A review by senspence
The Beast of Babylon by Charlie Higson
3.0
The problem with writing a review about a novella is that many of us are used to a different length of fiction, myself included. The expectations we might have for longer fiction simply cannot apply here. For example, many of the reviews already out there complain about a certain level of contrivance due to the fact that there is no time to create misdirection or for failed attempts at solutions. This is true.
But what is also true about this series is that not a lot of time is needed for character development; we know the Doctor very well and can jump right in. I will just add that sometimes not a lot of time is needed for character development in longer formats either, at least not for minor characters or characters who don't appear for long. All that is really needed is a couple of well-chosen details (Stephen King is a master of this). So, in this novella we see short-hand for the Doctor and Rose and a couple details for Ali, the new companion for this adventure.
I like that Ali is visited by the Doctor more than once during her lifetime and that she challenges him. She also possesses certain "character traits" that his other companions don't have. We also get to see a new villain, a Star Man. I also like that we get to glimpse one of the blank spots in the storyline for the show when the Doctor leaves Rose and goes off on his own. We also get to meet Hammurabi, which adds a comical element to everything.
What I don't like is that we don't have time to learn too much about the villain. What we got was the promise of a good villain but with a built-in solution. I would say that it's like a so-so episode of the series but the author did not really have the advantage of an ongoing storyline; he couldn't leave anything undone.
I would recommend this book for people who love Doctor Who and want a very quick read. (I read this before work one morning.) I gave it an okay rating because it was entertaining for what it was and contained a couple of cool elements, like the interdimensional aspect of the Star Man, a tie-in with Rose, and a type of companion we aren't used to seeing, either physically or mentally, in the character of Ali. I don't know that non-Whovians would like this at all. I would be interested to read a review by someone who has never been exposed to the series.
But what is also true about this series is that not a lot of time is needed for character development; we know the Doctor very well and can jump right in. I will just add that sometimes not a lot of time is needed for character development in longer formats either, at least not for minor characters or characters who don't appear for long. All that is really needed is a couple of well-chosen details (Stephen King is a master of this). So, in this novella we see short-hand for the Doctor and Rose and a couple details for Ali, the new companion for this adventure.
I like that Ali is visited by the Doctor more than once during her lifetime and that she challenges him. She also possesses certain "character traits" that his other companions don't have. We also get to see a new villain, a Star Man. I also like that we get to glimpse one of the blank spots in the storyline for the show when the Doctor leaves Rose and goes off on his own. We also get to meet Hammurabi, which adds a comical element to everything.
What I don't like is that we don't have time to learn too much about the villain. What we got was the promise of a good villain but with a built-in solution. I would say that it's like a so-so episode of the series but the author did not really have the advantage of an ongoing storyline; he couldn't leave anything undone.
I would recommend this book for people who love Doctor Who and want a very quick read. (I read this before work one morning.) I gave it an okay rating because it was entertaining for what it was and contained a couple of cool elements, like the interdimensional aspect of the Star Man, a tie-in with Rose, and a type of companion we aren't used to seeing, either physically or mentally, in the character of Ali. I don't know that non-Whovians would like this at all. I would be interested to read a review by someone who has never been exposed to the series.