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Doctor Who Target Books (Numerical Order) #148
Doctor Who: Remembrance of the Daleks
With unfinished business to attend to, the Seventh Doctor returns to where it all Coal Hill School in London in 1963. Last time he was here, the Doctor left something behind – a powerful Time Lord artefact that could unlock the secrets of time travel. Can the Doctor retrieve it before two rival factions of Daleks track it down? And even if he can, how will the Doctor prevent the whole of London becoming a war zone as the Daleks meet in explosive confrontation?
160 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 21, 1990
24 people are currently reading
1027 people want to read
About the author
Ben Aaronovitch
157 books13.4k followersBen Aaronovitch's career started with a bang writing for Doctor Who, subsided in the middle and then, as is traditional, a third act resurgence with the bestselling Rivers of London series.
Born and raised in London he says that he'll leave his home when they prise his city out of his cold dead fingers.
Born and raised in London he says that he'll leave his home when they prise his city out of his cold dead fingers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews
February 2, 2023
Remembrance of the Daleks is easily one of the seventh doctor’s best stories. It’s action packed and filled with delicious small nods to earlier adventures. The seventh doctor is at his most secretive and manipulative at this point in the series. Ace is absolutely smashing in this one. The daleks – who had already been a bit overused at this point and had almost started to become a parody of themselves – are finally scary once again. And racism - which is such an important theme - is tackled carefully and with respect. On one hand with the modern day world views of Ace colliding with those of the past, and on the other hand in the rivaling Dalek groups. And it all comes together in a brilliant multi-layered finger-licking good story.
Naturally this story is a great watch if you’re a Doctor Who fan. But it’s fun to note that there are some extra details in this novelization that really help flesh out the characters a little bit more, which I do believe makes it worth the effort of reading it, even if you’ve already seen the serial.
Naturally this story is a great watch if you’re a Doctor Who fan. But it’s fun to note that there are some extra details in this novelization that really help flesh out the characters a little bit more, which I do believe makes it worth the effort of reading it, even if you’ve already seen the serial.
April 3, 2021
The Doctor Who novelization that pointed the way to the New Adventures & BBC Books series that were waiting around the proverbial corner. In some ways, "Remembrance" is a throwback to the best of early Terrance Dicks & Malcolm Hulke -- enhanced characters, with detailed, sympathetic & convincing backgrounds and motivations. In other ways, it lays the road map for the original series of Doctor Who fiction that was waiting to be born -- flashback and "historical" sources, and imaginative speculation regarding the most famous foundations in the canon. A fantastic, groundbreaking entry in the Doctor Who series.
June 8, 2024
Ben Aaronovitch adapts his own Doctor Who script into a very satisfying novel that improves on the televised version.
In the late 1980s Doctor Who script editor Andrew Cartmel brouhgt back some of the mystery & excitement that had been missing from the series. Remembrance of the Daleks was one of the best adventures for the Seventh Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) & stands the test of time (pun intended!) very well.
Aaronovitch expands his script into a novel with extra dialogue & scenes. There are plenty of references to previous Doctor Who stories & a lovely brief & subtle nod to another science fiction legend-Bernard Quatermass.
It all adds up to one of the best Doctor Who novels around & you can't say fairer than that.
In the late 1980s Doctor Who script editor Andrew Cartmel brouhgt back some of the mystery & excitement that had been missing from the series. Remembrance of the Daleks was one of the best adventures for the Seventh Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) & stands the test of time (pun intended!) very well.
Aaronovitch expands his script into a novel with extra dialogue & scenes. There are plenty of references to previous Doctor Who stories & a lovely brief & subtle nod to another science fiction legend-Bernard Quatermass.
It all adds up to one of the best Doctor Who novels around & you can't say fairer than that.
October 9, 2014
The Doctor walked alone in the dark city down near the docks. How many times have I walked here, in this sprawling maze of streets and people? he thought. He couldn't remember-there were so many details, so many worlds. Such a vast glittering universe, and yet it is always here. This planet. Its children will be flung out into the stars, to conquer, to fight, to die on alien planets. Indomitable, fantastic, brilliant and yet so cruel, petty and selfish. And it is always here that the final choices are made. 'Don't you think you could get along without me,' he said softly into the night, 'just for a little while?'
Remembrance of the Daleks is probably my favorite episode serial involving the 7th Doctor. Not only does it involve my favorite companion of his, Ace, but this is the infamous story that includes; multiple Dalek factions fighting each other, the Hand of Omega, Coal Hill School, and Ace beating the shit out of a Dalek with a baseball bat!
But other than the excitement and adventure of the storyline, the other main aspect of this book that I enjoyed was the in-depth character development, especially with characters other than the Doctor. Even the Daleks had their moments where you as the reader were able to analyze their behavior and motives, which is much more refreshing than just hearing them yell all the time! And of course, there was a lot of introspection from the Doctor himself, which was great because the 7th Doctor especially has that wonderful blend of light-heartedness and darkness.
This is a really great book, especially for Doctor Who fans who enjoy the 7th Doctor!
"Ashes to ashes," the Doctor said, "Dust to dust. May you rest in pieces forever."
Remembrance of the Daleks is probably my favorite episode serial involving the 7th Doctor. Not only does it involve my favorite companion of his, Ace, but this is the infamous story that includes; multiple Dalek factions fighting each other, the Hand of Omega, Coal Hill School, and Ace beating the shit out of a Dalek with a baseball bat!
But other than the excitement and adventure of the storyline, the other main aspect of this book that I enjoyed was the in-depth character development, especially with characters other than the Doctor. Even the Daleks had their moments where you as the reader were able to analyze their behavior and motives, which is much more refreshing than just hearing them yell all the time! And of course, there was a lot of introspection from the Doctor himself, which was great because the 7th Doctor especially has that wonderful blend of light-heartedness and darkness.
This is a really great book, especially for Doctor Who fans who enjoy the 7th Doctor!
"Ashes to ashes," the Doctor said, "Dust to dust. May you rest in pieces forever."
November 7, 2013
*Special Content only on my blog, Strange and Random Happenstance during I ♥ ♥ The Doctor (October-December 2013)
The Doctor and Ace have returned to the beginning, Coal Hill School, London, 1963. The Doctor in his 1st incarnation left behind The Hand of Omega, the device that supposedly gave the Time Lords their control of time. But The Doctor doesn't just leave behind anything that could be dangerous in enemy hands... and the Daleks sure think they could do some damage with this device. In fact two waring factions of Daleks have descended on this small area of London and will fight to the death for this device that could make them masters of time. So what is The Doctor's plan? Let them have it... or at least make sure that the Dalek faction he wants gets it. Therefore the question needs to be asked, what is The Doctor planning and what will happen to the Daleks when they do get The Hand of Omega?
This book is unique in that instead of being an original story it is an adaptation of the episode that launched the shows 25th anniversary. While there might be readers out there that cast a gimlet eye on fleshing out a television episode or movie as a novel I will never be one of them. In fact, I would not be the reader I am today if not for these adaptations. Back in the mists of time... aka the eighties... I was not a big reader, I liked tv, movies, and video games. Then one day I picked up the novelization of the movie Willow (no judging, Willow is freakin' awesome and I will fight anyone who says differently.) I remember one Sunday sitting in my grandparents double wide armchair in the living room, far enough away from the tv so that I could concentrate, and just falling into the book. It was the first time this had happened to me. The movie I knew and loved was fleshed out, expanded, the same, yet different. My love of reading continued from this point, first bridging out into related reading, such as Timothy Zahn's Heir to the Empire, continuing the Star Wars storyline, of which the original trilogy is my most watched films of all time, and then into literature. So why am I saying this? I'm saying this because I do not look down on this book for being what it is, I look down on it for being a bad version of what it is.
