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Eighth Doctor Adventures #42
Doctor Who: Escape Velocity
It is the first day of the 21st century, and a space race between rival Earth entrepreneurs is underway.Both teams are being aided by an alien race called the Kulan. They were stranded on planet Earth after their scout ship crashed there and, as far as the rival teams are concerned, the Kulan are motivated by a desire to get back to their home planet.
What they don't realize is that in fact the wrecked scout ship was part of a Kulan invasion force, sent ahead of the rest of its fleet to investigate Earth. The Kulan are a ruthless race who invade planets to exploit whatever economic value they contain, and the rest of the fleet is due to arrive in 2001.
However, the stranded Kulan need to escape planet Earth's radio-thick atmosphere to contact the fleet and arrange their rendezvous. Will one of the teams succeed in helping the Kulan to destroy Earth -- or will the Doctor succeed in averting a catastrophic attack?
What they don't realize is that in fact the wrecked scout ship was part of a Kulan invasion force, sent ahead of the rest of its fleet to investigate Earth. The Kulan are a ruthless race who invade planets to exploit whatever economic value they contain, and the rest of the fleet is due to arrive in 2001.
However, the stranded Kulan need to escape planet Earth's radio-thick atmosphere to contact the fleet and arrange their rendezvous. Will one of the teams succeed in helping the Kulan to destroy Earth -- or will the Doctor succeed in averting a catastrophic attack?
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 5, 2001
2 people are currently reading
291 people want to read
About the author
Colin Brake
50 books33 followersColin Brake is an English television writer and script editor best known for his work for the BBC on programs such as Bugs and EastEnders. He has also written spin-offs from the BBC series Doctor Who. He currently lives and works in Leicester.
Brake began working on EastEnders in 1985 as a writer and script editor, being partly responsible for the introduction of the soap's first Asian characters Saeed and Naima Jeffery. From there, he went on to work as "script executive" on the popular Saturday night action adventure program Bugs, before moving to Channel 5 in 1997 to be "script associate" on their evening soap Family Affairs.
In the early 2000s, Brake wrote episodes of the daytime soaps Doctors and the revival of Crossroads.
Away from television, Brake had his first Doctor Who related writing published as part of Virgin Publishing's Decalog short story collection in 1996. He then had his first novel Escape Velocity published by BBC Books in February 2001 as part of their Eighth Doctor Adventures range based on the television series Doctor Who. At the time, Brake was quoted as saying how appropriate it was that he was now writing for Doctor Who, as he was briefly considered as Eric Saward's replacement as script editor on the show - a job that eventually went to Andrew Cartmel instead.
Brake followed Escape Velocity with the Past Doctor Adventure The Colony of Lies in July 2003, and then with the audio adventure Three's a Crowd from Big Finish Productions in 2005. His Tenth Doctor Adventure The Price of Paradise was released in September 2006. He has also written an audio for their Bernice Summerfield range, and a short story for their Short Trips range.
Brake began working on EastEnders in 1985 as a writer and script editor, being partly responsible for the introduction of the soap's first Asian characters Saeed and Naima Jeffery. From there, he went on to work as "script executive" on the popular Saturday night action adventure program Bugs, before moving to Channel 5 in 1997 to be "script associate" on their evening soap Family Affairs.
In the early 2000s, Brake wrote episodes of the daytime soaps Doctors and the revival of Crossroads.
Away from television, Brake had his first Doctor Who related writing published as part of Virgin Publishing's Decalog short story collection in 1996. He then had his first novel Escape Velocity published by BBC Books in February 2001 as part of their Eighth Doctor Adventures range based on the television series Doctor Who. At the time, Brake was quoted as saying how appropriate it was that he was now writing for Doctor Who, as he was briefly considered as Eric Saward's replacement as script editor on the show - a job that eventually went to Andrew Cartmel instead.
