A review by scampr
Doctor Who: The Stealers of Dreams by Steve Lyons
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Right off the bat, The Stealers of Dreams offers a fascinating central premise - what if there was a world where imagination, fiction and lies were prohibited? It's a sci-fi premise that is immediately intriguing and allows for some great worldbuilding.
The opening half the novel dedicates a lot to fleshing out this future human colony, exploring what everyday life is like with this adherence to truth, and how these rules are enforced. It's all rather interesting and with the outsider perspective of the Doctor and companions, it provides a lot to work with in establishing character, atmosphere, exposition and so on. As expected, the anti-fiction laws are perplexing to our main characters, and they witness first-hand the difficulties and conflict it seems to be causing between the status quo and the few that don't conform.
Of the six 9th Doctor books that were released in 2005, this is one of the later released trio that features Captain Jack as a companion, alongside the aforementioned Doctor and Rose. I found Jack's characterisation to be pretty well executed, and his loud personality and turbulent past are at complete odds with the setting/society this novel takes place in, so he's really interesting here.
The Doctor feels like he takes a bit of a backseat role in this book, but this contemplative, headstrong, lone wolf vision of Eccleston's Doctor is absolutely a side that deserves exploring more, and it makes perfect sense in this type of story/scenario.
Of our three main protagonists, Rose is solid, but easily the least stand out character we have here.
For a good stretch of this book, the Tardis team are split up and paired with different characters, and we get an insight into different avenues of the truth vs fiction ideologies and conflict.
Rose becomes friends with Dominic, a young man who is ultimately normal but lives in fear and uncertainty for being a 'fiction geek'.
Jack finds himself cooperating with a mysterious stranger as he takes to the streets to locate the leaders of Static, a resistance group making secret broadcasts of fiction as acts of protest.
Meanwhile, the Doctor posing as a TV reporter is acquainted with Inspector Waller, following her operations and observing how the authorities police the use fiction and lies - along with finding out what happens to people after they're found 'guilty.
It all makes for a pretty thorough exploration of this world and that core premise. The eventual answers to the mystery of WHY fiction is banned may not be as exciting as the build-up, but it is still satisfying enough. I expected the climax of the story to go in a grander, weirder, more sci-fi direction, so the more practical solution that does happen was a little underwhelming - however the more I thought about it as the story wrapped things up, the conclusion was actually pretty decent and somewhat unique.
Probably the strongest 9th Doctor book I've read so far, The Stealers of Dreams would feel right at home as a part of the 2005 series, both in story and visuals. Although they don't spend a lot of time together, we get some good development of the 9/Rose/Jack team dynamic. The side characters and moments of action are solid, but the ideas and worldbuilding is where this novel does really well. A good balance of fun and depth, which is nicely paced and an easy reading experience. Altogether, It's just a rather well rounded story!
The opening half the novel dedicates a lot to fleshing out this future human colony, exploring what everyday life is like with this adherence to truth, and how these rules are enforced. It's all rather interesting and with the outsider perspective of the Doctor and companions, it provides a lot to work with in establishing character, atmosphere, exposition and so on. As expected, the anti-fiction laws are perplexing to our main characters, and they witness first-hand the difficulties and conflict it seems to be causing between the status quo and the few that don't conform.
Of the six 9th Doctor books that were released in 2005, this is one of the later released trio that features Captain Jack as a companion, alongside the aforementioned Doctor and Rose. I found Jack's characterisation to be pretty well executed, and his loud personality and turbulent past are at complete odds with the setting/society this novel takes place in, so he's really interesting here.
The Doctor feels like he takes a bit of a backseat role in this book, but this contemplative, headstrong, lone wolf vision of Eccleston's Doctor is absolutely a side that deserves exploring more, and it makes perfect sense in this type of story/scenario.
Of our three main protagonists, Rose is solid, but easily the least stand out character we have here.
For a good stretch of this book, the Tardis team are split up and paired with different characters, and we get an insight into different avenues of the truth vs fiction ideologies and conflict.
Rose becomes friends with Dominic, a young man who is ultimately normal but lives in fear and uncertainty for being a 'fiction geek'.
Jack finds himself cooperating with a mysterious stranger as he takes to the streets to locate the leaders of Static, a resistance group making secret broadcasts of fiction as acts of protest.
Meanwhile, the Doctor posing as a TV reporter is acquainted with Inspector Waller, following her operations and observing how the authorities police the use fiction and lies - along with finding out what happens to people after they're found 'guilty.
It all makes for a pretty thorough exploration of this world and that core premise. The eventual answers to the mystery of WHY fiction is banned may not be as exciting as the build-up, but it is still satisfying enough. I expected the climax of the story to go in a grander, weirder, more sci-fi direction, so the more practical solution that does happen was a little underwhelming - however the more I thought about it as the story wrapped things up, the conclusion was actually pretty decent and somewhat unique.
Probably the strongest 9th Doctor book I've read so far, The Stealers of Dreams would feel right at home as a part of the 2005 series, both in story and visuals. Although they don't spend a lot of time together, we get some good development of the 9/Rose/Jack team dynamic. The side characters and moments of action are solid, but the ideas and worldbuilding is where this novel does really well. A good balance of fun and depth, which is nicely paced and an easy reading experience. Altogether, It's just a rather well rounded story!