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Title: Goth Opera (Doctor Who: Missing Adventures) by Paul Cornell ISBN: 0-426-20418-2 Publisher: London Bridge Mass Market Pub. Date: November, 1994 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $5.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.5 (4 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: An EXCELLENT start to the Missing Adventures series
Comment: When I heard a new series of Doctor Who novels based on previous Doctors was to be released, I was over the moon. While I liked Sylvester's 7th Doctor, my favourites were the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Doctors. In my opinion, even by this early stage, the 7th Dr books were going off the rails, changing the known character into an unrecognisable one. Personally, I did not like the direction the Doctor was being pushed in.
The four major reasons why I immediately liked Goth Opera,
It was the first in a series of 'past' Doctor books,
It was (partly) set in my home town (Launceston, Tasmania),
I knew personally one of the minor character (cricketer David Boon),
It's a damn good book.
Although I was never overly fond of the 5th Dr (I felt he was too passive after the physicality of the 4th Doctor), I never disliked him. Unfortunately the majority of Peter Davison's televised stories just didn't have the impact of a typical Tom Baker story. This book goes some way to fixing that. Davison's Doctor comes across as a stronger character with, ironically, more 'screen presence' than in a typical 5th Doctor televised story.
The plot to Goth Opera is comparatively simplistic compared to most current PDA/8DAs, but that's not a bad thing. A complex plot doesn't necessarily make a better, or more enjoyable book. A lot of the BBC 8th Doctor Adventures have proven that by being basically, complex rubbish.
The book has an effective opeing sequence - people flying through the air. It quickly introduces a Time Lady (Ruath, although I regularly found myself calling her Ruatha), resurrects a vampire (Yarven from NA Blood Harvest) then starts turning people into vamps enmasse with plans to turn the entire world into vampires. The cross over with Blood harvest is minimal, so don't let that put you off.
The Romana sub-plot was enjoyable, even though she never met the Doctor in the flesh. It was good to see her again. The Drashigs and Miniscope (in the Romana sub-plot) I can just about accept, but bringing in Glitz and Dibber was just asking too much. Too many co-incidences!
Nyssa is well handled, as is her fight against her transformation, but as per the televised stories, I loved Tegan. Her making the tea was quite an effective running gag.
A few (minor) problems:
Vampires can now fly and dissolve into mist, something they appeared incapable of doing in State Of Decay! A person doesn't become a 'full' vampire until after the first full after they've been bitten. Killing a vampire's 'parent' changes all the people they've bitten back to human. (A very illogical way for a virus to work, but the Doctor's hypothesis that the Black Guardian may have had a (heavy) hand in their creation, was a clever way to explain away the inconsistencies.)
The night/day cycle does not progress north to south as stated in the book - the northern hemisphere is not in darkness when the southern is in the light. If the entire population is turned, there will be no humans left to feed the vampires. If it's always night (as the vampires planned) no crops would grow to feed any remaining humans, and no humans equates to no food for the vampires.
All in all, an excellent book, well worth the read. Written in a fluid, traditional style it flows freely for an easy read. There is a strong feel for the era and the characters are true to form. An EXCELLENT start to the Missing Adventures series.
Rating: 4
Summary: Blood from the vampire's tomb...
Comment: Given the success of their chronicling of the further adventures of the Seventh Doctor, Virgin publishing listened to the requests of their readers and launched a second series: Doctor Who Missing Adventures, featuring the earlier incarnations of the Doctor. This is the first of the series, and features the Fifth Doctor. And just to make life interesting, it ties in with the Seventh Doctor book 'Blood Harvest'.
From the title and the cover illustration, have no doubts that this is a vampire novel. Vampires, Doctor Who-style, were introduced in the TV serial 'State of Decay'. The established ages-old conflict between the Time Lords and vampires puts all kinds of pressure on the TARDIS crew when Nyssa is attacked and transformed...
The novel also features a person from the Doctor's past, mentions of old companions, and generally fits in very comfortably in the Doctor Who milieu. And its a decent read as well.
Rating: 5
Summary: !!!!!
Comment: First dr. Who book I read, so far better than any other. . . Read it if you are whovian!!! Read it even if you aren't!
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Title: Managra (Doctor Who the Missing Adventures) by Stephen Marley ISBN: 0426204530 Publisher: London Bridge Mass Market Pub. Date: November, 1995 List Price(USD): $5.95 |
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Title: Love and War (The New Doctor Who Adventures) by Paul Cornell, Publishing Carol ISBN: 0426203852 Publisher: London Bridge Mass Market Pub. Date: November, 1992 List Price(USD): $5.95 |
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Title: Interference Book One (Dr. Who Series) by Lawrence Miles ISBN: 0563555807 Publisher: BBC Worldwide Pub. Date: October, 1999 List Price(USD): $6.95 |
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Title: Camera Obscura (Doctor Who) by Lloyd Rose ISBN: 0563538570 Publisher: BBC Worldwide Pub. Date: January, 2003 List Price(USD): $6.95 |
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Title: Reckless Engineering (Doctor Who) by Nick Walters ISBN: 0563486031 Publisher: BBC Worldwide Pub. Date: January, 2004 List Price(USD): $6.95 |
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