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A review by saoki
Doctor Who: State of Change by Christopher Bulis
4.0
I really enjoyed this one. Actually, couldn't put it down (or go to sleep) until I finished it.
State of Change feels like a bit like something that grew from a Discworld/Doctor Who crossover, and I say that as someone that welcomed that idea. But that is just the general shape, there are enough differences in the Roman-but-steampunk setting (with its properly weird sciency explanation for what happened and how) for it to be a proper place on its own, and the author is very skilled at introducing characters relations, politics and setting at a good pace, so that the alternate history parts and the very unhistorical parts don't actually clash, but complement each other.
But I liked the weirdness in this story. The romanpunkness of it, the humorous parts, Ptolemy's lovercraftian tale, Peri's mutation and its effects, the Doctor's snide comments. And it's well crafted, properly researched, tightly written. I can't wait to read Christofer Bullis' next one.
And lastly, because I have to say it: it's a 6th Doctor adventure! And he is portrayed in a good light! It's always such a joy to read 6 written as a complex character.
State of Change feels like a bit like something that grew from a Discworld/Doctor Who crossover, and I say that as someone that welcomed that idea. But that is just the general shape, there are enough differences in the Roman-but-steampunk setting (with its properly weird sciency explanation for what happened and how) for it to be a proper place on its own, and the author is very skilled at introducing characters relations, politics and setting at a good pace, so that the alternate history parts and the very unhistorical parts don't actually clash, but complement each other.
But I liked the weirdness in this story. The romanpunkness of it, the humorous parts, Ptolemy's lovercraftian tale, Peri's mutation and its effects, the Doctor's snide comments. And it's well crafted, properly researched, tightly written. I can't wait to read Christofer Bullis' next one.
And lastly, because I have to say it: it's a 6th Doctor adventure! And he is portrayed in a good light! It's always such a joy to read 6 written as a complex character.