Donna Noble: Kidnapped (From the Worlds of Doctor Who)

As those who know me already know, Donna Noble, as played by the superbly talented Catherine Tate, is my absolute favorite companion that has ever graced the world of Doctor Who.  From her introduction in "The Runaway Bride" Christmas special some years ago, to her full season of episodes, to her return in the last two David Tenant specials, to the numerous books and audio books, and now in the upcoming mini-series of episodes once again starring David Tenant, I have loved this character without end!  A few years ago, Big Finish Productions, who has been producing Doctor Who audio books for many years now, as well as Dark Shadows audio stories continuing and building upon the original series, put out a five-disc special audio series starring none other than Donna Noble herself!  I immediately bought the box set, but unfortunately, as my car CD player had quit working by then, I did not have the opportunity to listen to it.  Well, a recent vacation with a rental car gave me plenty of driving time within which to listen to the CDs, and I can say the story (and hearing Catherine Tate's voice once again!) was well worth the wait!

Donna Noble: Kidnapped is a four-part story that is made up of four short stories with an over-arching tale of alien invasion.  While each of the four tales is written by a different author, the characterization remains consistent throughout all of them.  Catherine Tate, of course, reprises her role as Donna Noble, while Jacqueline King once again plays Donna's mother.  Dan Starkey, who is a long time Doctor Who actor who has played numerous roles over the years, takes on a couple of characters in the stories.  Wrapping up the main cast is Niky Wardley as Donna's best mate, Natalie, and Isla Blair as a speed dating organizer named Marge.  Most of the other characters are specific to each of the four tales, and at the very end, there is a special appearance by David Tennant as the 10th Doctor!

 

The story takes place shortly after the two-part "Silence in the Library" and "Forest of the Dead" episodes in series four, in which Donna finds herself in an alternate reality where she is married and has two children.  Coming back to this reality has left Donna a bit rattled, as she still remembers her husband and children and must deal with the loss of them as mere memories for a reality that no longer exists.  These four short audio tales touch upon that loss and further Donna's relationship with her overly-controlling mother (although, admittedly, we see a side of Sylvia Noble that we haven't seen before, which may alter the view of those who find the character not likable at all!).  They work seamlessly into the "between episodes" of the fourth series, and it's loads of fun to see Donna take all that she has learned while traveling with the Doctor and basically ask herself, "What Would the Doctor Do?"

The first story, "Out of this World," sets the stage for the whole adventure.  Donna reluctantly joins her friend Natalie for a night of speed dating - in which the two meet a mysterious young man who takes a rather healthy interest in Donna.  She wonders if perhaps he was sent by the Doctor, but it quickly becomes clear that aliens are involved, and when she, Natalie, and a couple of others are beamed aboard a spaceship, Donna is shocked to find herself face-to-face with the TARDIS!

"Spinvasion" continues the adventures of the Doctor ... er, I mean Donna (who is now passing herself off as "The Doctor") her companion (a/k/a best friend) Nat.  Donna manages to get her and Nat away from the alien spaceship, but they crash onto a planet that is being invaded - willingly!  A marketing team has convinced the citizens of the planet that they actually want to to be invaded, and Donna knows that she must free these people - after all, it's what the Doctor would do!

The next tale, "The Sorcerer of Albion," find Donna and Nat trying desperately to get back home - and they manage to get to Earth, only a few centuries too early.  It's the Middle Ages, and an aging sorcerer mistakes Donna for an incarnation of Merlin - and he captures her, doing everything in his power to steal her "magic" so he can defeat the monsters that are attacking his realm.  But Donna and Nat quickly come to question who is the real monster here?

The adventures of Donna and Nat conclude with "The Chiswick Cuckoos," as the troublemaking twosome manage to get home - only to discover that an alien plot has already hatched, and Donna is smack dab at the center of it!  There's only one person who can save Earth, and Donna and Nat are the only two who can free the Doctor so he can put an end to the machinations of ... well, no, that would be telling!  Let's just say in this four-part story, you can't really be sure that anyone is who they say they are...

So much adventures, so much danger, so much alien action, and so much fun - we definitely need more adventures of Donna Noble!  Are you paying attention, Big Finish?  MORE DONNA NOBLE!  After all, she's so much more than just a temp from Chiswick!

RATING:  10 mail flyers advertising speed dating out of 10 for giving fans a much needed fix of Donna Noble - but definitely leaving us all wanting for more!

Doctor Who: Time Lord Victorious - All Flesh is Grass

I thoroughly enjoyed the first "Doctor Who: Time Lord Victorious" novel, so I came into this second novel with high hopes.  The first book has such a strong feel of an episode of the TV show, I could actually 'watch' it in my mind as I was reading the book.  I mean, any time BBC and its various writers bring together more than just two Doctors for a special story, it's bound to be good.  Right?  I mean, here we have the Eighth Doctor (Paul McGann), the Ninth Doctor (Christopher Eccleston, my favorite!), and the Tenth Doctor (David Tennant), coming together - the Tenth Doctor to stop the Kotturuh, and the Eighth and Ninth Doctors to stop the Tenth Doctor from genocide.  And the Eighth Doctor has brought along the Daleks, the sworn enemy of the Doctor, and the Ninth Doctor has brought a horde of vampires.  Who is actually fighting on the right side here?   Such a great premise, such a great build up in the last book....and such a huge let-down with this second part.

All Flesh is Grass, written by Uma McCormack, lacks almost everything the previous book had that made it such a great Doctor Who story.  While the story picks up right where the previous "Time Lord Victorious" book left off, it's as different as night is from day.  First, and probably foremost, is the fact that the author does not have a grasp on the personalities for the various Doctors.  One of the things about Doctor Who that has made it fascinating, for me at least, is that each incarnation of the Doctor has a very different, very distinct personality that sets him (or her, as the case may now be) from every other version.  The Ninth Doctor was serious; the Tenth Doctor was adventurous; the Eleventh Doctor was fun; the Twelfth Doctor was grave; the Thirteenth Doctor is surprising; and so on.  But in this book, none of the Doctors have their personality.  Rather, they read very stiff and dry.  As I read their dialogue, I don't hear any of their voices like I did in the previous book.  It's just dialogue that, quite frankly, any character could have said and it would have had the same impact.  There was nothing that made any of them feel like the Doctor.

And this whole idea that the Tenth Doctor would purposefully set out to wipe out an entire species?  I'm sorry, but that does not at all fit with the Tenth Doctor's characterization.  The Ninth Doctor?  Maybe.  The Eighth Doctor?  Probably not.  In fact, I don't know of ANY Doctor that would set out to wipe out a species, except maybe the War Doctor (John Hurt).  So, the entire premise just did not work.  The Doctor ALWAYS finds a way around it.  I was so put off by the characterization, that I had to push myself to get through the book and finish it, which rarely happens to me when I'm reading.  Honestly, I got more enjoyment out of he Daleks and the vampires than I did out of the Doctors.  And there were no companions in this story (unless you count Brian, the Ood, but he had his own agenda - and, quite frankly, he was more interesting to read than any of the Doctors - I found myself wanting to see where his story was going to take him).  Maybe that's why the Doctors' characterization was so off?  I think it was Donna who told the Doctor at the end of her first story (the Christmas special) that he needed to find himself someone, that he needed someone to keep him grounded.  And I think this book is a perfect example of just how right she was!

And speaking of Donna...

Probably the best thing about this book was on page 72, when the Eighth Doctor gets aboard the ship the Tenth Doctor had commandeered.  When Eight comments about a ship like that never appealing to him, Ten responds with: "Well, it's come in handy ... Took me a while to name it but I've settled on HMS Donna because, well, there's no arguing with it." Not only does my all-time favorite companion get a mention and a ship named after her, but she's the one character that McCormack actually got right!  Because, let's face it, there really was no arguing with Donna Noble - you always knew she would win in the end!  So, with this, the book had at least one redeeming quality.

As for the story itself - McCormack jumped back and forth among the Doctors and various characters so often, that it became somewhat hard to follow the story.  Just when you start getting into one part of the adventure, the story jumps to another scene - then to another - then back to the first - then to the third - then to the second - then to the third again - then back to the first - and so on, and so on.  It felt very jumbled, and sadly, did not flow smoothly as you are reading it.  And when the three Doctors finally meet, and you think this is going to lead up to a big battle, nope - they get separated, and we start jumping around again.  The writing lacked the cohesion and flow necessary to make it a good read, and felt more like the author simply was throwing one action sequence after another at the reader in the hopes the reader will ignore the lack of proper characterization and transitions.

At least this is the final "Time Lord Victorious" novel, so if there are any Doctor Who books in the future that I buy (depending on who the companions are), I hope they find better authors to handle them!

RATING:  4 slowly dying spider plants out of 10 for bringing three Doctors together in a story that at least gives a nod to Donna Noble - the best companion of all time!

Doctor Who: Time Lord Victorious - The Knight, The Fool, and The Dead

While I normally do not get any Doctor Who books that don't feature a companion I like - such as Donna Noble, Rory Williams, Bill Potts - but with this new "Time Lord Victorious" multi-media cross-over story, I had to pick up the two novels that are part of the cross-over.  I've read the comic issues, and we have a couple of the Doctor Who Magazine issues that have short comic tales connected to the overall story.  And now that I have read the first of the two novels, a lot of what happened in those comic stories makes much more sense.

The Knight, The Fool, and the Dead is the first of the two novels.  Written by Steve Cole, the story follows the Tenth Doctor no long after his "Waters of Mars" adventure (the third special following the third series of the new Doctor Who show).  Cole does not shy away from the Tenth Doctor's dilemma following what happened in that TV special.  He saved a group of scientists who were meant to die on Mars - only to have the captain from that group kill herself at the end to prevent time from changing.  He had already faced the reality of Davros' observation of how he was so adverse to weapons of any kind, yet he managed to fashion himself an army of companions who would be his weapons for him.  Plus, how many warnings did he get that his time was coming to an end?  He survived the Time War, he defeated the Daleks' plan to wipe out reality, and he had to wipe the memories of one of his beloved companions.  This book is a prime example of why Donna made the Doctor promise her he would find someone (after "The Runaway Bride" Christmas special), because he should never travel alone.  Cole shares the story of what happens when the Doctor travels alone...

The Kotturuh are creatures that are spreading judgment throughout the universe.  When they arrive on a planet, it is to pass sentence on the life form there and to provide a limitation on the lifespan of those living on the planet.  For some, it is hundreds of year.  For others, it is only a few years, a few months, or in some cases, a few days.  No one has opposed them, although there is one who seeks to make a profit from these death sentences.  And there is one ... the last of his kind ... who has traveled back in time to the Dark Ages to explore ... but who realizes that by putting a stop to the Kotturuh in this far past, he could potentially save millions upon millions of lives in the future.  The question isn't whether he can do it or not - he's the Doctor, so of course he CAN do it.  The real question is - should he do it?

It starts out innocently enough.  The Doctor is witness to the fate the Kotturuh have passed upon the people of Andalia.  He witnesses an Ood attack a young girl, Estinee, who is wearing an armor of sorts that could protect people from the effects of the Kotturuh.  And he does what the Doctor always does - he sets out to protect the innocent.  Or so he thinks.  For not everything is what it seems with Estinee, nor is everything what it seems with the Ood (whose name, oddly enough, is "Brian").  As the Doctor and Brian soar through space to find and rescue Estinee, the Doctor discovers he has the opportunity to put a stop to the Kotturuh - to turn their own curse upon them.  But even Estinee questions the idea of extinguishing a race, no matter how awful they may be.  But who can stop the Doctor when he has his mind set on something?  Well, only the Doctor can, of course!

Cole's tale is a dark one, no doubt, but it is spattered with interludes featuring the First Doctor with Ian and Barbara, the Ninth Doctor with Rose, and the Eighth Doctor.  As hinted at by the previous comic stories by Titan and the Doctor Who Magazine, the "Time Lord Victorious" is a story that spans all of the Doctors' lifetimes, and this book solidifies that.  And if your were expecting a nice, tidy resolution at the end of this book, well think again - Cole leaves us with a huge cliffhanger that rivals any cliffhanger the television show has ever had.  As I said above, this story shows us what happens when the Doctor does not have a companion to keep him in check - to remind him of what it means to be human - to remind him of what it's like for those who can't regenerate, for those who only have one life to live.  I think we all know that the Doctor could very easily be victorious in anything he chooses to do, but now we see what could potentially happen when a Time Lord is victorious!

The Doctors are converging and the story is building to a climax .... can't wait to see what happens next in All Flesh is Grass.

RATING:  10 original bulky Lifesuits out of 10 for taking the Doctor down a whole new path and giving fans a chance to see a totally different side to the Time Lord!

Doctor Who - Combat Magicks

I managed to get around to reading the third book in this first trilogy of stories from the thirteenth Doctor, and while I did enjoy it, I would not say it was one of my favorites. It's interesting to note that of all the Doctor Who books I have read to date - those with Donna Noble, those with Rory and Amy, those with Bill, and now these with the Thirteenth Doctor and her companions - there has been a large variety, with many different authors, but for the most part, the authors have captured the essence of the show and the characters (though there have been some bad exceptions).  Some, though, like this one, while capturing the essence of the show, did not quite hit the mark when it comes to the characters themselves.  Author Steve Cole provides a story that I could easily envision as an episode - maybe even a two-parter - on the television; but the characterization felt a bit too stiff and forced, and the interaction among the companions and the Doctor didn't feel as natural as it has in other books.

Combat Magicks takes the Doctor, Graham, Ryan, and Yaz to the Fifth Century Earth, where they find themselves facing the forces of Atilla the Hun and the Roman Empire who is fighting to keep him from overtaking their land.  As usual, the group gets separated - the Doctor and Yaz end up with Attila the Hun, who mistakes them for witches who he believes can help him win the upcoming battle; Graham ends up with the Roman soldiers, where the healing salve he has from the TARDIS is seen as a miracle cure that can save their king; and Ryan ends up with the mysterious Legion of Smoke, who he soon discovers has a lot of knowledge about things they should not know about in 451 AD.  As you can see, the plot definitely has all the elements necessary for a good story, as the Doctor must not only save all of her companions, but she must find a way to stop the upcoming war - a war that is being instigated by some very mysterious witches who are not at all what they appear to be.

Overall, the story proved to be quite interesting.  It was obvious from the beginning that the "witches" helping both the Huns and the Romans were not actual witches, considering the technology that both sides had that should not even exist in that period.  So, following along with the Doctor and her team as they try to figure out exactly what is going on, who the witches are, and how to stop them is part of the fun (as it is with any good episode of Doctor Who).  I just wish Cole had been able to better nail down the characterization.  Yaz does not come across as very strong at all - in fact, she seems to constantly be the damsel in distress in this book.  Ryan's dialogue does not read like Ryan at all - and his constant stumbling over himself was a little too much.  He has come a long way since he first met the Doctor, and it's like in this story, all of those uncertainties and awkward balance issues all came flooding back for no reason at all.  The Doctor has her ever-present desire to find a solution and her non-stop intent to save everyone she can - but as with Ryan, her dialogue felt off throughout the whole book, and she didn't read like the Doctor at all.  I got a better feel of the Doctor from her actions, not her dialogue.  I would say of all of them, Graham was probably the only one who actually felt true to his on-screen character in this book.

Overall, not the best, but by far, not the worst.  Just a shame that this is the last of the Doctor Who books for a while - not quite the way I wanted to end off my reading of this character, but I suppose it will do until the "Time Lord Victorious" books come out...

RATING:  7 ghostly blue caskets out of 10 for taking the Doctor to a time she's never visited, yet acknowledging the times around it where she has been!

Doctor Who, the 10th Doctor with Donna Audio Book - Volume 3.3 - The Creeping Death

I recently took a trip up to Jacksonville with a friend to visit the Chamblin Book Mine (a huge, huge, HUGE used book store).  Normally, I have the radio blaring, but with my friend in the car - someone who also happens to be a big Doctor Who fan, and who loves Donna Noble nearly as much as me! - we decided to listen to the third of the three 10th Doctor/Donna Noble audio stories.  The two hour trip there and return trip home gave us plenty of time to enjoy this latest story of my favorite Doctor/companion pairing.

The Creeping Death, written by Roy Gill, takes the Doctor and Donna to London in the early 1950s. Donna is hoping to have a vacation, but as it always turns out, the TARDIS has other plans for the Doctor and his companion! The Doctor and Donna arrive in London to find it enveloped with a deadly smog, so thick one can barely breathe. Donna is ready to go back into the TARDIS and head for someplace sunny and relaxing, but the Doctor knows they were pulled to this place and time for a reason - and anyone who knows the Doctor knows he will never pass up the chance to right a wrong, fix a problem, or help out those in need. So, off he goes, and before you can say, "Wait a minute," the the Doctor and Donna get separated in the ever swirling smog that makes it nearly impossible to see where you are going.

The Doctor meets up with young Ivy Clark, who works in a movie theater. But something strange has happened in there, and Ivy is crying out for help.  The Doctor can't help himself, and he runs to investigate, only to find the theater filled with dead people - all of whom seem to have died of suffocation.  Ivy tells the Doctor that things came into the theater - tiny, like insects - and killed all of those people. And when those shadowy things show up again, with their buzzing, the Doctor and Ivy do the one thing the Doctor does best - they run!

Meanwhile, Donna bumps into someone of her own - literally!  As she searches for the Doctor, a gentleman by the name of Terry Hopkins knocks into Donna, as he doesn't see her in the smog.  After a rather rocky start, Donna comes to like Terry (not in that way!) and joins him as he heads off to meet Richard Cooper, who just so happens to be his boyfriend (shhhh!  don't say that too loud - after all, it's only 1952, and their love is not something people of that time take too kindly to!).

It isn't long before circumstances reunite the Doctor and Donna and bring Ivy, Terry, and Richard, along with an overly dramatic stage actress named Alice and an out-of-shape vacuum salesman named Malcolm together at the bus station, where they find themselves trapped against an unknown enemy who seems intent on killing more people.  But the Doctor has a plan - he's ALWAYS got a plan - and soon enough, the survivors from the bus station (you don't really think I'm going to give things away, do you?) head over to the local museum for a final confrontation with these alien smog creatures (and before you ask - no, it is not those crab-like creatures from the Martha Jones season).  The final confrontation is serious, but fun, with plenty of danger and excitement, and provides a spectacular ending in true Doctor Who fashion!

Gill has a very firm grip on the characters of the 10th Doctor and Donna Noble - their dialogue and actions are so consistent with the television show that this feels very much like a missing episode from series 4 of the new Doctor Who.  The sound effects and music do not overpower the dialogue, as a previous audio or two have done in the past, and it makes for much easier listening and much greater enjoyment of the story.  Of all the Doctor/Donna audios to date, this one could very well be my favorite so far.

Now, to patiently wait for the Donna Noble solo audio stories to come out...

RATING:  10 glowing rocks from outer space out of 10 for continuing the adventures of Donna Noble's time with the Doctor in such a wonderful way!

Doctor Who, the 10th Doctor with Donna Audio Book - Volume 3.2 - One Mile Down

Each and every chance I get to see/hear/read a new story with Donna Noble as the Doctor's companion, I'm going to be there! I love me some Donna Noble, and it's a shame that actress Catherine Tate only stayed with the show for the one season. I am happy, however, that she has come back twice now to do audio stories with David Tennant, and that there are even some upcoming stories of Donna on her own (I'm assuming those will be set in the time period before she found the Doctor again in that fourth season opening episode, "Partners in Crime"). While the first of these new audio stories was not exactly the best, this second one more than made up for it.

"One Mile Down" finds the Doctor taking Donna to the underwater city of Vallarasee.This is supposed to be a pleasant little vacation, but, as usual, anything with the Doctor involved is anything but. There is something strange going on in Vallarassee. The entire city has been sealed off, and the natural citizens are forced to wear helmets to allow them to breathe so that all of the above-world dwellers can see the wonderful sites of this city. At the same time, there are quite a number of Judoon patrolling the streets, which is unusual where there is no criminal activity. The Doctor is suspicious, but Donna joins right along with the other tourists to see the historic sites and enjoy the tours offered by the native Fins.

But cracks are forming in the protective shell that keeps the city safe from all of the water surrounding it. And the city officials are pretending there is nothing wrong. Anyone who says otherwise is thrown in prison as a dissenter. And when a portion of the shell breaks, allowing water to come rushing in, nearly drowning a number of tourists, the Doctor and Donna are off to save the day!

Catherine Tate really shines in this audio drama as Donna, with her typical sarcasm, her strong-willed, headstrong personality, and her no-nonsense attitude that isn't afraid to question anything or anyone that doesn't seem right. David Tennant is his jovial self as the Doctor, with his willingness to help those in need, but at the same time, his unwillingness to allow anyone to endanger the life of others simply for profit and self-gain.  This story is a perfect example of why the Doctor-Donna team was such a perfect pairing, and I'm truly thankful that Big Finish continues to provide us with more stories of these two - that one season on TV was simply not enough.

The production of this audio is much better than the last - the music is not quite so overpowering, and the dialogue is much easier to hear and understand.  The characters are clearly differentiated and easily identified when they are speaking, and the action sequences are powerfully performed. I am a bit disappointed that the Judoon spoke in regular dialogue rather than their standard "No To Fro To Po Lo" language. Of course, with the TARDIS translation thing in effect, I guess Donna would understand them...

Which brings the one continuity problem - if Donna met the Judoon in this story, which clearly takes place before her final two-part episode in the fourth season of the television show, then why did she not recognize them when she and the Doctor went to the Shadow Proclamation, and why did she hear them talk in their native language, rather than translated by the TARDIS? Ah, the whole suspension of disbelief thing comes into play here, I suppose.  Regardless, this was a great story and gives me high hopes for the third audio drama in this set.

RATING:  8 junior Judoons-in-training out of 10 for keeping with the style, form, and characterization of the Russel T. Davies' Doctor/Donna relationship and using it to tell a great story!

Doctor Who: The Day She Saved the Doctor

***Four Stories From the TARDIS***

One of the best things about Doctor Who has always been the Doctor's companions.From Ian, Barbara, and Susan all the way to Yaz, Graham, and Ryan - the companions are always the ones who keep the Doctor grounded. They remind the Doctor of his/her need for compassion, but at the same time, they exhibit the best traits of humanity - loyalty, determination, and a willingness to fight for what is right. And let's face it - with the situations the Doctor seems to always get into, those are qualities that are much needed!

"Sarah Jane and the Temple of Eyes" by Jacqueline Rayner features the Fourth Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith, a companion that has met multiple incarnations of the Doctor and who has definitely touched the hearts of many generations of fans throughout the years. The story finds them in Ancient Rome, where they must find out why the wives of some of the influential men of the city are going blind. It all seems to lead to the cult of the Bona Dea, which was a cult of women about which very, VERY little is known and nothing is recorded.  Sarah Jane shines as she must conquer two of her greatest fears if she is to save the Doctor's life from a new alien threat...

"Rose and the Snow Window" by Jenny T. Colgan (whose name I recognize from other Doctor Who novels) tells the story of the Ninth Doctor and Rose Tyler, who find themselves in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in search of a rip in time. From an apartment window of a high rise building, Rose spots an anomaly across the way - in one of the windows in the other building, she seems to be watching a man from early 19th century Russia in his castle. But when they run across the street to check, the apartment appears to be normal. Of course, with the help of the TARDIS, the Doctor and Rose can go back in time to St. Petersburg to see if they can ferret out the reason they can see this man through the window. In order to save the Doctor and the universe, Rose must not only find a way to get the Russian prince back to his own time, but she must convince him to potentially sacrifice his family's future for the sake of time itself...

