and stereotypes to a person who was able to convince people he was something more. Also his death is also made more human with an explanation on why it took so many tries to kill him.
In the end if you decide to read this book, be prepared for a more historical story with no science fiction. It gives more insight to the times and people. To end this review one other thing I did enjoy was Liz trying to understand why the Doctor had Jo as a companion.
The story starts off shortly after the Doctor, Jo, and Liz have arrived at the wrong destination. It skips the usual arrival scene of the Doctor and his companions. Speaking of companions it is nice to see Liz back for one more adventure. From there the story has them getting involved with events leading up to Rasputin's assassination.
Because there is nothing involving science fiction at all, you are reading a book going over historical events. It is not quite as exciting since it involves people getting caught up in the different plots at the time. There is no mystery as you know what happens to Rasputin. When the story heads towards the end the action does step up.
What adds interest is Liz. For once you 'listen' to how a companion feels about their first time traveling back in time. How they find it odd they know what is going to happen and living during that time. A minor point is the Doctor trying to remember a key event, but can't. It is nice seeing that he can't remember everything.
The other character that comes across with more depth is Rasputin. Here you get to see him as he probably was while getting to see how people though of him. This combination brings him down from the rumors and stereotypes to a person who was able to convince people he was something more. Also his death is also made more human with an explanation on why it took so many tries to kill him.
In the end if you decide to read this book, be prepared for a more historical story with no science fiction. It gives more insight to the times and people. To end this review one other thing I did enjoy was Liz trying to understand why the Doctor had Jo as a companion.
May 4, 2022
A Doctor 3 historical is an interesting idea. The story for this one centers on the events surrounding Rasputin's murder. The Doctor is taking Jo and Liz for his first test run of his restored TARDIS, target Siberia 1908 to witness the Tunguska meteor. Of course, they miss, and land in St. Petersburg 1916 instead. Swiftly, our trio gets caught up in the political machinery and chicanery of the times, with secret police, British spies, plot and counterplot. It took me a little time to get into the story. At first the characters seemed uninteresting, but they gradually develop. The early parts are bit of sightseeing, and it takes some time for the main plot to develop. About 1/3 of the way in, though, the pace picks up significantly. McIntee does a good job of showing how Liz might be just a little patronizing toward Jo. He also has some well-written emotional moments when the Doctor and Jo separately must face the hard truth of not messing with known history. McIntee is also careful to keep pretty close to history. He also does well in providing an alternate villain rather than head for the obvious and make Rasputin the villain. The novel is an enjoyable read, though not particularly deep. Some of the dialogue does not work for me, not feeling right for the regular characters in some places. In summary: to be read for entertainment.
September 1, 2013
http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/2154103.html[return][return]Hurrah! Another Liz Shaw story, as the Dctor, newly freed by the Time Lords, takes her and Jo for a spin. Liz being Liz, she asks to see the Tunguska Event; the Tardis being the Tardis, they arrive instead a few years later in St Petersburg just in time to get embroiled in the assassination of Rasputin (to which I have a mild family connection). As usual, McIntee's historical research is superb and detailed, without crowding out the regular characters; I'd have liked more banter between Liz and Jo, but I enjoyed what we got, Liz as the more serious cerebral type occasionally wrong-footed by Jo's stronger practicality; and the ethical dilemma of non-interference with history is brought home to the Doctor rather brutally at the end. Rather more (implied) sex and (explicit) violence than most Who books, but rather difficult to write a book on this topic without it.[return][return]I'm trying to think of any other "pure historical" Third Doctor story, and coming up blank, which is actually a little surprising.
November 25, 2014
The 3rd Doctor, Liz Shaw and Jo Grant visit Russia on the eve of Rasputin assassination.
On the Doctor Who level, I was a little disappointed; I don't think the author had the tone of the third Doctor right and neither Jo or Liz for that matter. I was really attracted to this story because I love the third Doctor, but this book felt like a Doctor-lite episode there were too many characters and so it turned this into a political intrigue book with a sprinkling of Doctor Who. I also think that the author should have chosen between Jo or Liz, one of those could have done all of what the two characters do (maybe with the help on a minor female character). I was glad Liz finally got a spin in the TARDIS, but I think she deserved better.
I am a big fan of this period in Russian history and I think that didn't help me get in the story... I was always looking up something that I thought might be wrong. I forgot to use my suspension of disbelief.
Now that was the negative, the positive : as a political intrigue it was interesting, well paced with nice twists. All in all a quick read that was set in a fascinating time.
On the Doctor Who level, I was a little disappointed; I don't think the author had the tone of the third Doctor right and neither Jo or Liz for that matter. I was really attracted to this story because I love the third Doctor, but this book felt like a Doctor-lite episode there were too many characters and so it turned this into a political intrigue book with a sprinkling of Doctor Who. I also think that the author should have chosen between Jo or Liz, one of those could have done all of what the two characters do (maybe with the help on a minor female character). I was glad Liz finally got a spin in the TARDIS, but I think she deserved better.
I am a big fan of this period in Russian history and I think that didn't help me get in the story... I was always looking up something that I thought might be wrong. I forgot to use my suspension of disbelief.
Now that was the negative, the positive : as a political intrigue it was interesting, well paced with nice twists. All in all a quick read that was set in a fascinating time.
April 3, 2011
It's not perfect...it shows too many frayed threads from its original William-Hartnell-era pitch, and there's a bit of 60s-style slowness (which can be good and bad). But it remains something different and exciting, with an unexpected companion-combo, a swish & exciting (and rare) trip into the past for the 3rd Doctor, and a conclusion that speaks volumes about the Doctor's character, and his role in protecting history. It deserves more praise than it usually receives.
March 26, 2014
The Doctor, Jo and Liz land in St. Petersburg near the time of the revolution. Jo captures Rasputin's eye and the Doctor is thought to be a spy. It's a straight forward historical adventure for the 3rd Doctor, and surprisingly it works. There's quite a few fights, and Jo proves her worth to Liz. A good read.
September 6, 2014
The Third Doctor has never gelled with me, so I went into this with some trepidation. I was very wrong about this story. I really enjoyed the moody, atmospheric storytelling and the characterizations.
March 11, 2008
I distinctly remember reading about Rasputin having twins 16-year-old girls in his bed and his thinking that he was blessed because he hadn't violated them yet.
March 8, 2010
Third Doctor, Ra-ra-rasputin!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews