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nwhyte's review against another edition
2.0
http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/2136741.html[return][return]This is the last of the Eleven/Rory/Amy novels, and probably one you can skip; there are lots of quite good elements - some very well realised aliens and cyborgs, and a slap at the easy target of reality television; I think Finch also captures Smith's Doctor rather well. But the basic scenario, of people being kidnapped to become prey in a grand hunt, is pretty cliched by now, having been done slightly better in The Five Doctors and much better in a Tenth Doctor novel, The Doctor Trap; of course all of these are rooted in The Most Dangerous Game. I did not think that the horror of the situation was adequately reflected in the prose; I also thought the main non-Tardis crew sub-plot, the redemption of a failed London copper's relationship with his family through his heroism, was handled too superficially. In general this felt like an book with adult themes being written for younger readers, and there was a failure to connect style with substance.[return][return]There were other minor implausibilities which pushed my own buttons, such as an Albanian character (who disappears as soon as he is mentioned) called Miklos; just possible if he was named after a Hungarian friend or relative, but M�hill is the usual Albanian translation of Michael, and even that is not very common.[return][return]It is a rare lapse in quality of the New Series Adventures.
meganmargoking's review
1.0
It is my dearest hope that Paul Finch will never write a Doctor Who novel ever again. I have a deep feeling that to gather information in preparation to write this novel, he sat down one night, watched a couple episode of Classic Who, and afterwards watched about thirty seconds of an New Who, most likely a clip in which the 11th Doctor portrayed as Matt Smith, says something is cool.
The plot line is something I would expect from a Tom Baker era (or even Peter Davison for that matter) episode of Doctor Who. The Doctor and his companions go to a Leisure Planet (the Doctor actually wanted to visit an old friend and their past history is confusing to the reader since it never occurred in the TV show and they discuss it vaguely) and the companions, being companions get in trouble. One (being Rory) is 'captured' (explain later) and taken to a different planet in which rich people who are bored and fancy themselves as hunters like to hunt other humans as sport. Other reviewers have commented that the plot is similar to movies and books such as 'The Running Man' or 'The Most Dangerous Game'.
However, The Doctor, Amy and Rory aren't themselves in this novel at all. This doesn't have a complex meaning (omg it's a Ganger!Rory... I wish). Finch destroyed these characters and practically made up his own. Rory who in the show is less adventurous and more cautious of the three, is the one to how shall I say, screw things up? He gambles away the TARDIS in a craps-like game he doesn't fully understand. Does that sound like Rory to you? Never mind that we all love BAMF!Rory, I am talking about normal Rory here. And of course Amy is mad when Rory is 'kidnapped'. Sorry y'all it wasn't kidnapping. It was part of the deal he made gambling away the TARDIS. Amy becomes a waitress. Do you see Amy as a waitress? Do you see Amy taking shit from other men? Do you see Amy as the voice of reason? No, you don't do you? Finch ruined her. The Doctor in this novel has taken up violence. If you are a Doctor Who fan you know why I am mad about this.
Finch for some reason is stuck in the 70s and 80s of Classic Who, in which when the Doctor and his crew go to a planet, everyone on that planet has weird space names. There's characters in this book such as Xaaael, Zarbotan, Zalu, and Xorax. Now there's a slue of these guys with funky names. I for one could not keep them straight at all.
I'm just glad I finished this piece of shit. I like reading my Who books, but if Paul Finch comes out with another one, I am skipping it. This one was just too horrible. I honestly wouldn't recommend this for anyone.
The plot line is something I would expect from a Tom Baker era (or even Peter Davison for that matter) episode of Doctor Who. The Doctor and his companions go to a Leisure Planet (the Doctor actually wanted to visit an old friend and their past history is confusing to the reader since it never occurred in the TV show and they discuss it vaguely) and the companions, being companions get in trouble. One (being Rory) is 'captured' (explain later) and taken to a different planet in which rich people who are bored and fancy themselves as hunters like to hunt other humans as sport. Other reviewers have commented that the plot is similar to movies and books such as 'The Running Man' or 'The Most Dangerous Game'.
However, The Doctor, Amy and Rory aren't themselves in this novel at all. This doesn't have a complex meaning (omg it's a Ganger!Rory... I wish). Finch destroyed these characters and practically made up his own. Rory who in the show is less adventurous and more cautious of the three, is the one to how shall I say, screw things up? He gambles away the TARDIS in a craps-like game he doesn't fully understand. Does that sound like Rory to you? Never mind that we all love BAMF!Rory, I am talking about normal Rory here. And of course Amy is mad when Rory is 'kidnapped'. Sorry y'all it wasn't kidnapping. It was part of the deal he made gambling away the TARDIS. Amy becomes a waitress. Do you see Amy as a waitress? Do you see Amy taking shit from other men? Do you see Amy as the voice of reason? No, you don't do you? Finch ruined her. The Doctor in this novel has taken up violence. If you are a Doctor Who fan you know why I am mad about this.
Finch for some reason is stuck in the 70s and 80s of Classic Who, in which when the Doctor and his crew go to a planet, everyone on that planet has weird space names. There's characters in this book such as Xaaael, Zarbotan, Zalu, and Xorax. Now there's a slue of these guys with funky names. I for one could not keep them straight at all.
I'm just glad I finished this piece of shit. I like reading my Who books, but if Paul Finch comes out with another one, I am skipping it. This one was just too horrible. I honestly wouldn't recommend this for anyone.
georgie_melia's review
4.0
This is actually my favourite Doctor Who book! There's bundles of action, excitement, danger and that's what keeps a book interesting! I would really recommend this book to Doctor Who fans.
simsbrarian's review
1.0
Nope. Can't do it. Only halfway through disc one and none of the characters are remotely "in character". When the Doctor explains the planet they are going to is "Men work the jobs and women work in *leer* 'entertainment'" Amy tries to assert "Well I'M not gonna let that fly" the Doctor responds that they just have to let cultures do their thing and sure some day they'll see the error of their ways but "it's not up to us to make them see it". Nope. Sorry; but I call bullshit. This is just already so uncharacteristic and offensive (Yes, let's go to a planet where Men Rule, Women have to be sex slaves basically but we're not here to change things, nope nope! That isn't EXACTLY what we do in every adventure ever, nope nope!) that I have no interest in continuing and the reviews here from others don't make me feel I'd be missing anything. A shame because it's read by Arthur Darvill who does a decent voicing of the characters and is nice to listen to.
timbookshelf's review
3.0
This was a decent enough book, but I would love to see it extended to a full novel. It felt a little rushed, but I love the idea of it.