Brake followed Escape Velocity with the Past Doctor Adventure The Colony of Lies in July 2003, and then with the audio adventure Three's a Crowd from Big Finish Productions in 2005. His Tenth Doctor Adventure The Price of Paradise was released in September 2006. He has also written an audio for their Bernice Summerfield range, and a short story for their Short Trips range.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 13, 2024
I actually enjoyed this one more than what I was expecting on this re-read
I picked up quite a few EDA's in discount book stores when the show came back in 2005, but now finally reading them in the correct order probably aided my enjoyment.
I remember really liking Anji as a companion, so getting to her introductory story feels like a good milestone - it's also the last in the 'Earth Arc' strand in the range.
Seeing her and her boyfriend Dave holidaying in Belgium, making the news which concides with the return of Fitz makes the start feel like a Doctor-lite episode.
The Alien Invasion story feels secondary, though it works as a perfectly serviceable MacGuffin to get all the characters in place.
It's a little predicable in places, but it does have a few moments.
It also nicely teases the next story with a fun call back to a very early adventure.
I picked up quite a few EDA's in discount book stores when the show came back in 2005, but now finally reading them in the correct order probably aided my enjoyment.
I remember really liking Anji as a companion, so getting to her introductory story feels like a good milestone - it's also the last in the 'Earth Arc' strand in the range.
Seeing her and her boyfriend Dave holidaying in Belgium, making the news which concides with the return of Fitz makes the start feel like a Doctor-lite episode.
The Alien Invasion story feels secondary, though it works as a perfectly serviceable MacGuffin to get all the characters in place.
It's a little predicable in places, but it does have a few moments.
It also nicely teases the next story with a fun call back to a very early adventure.
January 7, 2026
Hooray — the Eighth Doctor finally gets away from Earth at the end of this one. It should be pretty momentous, but Escape Velocity somehow lacks a sense of occasion, meeting every big payoff (whether it’s for the “stuck on Earth” arc or just the plot) with frustrating anticlimax.
The plot, a space race between alien factions who do/don’t want Earth to be invaded, inevitably feels a bit old hat after six Earth novels in a row, as does the space finale when Father Time already went there. The writing can be pretty pedestrian at points. At least it introduces new companion Anji, and it does an okay job with that, but like everything else she’s a bit of a damp squib.
It’s readable, but nevertheless it’s strange that they went with this undercooked effort to resolve the arc.
2.5
The plot, a space race between alien factions who do/don’t want Earth to be invaded, inevitably feels a bit old hat after six Earth novels in a row, as does the space finale when Father Time already went there. The writing can be pretty pedestrian at points. At least it introduces new companion Anji, and it does an okay job with that, but like everything else she’s a bit of a damp squib.
It’s readable, but nevertheless it’s strange that they went with this undercooked effort to resolve the arc.
2.5
January 4, 2011
Why did THIS have to conclude such an epic mini-series of Doctor Who novels? It's so ordinary and childish, side-by-side with emotional epics such as "Casualties of War". Colin Brake has never been my favourite "Doctor Who" author, but this really shouldn't have been the final novel in the exile series.
January 16, 2022
The ending of a story arc should make those experiencing it feel something about the conclusion, be it character focused, plot focused, or even a mystery box like the ones Steven Moffat is oh so fond of. The Eighth Doctor on Earth arc while having interconnected stories, has been driven forward by the character development of the amnesiac Eighth Doctor as he’s forced to live through 200 years sequentially on Earth and it ends in the early days of the 21st century. The Doctor finally has to meet Fitz in St. Louis, here it being confirmed that it was Compassion who set up the meeting meaning we get a very unexpected but welcome cameo. Escape Velocity is the first novel by Colin Brake who had already contributed a short story to the third Decalog collection. Having a first time writer to close out the entire arc is an interesting, if risky decision, instead of an experienced writer and Escape Velocity shows many of the issues with that. It is very much a first time writer, with Brake penning a fairly standard alien invasion story where competing scientists are racing to reach escape velocity and get off the planet Earth, with the eventual goal of establishing space hotels. Pierre-Yves Dudoin and Arthur Tyler III are incredibly fun upon their introduction, but by the time the reader gets to the halfway point a large issue of the book becomes apparent. Mainly that many of the interesting ideas just find themselves running out of steam so Brake attempts to keep things moving by inserting alien characters from an ambassador to a war fleet coming to threaten the planet Earth, but none of it ends up finding enough energy to sustain a book.
