jonwesleyhuff's review
4.0
I stopped reading a lot of the Doctor Who tie-in novels because I found them to be a bit simplistic, clearly written to encompass a wide range of reading levels. Which isn't to say some of them weren't enjoyable, just that I wanted to spend my reading time elsewhere. But, I couldn't pass up the chance to catch up with the War Doctor and read more about his adventures. The story here is well-done. Cinder is a great companion, and the book had a real cinematic feel, especially at the end. I'm not the world's biggest Dalek fan, but there are things done here with them that i'd love to see on the screen and that felt like some new places to take them. The concept of the Predator, in particular, is really great.
canadianbookaddict's review
4.0
I am a huge fan of Doctor Who so I couldn't wait to read this book.
I read this one night when there was nothing on tv that interested me. I am so glad I read this because it is so good and couldn't put it down. It is so very well written and I now want to read more books by George Mann.
If you are a fan of Doctor Who I highly recommend you read this book.
I read this one night when there was nothing on tv that interested me. I am so glad I read this because it is so good and couldn't put it down. It is so very well written and I now want to read more books by George Mann.
If you are a fan of Doctor Who I highly recommend you read this book.
kandicez's review
4.0
I loved getting a look at the Doctor none of us know. He is the "in between" Doctor, and although he was in a two parter and appears in my complete Doctor Who magnet set, I know very little about him. Well, I know John Hurt plays him and that's a coup right there!
This was a terrific Doctor book. Mann really ran with the idea of this being the unknown Doctor and gave us a gritty story we would never read about Tennant's or Smith's Doctors. Maybe Capaldi's, but I'm not sure yet. Certainly none of the older Doctors. There was loss of life, war, hurting, maiming, shooting and emotional angst. Real angst. Hard choices, which are certianly not unknown to the Doctor, but choices we have not seen him make before.
Mann let us glimpse the Time Lords in a way we have not before. They are not the perfectly benevolent beings we have been led to believe (excepting the Master). They have flaws, are not universally kind, and certainly do not share our Doctor's love for humans and pretty much any other species he runs across. He shows us how depraved they were before and during the time war. We see how they reacted to it and how little they regarded the collateral damage. He does so in a way that doesn't interfere with what we do know. Sheer genius, in my opinion. I hate nothing more than when an author tells a story that gives lie to the stories we've been told by others. Behind the scenes details that change my opinion are ok, but changing actual facts is not. Mann walked that tightrope perfectly here.
This was a terrific Doctor book. Mann really ran with the idea of this being the unknown Doctor and gave us a gritty story we would never read about Tennant's or Smith's Doctors. Maybe Capaldi's, but I'm not sure yet. Certainly none of the older Doctors. There was loss of life, war, hurting, maiming, shooting and emotional angst. Real angst. Hard choices, which are certianly not unknown to the Doctor, but choices we have not seen him make before.
Mann let us glimpse the Time Lords in a way we have not before. They are not the perfectly benevolent beings we have been led to believe (excepting the Master). They have flaws, are not universally kind, and certainly do not share our Doctor's love for humans and pretty much any other species he runs across. He shows us how depraved they were before and during the time war. We see how they reacted to it and how little they regarded the collateral damage. He does so in a way that doesn't interfere with what we do know. Sheer genius, in my opinion. I hate nothing more than when an author tells a story that gives lie to the stories we've been told by others. Behind the scenes details that change my opinion are ok, but changing actual facts is not. Mann walked that tightrope perfectly here.
sabregirl's review
4.0
Nice lead up to the 50th anniversary special. Interesting read, though it probably could've been told in a shorter story. And it was blatantly obvious that the mutant time lords were like Bad Wolf!Rose being able to see everything and manipulate everything. Was a a bit disappointed in that, but it was a good read where you get the War Doctor a bit more flushed out, even though it was almost like all of his incarnations into one which makes sense since it took all of his Eleven Regenerations to stop the time war. Leads directly up to his decision to use The Moment as well which was interesting.
luisoderso's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jarichan's review against another edition
4.0
Der War Doctor ist eine eher unscheinbare Inkarnation, eingequetsch zwischen zwei unglaublich beliebten Doktoren. Wahrscheinlich mag ich den War Doctor deshalb so gerne. Umso mehr freute ich mich natürlich, als ich dieses Buch mit ihm bekam. Auch wenn es ein Weilchen gedauert hat, bis ich es gelesen habe.