"Clara and the Maze of Cui Pulta" by Susan Calman is a tale of the Eleventh Doctor and Clara Oswald, wherein they visit Cui Pulta, who the Doctor says has been voted the most beautiful city in the galaxy three times in a row! It is beautiful, and the sun glimmers off of all the buildings - but Clara begins to grow uneasy as she realizes that there is absolutely no one in the city. In fact, it is very oddly empty of life. The Doctor shrugs it off, but Clara can't shake the feeling that something is wrong. Until they find the maze. Clara gets excited at the prospect of finding their way through a maze; but after convincing the Doctor to go in, they both quickly learn that everything is not what it seems. They continue to go in circles, and there appears to be no way out! Then they find the skeleton. And they find writing on the walls to indicate others tried to find their way out. And then, Clara and the Doctor get separated - and Clara uncovers the secret that has been holding them in the maze...

"Bill and the Three Jackets" by Dorothy Koomson finds the Twelfth Doctor and Bill Potts back on Earth, where Bill is getting ready for a date. But she must have the perfect outfit, so she leaves the TARDIS to go shopping and happens across a new little shop where the clerk helps her try on three of the most amazing jackets she has ever seen. No selfies are allowed, so Bill is unable to see them on herself to compare, but the clerk does use an old Polaroid to take photos. However, when Bill goes to a nearby coffee shop to consider her choices, something strange happens - she closes her eyes and wakes up to find that she is not herself - literally! No one recognizes her, not even the Doctor! How can she stop whatever machinations are in the works before her doppelganger takes over her life for good? Only someone from her past will be able to help Bill save the Doctor before it's too late...

Each story has its own voice, and each author manages to capture the various companions nicely. It really felt like reading episodes from the television show - all four of these ladies (the authors, not the companions!) should be writing for the show!  A thoroughly good read and a great way to satisfy that Doctor Who fix until the next season comes around.

RATING:  9 pieces of sticky caramel corn out of 10 for showing the strength of the Doctor's companions!

Doctor Who, the 10th Doctor with Donna Audio Book - Volume 3.1 - No Place

Anything with Donna Noble - and I do mean ANYTHING - I am going to get! She was, is, and always will be my favorite companion of the Doctor. So, when Big Finish announced another set of Doctor Who audio adventures starring Catherine Tate as the oh-so-lovable Donna Noble, I could not wait.  I pre-ordered them, and as soon as I got them, I plopped the first one in. I was so excited to hear David Tennant and Catherine Tate reprise their roles, along with Bernard Cribbins and Jacqueline King as Donna's grandfather and mother, respectively, that I could hardly contain myself. Unfortunately, this first story was a bit of a let-down...

No Place finds the Doctor, Donna, Sylvia, and Wilfred taking part in a reality, ghost-hunting show at a supposed haunted house. As the story opens, listeners are basically thrown into the middle of it - the Doctor, Donna, Sylvia, and Wilfred are already in the house, and the ghost hunters have set up shop and are following the four "family" members as they go about their business. Justin, who is the lead ghost hunter, is determined to find out whether this house is truly haunted, or if there is a logical explanation for everything that happens. Of course, we know - if the Doctor is involved, there is a pretty good chance - 100% chance! - that something is going on. But what is it, why is it, and who is it - those are the questions to be answered.

While the premise behind the story is actually pretty cool, the execution leaves a bit to be desired. Perhaps if this were an actual episode with visuals, it might have been easier to enjoy. But with just audio, it is a bit jumbled, particularly in the beginning, trying to figure out who is who. There are no real introduction to the ghost hunter cast, and honestly, I found it difficult at times to determine just who was speaking. Catherine Tate was obvious (she has that distinctive style about her voice), and Sylvia was fairly easy to spot. Wilfred is sounding a bit older, so it made his voice relatively easy to discern. Surprisingly, it was the Doctor who was not always clear, making me wonder if David Tennant did voices for more than just one character in the audio. Plus, with a number of supporting characters within the ghost hunting crew, it just made it all the more confusing when listening.

That being said, it was really nice to hear the Noble family all together again. David Tennant's third season as the Doctor was by far my favorite, and Donna - - well, she's Donna, how can she not be my favorite? So any chance to hear her and the Doctor I will take, regardless of how good it is. The interaction between Tate, Cribbins, and King is priceless, as they truly have a chemistry that makes them sound like and feel like a real family, with all the squabbles, the annoyances, but ultimately, the love and concern for one another. It was a bit surprising to see Sylvia actually go along with one of the Doctor's plans, considering how little she thought of him in the series.  Not really sure where this is set within the time frame of Donna's journeys with the Doctor, but I would assume it was likely to have occurred after the "atmos" Sontaran storyline, since that was the time when Sylvia really got to see the Doctor at work.

The "ghost" in the story, of course, turns out to be alien in nature, and I will admit, that was probably one of the most interesting parts of the story.  I'm not going to spoil it, but I will say that it does give the writers a chance to show just who the Doctor is and what he is made of (and also gives that growing part of Donna's caring side to shine through).  So, again, while the execution was a bit rough, the underlying story was definitely Doctor Who through and through.

Only two more Donna stories to listen to ... so I'm spacing them out, so as not to run out of Donna Noble too soon!

RATING:  6 holes in the ground out of 10 for satisfying, all too briefly, that need for a Donna-fix!

Doctor Who - Molten Heart

When any series of books are written by different authors, you never really know how each book will turn out. Will the author capture the characters’ personalities? Will the author pace the story appropriately and keep the reader interested? Will the author give the story a great payoff in the end? And when you are talking about a series based upon an established television show or movie, then the bar is even higher for the authors. So, with each Doctor Who book, I always go into it wondering if the author will have a real grasp on this particular iteration of the Doctor, and whether he or she will be able to get the companions right.

One of the more recent Doctor Who books, Molten Heart, definitely succeeds. Author Una McCormack must be a true fan of the show, and particularly of the new Doctor. She had Jodie Whittaker’s version of the Doctor down pat, with her blabbering, her confusion, and her ultimate saving ideas at the last moment; and she also managed to write the companions (Yaz, Ryan, and Graham) with their three distinct personalities, although admittedly, Ryan did not have his usual balance issues that he faces in the show.  However, that was not enough to detract from my enjoyment of the story.

The Doctor and her three companions land on a planet that seems void of any life – at least, on the outside.  Take a look at the inside, however, and the travelers discover a world inside the world, where rock-like beings have lived out their lives never realizing there was a surface beyond their inner-globe. The problem is – one of the species was beginning to realize that something was wrong, and (like Jor-El and the doomed planet of Krypton), no one believed him.  So, he set off on his own to discover what is causing the fissures, the seething pools, and the decreasing of their seas of magma.  But he hasn’t come back, and his daughter is beginning to worry. Enter: the Doctor and her companions!

This adventure has plenty of what makes Doctor Who so…well, Doctor Who! There are unusual aliens, startling off-world adventures, dangers, misguided rulers, dungeons, last minute rescues, and, oh, yes, plenty of running. I mean, let’s face it – it wouldn’t be Doctor Who without the Doctor and her companions running, now would it? And when the Doctor discovers that other aliens have come before them, and that something happening on the surface is creating the fissures that threaten to crack the planet wide open, she takes it upon herself to find the cause and put a stop to it, even if that means facing down an interstellar corporation that has deadly security measures in place to keep outsiders from tampering with their technology.

McCormack provides a very satisfying adventure that could easily be translated to the small screen. In fact, as I was reading the book, I felt like I was watching an episode of Doctor Who, the images so clear and vivid in my mind (and it’s not easy for any author to write such a vivid picture, no matter how good one’s imagination is). I hope BBC books brings McCormack back to write more of Jodie Whittaker’s adventures as Doctor Who, as she certainly has a hold of what makes Doctor Who so special.