This does not mean that Escape Velocity is terrible, it isn’t, it’s perfectly fine as a book and there are plenty of things to like. Fitz’s reintroduction for instance is brilliant with Brake making him shine throughout the book, and the reader remembers why Fitz is such a good character and how much his presence has been missed in the range. Brake writes him as at least partially self-aware at the weirdness and amounts of coincidences necessary for Compassion to get the Doctor and the TARDIS back together, that is the original TARDIS. St. Louis is not the city in Missouri, but a bar that was originally science fiction themed until it was mysteriously bought out and made into an American themed bar. It’s silly and slightly disappointing that this book isn’t set in the Untied States, but it makes for a fun setting because Fitz is aware of how weird it is. There’s also enough time spent with Fitz while the Doctor is off doing other things (and Compassion dropping him off early).
Fitz could be our main character as he gets embroiled in an alien mystery and the kidnapping in Belgium of Dave Young, boyfriend of Anji Kapoor. Anji is setup as the new companion, but honestly isn’t that interesting of a character here. It’s nice to see a person of color as a companion, yet there isn’t a lot of characterization here. She’s essentially an everywoman character, not too nerdy, driven, but not a whole lot of interesting characterization. It feels like she just needs to be here because the editors of the range have determined there needs to be a new companion who is a girl from modern day Earth. There could be something interesting with grief and the character going forward, but nothing is done in Escape Velocity to explore this. The Doctor, Fitz, and the TARDIS reuniting is also a lot of fun, with the Doctor not getting his memories back completely but knowing enough to understand who he is at the core and what the TARDIS is. This means that he becomes exuberant at Fitz coming back and coming to travel again with him at the end and he is allowed to be a romantic. Interestingly, Brake sidelines the Doctor for much of the first half of the novel which is fine, but when he does show up it feels like Brake didn’t quite know how to characterize the Eighth Doctor, just making him vaguely a hopeless romantic.
Overall, Escape Velocity is a fine, if slightly disappointing ending to the Eighth Doctor on Earth arc. There are several missed opportunities which could have made the novel something great but quite a lot of it is just standard Doctor Who, especially the characterization of the Doctor himself. A new companion is introduced but there is a slightly worrying lack of characterization here giving some fear of a similarity to Sam Jones. It’s just a perfectly average book about an alien invasion and some misunderstandings and just a little bit of hubris from humanity but not much else. 5/10.
This does not mean that Escape Velocity is terrible, it isn’t, it’s perfectly fine as a book and there are plenty of things to like. Fitz’s reintroduction for instance is brilliant with Brake making him shine throughout the book, and the reader remembers why Fitz is such a good character and how much his presence has been missed in the range. Brake writes him as at least partially self-aware at the weirdness and amounts of coincidences necessary for Compassion to get the Doctor and the TARDIS back together, that is the original TARDIS. St. Louis is not the city in Missouri, but a bar that was originally science fiction themed until it was mysteriously bought out and made into an American themed bar. It’s silly and slightly disappointing that this book isn’t set in the Untied States, but it makes for a fun setting because Fitz is aware of how weird it is. There’s also enough time spent with Fitz while the Doctor is off doing other things (and Compassion dropping him off early).
