Category Archives: Doctor Who

Lungbarrow by Marc Platt (1997)

‘… and Rassilon, in great anger, banished the Other from Gallifrey that he might never return to the world.Then there was great rejoicing through the Citadel.But the Other, as he fled, stole away the Hand of Omega and departed the world forever.‘ ‘The little figure had slowed and finally stopped a few feet from theContinue reading “Lungbarrow by Marc Platt (1997)”

Human Nature by Paul Cornell (1994)

Long ago, and far away, in the reign of Queen Victoria, there lived a silver-haired old man, who had a very good idea. He had thought of a shelter for policemen, with a telephone, so that anybody who was in trouble could call for help. And that was clever; because nobody knew what a telephoneContinue reading “Human Nature by Paul Cornell (1994)”

The Left-handed Hummingbird by Kate Orman (1993)

‘And deep inside him, something Blue was itching, something Blue was wrapping itself around him like a shroud. It was possible, even probable, that he was not aware of it. But the Blue was there, an unnatural colour, a spreading stain in the soft greyness of his brain. ‘ What do the deaths of JohnContinue reading “The Left-handed Hummingbird by Kate Orman (1993)”

Love and War by Paul Cornell (1992)

‘So, he called it Heaven in Common Tongue, which meant that the translation fitted with whatever your own particular vision of bliss was. The High Command hadn’t liked that much. They hadn’t liked it either when Hall, once the Dragon Wars had ended and the two species were united against the Daleks, walked into theContinue reading “Love and War by Paul Cornell (1992)”

Nightshade by Mark Gatiss (1992)

Ah, nostalgia. So seductive. So dangerous. And so odd to be feeling it for some of my own work. Nightshade, now looking like the brittle-paged Tenth Planet I had as a kid.What surprises me now, re-reading the book after so many years is how SERIOUS it is. Grim, in fact. But you have to rememberContinue reading “Nightshade by Mark Gatiss (1992)”

Adventures too broad and too deep – Doctor Who in the 1990’s

So by 1989, ‘Doctor Who’ had died a slow death, more by a 1000 cuts and neglect from those in power than anything else. Those making the show had done their best to come up with original, distinctive stories in the face of indifference and neglect from those above. It couldn’t keep up though, despiteContinue reading “Adventures too broad and too deep – Doctor Who in the 1990’s”

Paradise Towers by Stephen Wyatt (1987)

‘A town is full of buildings – some tall, some short, some wide, some narrow. The buildings are flats and houses and factories and shops … do you live in a town?’ ‘Mary, Mungo and Midge live in a tall block of flats – right at the top, in the flat with the flowers growingContinue reading “Paradise Towers by Stephen Wyatt (1987)”

Under the Lake/Before the Flood by Toby Whithouse (2015)

‘Yes, well, well, there was no such thing as, as socks or smartphones and badgers until there suddenly were. Besides, what else could they be? They’re not holograms, they’re not Flesh Avatars, they’re not Autons, they’re not digital copies bouncing around the Nethersphere. No, these people are literally, actually, dead. Wow. This is, it’s amazing!Continue reading “Under the Lake/Before the Flood by Toby Whithouse (2015)”

The Armageddon Factor by Bob Baker and Dave Martin (1978)

We have the power to do anything we like. Absolute power over every particle in the universe. Everything that has ever existed or ever will exist. As from this moment are you listening to me, Romana? My will to finish this review waned by the episode, so forgive this lacklustre half-hearted attempt – in someContinue reading “The Armageddon Factor by Bob Baker and Dave Martin (1978)”

The Power of Kroll by Robert Holmes (1978)

It was a world of water.Lagoons the size of seas covered most of its surface, so that the swampy, low-lying land masses were in constant danger of flooding. Water streamed from perpetually overcast grey skies, in rain showers which ranged from the mildest drizzles to torrential downpours. Even when it wasn’t raining, water seemed toContinue reading “The Power of Kroll by Robert Holmes (1978)”