One interesting tidbit about the story is that the alien life forms that they discover within the planet are never actually given a species name. The characters have individual names (Ash, Onyx, Emerald, etc. – get the theme here?), but there is no identification of the actual species, which is rare, since Doctor Who normally knows pretty much every species she encounters on her adventures.  I’m not sure if this was intentional by McCormack to keep it a bit unique, or if she simply didn’t have a name for them.  Either way, it’s still a fun story and well worth the read.

RATING:  10 hungry lavasharks out of 10 for a thoroughly enjoyable Doctor Who tale that makes me even more excited about Jodie Whittaker's second season as the Doctor!

Doctor Who - The Secret in Vault 13

It's funny - I was never a fan of Doctor Who back in the '70s, when some American channels ran reruns of the Tom Baker episodes. I thought, even back then, they were cheesy and boring. So, I was surprised when the series returned in 2005 and I found that I liked it.  Although I still don't like the pre-Eccleston years, I have enjoyed the various series and incarnations of the Doctor since then. This newest Doctor, Jodi Whittaker, has really taken the Doctor and the show to entirely new ground, and the books that have come out recently about this 13th Doctor and her companions have been just as enjoyable as the show.

The Secret in Vault 13 is the first Doctor Who novel I have seen that is specifically aimed at a younger reading audience. What surprises me about this book, however, is not just that author David Solomons has captured the personality of each of the characters - no, what surprises me is that truly, there is no difference between this book for young adults and the regular books that come out for adults to read.  The story has the same amount of sci-fi wonder, the same amount of humor interjected throughout, and the same danger, evil villains, and high energy rescues that you find in the regular Doctor Who adventures.

Regardless, I thoroughly enjoyed the story. The adventure centers around the Genesis seed (which reminded me very much of the whole Genesis project from the second Star Trek movie...) and the planet where it is being held for safekeeping, along with the seeds of pretty much every other plant life that has ever existed. Just, in case, you know, some evil villain decides to wipe out all life in existence - then someone can use these seeds to recreate life. Of course, the fact that someone knows where this place is makes it dangerous. And danger is what the Doctor and her companions do best!

Solomons sends the Doctor and her companions on a fun quest to find the necessary keys that will unlock the door to the container where the Genesis seed is hidden. To a school where graduation means death. And to a garden in London where when you are invited to dinner, you are actually invited to BE dinner! Of course, the Doctor, Graham, Yaz, and Ryan are up for the challenge as they face a lying artificial intelligence and a giant mole who demands a sacrifice, as well as ... a potted plant?  Yes, I said that right - a potted plant who is out for revenge against Graham! I mean, let's face it: where else could you possibly read a story like this, except in Doctor Who?

By the time I finished this book, I felt like I had watched a fantastic episode of Doctor Who. Characterization was spot-on, the dangers and challenges were faced with bravery and logic, and the Doctor, in her usual style, outwitted the bad guys with her own special style of ingenuity. I know there are some fans out there who are not pleased with the idea that the Doctor has swapped genders and is now a woman, but quite frankly it's not the gender that makes the Doctor - it's the heart(s) that make the Doctor who and what (s)he is. And Solomons has without a doubt provided a story of the Doctor that will please just about any fan of the series.

Hope there are more books like this for young adults - I'll definitely read them!

RATING:  10 strands of unstoppable noughtweed out of 10 for branching out the world of Doctor Who for younger audiences!

Doctor Who - The Good Doctor

Doctor Who - the 13th Doctor
The Good Doctor
Publisher: BBC (Penguin Group UK)
Publication Date (November 2018)
ISBN 10 - 1785943847
ISBN 13 - 978-1785943843
230 Pages of Story

I have been very selective about the Doctor Who books that I buy. Initially, I bought only those books that featured Donna Noble as the companion (as she is, and always will be, my favorite!). Then I bought the books with Rory Williams as a companion (even though I disliked Amy, I liked Rory's character enough to buy them). Then along came the 12th Doctor, who I enjoyed immensely, so I picked up his books (even though I found his first companion, Clara, to be very boring - did like his second companion, Bill, but she only lasted one season, sadly). Now, enter the 13th Doctor and her three companions.

That's right - HER! BBC decided to go with the times, and when Peter Capaldi's Doctor regenerated, for the first time, Doctor Who became a female Doctor! Joining her in this new era are three new companions - police officer Yasmin, young Ryan, and his step-grandfather, Graham. An odd mix of characters, to be sure; however, from the first episode that introduced all four of them, I've been hooked. So, when I discovered new books with these characters at Barnes and Noble, I snatched them up right away.

This first book, The Good Doctor, is written by Juno Dawson, who is a new author to me in the Doctor Who universe. It seems a number of the previous books were written by many of the same authors, so it is nice to see a new author (at least, new to me) step in and breathe some new life into the Doctor and her companions. And Dawson doesn't fail the Doctor Who fans, as she manages to nicely capture the voice of the characters, despite how new they all are.

In this adventure, the Doctor and her companions help broker a peace treaty between a race of humans and a race of canine-type aliens who are sharing the same planet. Everything seems to have turned out nicely as the Doctor, Yasmin, Ryan, and Graham leave in the TARDIS - only for Ryan to discover that he left his cell phone behind on the planet. Not wanting such Earth-technology to be left in a place and time where it could greatly affect the people, the Doctor goes back to the planet Lobos. The plan is to sneak back to the tower where he left his cell, grab it, and leave before they make any further impact on the planet.

But they soon discover it's too late for that...

The Good Doctor answers the question to what happens to a planet and its inhabitants after the Doctor does some good there, thus changing the course of their lives? What happens if the Doctor's actions are, perhaps, misinterpreted, or even changed in the course of translation? And how will generations down the road look back and view the Doctor, her companions, and what they have done to their society? In this case - they worship the Doctor. The only problem is, it is now hundreds of years later, and the current generation of humans worship the Good Doctor - or rather, the man who they think is the Good Doctor - Graham! Talk about a case of mistaken identity!

This book also addresses some of the unique factors that the Doctor must face, now that she (he?) is a woman - how people and aliens view the female of a species, how a hero is automatically viewed as male, and what it takes to change that point of view.  The television episodes have briefly been touching on this, but this book faces the issue head-on, with a society that now worships the Doctor - but the Graham "Doctor," not the actual Doctor, as this race cannot possibly conceive of a woman being their Good Doctor. On top of that, the book also looks at organized religion, how it begins, and how it can be abused and misinterpreted over the years. Dawson handles the story nicely, and even manages to equal out the time for the three companions, so that no one hogs all the spotlight in the adventure.

A great start to a new era of Doctor Who, and I'm looking forward to seeing what future stories of the 13th Doctor hold in store!

RATING:  10 teddy bears with only one eye out of 10 for taking the newest Doctor on a fantastic, most brilliant adventure on her first outing in prose form!

Doctor Who - The Shining Man

With the new season of Doctor Who just around the corner, and the introduction of the Thirteenth Doctor, I thought I should probably read the last novel of the Twelfth Doctor and his companion, Bill Potts. I was sorry to see Peter Capaldi's run as the Doctor come to an end, and even more disappointed to see that Pearl Mackie's Bill would not be around for more than just the one season. It seems the more I enjoy a character on this show, the shorter period of time they stay.

Ah, well, after all, this show is all about change, if nothing else.

The Shining Man finds the Doctor and Bill back on Earth, this time in the small town of Huckensall, where there has been an unusual number of sightings of the mysterious "Shining Men," described as tall and thin, with shaggy long hair and bright lights for eyes. No one takes them too seriously, but for young Noah Holland, a run in with one scares the living daylights out of him. No one believes him.  Not his school teachers. Not his sister. Not even his grandmother. But, his mother - well, that's a different story. She believes he saw something. So, when she sees a Shining Man outside the window of her flat, she goes out to confront him. She firmly believes whoever is dressing up in these costumes and scaring children should be taught a lesson. However, Sammy Holland quickly discovers she is the one to be schooled, when the Shining Man turns on her, his eyes brighter than ever, and swallows her up into the night...