Fitz could be our main character as he gets embroiled in an alien mystery and the kidnapping in Belgium of Dave Young, boyfriend of Anji Kapoor. Anji is setup as the new companion, but honestly isn’t that interesting of a character here. It’s nice to see a person of color as a companion, yet there isn’t a lot of characterization here. She’s essentially an everywoman character, not too nerdy, driven, but not a whole lot of interesting characterization. It feels like she just needs to be here because the editors of the range have determined there needs to be a new companion who is a girl from modern day Earth. There could be something interesting with grief and the character going forward, but nothing is done in Escape Velocity to explore this. The Doctor, Fitz, and the TARDIS reuniting is also a lot of fun, with the Doctor not getting his memories back completely but knowing enough to understand who he is at the core and what the TARDIS is. This means that he becomes exuberant at Fitz coming back and coming to travel again with him at the end and he is allowed to be a romantic. Interestingly, Brake sidelines the Doctor for much of the first half of the novel which is fine, but when he does show up it feels like Brake didn’t quite know how to characterize the Eighth Doctor, just making him vaguely a hopeless romantic.
Overall, Escape Velocity is a fine, if slightly disappointing ending to the Eighth Doctor on Earth arc. There are several missed opportunities which could have made the novel something great but quite a lot of it is just standard Doctor Who, especially the characterization of the Doctor himself. A new companion is introduced but there is a slightly worrying lack of characterization here giving some fear of a similarity to Sam Jones. It’s just a perfectly average book about an alien invasion and some misunderstandings and just a little bit of hubris from humanity but not much else. 5/10.
December 7, 2020
ギャリフレイを滅ぼしたドクターとフィズがついに再会を果たすまでの物語。
コンパッションにドクターと再会をする数日前の地球に降ろされたフィズ。ドクターにとっては113年が経過しており、ドクターがどのようなコンディションなのか気がかりなフィズ。ドクターらしき人物と遭遇したかもしれないデイブとアンジーを訪ね、ブリュッセルを訪れるが、そこでカップルとともにクランという異星人の侵攻計画と民間宇宙船建造のゴタゴタに巻き込まれるも、なんとかドクターと再会することができる。しかし、ドクターは地球に漂着して以降の113年分の記憶以外は全て失ってしまっていた。自分がタイムロードであることはおろか、ギャリフレイを自分が滅ぼしたことも覚えていないドクターに、フィズはどこまで記憶を取り戻すことがドクターにとっての最善なのか悩む。ただ記憶はなくともドクターのドクターらしさが完全に失われたわぇでもなく、クランの侵攻から地球を守るためドクターは全力をつくす。
ギャリフレイを滅ぼしたことがドクターにどのようなダメージを与えたのか心配なフィズ。頭脳の明晰さと性格は相変わらずなのが救いであり希望。それでもクランの侵攻を阻止するまでに多くの命が失われてしまい、そのことに対するドクターの反応が不安なフィズ。ターディスの操作方もほとんどカンに頼る始末だが、ターディスで旅する日常が戻ってくる。
コンパッションにドクターと再会をする数日前の地球に降ろされたフィズ。ドクターにとっては113年が経過しており、ドクターがどのようなコンディションなのか気がかりなフィズ。ドクターらしき人物と遭遇したかもしれないデイブとアンジーを訪ね、ブリュッセルを訪れるが、そこでカップルとともにクランという異星人の侵攻計画と民間宇宙船建造のゴタゴタに巻き込まれるも、なんとかドクターと再会することができる。しかし、ドクターは地球に漂着して以降の113年分の記憶以外は全て失ってしまっていた。自分がタイムロードであることはおろか、ギャリフレイを自分が滅ぼしたことも覚えていないドクターに、フィズはどこまで記憶を取り戻すことがドクターにとっての最善なのか悩む。ただ記憶はなくともドクターのドクターらしさが完全に失われたわぇでもなく、クランの侵攻から地球を守るためドクターは全力をつくす。
ギャリフレイを滅ぼしたことがドクターにどのようなダメージを与えたのか心配なフィズ。頭脳の明晰さと性格は相変わらずなのが救いであり希望。それでもクランの侵攻を阻止するまでに多くの命が失われてしまい、そのことに対するドクターの反応が不安なフィズ。ターディスの操作方もほとんどカンに頼る始末だが、ターディスで旅する日常が戻ってくる。
June 16, 2024
Fitzie! My boy, my beautiful boy is back from the war! (It's been two days for him.)
