Peter Grimwade (1942–1990)

Would-be imperialists lose their minds.

Nothing ends up working at all, but it seemed very promising in the beginning. Some nice ideas. Sadly, the complete lack of coherent storytelling means none of them have any relation to each other or to anything else. Strangely not un-entertaining, considering the size of its problems.

Concept: D
Story: F
Characters: B
Dialog: D
Pacing: C
Cinematography: D
Special effects/design: C
Acting: C
Music: C

Enjoyment: C

GPA: 1.6/4

http://nhw.livejournal.com/1063804.html#cutid5

This was a somewhat frustrating read. There are some significant improvements to the story as broadcast - the background to Kamelion is explained a bit more, and it is clear right from the start that he is probably fatally damaged; also there is more of a feeling of difference between Sarn and the site of Howard's dig (clearly in Greece or Cyprus rather than the Canaries). But the exposition of Turlough's background should have been more show more substantial, and Grimwade occasionally resorts to jarring contemporary metaphors which don't really suit a Doctor Who narrative; the line about the Carmelite nuns in a disco will linger unpleasantly in my memory for some time. show less

I remember seeing the story, but I didn't remember much about the details when reading this novelisation. It was OK, if a bit shallow, as bedside reading.

A whiny schoolboy is enlisted by to kill The Doctor by an apparently omnipotent weirdo; meanwhile, The Doctor battles would-be immortals.

Not exactly your best Doctor Who, even by 80's standards.

Concept: F
Story: D
Characters: D
Dialog: C
Pacing: C
Cinematography: D
Special effects/design: D
Acting: C
Music: D

Enjoyment: C minus

GPA: 1.3/4