Dann hatte ich es aber auch viel zu schnell wieder durch. Wie von den Doctor Who-Büchern nicht anders gewohnt, ist der Schreibstil sehr einfach gehalten, sodass Fans aus allen Leseniveaus in den Genuss neuer Abenteuer kommen können. Der geübte Leser fühlt sich vielleicht ein wenig unterfordert, hat den Titel dafür aber umso schneller durch - wie in meinem Fall.
Das Buch hat mich vor allem deshalb gefesselt, weil man viele Hintergründe über den War Doctor, den Time War und die Time Lords erfährt. Aber auch die Entwicklung der Freundschaft zwischen dem Doctor und Cinder hat mich sehr berührt. Trotz der fast simplen Sprache des Buches kamen die Emotionen nicht zu kurz und man spürt, wie sich die beiden immer besser verstehen und sich aufeinander einlassen.
Eine weitere tolle Lektüre aus dem unendlichen Whoverse.
Dann hatte ich es aber auch viel zu schnell wieder durch. Wie von den Doctor Who-Büchern nicht anders gewohnt, ist der Schreibstil sehr einfach gehalten, sodass Fans aus allen Leseniveaus in den Genuss neuer Abenteuer kommen können. Der geübte Leser fühlt sich vielleicht ein wenig unterfordert, hat den Titel dafür aber umso schneller durch - wie in meinem Fall.
Das Buch hat mich vor allem deshalb gefesselt, weil man viele Hintergründe über den War Doctor, den Time War und die Time Lords erfährt. Aber auch die Entwicklung der Freundschaft zwischen dem Doctor und Cinder hat mich sehr berührt. Trotz der fast simplen Sprache des Buches kamen die Emotionen nicht zu kurz und man spürt, wie sich die beiden immer besser verstehen und sich aufeinander einlassen.
Eine weitere tolle Lektüre aus dem unendlichen Whoverse.
gingerreader99's review against another edition
4.0
A really solid outing for the War Doctor. I particularly liked the characterization of the Time Lords and the Doctor being at odds with them and with Rassilon throughout the story while fighting the Daleks. Of course the War Doctor feels unworthy of the name Doctor but the plot shows he is always worthy of the name through his actions.
mary_r_m's review
4.0
Thank you to Netgalley and Crown Publishing for allowing me access to this title.
If you've seen Doctor Who and can't get enough then try this out!
Reading it was like watching the show. Great Fun!
If you've seen Doctor Who and can't get enough then try this out!
Reading it was like watching the show. Great Fun!
kitvaria_sarene's review
4.0
I loved to get to know more about the Wardoctor!
This tells the story of how he got to the point were "No more" was his motto.
I enjoyed getting a it more insight into the timewar and how it got as desperate. Also it has a really good insight into the time more society after so long a time of fighting.
We get a new companion for this story too - and I do love that character!
Some points of the story felt a bit too long, others a bit too vague - so I'll only give it 4 stars - but I'd still definitely recommend it to Doctor Who fans!
This tells the story of how he got to the point were "No more" was his motto.
I enjoyed getting a it more insight into the timewar and how it got as desperate. Also it has a really good insight into the time more society after so long a time of fighting.
We get a new companion for this story too - and I do love that character!
Some points of the story felt a bit too long, others a bit too vague - so I'll only give it 4 stars - but I'd still definitely recommend it to Doctor Who fans!