Fitz and the Doctor's reunion did not disappoint, and I really enjoyed the introduction of Anji. This is a fast-paced, fun romp -- a bit of a relief after how dark the Earth arc got, though I like that Brake didn't fully abandon the Doctor's trauma or characterization there. Perhaps sometimes he should get to bash an alien's head in, as a treat.
A sign of a good one of these is how often I was screenshotting chunks of text and sending them to friends, and I was deeply obnoxious in this case.
Fitz and the Doctor's reunion did not disappoint, and I really enjoyed the introduction of Anji. This is a fast-paced, fun romp -- a bit of a relief after how dark the Earth arc got, though I like that Brake didn't fully abandon the Doctor's trauma or characterization there. Perhaps sometimes he should get to bash an alien's head in, as a treat.
A sign of a good one of these is how often I was screenshotting chunks of text and sending them to friends, and I was deeply obnoxious in this case.
May 8, 2017
The Doctor finally meets up with Fitz. In the meantime, a young couple gets mixed up with aliens by accident, and a space race becomes dangerous. It's nice to finally near the end of the Doctor stuck on earth storyline, it was starting to get tedious. The space race is interesting and its fun seeing the Doctor become like his old self again. Anji, the new companion is introduced. Not sure about her yet. A good read.
October 17, 2022
Picked an 8DA at random, and I could have done worse than this. Some good character work with Fitz and a great introduction to Anji, the glimpse into early 2000's who and seeing the threads that got carried on to the revival is fascinating.
June 3, 2021
An improvement on the last few novels, and finally the Doctor has permanent companions again and his TARDIS back.
November 9, 2024
Another Eighth Doctor story where it’s at its best when the Doctor is his most Doctorish.
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April 8, 2009http://nhw.livejournal.com/1082082.html?style=mine[return][return]Well, well: a Doctor Who book partly set in Belgium! Aliens, companions and the Doctor wandering round the Grand' Place, the Atomium, Waterloo and the European quarter (one character practically walks under the windows of my office). Of course, I did the inevtable thing of checking for mistakes (it's Boulevard Adolphe Max, not Rue Adolphe Max, and anyway I think he means the Boulevard Anspach; the EU district is described as southwest rather than east of the city centre, but otherwise the geography is right) but generally I liked being on familiar territory. The book was written in 2000 and is set in early 2001, so it is a time when we were already living here, and I imagined how I might have brushed past the characters on my lunch break (in those days I occasionally wandered down from CEPS in the Place du Congr
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September 21, 2012SUMMARY:
It is the first day of the 21st century, and a space race between rival Earth entrepreneurs is underway.Both teams are being aided by an alien race called the Kulan. They were stranded on planet Earth after their scout ship crashed there and, as far as the rival teams are concerned, the Kulan are motivated by a desire to get back to their home planet.What they don't realize is that in fact the wrecked scout ship was part of a Kulan invasion force, sent ahead of the rest of its fleet to investigate Earth. The Kulan are a ruthless race who invade planets to exploit whatever economic value they contain, and the rest of the fleet is due to arrive in 2001.However, the stranded Kulan need to escape planet Earth's radio-thick atmosphere to contact the fleet and arrange their rendezvous. Will one of the teams succeed in helping the Kulan to destroy Earth -- or will the Doctor succeed in averting a catastrophic attack?
March 6, 2013
Despite the horrible writing, I kind of enjoyed this one. The new characters were all a bit flat. Most of the chapters or scenes ended with an overdose of melodrama. Anji's thought process was over-done and pretty much ridiculous, although I like her character.
I've really been enjoying the whole plot-arc with Eight losing his memories. This story brought a part of that to a very satisfying conclusion.
If you love the Doctor and can look past some sloppy writing, check it out.
I've really been enjoying the whole plot-arc with Eight losing his memories. This story brought a part of that to a very satisfying conclusion.
If you love the Doctor and can look past some sloppy writing, check it out.
March 2, 2010
And here's another one -it's Anji.
July 6, 2013
Quite good. Introduction of Anji as a companion.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews