missyssippi's review against another edition
4.0
So, I was very eager to read this book. The idea of it was great: giving us more insight into our beloved character's past. When I saw the cover, I was thrilled! Most of the characters were among my favourites. Yet, this book didn't hit the right button for me, at least, not all the way through.
What I really liked about this book is how it allowed us to glimpse into the past of some well-known and less-known characters. Among my favourite stories were Kate Stewart's and Madame Vastra's because their stories didn't evolve around the Doctor. "My Daddy fights Monsters" was absolutely heart-wrenching and I loved seeing this version of Kate, a child already willing to fight for what matters to her, and hoping that her father will come home. Vastra's story was amazing, and the end made it all the more worthwhile. I suppose, with the companions, the only story that really made a difference to me was Amy and Rory's story.
Don't get me wrong, the other stories were great. Most of them. But each of the companions' stories, whether they were classic or not, involved the Doctor which I found somehow disappointing. I was hoping that their lives were more than their relationship with the Doctor, that we would get to see where they had gotten their values, how they resembled or not, the older version that we've seen on tv. And I didn't feel like we got that. The end of the book, from Clara's story to Missy's, somehow disappointed me, despite featuring some of my favourite characters. It just didn't feel like them. I found their stories underwhelming and after a while, the mind-wipe trope gets old.
Overall, I think this book is a great collection of stories. Could it have been better? Yes. Were all the stories good? No. But I'm still thankful it exists. I'd rate this book 3,5.
What I really liked about this book is how it allowed us to glimpse into the past of some well-known and less-known characters. Among my favourite stories were Kate Stewart's and Madame Vastra's because their stories didn't evolve around the Doctor. "My Daddy fights Monsters" was absolutely heart-wrenching and I loved seeing this version of Kate, a child already willing to fight for what matters to her, and hoping that her father will come home. Vastra's story was amazing, and the end made it all the more worthwhile. I suppose, with the companions, the only story that really made a difference to me was Amy and Rory's story.
Don't get me wrong, the other stories were great. Most of them. But each of the companions' stories, whether they were classic or not, involved the Doctor which I found somehow disappointing. I was hoping that their lives were more than their relationship with the Doctor, that we would get to see where they had gotten their values, how they resembled or not, the older version that we've seen on tv. And I didn't feel like we got that. The end of the book, from Clara's story to Missy's, somehow disappointed me, despite featuring some of my favourite characters. It just didn't feel like them. I found their stories underwhelming and after a while, the mind-wipe trope gets old.
Overall, I think this book is a great collection of stories. Could it have been better? Yes. Were all the stories good? No. But I'm still thankful it exists. I'd rate this book 3,5.
elinordavies's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
rubypanda's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
coraainslie's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
thetasigma906's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
chicafrom3's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
A collection of short stories about various Doctor Who companions and adjacent characters, before they became companions, often as children. Not quite what it says on the tin; there's a very high ratio of memory wipes involved. Varying quality and the character voices aren't all there, but there's some gems; the Amy/Rory story (The Girl Who Tore Through The Universe) was my favorite.
thoroughlymodernreviewer's review
4.0
A very enjoyable collection of short stories. Most of them feature some of the show’s most iconic companions in adventures set before they met the Doctor. On the surface, that’s a super cool idea. And one that all of the authors have a lot of fun with. And lest you think it’s just a collection of regular stories, rest assured that each of these tales feels distinctly Doctor Who-ish, often featuring some kind of alien (or sci-fi) threat for the companions to overcome. And honestly, it’s a lot of fun seeing these characters react to these otherworldly events in the years before that kind of strangeness becomes commonplace for them.
Among my favorites are Dave Rudden’s “My Daddy Fights Monsters” (featuring Kate Lethbridge-Stewart), Temi Oh’s “The Last of the Dals” (featuring Davros), Dave Rudden’s “The Big Sleep” (featuring Vastra), and Nikita Gill’s “The Girl Who Tore Through the Universe” (featuring Amy and Rory). But on the whole, there’s not a weak story in the bunch.
Unfortunately, the collection kind of cheats with that premise a little bit. Several of the stories feature the companions either meeting a different incarnation of the Doctor or just meeting their incarnation far earlier than they’re supposed to and then having their memories erased. And that kind of feels like cheating. But still, the stories are almost all universally great. And the collection is well worth a read for any Doctor Who fan looking for their Doctor Who fix.
Among my favorites are Dave Rudden’s “My Daddy Fights Monsters” (featuring Kate Lethbridge-Stewart), Temi Oh’s “The Last of the Dals” (featuring Davros), Dave Rudden’s “The Big Sleep” (featuring Vastra), and Nikita Gill’s “The Girl Who Tore Through the Universe” (featuring Amy and Rory). But on the whole, there’s not a weak story in the bunch.
Unfortunately, the collection kind of cheats with that premise a little bit. Several of the stories feature the companions either meeting a different incarnation of the Doctor or just meeting their incarnation far earlier than they’re supposed to and then having their memories erased. And that kind of feels like cheating. But still, the stories are almost all universally great. And the collection is well worth a read for any Doctor Who fan looking for their Doctor Who fix.
wynnifer's review
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
queerfrankenstein's review
adventurous
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5