As usual, the Doctor and his companion step off the TARDIS and right into the middle of things. Author Cavan Scott gives Doctor Who fans a roller coaster ride of what's going to happen next! And, befitting of the upcoming holiday, the tale certainly has its fair share of scares. Sammy Holland is missing, and her children think a Shining Man took her. Charlotte Sadler thinks the Shining Men are just what her vlog needs to get more followers - until she meets the Doctor and Bill. Hilary Holland thinks it is all one big hoax and that her daughter will be back home any moment. But Bill suspects there is something alien, something sinister hiding in the woods of Huckensall, and if even the Doctor is unsure, then everyone would do well to be frightened.

And when the Doctor and a local constable are pulled into the faerie realm - well, let's just say that's when the adventure REALLY begins!

I can easily envision this book as a television episode, and because of that, it makes me long all the more for Capaldi and Mackie, as they really had such a wonderful rapport on the show, and I'm going to really miss them. Thankfully, there will always be more opportunities to see them (or, at least, read about them) in future books - I hope! But, if this turns out to have been the final adventure of the twelfth Doctor and Bill, then a fine adventure it was. Scott captured every element that makes Doctor Who the successful show that it is - there is adventure, fun, some scares, aliens, believers, disbelievers, awe-inspiring moments, daring rescues, and a victorious Doctor who proves that, once again, nothing can keep a good man (or soon to be, woman) down!

RATING:  10 camera phones out of 10 for giving Peter Capaldi and Pearl Mackie a very nice send-off!

Class - from the Universe of Doctor Who: What She Does Next Will Astound You

It was with a heavy heart that I picked up this book to read - as I knew this was going to be my last chance to spend time with April, Ram, Tanya, Charlie, Matteusz, and of course, the devilishly sadistic Quill.  The television show on BBC was short-lived (only one season), but it showed so much potential, had some excellent (and good looking!) actors, and was yet another spin-off from Doctor Who that expanded on that growing universe of characters and shows.  Now, after having read the previous two books, I picked up the third book, ready to enjoy this last bit of time with the stars of Class.

Sadly, What She Does Next Will Astound You fell flat, and it was a disheartening final farewell to the show and its characters.  Author James Goss has written a lot of BBC material - from Doctor Who to Torchwood to Being Human.  He has even written a fairly decent audio story for the Dark Shadows series from Big Finish Productions.  So I really expected more from the story than what I got.

The premise was not altogether bad.  Students have been disappearing from Coal Hill School, but everyone is so caught up with the crazy internet challenges to help stop the disease known as Skandis that no one notices.  No one except April.  She realizes something is off.  The oh-so-handsome Seraphin, who has a vlog online that urges people to take up the challenges, seems to be placing hidden messages in his videos.  And the teenagers who are doing the challenges are becoming more and more reckless, with some getting seriously injured and others putting their lives in mortal danger - all for what?  To help raise money for a disease no one has heard of?  When April gets frustrated that no one is listening to her, she places her own online challenge - and ends up in the Void.

What is the Void?  Well, it's someplace.  A place with white walls, white floors, white furniture, white ceilings, where the doors blend into the walls, and it is challenging to find your way around.  What is more challenging, though, is the truth - the truth about Skandis.  The truth about the internet challenges.  And the truth about where those teenagers have been disappearing and what they are being forced to do.

Sounds interesting, right?  Well, it might have been, if it had been written as a normal prose novel.  Instead, for reasons unknown (perhaps because he thought it might appeal to the teenage audience?), Goss decided to tell the story in an unusual way - a sort-of stream-of-consciousness, changing points of view, sudden interjections of news flashes or memory blips, every day conversational style of writing.  And for me, this did not work at all.  It is not until page 119, when April wakes up in the Void, that the writing begins to be a little more straightforward storytelling.  The first 118 pages, though, jump around so much, it is jarring, in places disjointed, and quite frankly, annoying.  It does nothing to provide characterization, it doesn't garner any sympathy for any of the characters, and it leaves the reader (well, at least me) feeling rather bored.

Which is not the way I wanted to feel reading the final story of Class and its characters.

But, it is what it is, and so the final tale does little to build any of the relationship among the characters, provides no character growth for any of them, and while it was admittedly fun to watch Quill enter the Void to discover she is able to kill the enemy (she still can't kill Charlie, though), which she then does with relish and enjoyment, by the end of the book, I was left only with a feeling that I was glad it was over.  It's a shame that this is my final farewell to Charlie and the gang, but at least I have the DVDs I can go back and watch again - - and who knows, maybe BBC will be brave enough to allow authors to venture into the world of Class again in the future and take Quill and her students beyond that first season, so we can see what happens next (although I just discovered that Big Finish Productions has gained the rights to do audio stories to continue the adventures!  Yay!!!)

RATING:  5 bowls of bland porridge-stew out of 10 for pointing out that society's addiction to the internet and technology could very well be their downfall.

Doctor Who: Tales of Terror

Most days, I still can’t believe what a fan of Doctor Who I’ve become.  From those days of listening to my best friend talk about it (and me sitting there letting it go in one ear and out the other), to now, when I know all about the different incarnations of the character, the actors who have portrayed him, all his various companions, and the villainous creatures he has faced over the years.  It’s definitely surprising, but in a good way.

This newest anthology of stories, Doctor Who: Tales of Terror, I purchased for one reason and one reason only – it has a story where Donna Noble is the Doctor’s companion.  As soon as I saw her name on the pages of the 10^th Doctor’s story, I knew I would be buying this book.  But, since I bought it, I was determined to read all twelve stories, not just the one about my all-time favorite companion.  And while the tales may have been written to terrify the readers, they did the exact opposite for me – they thoroughly entertained me.

From the 1^st Doctor’s face-off with the Toymaker (with the help of Steven and Dodo), to the 2^nd Doctor’s battle with a dark creature from the time vortex (alongside Ben, Polly, and his latest companion, Jamie), to the 3^rd Doctor and Jo Grant’s encounter with one of the Doctor’s oldest enemies. Sarah Jane and Harry find themselves in danger that only the 4^th Doctor can save them from, while Tegan and Turlough are saved from the Mara by the 5^th Doctor’s genius nature.  The 6^th Doctor finds himself haunted by his past, and the 7^th Doctor and Ace confront a haunting in the past.  The 8^th Doctor discovers that everyone is not who they seem onboard a pleasure cruise, and the 9^th Doctor reveals where everyone that has disappeared from a travelling circus have really gone!

Then there’s the 10^th Doctor and Donna Noble.  The story I was waiting for.  The sole reason I bought this book.  And author Richard Dungworth did not let me down.  The Doctor-Donna team play a deadly game with the ever-vicious Family of Blood, who have discovered they no longer need the Doctor to find immortality, but rather, his TARDIS.  Dungworth captures the clever dynamic that make the Doctor-Donna so enjoyable to watch and read, and I could almost hear Catherine Tate’s voice speaking the somewhat put-off, never one to be put-down lines of Donna every time she thinks the Doctor is getting the better of her.  And her snipes to the Family are spot-on!  Of course, it goes without saying that they outwit the Family and reunite them in a fitting punishment before the dynamic duo head off for their next adventure…

Leaving the 11^th Doctor to dispel the purple haze that nearly places a family in mortal danger at the hands of the Weeping Angels, with the 12^th Doctor rounding things out as he puts an end to Nestene’s attempt to raise an army of autons to take over the Earth!

Each story has a pen and ink illustration that highlights the “monster of the tale,” so to speak, and while some do include and Doctor and his companions, sadly, the Donna story does not – we simply get a taste of how innocent real horror can be when it wants to be!  Although I’ve finished these twelves tales of terror, I know it won’t be long until the newest Doctor hits the small screen (and if I can’t wait, well, I still have a few more Doctor Who books that I haven’t read yet to tide me over until then…)

RATING:  10 games of twenty questions out of 10 for reminding readers that no matter which Doctor you like, ultimately, there’s no villain too terrifying for the Doctor and his companions to defeat!

Doctor Who - Plague City

The second Doctor Who book featuring Bill Potts as his companion was even better than the first!  Author Jonathan Morris truly captured both Bill and Nardole (although, admittedly, I'm not a fan of Nardole - never really saw any purpose for him in this last season with Peter Capaldi), although at times, I think Morris' Doctor was a bit harsh.

Plague City returns the Doctor and his companions to Earth, albeit in the 17th century. And, wouldn't you know it, but they arrive right in the middle of the plague, which is taking lives left and right.  But something is amiss (as is often the case when the Doctor is involved) - there's a Night Doctor who pays a visit to those houses where someone is dying.  A dark, mysterious stranger in a black cloak and hat, wearing a bird mask with an elongated beak.  But who is he, and what makes the Doctor think there's more to his nightly counterpart than there appears?

It's a good, ol' fashioned Doctor Who tale as the Doctor and his companions stumble upon some strange goings-on that are somehow the result of an alien presence.  Edinburgh is suffering the affects of a horrific plague, and it seems anyone who is visited by the mysterious Night Doctor is doomed to die.  But for one family - Thomas and Isobel - their daughter was not only visited by the Night Doctor, but the next night, she was taken away by him, never to be seen again.

Until her ghost appeared ... along with the ghosts of everyone else who had died from the plague in this small Scotland community.  But the Doctor knows better.  He knows these astral projections are not ghosts.  They are a sign of something far more insidious, and with the help of Bill and Nardole, he's going to get to the bottom of it - ultimately offering his help to the alien presence that has been trapped under the small town since the Ice Age.  But there are grief-leeches that seem determined to stop him - for if the Doctor puts an end to the death, it will put an end to the grief, and they will not have anything left to feed on!

A perfectly-paced story that easily reads like I was watching an episode of Doctor Who.  There are support characters who are quickly likable (on, in a couple of instances, not-so-likable), and as the Doctor begins to put his plan into action to end the alien menace of the grief-leeches, clues spread throughout the book suddenly begin to make more sense, and I found myself smiling and saying, "A-ha!" a few times.  Morris expertly ties everything together, even placing some time-travel moments that are very reminiscent of things like "Bad Wolf" of the early seasons, or the election of season three.

It is truly a shame that Bill Potts will not be returning for the next season of Doctor Who, as it pretty much confirms that these three books (Diamond Dogs, The Shining Man, and this one) will be the only ones with her as a companion.  Although Donna Noble has managed to come back in some books and audio stories, so perhaps we will see more of Bill yet!  I hope so!

RATING:  10 flagons of cloudy brown ale out of 10 for perfectly executing a time-travel story that throws in some timey-wimey twists to surprise the reader!

Class - from the Universe of Doctor Who: Joyride

This second Class novel, based on the television spin-off from Doctor Who, has an interesting premise.  What if you found a machine that would allow its users to switch bodies with someone else?  And what if you were able to use this machine to start a business, allowing those willing to pay a high price to use this chance to inhabit another person's body and basically do anything you've ever fantasized but were too afraid to do - such as take ballet lesson...or drive a car at the highest speed possible...or jump off the roof of a school...or set fire to a house while a family is still inside...?

Joyride answers that question when a man down on his luck happens across an alien being who seeks his help - only, instead of helping the alien, he kills him and all of his brethren and turns the alien technology into a profit-making business.  April, Tayna, Charlie, Matteusz, Ram, and Quill get drawn into the mix when one of their classmates is killed when she crashes her car into the front of a store after a wild joyride and another burns down his home while his family is inside - but claims he has no memory of it.

And then Ram wakes up in the body of a middle-aged, overweight man.

Author Guy Adams provides a story that is definitely worthy of the television show, and based on comments made by the characters throughout the story, it is set sometime in the middle of the season - before Ram and April hooked up, yet after their April takes half the heart of the shadow king. I think he captures the characters nicely, particularly the naivety of Charlie, the vileness of Quill, the shyness of April, and the energy of Tanya.  And to say there is only one villain in the story wouldn't quite capture the story - because let's face it: who's the greater villain?  The man who gives you the opportunity to kill others, or the one who actually switches bodies so that he can kill and get away with it?

And quite frankly, not all the body-switchers are pure villains.  The one man, with whom Ram is switched, doesn't actually switch bodies to commit a crime; rather, he switches bodies so that he can finally be himself and experience a life he only imagined but was forced to hide by his family and society's dictates.

Adams tells the story through the eyes of quite a few of the characters, and it's interesting to see how each of them view each other - particularly Quill and Charlie.  Poor Matteusz is barely in the story, which is a shame, as he was one of my favorite characters in the show, albeit underused there, too. I also liked what he did with Ram's character - don't want to give away anything, but suffice to say, this could easily be seen as a turning point for Ram, which could have easily integrated into the television program to show how Ram gradually grows as a character.

Now, the one thing I did not like, and quite frankly it bugged me for more than half the book (until I got so involved with the story that I didn't notice it anymore), is the use of present tense.  I've said it before (with the Curious Cat Spy Club series and the Samantha Wolf series), but what is it with this sudden fad of authors writing their books in the present tense?  For me, I find it awkward to read, and it always takes me a bit to settle into the book, because my mind constantly wants to change every verb into past tense.  Present tense does not make the story happen "now" for me - rather, it is jarring enough that it actually takes me out of the story and forces me to concentrate harder to read it.

With this second book in the series read, that only leaves one more Class book to go (it comes out here in the States in March 2018) - after that, with no more show and no more books, Class reaches the end of its short run. Which is sad, because it was a well-written show with great actors, interesting characters and stories, and a whole world of possibilities.

RATING:  8 pyramid-shaped pieces of alien technology out of 10 for expanding the Class universe just a bit farther and proving these characters have many more stories to tell!

Doctor Who - Diamond Dogs

I was finally able to find the first Doctor Who novel featuring Bill as the companion - even though all three books are supposed to be out (and have been out for a while), it seems none of the book stores in the Central Florida area are carrying them.  I lucked into Diamond Dogs by pure chance when I was visiting friends in the Tampa Bay area not too long ago.

Bill is the kind of companion that I love - she's quick, she's witty, she doesn't take any flack off of anyone, and she always manages to show the Doctor just how much he needs her.  It's what drew me to Donna Noble, who is and always will be my favorite companion, and now Bill without a doubt holds second place when it comes to favorite companions of Doctor Who.

Diamond Dogs doesn't come right out and give a time frame of where it falls within Bill's time with the Doctor; however, there are references to the creature beneath the ice, the emoji robots, the alien war machines, and the woman who turned to water, which would set this story about half-way through the 10th season of Doctor Who.  Interestingly enough, the author, Mike Tucker, also throws in a connection to Professor Marius's nurse from Doctor Who and the Invisible Enemy (a Tom Baker story).

The story takes place on a space station just above the rings of Saturn, where some very unique mining is going on - it seems that within the rings circling the planet, it literally rains diamonds!  Mankind, being greedy as it is, has decided to mine those diamonds to finance their expansion to other worlds, after having used up the resources of its own.  The Doctor brings Bill to that station for a quick pitstop to filch one of those diamonds.  The Doctor does have to support Nardole somehow, doesn't he?  And the mining company won't miss one little diamond out of the thousands upon thousands that they mine every day.  The security company has managed to find a way to keep the diamonds from falling into the hands of space pirates (known as "Diamond Dogs"), but they have yet to discover the pilfering hand of the Doctor.

Until poor Bill accidentally triggers an alarm...

Tucker gives us a tried and true Doctor Who story - the Doctor and his companion stop at a location for one thing, but ultimately get drawn into the drama unfolding around them and have to prevent or help stop an alien war.  When a minecraft returns to the ship empty, its occupant apparently trapped in the pressure crushing ring below, it is up to the Doctor to rescue him.  The corporate men don't want production stopped.  The ship's captain doesn't want the Doctor's interference.  The security detail doesn't want the Doctor in the way.  But when the being inside the protective suit turns out not to be the miner, everyone turns to the Doctor for help - and he, in turn, turns to Bill, the only one he can trust in ferreting out the traitor on board the ship before an alien invasion arrives and destroys the mining ship and everyone in it.