Yes, it is a bad adaptation. Now though I'm going to reveal something that will make you question how I can even make this judgement. I've never been the biggest fan of Sylvester McCoy's Doctor, even though he is the only Doctor I have actually met. So... well... here goes... I haven't actually seen the episode "Remembrance of the Daleks." Now you're up in arms saying, you can't judge something if it's based on something you've never seen... well, yes, yes I can. The reason is that this book doesn't work on it's own. A successful novelization has to work on two levels, first it has to work on it's own, then it has to work as a reflection of what it is adapting. If it fails at the first part, the second part is inconsequential. So there. Also, if this book is any reflection of the actual episode, and seeing as they were both written by Ben Aaronovitch, I assume they are, then I never ever want to watch this episode, no matter it's significance, no matter that it delves into The Doctor's past, no matter what, sign me up for a boycott. The book is a jumbled mash of action that maybe made sense on screen, but so didn't on the page that I can't forgive it.
Remembrance of the Daleks just grated on me because it felt like Aaronovitch was trying to use a new medium to jazz up what the show couldn't afford to do. Mainly cool special effects. The special effects were never what Doctor Who was about. The show hung off the acting and the storytelling, not the dubious monsters and sets. So taking a Doctor Who story and just upping the techno babble without adding any true insight just goes against, well, everything Doctor Who. In fairness I think Aaronovitch knew the failings of the book because in his intro he asks to not judge a new writer harshly. Well, I'm sorry that I do have to judge him harshly. He was unable to take a script and flesh it out. The characters are wooden with weird flashbacks to moonlight lovemaking. And that's if you know who the characters even are. He makes no effort to establish place or character and what techno babble he adds is so incomprehensible, the book feels like one giant long rant about Daleks that I found myself reading as fast as I could, when my mind didn't try to wander off to more pleasant thoughts.
Speaking of unpleasant thoughts... Daleks. I'm sick of Daleks, sick sick sick of them. You know why people love the episodes "Blink" or "Silence in the Library?" Because it was something new, something fresh. Not the same old same old again and again. How many times do we have to get ride of the Daleks till they stay dead? Seriously, I want to know so I can wait for that episode to air. Daleks are just stupid. Having them kill each other, even stupider. Yet, this was just one of the many many problems I had. The Doctor being so squeamish about killing one Dalek when, spoiler alert, his plan was to destroy their whole planet and kill them all... well, hypocrite much? I can say that this book has honestly not made me anymore interested in the Sylvester McCoy years... also, it made me realize more and more that if this is the level of storytelling in the final years before the successful reboot it's not a surprise it was cancelled.
The Doctor and Ace have returned to the beginning, Coal Hill School, London, 1963. The Doctor in his 1st incarnation left behind The Hand of Omega, the device that supposedly gave the Time Lords their control of time. But The Doctor doesn't just leave behind anything that could be dangerous in enemy hands... and the Daleks sure think they could do some damage with this device. In fact two waring factions of Daleks have descended on this small area of London and will fight to the death for this device that could make them masters of time. So what is The Doctor's plan? Let them have it... or at least make sure that the Dalek faction he wants gets it. Therefore the question needs to be asked, what is The Doctor planning and what will happen to the Daleks when they do get The Hand of Omega?
This book is unique in that instead of being an original story it is an adaptation of the episode that launched the shows 25th anniversary. While there might be readers out there that cast a gimlet eye on fleshing out a television episode or movie as a novel I will never be one of them. In fact, I would not be the reader I am today if not for these adaptations. Back in the mists of time... aka the eighties... I was not a big reader, I liked tv, movies, and video games. Then one day I picked up the novelization of the movie Willow (no judging, Willow is freakin' awesome and I will fight anyone who says differently.) I remember one Sunday sitting in my grandparents double wide armchair in the living room, far enough away from the tv so that I could concentrate, and just falling into the book. It was the first time this had happened to me. The movie I knew and loved was fleshed out, expanded, the same, yet different. My love of reading continued from this point, first bridging out into related reading, such as Timothy Zahn's Heir to the Empire, continuing the Star Wars storyline, of which the original trilogy is my most watched films of all time, and then into literature. So why am I saying this? I'm saying this because I do not look down on this book for being what it is, I look down on it for being a bad version of what it is.
Yes, it is a bad adaptation. Now though I'm going to reveal something that will make you question how I can even make this judgement. I've never been the biggest fan of Sylvester McCoy's Doctor, even though he is the only Doctor I have actually met. So... well... here goes... I haven't actually seen the episode "Remembrance of the Daleks." Now you're up in arms saying, you can't judge something if it's based on something you've never seen... well, yes, yes I can. The reason is that this book doesn't work on it's own. A successful novelization has to work on two levels, first it has to work on it's own, then it has to work as a reflection of what it is adapting. If it fails at the first part, the second part is inconsequential. So there. Also, if this book is any reflection of the actual episode, and seeing as they were both written by Ben Aaronovitch, I assume they are, then I never ever want to watch this episode, no matter it's significance, no matter that it delves into The Doctor's past, no matter what, sign me up for a boycott. The book is a jumbled mash of action that maybe made sense on screen, but so didn't on the page that I can't forgive it.
Remembrance of the Daleks just grated on me because it felt like Aaronovitch was trying to use a new medium to jazz up what the show couldn't afford to do. Mainly cool special effects. The special effects were never what Doctor Who was about. The show hung off the acting and the storytelling, not the dubious monsters and sets. So taking a Doctor Who story and just upping the techno babble without adding any true insight just goes against, well, everything Doctor Who. In fairness I think Aaronovitch knew the failings of the book because in his intro he asks to not judge a new writer harshly. Well, I'm sorry that I do have to judge him harshly. He was unable to take a script and flesh it out. The characters are wooden with weird flashbacks to moonlight lovemaking. And that's if you know who the characters even are. He makes no effort to establish place or character and what techno babble he adds is so incomprehensible, the book feels like one giant long rant about Daleks that I found myself reading as fast as I could, when my mind didn't try to wander off to more pleasant thoughts.
Speaking of unpleasant thoughts... Daleks. I'm sick of Daleks, sick sick sick of them. You know why people love the episodes "Blink" or "Silence in the Library?" Because it was something new, something fresh. Not the same old same old again and again. How many times do we have to get ride of the Daleks till they stay dead? Seriously, I want to know so I can wait for that episode to air. Daleks are just stupid. Having them kill each other, even stupider. Yet, this was just one of the many many problems I had. The Doctor being so squeamish about killing one Dalek when, spoiler alert, his plan was to destroy their whole planet and kill them all... well, hypocrite much? I can say that this book has honestly not made me anymore interested in the Sylvester McCoy years... also, it made me realize more and more that if this is the level of storytelling in the final years before the successful reboot it's not a surprise it was cancelled.
June 22, 2015
Before I began running, I used to joke that running couldn't be as much fun as they say it is because you never see anyone running with a big grin on their face. And while I may not have a big smile planted on my face most days while out pounding the pavement, I can't help but think I had a big smile planted on it for much of the time I was working out while listening to Remembrance of the Daleks.
Based on one of my favorite seventh Doctor stories (and one of my favorite stories from the entire run of Doctor Who), this novel was one that I spent months looking for in book stores when it was first published (back in the days before Amazon and other on-line sellers) and then eagerly consumed once I'd found it. It was one of my favorite entries from the Target novels lines -- taking a great story and making it even better with some world building, character development and hints about the past of the our hero, the Doctor that, at the time, I lapped up with a spoon.
I've still got my original copy of the book, sitting proudly on my bookshelf with all my seventh Doctor Target novels. And I was fascinated to see that this novel was chosen to represent the seventh Doctor's era for the fiftieth anniversary books that came out a couple of years ago. And yet for some reason I couldn't bring myself to re-read the book. Part of me was worried that my memory would cheat and the re-read couldn't live to the memories I had of reading it. And then there was part of me that said -- man, if there was ever a novel I'd love to see become part of the audio range, it would be that one.
And so it was that when the Target audio range finally got rolling again this year, I was took great delight to see that Remembrance of the Daleks was headed to audiobook. I ordered it the audiobook, quickly converted it to .mp3 for my iPod and was ready to start listening.
It took about five minutes for my apprehension to fade and turn to delight as I experienced this one again.
Remembrance of the Daleks is a pure nostalgia fest from beginning to end. But one with a damn good story put on top it. The nostalgia rewards long time viewers of the show with Easter Egg after Easter Egg but it somehow manages to tell an entertaining, straight-forward Doctor vs the Daleks story that translates very well to the printed page. In his introduction to the anniversary edition, writer Ben Aaronovich say he was worried it might not hold up since it was his first published novel. I'm here to assure Aaronovich that not only does it hold up, it's every bit as entertaining today as it was twenty-five or more years ago.
Aaronovich re-tells the story from the television screen but he inserts character development and some side tangents that you couldn't, quite frankly, cram into the 90 minute version of this story. The story throws in a few red herrings for long-time Dalek story fans, including hiding a certain genius creator of the pepper-potted monsters very well. At one point, Aaronovich takes us inside the mind of the Special Weapons Daleks and even gives us a backstory on how that particular Dalek came to be.
I could gush on and on for days on this one. It was simply that good and that much fun.
This audio version, read by the man who played Davros, Terry Molloy, sparkles. Part of this is that Aaronovich understood that reading Daleks having long conversations on the printed page can get tedious and he kept it to a minimum. It makes it feel a bit more special when Nicholas Briggs does his usual cameo to re-create the Dalek voices from the story. As with other entries in the audio line, there are the usual sound effects and dramatic music to heighten everything.
But make no mistake -- the real selling point here is the story itself. It still holds up and while I know it isn't great literature, I still hold it up as one of the more enjoyable books I've read -- then or now. In fact, I got to the end of disc five and found myself ready to listen to the whole thing all over again. And while I didn't I can see myself visiting this one again -- and this time I won't wait twenty-five years!
Based on one of my favorite seventh Doctor stories (and one of my favorite stories from the entire run of Doctor Who), this novel was one that I spent months looking for in book stores when it was first published (back in the days before Amazon and other on-line sellers) and then eagerly consumed once I'd found it. It was one of my favorite entries from the Target novels lines -- taking a great story and making it even better with some world building, character development and hints about the past of the our hero, the Doctor that, at the time, I lapped up with a spoon.
I've still got my original copy of the book, sitting proudly on my bookshelf with all my seventh Doctor Target novels. And I was fascinated to see that this novel was chosen to represent the seventh Doctor's era for the fiftieth anniversary books that came out a couple of years ago. And yet for some reason I couldn't bring myself to re-read the book. Part of me was worried that my memory would cheat and the re-read couldn't live to the memories I had of reading it. And then there was part of me that said -- man, if there was ever a novel I'd love to see become part of the audio range, it would be that one.
And so it was that when the Target audio range finally got rolling again this year, I was took great delight to see that Remembrance of the Daleks was headed to audiobook. I ordered it the audiobook, quickly converted it to .mp3 for my iPod and was ready to start listening.
It took about five minutes for my apprehension to fade and turn to delight as I experienced this one again.
Remembrance of the Daleks is a pure nostalgia fest from beginning to end. But one with a damn good story put on top it. The nostalgia rewards long time viewers of the show with Easter Egg after Easter Egg but it somehow manages to tell an entertaining, straight-forward Doctor vs the Daleks story that translates very well to the printed page. In his introduction to the anniversary edition, writer Ben Aaronovich say he was worried it might not hold up since it was his first published novel. I'm here to assure Aaronovich that not only does it hold up, it's every bit as entertaining today as it was twenty-five or more years ago.
Aaronovich re-tells the story from the television screen but he inserts character development and some side tangents that you couldn't, quite frankly, cram into the 90 minute version of this story. The story throws in a few red herrings for long-time Dalek story fans, including hiding a certain genius creator of the pepper-potted monsters very well. At one point, Aaronovich takes us inside the mind of the Special Weapons Daleks and even gives us a backstory on how that particular Dalek came to be.
I could gush on and on for days on this one. It was simply that good and that much fun.
This audio version, read by the man who played Davros, Terry Molloy, sparkles. Part of this is that Aaronovich understood that reading Daleks having long conversations on the printed page can get tedious and he kept it to a minimum. It makes it feel a bit more special when Nicholas Briggs does his usual cameo to re-create the Dalek voices from the story. As with other entries in the audio line, there are the usual sound effects and dramatic music to heighten everything.
But make no mistake -- the real selling point here is the story itself. It still holds up and while I know it isn't great literature, I still hold it up as one of the more enjoyable books I've read -- then or now. In fact, I got to the end of disc five and found myself ready to listen to the whole thing all over again. And while I didn't I can see myself visiting this one again -- and this time I won't wait twenty-five years!
June 20, 2013
For the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who, the BBC commissioned a reprint of eleven novels to represent each of the Doctors. I love that they chose to reprint beloved novels instead of publishing new ones, to show off the history of the character. In fact, REMEMBRANCE OF THE DALEKS is a novelization of Episode 152, also written by Ben Aaronovitch. This was his first novel, something I didn't know despite casually enjoying his Peter Grant paranormal mysteries.
I'll admit to being unfamiliar with the Seventh Doctor. But I know lots of people are fans of his companion Ace, and I knew Aaronovitch, so I decided to see if this book was a good introduction. I think it was. The Doctor is still the Doctor, with a plan he keeps to himself, but different from the Doctors I know better. And I can see why Ace has a fanbase; after all, she likes to blow things up. That's a good quality in someone being menaced by Daleks.
I liked the one-off characters too, particularly Professor Rachel Jensen. She's a scientist who becomes embroiled in the goings on, and is pretty appalled. It was a very realistic depiction of how a person might react to time travellers and aliens fighting each other and leaving a trail of casualties. I think there is a tad too much head hopping, which is probably a result of following the beats of an episode where not all the same characters are onscreen at the same time.
REMEMBRANCE OF THE DALEKS is rougher than ONLY HUMAN, the other anniversary collection novel I've read and reviewed. Aaronovitch is clearly playing with style. He's got a countdown, epigraphs, but little of it has enough purpose to really add to the story. At the same time, I can see seeds of the writer Aaronovitch would become. Perhaps most obviously in the passages dealing with race in England. The action of the book takes place in the 1960's, which has its own problems in that regard. But Aaronovitch definitely tackles that question as it relates to modern times in the Rivers of London series.
I wouldn't pick up REMEMBRANCE OF THE DALEKS if I wasn't at least familiar enough with Doctor Who to know what a Dalek is, but you can read it if you aren't familiar with Seven specifically. It's a straightforward adventure, with lots of action and short passages to keep the story moving quickly. Plus, the retro cool cover of the special edition looks great on my shelf.
I'll admit to being unfamiliar with the Seventh Doctor. But I know lots of people are fans of his companion Ace, and I knew Aaronovitch, so I decided to see if this book was a good introduction. I think it was. The Doctor is still the Doctor, with a plan he keeps to himself, but different from the Doctors I know better. And I can see why Ace has a fanbase; after all, she likes to blow things up. That's a good quality in someone being menaced by Daleks.
I liked the one-off characters too, particularly Professor Rachel Jensen. She's a scientist who becomes embroiled in the goings on, and is pretty appalled. It was a very realistic depiction of how a person might react to time travellers and aliens fighting each other and leaving a trail of casualties. I think there is a tad too much head hopping, which is probably a result of following the beats of an episode where not all the same characters are onscreen at the same time.
REMEMBRANCE OF THE DALEKS is rougher than ONLY HUMAN, the other anniversary collection novel I've read and reviewed. Aaronovitch is clearly playing with style. He's got a countdown, epigraphs, but little of it has enough purpose to really add to the story. At the same time, I can see seeds of the writer Aaronovitch would become. Perhaps most obviously in the passages dealing with race in England. The action of the book takes place in the 1960's, which has its own problems in that regard. But Aaronovitch definitely tackles that question as it relates to modern times in the Rivers of London series.
I wouldn't pick up REMEMBRANCE OF THE DALEKS if I wasn't at least familiar enough with Doctor Who to know what a Dalek is, but you can read it if you aren't familiar with Seven specifically. It's a straightforward adventure, with lots of action and short passages to keep the story moving quickly. Plus, the retro cool cover of the special edition looks great on my shelf.
December 28, 2019
"You planned this all along. Right from the start, it was all a trap"
"Yes," said the Doctor.
Remembrance of the Daleks & Doctor Who: Prisoner of the Daleks (+ short story collection Doctor Who: Eleven Doctors, Eleven Stories) so far are the best of Doctor Who books I've read.
"Yes," said the Doctor.
Remembrance of the Daleks & Doctor Who: Prisoner of the Daleks (+ short story collection Doctor Who: Eleven Doctors, Eleven Stories) so far are the best of Doctor Who books I've read.
February 10, 2023
CW: racist language/behaviour
This was a great installment in the series.
I'd seen these episodes on TV, so it was fun for me to imagine the characters as the actors in the different scenes.
I really enjoyed this book, full of action and adventure, and the fact it was written by Ben Aaronovitch which was for me, a bonus.
This was a great installment in the series.
I'd seen these episodes on TV, so it was fun for me to imagine the characters as the actors in the different scenes.
I really enjoyed this book, full of action and adventure, and the fact it was written by Ben Aaronovitch which was for me, a bonus.
March 23, 2021
I don't have much to say specifically about this other than what I thought after watching the actual episodes. It's simply a badass fight between Daleks with some Brits and an Alien we call the Doctor in between, perhaps a little more violent than most Doctor Who stories but I don't mind one bit.
September 30, 2022
One of my favourite 7th doctor who stories, not much more to say as any whovian has either watched it or read it.
June 8, 2025
The term “game changer” has come to be rather overused. Yet its a phrase that perfectly describes the 1988 Doctor Who serial Remembrance of the Daleks, offering a relaunch of the series and Sylvester McCoy’s era as the Seventh Doctor after a rocky first season in the role. It can also be applied to its novelization, adapted into prose by its TV scriptwriter Ben Aaronovitch, which would set the tone for the next era of literary Doctor Who.
Much like its TV counterpart, Aaronovitch’s novelization blew away both cobwebs and assumptions about what Doctor Who could be in its respective medium. Like the series itself, it could be a genre-bender and mixer. There’s elements of science fiction, to be sure, including with the use of the Hand of Omega at the novel’s end some descriptive prose worthy of Arthur C Clarke. Something which is also true of the hard-SF descriptions of the Hand of Omega itself and the Daleks with their casings, battle armor, and battle computers. There’s also elements of the thriller and action novel, with some adrenaline pumping descriptions of sequences that take what was on TV and kick it up a notch. Indeed, much like the early novelizations of Terrance Dicks before he entered his “novelization a month” phase or Malcolm Hulk's novelizations, Aaronovitch feels keen to present essentially a “writer’s cut” of an already well-regarded TV serial. It would be a new standard and an influence felt on the closing years of the Target novelizations and beyond.
For Aaronovitch also delved, as few writers beyond Hulk had in the novelizations, more deeply into the characters and the emotional arcs. Something which could advantage of the medium’s ability to put readers into the mind of the characters (not to mention imagine things very differently than a BBC budget could manage). Aaronovitch expands particularly on Ace, again already a solid element of the serial, and exploring her backstory but also her actions within the serial in greater depth. The supporting cast, including Gilmore and Jensen, likewise benefit from the fleshing out, from their backstories to their thoughts showing what it’s like to live in the extraordinary world of Doctor Who where the everyday and the extraordinary exist so easily side by side. Elsewhere, reading Mike Smith’s thoughts and motivations, including how he came to be involved with Ratcliffe’s Association, makes for fascinating and unsettling reading in a time when the far-right has become resurgent and you’ve likely had a similar experience to what Ace has with him with someone you know. What Aaronovitch brings to the page is nothing short of a literary, but still genre, feel for what prose Doctor Who could be.
Indeed, that sense of forward looking might be the greatest legacy of the Remembrance novelization. The first presentation of the Other, the mysterious third founder of Time Lord society, would come within these pages and with it the first hints of the Doctor’s revised backstory. A throwaway reference from a fictional epigraph at the start of a chapter would introduce a recurring character who would appear numerous times alongside this Doctor in the years that would follow (including in novels by Aaronovitch). The subtle bits of characterization and world building around Gilmore, Jensen, and Alison Williams would serve as the basis for Big Finish’s later audio series Counter-Measures nearly a quarter-century later. Few other Doctor Who novelizations can claim to have had such a lasting influence.
All of which raises Remembrance into being (to paraphrase a cut line oddly missing even here) far more than just another novelization. One that more that makes for the occasional lack of physical descriptions that means, for example, in the first quarter to third of the novelization, you better have seen the TV serial to know what the Doctor, Ace, and the Counter-Measures team looked like. It’s no wonder that, alongside Marc Platt’s novelization of Ghost Light, this heady mixture would give birth in many ways to the New Adventures novels of the early-mid 1990s that would serve as Doctor Who’s torchbearer and eventual guiding light in the years to come.
That Aaronovitch packed all of that into 160 pages remains an extraordinary feat.
Much like its TV counterpart, Aaronovitch’s novelization blew away both cobwebs and assumptions about what Doctor Who could be in its respective medium. Like the series itself, it could be a genre-bender and mixer. There’s elements of science fiction, to be sure, including with the use of the Hand of Omega at the novel’s end some descriptive prose worthy of Arthur C Clarke. Something which is also true of the hard-SF descriptions of the Hand of Omega itself and the Daleks with their casings, battle armor, and battle computers. There’s also elements of the thriller and action novel, with some adrenaline pumping descriptions of sequences that take what was on TV and kick it up a notch. Indeed, much like the early novelizations of Terrance Dicks before he entered his “novelization a month” phase or Malcolm Hulk's novelizations, Aaronovitch feels keen to present essentially a “writer’s cut” of an already well-regarded TV serial. It would be a new standard and an influence felt on the closing years of the Target novelizations and beyond.
