Oli Smith

Not charmed, I'm afraid. The limitations of the regular New Series range are, once again, made frustratingly clear: this is an action book for older kids, and I'm not sure what they're supposed to get out of it. The regulars are characterized well enough, but never in a particularly vivid manner, and the story revolves around the sort of time hijinks that have come to represent the Matt Smith era. Personally, I found it frustrating to follow, more a gimmick than a plot - and I dislike the show more way real-world, adult situations are played down and simplified in a kids' book way, but without any wit or style to account for that. There are quite a few ridiculous phrases for Americans - no American says "Cheers!" unless they're a pretty far-gone Anglophile, sorry - but that's just a slight stylistic annoyance. The real problem, I think, is the totally fantastical situation of the novel, which is then played totally straight. The result is a complex plot gimmick wrapped in a very simple outer shell. It's like reading a tricksy mystery novel without entertaining characters or even a unique writing style. It just isn't much fun. show less

I used to read a lot of Star Trek novels, back in the day, until I finally grew tired of the high percentage that used Star Trek trappings without achieving the atmosphere, the ambience, the characterization of the original - - all the things that made Star Trek such a part of my life. But there were a number of really amazing books in the series, the ones that felt like unfilmed episodes, that nailed the characters' voices and the feeling of living and serving aboard a Constellation class show more ship. (That's the stuff I always loved, show and books: where would I go when my shift was over, where would I eat and get a new book and sleep and recreate?) So I kept reading 'em ... and maybe it's not surprising that Doctor Who novels spark the same ambivalence. Except I haven't read as many, and I don't think I've ever read one which got it just right. (Not even Ben Aaronovitch's, so far.)

Still, there were three available through Netgalley, and I figured … what the heck.

I'm still looking.

System Wipe is an Eleventh Doctor adventure (which for me is a small strike against it – far from my favorite Doctor, him). He, along with Amy and Rory, arrive in Earth's future to find it apparently depopulated, and discover a virtual reality which has taken on a life of its own – but which is being decimated. And of course the Doctor flings himself into the situation to fix it.

"‘But how does that –’ Rory began, but Amy interrupted him."

I don't remember being that annoyed on the show with her interrupting him so much. By which I mean constantly.

The Doctor: ‘I’ll shut up now.’ Uh, no. I'll take "things the Doctor would never say" for a thousand, Alex. Especially Eleven.

The usual disclaimer: I received this book via Netgalley for review. show less

I loved the fact that this time it wasn’t a different species that puts the humans in danger it’s something us humans created.

I mean who would have thought Android undercover spies in the 1980s! Fantastic story line and loved how the doctor and his companions are separate and it like having 2 different stories in one!

The story wasn’t the most compelling Doctor Who tale, but I found this amusing and kept getting that Back to the Future III vibe (complete with train running out of tracks and plummeting to gorge floor). The Doctor and Amy arrive in, what I can only assume is Texas, during the Civil War in order to steal a terraforming pod from the Cei, an alien race who lost their planet and want to claim Earth as their new home. Problem is, oxygen to the Cei is a bit like breathing under water to us show more humans. They need to terraform the planet before they can take up residence. It’s up to The Doctor, Amy and their three recruits to destroy the device.

Matt’s reading and enthusiasm is as infectious as watching him on-screen, and his American accents aren’t half bad. Definitely better than what one hears of so-called “Southerners” on True Blood *wink*. And his Scottish “Amy” voice is adorable in its attempt but sadly fell flat. I really wish they had gotten both Matt and Karen to do the audio book together but I applaud him in his rapid switching between voices though and ability to keep it all together.

So overall, plot not that great but the delivery was amazing. Definitely something for die-hard Doctor Who fans–not so much for passive viewers (unless you just want to spend an hour listening to Matt’s lush voice).

http://www.read-all-over.net/memes/short-fiction-friday/short-fiction-friday-doc... show less