jonwesleyhuff's review against another edition
4.0
Well my Doctor Who reading binge continues!
I kept passing this up because I was judging a book by it's cover. Every time I looked at the water-logged TARDIS, I just couldn't get excited. Plus I felt the back blurb was perhaps a BIT too generic. It made it sound like Martha would be trapped in the TARDIS the whole time, which I didn't find very exciting... little did I know! Covers? Books? Judging? Shouldn't.
First of all, the characterization. I have to say I thought the Mark Michalowski got it right, right down to some of the things I don't like! The Doctor seemed suitably doctorish and I could "hear" David Tennant saying the lines very easily. That's nice. I hate reading a DW book and running across an off line. The little David Tennant in my head just goes "Oh, now hold on - really? I don't think The Doctor would say that. Re-write! Re-write!" and it can throw the whole flow of the book off. Perhaps I'm revealing too much?
In any case, I didn't run into that here at all. Martha was pretty spot-on... but I'll admit I get annoyed when Martha acts all jealous. I thought it fit the character, but part of me just wants to smack her when she key getting jealous of Ty. But as one poster pointed out at least Martha HAD characterization, which doesn't always happen in the novels beyond a very shallow "voice" match.
As for the plot itself - VERY effective. I actually found myself liking the citizens of Sunday and found their plight interesting. It's funny, because there are so many things that can go wrong with colony worlds and a lot of the more mainstream scifi never really touches on that. It's all attacking aliens and mysterious diseases. Sure, the story does the former eventually, but the initial devastation by flooding seems very real, as does the use of "dirty" tech.
The otters were great! I really liked the way they were portrayed so as to not be too cutesy, and the ending twist was actually very fun. The Slimey itself (which will always remind me of Dragon Warrior, though my friend and I used to call them "Smileys" because were 10 and thought that was funny) was VERY creepy. Actually, I'm kind of surprised with the level of gore in the book, especially towards the end with the decaying puppet-man. Oh, and "ichor" is an A+ word. Really. I want to start using it in everyday speech. Thankfully I don't run into the need for such a word often.
I liked that the sonic was taken out of commission after being used sensibly at first. It served it's purpose, and then was disposed of when the going needed to get tough. I also enjoyed the way the threat was disarmed through a combination of the Doctor's know-how and by a guest character. Candy was a fun character, and she only saved the day because she disobeyed the Doctor's commands! I think that needs to happen from time to time.
The book itself felt pretty substantial. I took me a bit more than the 1 1/2-2 hours these books usually take to zoom through. That was nice - a bit more bang for your buck.
Well, I have gone on! But this was definitely in the "good" category.
I kept passing this up because I was judging a book by it's cover. Every time I looked at the water-logged TARDIS, I just couldn't get excited. Plus I felt the back blurb was perhaps a BIT too generic. It made it sound like Martha would be trapped in the TARDIS the whole time, which I didn't find very exciting... little did I know! Covers? Books? Judging? Shouldn't.
First of all, the characterization. I have to say I thought the Mark Michalowski got it right, right down to some of the things I don't like! The Doctor seemed suitably doctorish and I could "hear" David Tennant saying the lines very easily. That's nice. I hate reading a DW book and running across an off line. The little David Tennant in my head just goes "Oh, now hold on - really? I don't think The Doctor would say that. Re-write! Re-write!" and it can throw the whole flow of the book off. Perhaps I'm revealing too much?
In any case, I didn't run into that here at all. Martha was pretty spot-on... but I'll admit I get annoyed when Martha acts all jealous. I thought it fit the character, but part of me just wants to smack her when she key getting jealous of Ty. But as one poster pointed out at least Martha HAD characterization, which doesn't always happen in the novels beyond a very shallow "voice" match.
As for the plot itself - VERY effective. I actually found myself liking the citizens of Sunday and found their plight interesting. It's funny, because there are so many things that can go wrong with colony worlds and a lot of the more mainstream scifi never really touches on that. It's all attacking aliens and mysterious diseases. Sure, the story does the former eventually, but the initial devastation by flooding seems very real, as does the use of "dirty" tech.
