authorjbr's review against another edition
4.0
This was a good story. I felt it characterized the 8th Doctor well and it was interesting. I only have one quibble.
As it was, the story wasn't bad, it just wasn't quite good enough to get five stars.
Spoiler
The question was random. It had to show intelligence, yes, but I thought there could have been some sort of set up for it. What it should have been, but had been set up, was that the question should have been "Who are you?" It should have required some actual self-reflection, rather than just knowledge. That had been set up (as the Doctor kept thinking about all he had left behind). The other thing that could have been done would be to make the Doctor help Evelyn figure out the answer. That could have been interesting.As it was, the story wasn't bad, it just wasn't quite good enough to get five stars.
thoroughlymodernreviewer's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
4.0
On the one hand, “Spore” is an absolutely delightful little “Doctor Who” romp. A classic earth-under-siege kind of story, complete with a very cosmically unknowable threat. It’s quick-paced, a nice little shot of “Doctor Who” goodness. The kind of premise that could easily be expanded into a full-length episode, but works perfectly fine as a little bite sized story.
On the other hand, though, it’s got the most generic-feeling representation of a Doctor in any of these stories. Outside of a few references to his costume, this Doctor simply doesn’t feel like the Eighth Doctor at all. It’s not that he feels like any other Doctor, either, though. He’s just very archetypal. You could easily imagine any of the Doctors slotted into this story. And while that’s kinda nice in theory, it’s a major let down in a story that’s billed as an Eighth Doctor tale. I know the Eighth Doctor hardly appeared on television, but it’s not like there isn’t a wealth of audio dramas and novels to draw inspiration from. So, that’s a major bummer.
As it is, though, “Pore” is a fun story. It’s got a good dynamic between the Doctor and the one-off companion. The setting is super fun (the American desert is just such a perfect setting for sci-fi stories, isn’t it?). And the overall premise works exceedingly well, possibly better than almost any of the previous short stories in this series. But the generic-feeling Eighth Doctor definitely brings the story down a bit. It’s fun enough, but could’ve been even better.
On the other hand, though, it’s got the most generic-feeling representation of a Doctor in any of these stories. Outside of a few references to his costume, this Doctor simply doesn’t feel like the Eighth Doctor at all. It’s not that he feels like any other Doctor, either, though. He’s just very archetypal. You could easily imagine any of the Doctors slotted into this story. And while that’s kinda nice in theory, it’s a major let down in a story that’s billed as an Eighth Doctor tale. I know the Eighth Doctor hardly appeared on television, but it’s not like there isn’t a wealth of audio dramas and novels to draw inspiration from. So, that’s a major bummer.
As it is, though, “Pore” is a fun story. It’s got a good dynamic between the Doctor and the one-off companion. The setting is super fun (the American desert is just such a perfect setting for sci-fi stories, isn’t it?). And the overall premise works exceedingly well, possibly better than almost any of the previous short stories in this series. But the generic-feeling Eighth Doctor definitely brings the story down a bit. It’s fun enough, but could’ve been even better.
ronald_schoedel's review
5.0
Great story, maybe the creepiest of the lot, perhaps tied with the Gaiman novella. The eighth Doctor had rather a short run (just one TV movie, some audio dramas, and a comic), and now this short. The ending alludes to future collaborations with his short-term companion from this novella. That would be fun.
plants_and_bees's review
4.0
This was one of the more enjoyable stories!
I was intrigued by the plot even though it may be more of the typical science fiction plots I enjoyed it a lot.
I don't really have a lot more to add though (also possibly because I'm writing this review 3 days later and it's such a short story there isn't much to remember I suppose.)
I was intrigued by the plot even though it may be more of the typical science fiction plots I enjoyed it a lot.
I don't really have a lot more to add though (also possibly because I'm writing this review 3 days later and it's such a short story there isn't much to remember I suppose.)
nwhyte's review
3.0
http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/2161655.html[return][return]It being August, it is the Eighth Doctor's turn, in a brief but effective tale of body horror: a flesh-absorbing alien attacks a small American town, and the Doctor and a hastily acquired Asian-American companion must deal with it. Decently constructed and with sufficient callbacks to The Movie to reassure that this is meant to be part of the same continuity. (No detectable callbacks to the other Eighth Doctor books/comics/audios though.) Scarrow is apparently a rising YA writer, and on this basis I would look for more of his work.
lali_sweety's review
4.0
Simple but entertaining read. More of a 3 star as it was predictable but Eight is adorable so that alone gives the short story another star.
h3dakota's review
3.0
I adore Eight, so I'm pretty picky about his stories. This story had great potential, but in the end, was disappointing.