For Aaronovitch also delved, as few writers beyond Hulk had in the novelizations, more deeply into the characters and the emotional arcs. Something which could advantage of the medium’s ability to put readers into the mind of the characters (not to mention imagine things very differently than a BBC budget could manage). Aaronovitch expands particularly on Ace, again already a solid element of the serial, and exploring her backstory but also her actions within the serial in greater depth. The supporting cast, including Gilmore and Jensen, likewise benefit from the fleshing out, from their backstories to their thoughts showing what it’s like to live in the extraordinary world of Doctor Who where the everyday and the extraordinary exist so easily side by side. Elsewhere, reading Mike Smith’s thoughts and motivations, including how he came to be involved with Ratcliffe’s Association, makes for fascinating and unsettling reading in a time when the far-right has become resurgent and you’ve likely had a similar experience to what Ace has with him with someone you know. What Aaronovitch brings to the page is nothing short of a literary, but still genre, feel for what prose Doctor Who could be.
Indeed, that sense of forward looking might be the greatest legacy of the Remembrance novelization. The first presentation of the Other, the mysterious third founder of Time Lord society, would come within these pages and with it the first hints of the Doctor’s revised backstory. A throwaway reference from a fictional epigraph at the start of a chapter would introduce a recurring character who would appear numerous times alongside this Doctor in the years that would follow (including in novels by Aaronovitch). The subtle bits of characterization and world building around Gilmore, Jensen, and Alison Williams would serve as the basis for Big Finish’s later audio series Counter-Measures nearly a quarter-century later. Few other Doctor Who novelizations can claim to have had such a lasting influence.
All of which raises Remembrance into being (to paraphrase a cut line oddly missing even here) far more than just another novelization. One that more that makes for the occasional lack of physical descriptions that means, for example, in the first quarter to third of the novelization, you better have seen the TV serial to know what the Doctor, Ace, and the Counter-Measures team looked like. It’s no wonder that, alongside Marc Platt’s novelization of Ghost Light, this heady mixture would give birth in many ways to the New Adventures novels of the early-mid 1990s that would serve as Doctor Who’s torchbearer and eventual guiding light in the years to come.
That Aaronovitch packed all of that into 160 pages remains an extraordinary feat.
December 31, 2015
4.5 Stars
In this book The Doctor (Seven) and his companion, Ace, must rescue earth, yet again, from the Daleks. It all starts when The Doctor travels back to Coal Hill School in London, 1968. He left something there that needed to be dealt with. Little does he know the Daleks are also searching for what he left. What will happen when The Doctor gets a funny feeling about strange van? First published in 1990 and remastered for the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Series, this book is marvelous and a grand adventure for any Whovian in search of one. (And, let’s face it, when are we Whovians not in search of an adventure.)
I’m quite obsessed with Doctor Who. If only that pin of mine were true. Although, I’d much rather be a companion than the Doctor. So, I mean, I’m just saying, Doctor, if you’re reading this, I’d love to explore space so maybe drop by and pick me up.
Anyway…I absolutely adored this book. It took me a bit to get into, since Aaronovitch sets the scene of it all up kind of strangely at first. It’s only a little hard to get used to his story telling style. I think this is because he had a hard time switching from screenplay writing to novel writing. However, his writing is brilliant and on point. (Humor, Heartbreak, Action – He writes it all.)
I also loved the story line this book laid out. It was interesting, and I was hooked – 1000% invested. I loved how he wrote the characters and their thoughts and actions. Everything about how he set things up was brilliant. There was not a dull moment in this novel. I found myself compulsively reading trying to find out what was going to happen next. The events make sense and all work well together. I just loved everything about this.
Plus, on top of the wonderful story, the characters were amazing. I loved every single one. Aaronovitch does a marvelous job of encompassing The Doctor and his companion’s personalities. For someone who isn’t experienced in writing novels (I’m not making this up or blowing this out of proportion; Aaronovitch tells his readers in the introduction to this new edition that he had a difficult time translating from script to book.), it can be hard to make the switch and translate everything well. But, he does a marvelous job and everything came through brilliantly.
Also, can we just talk about Ace for a minute? O.M.G. She was freaking stunning. I loved her character so much. I cannot praise her enough. She’s a young, black girl with a troubled past who kicks absolute butt. She doesn’t let anyone tell her what to do and she knows how to make bombs and fight. Holy cow, this girl. She was magnificent. My favorite character. I can’t commend her (or Aaronovitch for writing her) enough!
This is an absolute must-read for any Doctor Who fan (Whovian) out there. The story line is spectacular, the characters are wonderful, and it’s an adventure you won’t soon forget. I finished this book over a month ago, and I still can’t get over how much I loved it. I definitely wouldn’t hesitate to read this book again.
Review originally published on my Wordpress blog Dreaming Through Literature.
In this book The Doctor (Seven) and his companion, Ace, must rescue earth, yet again, from the Daleks. It all starts when The Doctor travels back to Coal Hill School in London, 1968. He left something there that needed to be dealt with. Little does he know the Daleks are also searching for what he left. What will happen when The Doctor gets a funny feeling about strange van? First published in 1990 and remastered for the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Series, this book is marvelous and a grand adventure for any Whovian in search of one. (And, let’s face it, when are we Whovians not in search of an adventure.)
I’m quite obsessed with Doctor Who. If only that pin of mine were true. Although, I’d much rather be a companion than the Doctor. So, I mean, I’m just saying, Doctor, if you’re reading this, I’d love to explore space so maybe drop by and pick me up.
Anyway…I absolutely adored this book. It took me a bit to get into, since Aaronovitch sets the scene of it all up kind of strangely at first. It’s only a little hard to get used to his story telling style. I think this is because he had a hard time switching from screenplay writing to novel writing. However, his writing is brilliant and on point. (Humor, Heartbreak, Action – He writes it all.)
I also loved the story line this book laid out. It was interesting, and I was hooked – 1000% invested. I loved how he wrote the characters and their thoughts and actions. Everything about how he set things up was brilliant. There was not a dull moment in this novel. I found myself compulsively reading trying to find out what was going to happen next. The events make sense and all work well together. I just loved everything about this.
Plus, on top of the wonderful story, the characters were amazing. I loved every single one. Aaronovitch does a marvelous job of encompassing The Doctor and his companion’s personalities. For someone who isn’t experienced in writing novels (I’m not making this up or blowing this out of proportion; Aaronovitch tells his readers in the introduction to this new edition that he had a difficult time translating from script to book.), it can be hard to make the switch and translate everything well. But, he does a marvelous job and everything came through brilliantly.
Also, can we just talk about Ace for a minute? O.M.G. She was freaking stunning. I loved her character so much. I cannot praise her enough. She’s a young, black girl with a troubled past who kicks absolute butt. She doesn’t let anyone tell her what to do and she knows how to make bombs and fight. Holy cow, this girl. She was magnificent. My favorite character. I can’t commend her (or Aaronovitch for writing her) enough!
This is an absolute must-read for any Doctor Who fan (Whovian) out there. The story line is spectacular, the characters are wonderful, and it’s an adventure you won’t soon forget. I finished this book over a month ago, and I still can’t get over how much I loved it. I definitely wouldn’t hesitate to read this book again.
Review originally published on my Wordpress blog Dreaming Through Literature.
July 14, 2014
I will also do a video review here at my channel: http://www.youtube.com/magicofbooks
"Remembrance of the Daleks" by Ben Aaronovitch follows the Seventh Doctor and his companion Ace as they arrive in 1963 at Coal Hill School. The Doctor is searching for a powerful item that holds the secrets of time travel. But the Doctor isn't the only one looking for this mysterious item. Two rival factions of Daleks are at war over this object and it's up to the Doctor, Ace, and their new human friends to prevent all out chaos and the annihilation of Earth.
If you are a die-hard "Doctor Who" fan, you'll notice that this book is a novelization of a classic episode of "Doctor Who" featuring the Seventh Doctor released back in 1988. Last year (2013 as of the date of this review), BBC America had a monthly special where they released a classic episode of "Doctor Who," starting in January all the way up to the 50th Anniversary in December. So they basically showed an episode for each Doctor. And for the Seventh Doctor, this was the episode they showed. So I was already familiar with this episode going into this book. Quite honestly, this episode wasn't one of my favorites. In general, the Daleks bore me to tears. The only episodes I've really enjoyed with the Daleks are from the new series of "Doctor Who." These episodes would be "Dalek," a series 1 episode with Christopher Eccleston's Ninth Doctor, and "Asylum of the Daleks," a series 7 episode with Matt Smith's Eleventh Doctor. I always feel like any episode with the Daleks is just the same thing over and over again, whereas with these two episodes in particular, I think the writers did something unique and different with the Daleks that I wasn't expecting. Like I said, "Remembrance of the Daleks" just wasn't my favorite classic episode, and neither was this book. Out of all the 50th Anniversary books, this is my least favorite for sure.
Why exactly did I not like this book?
1. Like I said, the Daleks bore me and this wasn't an episode I liked for starters.
2. This book felt like constant action and I never felt like I truly knew what was going on. I only know what was going on from the synopsis on the back of the book. Two rival Daleks...blah blah blah...I can't even tell you which side I was supposed to be supporting or who was who.
3. I felt nothing for the characters. There were attempts to humanize some of the characters and allow you to connect with them, but those attempts failed. What I love about the original novels is just that: they are original. You are given fresh stories, fresh characters, and you are given that time to connect. And part of the problem combines with my #2 above. Too much action, too little character development.
So yeah...didn't like this book. And I don't give 1-stars often (incredibly rare if I do). Only get this book if you do happen to like the episode, but even if you like the episode, you might be sadly disappointed. And I guess only get this if you are collecting the special 50th Anniversary editions with the Doctors on the spines. They certainly look awesome lined up on the shelf.
"Remembrance of the Daleks" by Ben Aaronovitch follows the Seventh Doctor and his companion Ace as they arrive in 1963 at Coal Hill School. The Doctor is searching for a powerful item that holds the secrets of time travel. But the Doctor isn't the only one looking for this mysterious item. Two rival factions of Daleks are at war over this object and it's up to the Doctor, Ace, and their new human friends to prevent all out chaos and the annihilation of Earth.
If you are a die-hard "Doctor Who" fan, you'll notice that this book is a novelization of a classic episode of "Doctor Who" featuring the Seventh Doctor released back in 1988. Last year (2013 as of the date of this review), BBC America had a monthly special where they released a classic episode of "Doctor Who," starting in January all the way up to the 50th Anniversary in December. So they basically showed an episode for each Doctor. And for the Seventh Doctor, this was the episode they showed. So I was already familiar with this episode going into this book. Quite honestly, this episode wasn't one of my favorites. In general, the Daleks bore me to tears. The only episodes I've really enjoyed with the Daleks are from the new series of "Doctor Who." These episodes would be "Dalek," a series 1 episode with Christopher Eccleston's Ninth Doctor, and "Asylum of the Daleks," a series 7 episode with Matt Smith's Eleventh Doctor. I always feel like any episode with the Daleks is just the same thing over and over again, whereas with these two episodes in particular, I think the writers did something unique and different with the Daleks that I wasn't expecting. Like I said, "Remembrance of the Daleks" just wasn't my favorite classic episode, and neither was this book. Out of all the 50th Anniversary books, this is my least favorite for sure.
Why exactly did I not like this book?
1. Like I said, the Daleks bore me and this wasn't an episode I liked for starters.
2. This book felt like constant action and I never felt like I truly knew what was going on. I only know what was going on from the synopsis on the back of the book. Two rival Daleks...blah blah blah...I can't even tell you which side I was supposed to be supporting or who was who.
3. I felt nothing for the characters. There were attempts to humanize some of the characters and allow you to connect with them, but those attempts failed. What I love about the original novels is just that: they are original. You are given fresh stories, fresh characters, and you are given that time to connect. And part of the problem combines with my #2 above. Too much action, too little character development.
So yeah...didn't like this book. And I don't give 1-stars often (incredibly rare if I do). Only get this book if you do happen to like the episode, but even if you like the episode, you might be sadly disappointed. And I guess only get this if you are collecting the special 50th Anniversary editions with the Doctors on the spines. They certainly look awesome lined up on the shelf.
June 3, 2016
In my opinion, the greatest Doctor Who story ever made.
Remembrance of the Daleks is simply perfect. Fast paced action, tension and a plot that unravels in front of you a piece at a time. I've always loved this story and couldn't possibly fault anything about it.
The book is essential for any fan as it really gives you a lot more insight into the characters, their backgrounds, motivations etc.
In particular, the insights into the creation of the Hand of Omega, the Other and insight into the Special Weapons Dalek is fantastic.
The only reason this book lost a star for me was because of it's writing. While the episode is fantastic, the book as a novel is very poor. Scenes change without being described where you are now. None of the charactersare described at all except their names, and even the Dalek Controller is never visually characterised.
Someone reading the book without seeing the episode or someone who hadn't seen it in a long time would be confused as there are pretty much no scene, character or object descriptions of any kind.
Other than that, and if you have seen the episode it will be a highly enjoyable read with enough extras that weren't in the show to make it a worthwhile buy.
Remembrance of the Daleks is simply perfect. Fast paced action, tension and a plot that unravels in front of you a piece at a time. I've always loved this story and couldn't possibly fault anything about it.
The book is essential for any fan as it really gives you a lot more insight into the characters, their backgrounds, motivations etc.
In particular, the insights into the creation of the Hand of Omega, the Other and insight into the Special Weapons Dalek is fantastic.
The only reason this book lost a star for me was because of it's writing. While the episode is fantastic, the book as a novel is very poor. Scenes change without being described where you are now. None of the charactersare described at all except their names, and even the Dalek Controller is never visually characterised.
Someone reading the book without seeing the episode or someone who hadn't seen it in a long time would be confused as there are pretty much no scene, character or object descriptions of any kind.
Other than that, and if you have seen the episode it will be a highly enjoyable read with enough extras that weren't in the show to make it a worthwhile buy.
January 4, 2022
Remembrance is one of my favourite Doctor Who stories thanks, in no small part, to this novelisation, which I read many years before I ever saw the TV serial. It was on the strength of the memory of this book that many years later, I started reading Aaronovitch's Rivers of London books, which are thoroughly enjoyable reads.
This novelisation manages to add extra depth to the story that couldn't be conveyed on TV, and makes it feel more epic - especially the battle scene between the two Dalek factions. We also get flashbacks to Omega, Rassilon and The Other doing their work with the Hand of Omega back on Gallifrey, which makes it feel more epic. It also fleshes out Mike Smith and George Ratcliffe, and gives them back-stories tied to the War, and makes the Fascist connections that were implicit in the serial explicit. This is neatly compared to Ace, who grew up in the multicultural London of the 1980s.
Not exactly what I might have expected from a Doctor Who novelisation, but welcome nonetheless. A great novelisation of a cracking Doctor Who story.
This novelisation manages to add extra depth to the story that couldn't be conveyed on TV, and makes it feel more epic - especially the battle scene between the two Dalek factions. We also get flashbacks to Omega, Rassilon and The Other doing their work with the Hand of Omega back on Gallifrey, which makes it feel more epic. It also fleshes out Mike Smith and George Ratcliffe, and gives them back-stories tied to the War, and makes the Fascist connections that were implicit in the serial explicit. This is neatly compared to Ace, who grew up in the multicultural London of the 1980s.
Not exactly what I might have expected from a Doctor Who novelisation, but welcome nonetheless. A great novelisation of a cracking Doctor Who story.
August 22, 2021
Die Romanversion von „Remembrance of the Daleks“, einer klassischen Fernsehfolge mit dem Siebten Doctor. Autor sowohl des Drehbuchs als auch der Romanfassung ist Ben Aaronovitch, mittlerweile ein bekannter Bestsellerautor („Die Flüsse von London“).
Dies ist sein Roman-Erstling, und man hat den Eindruck, dass er sich in dem Vorwort, welches dieser Neuausgabe aus dem Jahr 2013 vorangestellt ist, geradezu für das Werk entschuldigen möchte.
Das ist wirklich nur was für Hard-Core-Who-Fans.
Dies ist sein Roman-Erstling, und man hat den Eindruck, dass er sich in dem Vorwort, welches dieser Neuausgabe aus dem Jahr 2013 vorangestellt ist, geradezu für das Werk entschuldigen möchte.
Das ist wirklich nur was für Hard-Core-Who-Fans.
April 27, 2022
The Doctor returns to Coal Hill school in 1963 to retrieve a Time Lord device of immense power that had been left there by his previous incarnation. However, he is not the only one after the Omega Device.
Aaronovitch's novelisation of his own teleplay captures the essence of one of 'Doctor Who's finest stories and encourages readers to stretch their imaginative muscles to organically grow the story.
Aaronovitch's novelisation of his own teleplay captures the essence of one of 'Doctor Who's finest stories and encourages readers to stretch their imaginative muscles to organically grow the story.
June 15, 2024
The Rivers of London scribe commenced his career as a professional writer by scripting the single greatest Seventh Doctor serial - and one of the ten greatest ‘Doctor Who’ stories of all time - then doubled down on the achievement by penning the novelisation, which is arguably the finest in the canon outwith those of Terence Dicks and set the pattern for the more experimental and deconstructivist novelisations of the Nu-Who era. An absolute must for Who fans and Aaronovitch completists alike.
abandoned
April 20, 2025Formally abandoned 20 April 2025
February 14, 2021
Ben Aaronovitch took the time to make his adaptation of his first Doctor Who script into a real novel. It has descriptions, interior monologue, additional information, all of which makes this one a very enjoyable read. Aaronovitch took the WWII connections that Terry Nation worked up with the Daleks, and went better than Nation by getting to the heart of the issue rather than staying on superficial similarities. Aaronovitch takes on racism, the concept of racial purity, the resentments of working class men that leads them to embrace racism, and weaves them together quite well. Thus, while we have parallel stories - the Dalek race war and the Mike Smith and Ratcliffe work for the "Association" to bring fascism back to British politics and Ace's memories of her Pakistani friend whose house is burnt down by racists - the stories are parallel in theme rather than parallel in plot. To enhance the theme, he very firmly establishes Rachel Jensen as Jewish and explores a bit of her and Ian Gilmore's memories of World War II. This is also the story that introduces us to Doctor VIII the schemer, the one with complicated plans in motion and personal secrets. While the novel has many strengths, there are few little problem areas. It is hard to keep track of the two Dalek factions. I was never convinced by the idea of a girl who can shoot blue lightning from her hands. There are even larger hints that The Doctor was around at the time of Rassilon and Omega than there were in the TV episode. It is an idea I do not like. The Doctor is clearly established as from a much later time. Ultimately, though, this is a novelization well worth reading. I would give this 3 1/2 stars if Goodreads would let me.
January 21, 2022
It really pains me to give this book this rating, because I have watched Remembrance of the Daleks so often I could recite it in my sleep. It's one of my favourites. Maybe that affected my reading experience, it is hard to tell.
I give some understanding to Ben Aaronovitch since he had not written prose before turning his masterful Dalek piece into a novel, but unfortunately it shows. Everything felt so rushed and lacking in detail. A lot of "he said, she said" and not a lot of emotional description. Some of the dialogue didn't even match the original story's which is insane since Mr Aaronovitch wrote that too.
Events were very tumbled and I didn't like the POV jumping after barely a paragraph as passed. I know translating a television medium to a book is probably extremely difficult as they are completely different forms of media but if I had not seen Remembrance of the Daleks and knew it so well, I probably would not have had a faintest idea what was happening at times. I feel sorry for anyone reading it blind, and also angry at the same time. Remembrance is an iconic Dalek story and this book didn't give it justice.
I will give it credit, I did like how some holes were filled in. How Mike got in with Ratcliffe in the first place, Ace's relationship with racist action in her past, what happened the girl after her connection to the supreme Dalek was severed, all of that was appreciated. I do feel like the Omega, Rassilon and Other scenes would have worked better as the prologue though. They felt very out of place just suddenly inserted were they were.
I really hope people don't judge Remembrance of the Daleks on its novelisation. It's such an amazing story, a landmark in McCoy and Aldred's era. I'd totally recommend watching the story on TV. Unfortunately I cannot say the same for this book.
I give some understanding to Ben Aaronovitch since he had not written prose before turning his masterful Dalek piece into a novel, but unfortunately it shows. Everything felt so rushed and lacking in detail. A lot of "he said, she said" and not a lot of emotional description. Some of the dialogue didn't even match the original story's which is insane since Mr Aaronovitch wrote that too.
Events were very tumbled and I didn't like the POV jumping after barely a paragraph as passed. I know translating a television medium to a book is probably extremely difficult as they are completely different forms of media but if I had not seen Remembrance of the Daleks and knew it so well, I probably would not have had a faintest idea what was happening at times. I feel sorry for anyone reading it blind, and also angry at the same time. Remembrance is an iconic Dalek story and this book didn't give it justice.
I will give it credit, I did like how some holes were filled in. How Mike got in with Ratcliffe in the first place, Ace's relationship with racist action in her past, what happened the girl after her connection to the supreme Dalek was severed, all of that was appreciated. I do feel like the Omega, Rassilon and Other scenes would have worked better as the prologue though. They felt very out of place just suddenly inserted were they were.
I really hope people don't judge Remembrance of the Daleks on its novelisation. It's such an amazing story, a landmark in McCoy and Aldred's era. I'd totally recommend watching the story on TV. Unfortunately I cannot say the same for this book.
October 25, 2017
If someone sat me down and forced me to give them one reason why Doctor Who survived its cancellation in 1989 only to lurk about in the intervening years that preceded its return to the screen in a series of novels that extended and fleshed out the "unseen years," I would answer "Remembrance of the Daleks" without a second thought.
Ben Aaronovitch's story is easily the strongest of the entire Sylvester McCoy era, and it paved the way for a whole swath of "New Adventures" that came after it. And when not encumbered by the constraints of television (where it was already a darn good episode), its strengths as a story shine that much brighter. Really though, if you're a Whovian then this is the story you'd been dying to see for years: the Doctor and Davros facing off once again for what was (at the time) to be the last time. Skillfully connecting the initial departure of the First Doctor with the return to 1963 London of the Seventh, Aaronovitch dives whole-heartedly into the deep end of the Who mythos and pulls together a mess of threads we didn't even know could be connected.
The idea of a Dalek civil war is fascinating, their choice of Earth as a battleground of course creates the danger aspect of the story, and the new ideas such as the Special Weapons Dalek which makes the ordinary garden-variety look like chihuahuas by comparison all work to create a story that never slows down to catch its breath until the end.
Action is delightfully over-the-top, with the military learning all too well about their ineffectiveness against a vastly superior foe, Ace goes toe-to-gyros with a Dalek armed with nothing more than her baseball bat, plenty of nitro-nine blows up, Dalek factions trundle through the streets and alleys trading fire with one another, scout ships land and take off in the schoolyard, and the Doctor tries desperately to prevent a powerful artifact from falling into the wrong hands. No wonder we love this story--we're never given the opportunity to sit down and think, "Half a moment, now..."
It doesn't matter that "Remembrance" isn't the best Doctor Who story ever told. What matters is it made everything that came between 1990 and 2005 possible, and opened up cans of worms with bits and pieces that still wriggle about to this very day in the new series. Few other adventures can claim this, and none of them do it with such passion and edge-of-your-seat excitement while filling in the gaps left in the teleplay.
If you're of the opinion that Doctor Who is nothing but old men, screaming women and poorly-costumed "aliens" bumbling about in a disused quarry, this story will change your mind for good.
Ben Aaronovitch's story is easily the strongest of the entire Sylvester McCoy era, and it paved the way for a whole swath of "New Adventures" that came after it. And when not encumbered by the constraints of television (where it was already a darn good episode), its strengths as a story shine that much brighter. Really though, if you're a Whovian then this is the story you'd been dying to see for years: the Doctor and Davros facing off once again for what was (at the time) to be the last time. Skillfully connecting the initial departure of the First Doctor with the return to 1963 London of the Seventh, Aaronovitch dives whole-heartedly into the deep end of the Who mythos and pulls together a mess of threads we didn't even know could be connected.
The idea of a Dalek civil war is fascinating, their choice of Earth as a battleground of course creates the danger aspect of the story, and the new ideas such as the Special Weapons Dalek which makes the ordinary garden-variety look like chihuahuas by comparison all work to create a story that never slows down to catch its breath until the end.
Action is delightfully over-the-top, with the military learning all too well about their ineffectiveness against a vastly superior foe, Ace goes toe-to-gyros with a Dalek armed with nothing more than her baseball bat, plenty of nitro-nine blows up, Dalek factions trundle through the streets and alleys trading fire with one another, scout ships land and take off in the schoolyard, and the Doctor tries desperately to prevent a powerful artifact from falling into the wrong hands. No wonder we love this story--we're never given the opportunity to sit down and think, "Half a moment, now..."
It doesn't matter that "Remembrance" isn't the best Doctor Who story ever told. What matters is it made everything that came between 1990 and 2005 possible, and opened up cans of worms with bits and pieces that still wriggle about to this very day in the new series. Few other adventures can claim this, and none of them do it with such passion and edge-of-your-seat excitement while filling in the gaps left in the teleplay.
If you're of the opinion that Doctor Who is nothing but old men, screaming women and poorly-costumed "aliens" bumbling about in a disused quarry, this story will change your mind for good.
May 16, 2016
"It's not like I'm an innocent. I've taken lives. And I got worse, I got clever. Manipulated people into taking their own." - 10th Doctor, The End of Time
First of all, if you haven't seen the classic Doctor Who serial Remembrance of the Daleks, go watch that now...
Okay, now that that's done... This book is the novelization of the serial, and is written by the same man who penned the original screenplay. The novel format gives Aaronovitch the opportunity to explore the motivations and backstories of the characters in ways that couldn't be done on television. Other than that, this is pretty much the serial in book form.
In Remembrance of the Daleks we see the Doctor at his most Machiavellian. All of his 900-plus years weigh heavily on him as he settles himself in for a final conflict with his worst foes, the Daleks. Going back to the place where Doctor Who first began, Coal Hill School, the Doctor and his companion/protege, Ace, find themselves in the middle of a Dalek civil war, competing for the Hand of Omega, a Time Lord device of unimaginable power.
However, the Doctor has his own plans for the Daleks, leading to a finale that is surprisingly grim for those who are used to the Doctor's regular modus operandi.
First of all, if you haven't seen the classic Doctor Who serial Remembrance of the Daleks, go watch that now...
Okay, now that that's done... This book is the novelization of the serial, and is written by the same man who penned the original screenplay. The novel format gives Aaronovitch the opportunity to explore the motivations and backstories of the characters in ways that couldn't be done on television. Other than that, this is pretty much the serial in book form.
In Remembrance of the Daleks we see the Doctor at his most Machiavellian. All of his 900-plus years weigh heavily on him as he settles himself in for a final conflict with his worst foes, the Daleks. Going back to the place where Doctor Who first began, Coal Hill School, the Doctor and his companion/protege, Ace, find themselves in the middle of a Dalek civil war, competing for the Hand of Omega, a Time Lord device of unimaginable power.
However, the Doctor has his own plans for the Daleks, leading to a finale that is surprisingly grim for those who are used to the Doctor's regular modus operandi.
May 31, 2014
Remembrance of the Daleks brings in the Doctor's greatest enemy, but instead of taking both Dalek factions on his own, he watches them go up against each other over the Hand of Omega. The television counterpart is less than 90 minutes spread across four episodes, which explains why this novel is much shorter than the previous 50th anniversary books. Since I have not yet watched the four-part program, the novel's content is my only reference. The plot seemed stunted there didn't seem to be any effort whatsoever to make the reader connect with the Seventh Doctor and Ace on an emphatic level. In addition, any hope of sparks between Ace and Mike were futile. The two Dalek factions were not well-delineated. It was hard to tell which Daleks were on the imperial side and on the rebel side. On that note, another Star Wars rip-off? I already got that same feeling while reading Dreams of Empire. Perhaps watching Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred will shift my overall opinion, but otherwise I didn't get a bang for the buck. It's not a book I'll dust off the cobwebs and give a second chance years from now.
March 16, 2016
I have come to a realisation that Doctor Who books based on TV episodes aren't as good to read as new stories. I assume that is the problem with the Remembrance of the Daleks. I usually like Ben Aaronvitch as a writer as well. Instead I was terribly bored. There were a few flashes of interest towards the end, but hardly enough to save the book in my eyes. It's a shame because this book was chosen for the 50th anniversary series and I know I have read better stories about the 7th Doctor and Ace when I was younger. Oh well, we have to keep the copy of the book though because my son got Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred to sign it when we went to the Doctor Who convention in Leicester recently. For that reason alone, this book will be special.
December 29, 2019
Met Sophie Aldred (again) at Gloucester Geekmania and chatted about Ace being my favourite companion. And this story is one of the reasons why. In a society where we’re still fighting for equality, seeing Ace beat up a Dalek was an important part of my life. This is the ultimate ‘smash the patriarchy’.
Ben Aaronovitch does a great job of turning his screenplay into prose. All the way through I could see the TV episodes unfolding in my mind. Even better, he fleshed out the characters and gave them more life and back story.
Now I’m off to buy the DVD, I need to watch it again.
Ben Aaronovitch does a great job of turning his screenplay into prose. All the way through I could see the TV episodes unfolding in my mind. Even better, he fleshed out the characters and gave them more life and back story.
Now I’m off to buy the DVD, I need to watch it again.
Read
January 28, 2024IThis book came highly recommended from a trusted source. I read at least three quarters of the book and feel qualified to say that while it may be interesting to people who have seen these episodes, coming in without having the story in my head was too difficult for me. I'm not going to give up on Doctor Who novels, but I know this one wasn't for me. I kept trying to finish it, and just found that I wasn't enjoying myself.
July 21, 2025
A bit hard to follow the details of what's actually happening, especially at the start, if one hasn't already seen the TV-episode but reading this *is* rewarding, it *does* diverge fron the episode, it features scenes that weren't possible on TV for logistical reasons and goes far in building up the arrival of *The Abomination*
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