The otters were great! I really liked the way they were portrayed so as to not be too cutesy, and the ending twist was actually very fun. The Slimey itself (which will always remind me of Dragon Warrior, though my friend and I used to call them "Smileys" because were 10 and thought that was funny) was VERY creepy. Actually, I'm kind of surprised with the level of gore in the book, especially towards the end with the decaying puppet-man. Oh, and "ichor" is an A+ word. Really. I want to start using it in everyday speech. Thankfully I don't run into the need for such a word often.
I liked that the sonic was taken out of commission after being used sensibly at first. It served it's purpose, and then was disposed of when the going needed to get tough. I also enjoyed the way the threat was disarmed through a combination of the Doctor's know-how and by a guest character. Candy was a fun character, and she only saved the day because she disobeyed the Doctor's commands! I think that needs to happen from time to time.
The book itself felt pretty substantial. I took me a bit more than the 1 1/2-2 hours these books usually take to zoom through. That was nice - a bit more bang for your buck.
Well, I have gone on! But this was definitely in the "good" category.
gumiho93's review against another edition
3.0
i still love their dynamics though they made martha irritatingly jealous
taaya's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
tracyo14's review against another edition
4.0
good fun in the Doctor Who world, I especially loved the last few lines, brilliant really made me smile
nightshade_novels's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this Doctor Who book. I was surprised at the beginning when Martha rushed off to get changed for her breakfast meal at ‘Tiffany’s’ before checking that a) the Doctor meant the same place as she did and b) that the actually ended up there knowing what usually happens. It makes you wonder whether the companions and the Doctor do occasionally have nice trips where they end up where they are supposed to go and do what they planned to do.
I liked the otters, especially when they started to talk to Martha and the others. Although it turns out that this may just have been because the TARDIS was nearby and translating for them.
The idea of an alien that can implant ideas and instructions into your head is quite creepy. However, when you find out that it cannot leave the water and therefore all you have to do to avoid it is not go anywhere near the water it becomes much less scary. But that is easier said than done on a planet that is mostly water and when the alien sends viscous mind controlled otters to fetch you.
This book receives four stars because I enjoyed it more than some of the others in the Doctor Who series.
I liked the otters, especially when they started to talk to Martha and the others. Although it turns out that this may just have been because the TARDIS was nearby and translating for them.
The idea of an alien that can implant ideas and instructions into your head is quite creepy. However, when you find out that it cannot leave the water and therefore all you have to do to avoid it is not go anywhere near the water it becomes much less scary. But that is easier said than done on a planet that is mostly water and when the alien sends viscous mind controlled otters to fetch you.
This book receives four stars because I enjoyed it more than some of the others in the Doctor Who series.
alysmw's review against another edition
3.0
This was alright. It was a lot of fun but not as good or Doctor Who ish as some of them. I liked the references to Classic Who with the doctor impersonating an adjudicator and mentions of Krynoids etc. The characters seemed to be having fun which I liked even if it was overdone at times. I didn't really understand the writing because it seemed to have Americanisms in it like "gotten" and "you better go" along with certain American phrases and exclamations but the author is definitely British and it didn't seem to be that the character was American because it was throughout. I quite liked Martha in this one I have to say.
scampr's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A very typical colony world adventure for 10 and Martha that was strange but fun. The swampy setting isn't something seen in many Doctor Who stories, which makes this one stand out - and thankfully it capitalises on it with some great atmosphere, scenery and worldbuilding. There's nothing outstanding going on character wise, but that's okay for a "monster of the week" type premise. An interesting mystery with some creepy body horror and a fair share of quirks; I think the author has an obsession with otters.
happysami's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
nwhyte's review against another edition
2.0
http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1454215.html
A fairly standard Ten / Martha adventure set in a near-future world where a small human colony is dealing with unseen monsters and cute little otter-like creatures. Interesting because Martha is knocked out for a chunk of the narrative, allowing the companion role to be distributed among several other characters. It's getting increasingly odd to read books with David Tennant's manic cheeky chappie at the same time as watching Matt Smith's alien young fogey (must try not doing two books and new episode in the same weekend too often).
A fairly standard Ten / Martha adventure set in a near-future world where a small human colony is dealing with unseen monsters and cute little otter-like creatures. Interesting because Martha is knocked out for a chunk of the narrative, allowing the companion role to be distributed among several other characters. It's getting increasingly odd to read books with David Tennant's manic cheeky chappie at the same time as watching Matt Smith's alien young fogey (must try not doing two books and new episode in the same weekend too often).