A review by scampr
Doctor Who: Last of the Gaderene by Mark Gatiss
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.75
I don't intend to be mean, but I doubt I'd be alone in saying that around 80-90% of Mark Gatiss' contributions to the Doctor Who universe are are just okay. The remaining percentage is where he shines - this book being one of them.
The best way to summarise Last of the Gaderene is that it combines every distinct element of the 3rd Doctor's era into a story that feels straight from Mark Gatiss' childhood imagination. On paper there is a risk that a story like that would be overly fan-service-y, unoriginal and convoluted, but it manages to balance things successfully.
There'd be no point in me listing the specifics of what this novel does well, because it's be easier to explain my complaints - of which I have next to none. Aside from nit-picking there are one or two moments where the story is a little dense or dragging somewhat, but that's about it.
Just a genuinely fun read that delivers on several fronts.
The best way to summarise Last of the Gaderene is that it combines every distinct element of the 3rd Doctor's era into a story that feels straight from Mark Gatiss' childhood imagination. On paper there is a risk that a story like that would be overly fan-service-y, unoriginal and convoluted, but it manages to balance things successfully.
There'd be no point in me listing the specifics of what this novel does well, because it's be easier to explain my complaints - of which I have next to none. Aside from nit-picking there are one or two moments where the story is a little dense or dragging somewhat, but that's about it.
Just a genuinely fun read that delivers on several fronts.