Lots of action, lots of twists, lots of Doctor-isms, lots of good, clean Doctor Who fun!  And really, when you are reading a Doctor Who novel, that's what you expect, right?  Well, Tucker managers to capture the characterization just right and provides the reader with plenty of variation in the supporting cast so that no one comes across as cardboard or overly stereotypical.  And, frankly, the reveal of the traitor turned out to be a surprise - not at all who I was expecting.  But, again, this is Doctor Who, so we should always expect the unexpected.

Now to hunt down Plague City and The Shining Man (since not even Amazon.com is offering them in any format other than Kindle...) and complete my collection of "Bill" books!

RATING:  9 tatty-looking boxes out of 10 for giving fans one more adventure with Bill before she rides off into the sunset as the new Doctor and her companion(s) take charge.

Doctor Who, the 10th Doctor with Donna Audio Book - Volume 3 - Death and the Queen

Ah, the joys of the Doctor-Donna pairing.  I was never a Doctor Who fan until the new series started with Christopher Eccleston, and although I enjoyed those first three seasons, nothing compared to my love of the show until that fourth season when Donna Noble, as played by Catherine Tate, appeared! She was funny, she was snippy, and she was never afraid to call the Doctor out on things.  So when her character was written out after only one season, I was really disappointed.

Until the books carried on the stories - for four books.  And then there were several audio stories that continued the pairing.  But there were only three or four of those.  So I couldn't fill my Doctor-Donna fix - until Big Finnish came back with some full-cast audio dramas featuring both David Tennant and Catherine Tate reprising their iconic roles!  And after listening to the first two, I put off listening to this third and final story, because I knew once I had listened to it, that would once again be the end of my Doctor-Donna stories.

But this final story was well worth the wait!

Death and the Queen, written by James Goss (who has written in the Doctor Who universe a number of times over the years), perfectly captures the companionship and friendship that existed between the Doctor and Donna.  The little barbs and quips kept me smiling, and the non-stop action right from the get-go kept my full attention throughout the entire story.

The story centers around Donna (around whom ALL stories should center, in my opinion!), who has met her Prince Charming and is set to marry him.  Fans of the series may recall that Donna first met the Doctor on her wedding day (which didn't turn out well at all, so that should be a sign of what direction this story is headed), and Goss even manages to slip in a cute reference to that prior wedding.  We get a few quick flashbacks that provide all the backstory we need to get us to the point where Donna is ready to be married, but the Doctor suspects there is something way too sinister going on for him to allow her to get married in peace.

For one thing, the Prince comes from a planet/land of which the Doctor has never heard - and the Doctor knows everything, having pretty much been everywhere in the known universe.  That's the first red flag.  Then there's the fact that the Prince and his mum are set to go forward with the wedding, even though there is something out there that is slowly destroying the surrounding towns outside of the castle.  Donna, being Donna, does what she does best - she brings all of the surviving townspeople into the castle to keep them safe, much to the chagrin of the Queen Mum.  There's friction on all sides, but it is a wedding after all, and not even death itself will stop it from happening.

Of course, that's maybe because Death is an invited guest at the wedding - and maybe because Donna isn't set to be wed to the Prince she thought she was marrying!  Goss throws in several surprise twists, and the ultimate showdown between the Doctor and Donna and the Prince of Death himself is one worthy of Russell T. Davies himself!

I thoroughly enjoyed this final tale (only for now, I hope!) of the Doctor-Donna pairing, and I am thankful it ended on such a well-written note!

RATING:  10 inscribed undergarments out of 10 for keeping the memory of Donna Noble alive with stories like this!

Doctor Who, the 10th Doctor with Donna Audio Book - Volume 2 - Time Reaver

Simply put, there has never been a better pairing of Doctor and Companion than the David Tennant / Catherine Tate partnership of the 10th Doctor and Donna Noble.  Their quick retorts, their ease with one another, their interaction - it all comes across so naturally, so real, that you believe it.  I know fans of the original Doctors will say that the 4th Doctor and Sarah Jane were the best pairing, but having never watched those old shows, I'll stick with my love of the Doctor/Donna.

The second new audio adventure Time Reaver, just goes to further prove my belief.  The author, Jenny T. Colgan, not only has a real feel for the characters, but she clearly loves the Donna years, for the story is riddled with echoes that hearken back to the 4th season shows - from the man looking at the bomb strapped to Donna's back and saying, "There's something on your back," to the villain talking about the "Journey's End," to the Doctor discussing with Donna his desire to visit a place with lots of a books.  "A library," Donna says.  My inner-geek just thrilled with each and every reference!

The story itself was very Doctor Who-esque.  The Doctor and Donna have come to Calibris to get an item the Doctor needs to fix a part on the TARDIS. But on this spaceport, where anything goes and there have never been any rules, they suddenly find that a race of Vacintians are trying to enforce order on an otherwise lawless planet.  The Doctor wants to know why.  And when the Doctor discovers that an illegal weapon known as the Time Reaver is on the planet, he and Donna must hunt down the seller before it is distributed into the wrong hands.  The Time Reaver slows down a person's life - so much so, in fact, that the person can feel an eternity in just one second.  So imagine what would happen if the person were hit with the Time Reaver just when there is an explosion - he or she would feel the pain and agony of that explosion for an eternity!

I will admit that a couple of the actors that they picked to voice the other characters sounded similar to David Tennant and Catherine Tate, so every once in a while as I was listening, I had to pay close attention to make sure who was actually talking.  Otherwise, though, this audio was pretty much flawless - fantastic story, brilliant acting, and a great spot of time well-spent.  Could very easily see this one being an episode on television, particularly with regards to the couple of twists thrown in about the individual who has the Time Reaver, why that person has it, and how it all connects to the Vacintians and their dying planet.

RATING:  10 corset-crunching wench dresses out of 10 for keeping the Doctor/Donna alive and well for us fans!

Class - from the Universe of Doctor Who: The Stone House

Class has been an unexpected surprise for me.  The television show was announced some time ago, back when Clara was the companion of Doctor Who, but it never seemed to see the light of day.  Well, apparently it aired overseas last year, but it never made it to America until just recently.  In the meanwhile, I've heard reports that BBC is not picking up the show for a second season, which is truly sad - despite how dark it can be sometimes, the show has some really good stories, some very strong characters (both likable and not-so-likable), and a fantastic underlying thread of a subplots.

Then along comes The Stone House, the first novel based on the Class television show published here in the States.

Not exactly sure where this tale fits in with the television timeline, but the author, A.K. Benedict, manages to capture the essence of these characters pretty much dead-on.  Miss Quill, Charlie, Matteusz, April, Ram, and Tanya all read exactly as they act on the show.  While the whole "present tense" thing was a bit annoying (is this the next up-and-coming thing for writers to do?  write in the present tense, rather than past? it is not something I enjoy reading, but just like the switch to first person tales, I suppose it is something I will get used to as more and more authors do it), the story itself overcame that obstacle.

The stone house at the end of the street sits quietly.  No one has really noticed it.  Until the day Tanya finds herself walking past it.  And sees the face in the window. The face of a girl.  A girl crying out for help.  Who is she?  And why is it that Tanya feels a need - no, make that a NEED - to go back to the house?  To go into the house and help that girl.  A girl who doesn't seem to be there.

Miss Quill and her friends are somewhat skeptic of Tanya's request that they help her investigate the house.  But as with anything set in the Doctor Who universe, nothing is quite what it seems.  The house seems to bring nightmares to life.  Whether's it's Tanya's fear of never having her mother's approval, or Charlie's fear of being thrust back into the war that devastated his planet - the house seems to give those fears form and make them real.  But what's worse is what isn't seen.  Tanya knows there is a girl in that house.  Is it Alice, the former owner, who died at a ripe old age?  Is it a kidnapped young girl being held against her will?  Or is it something else?

There is plenty of mystery in this book, as well as good ol' sci-fi jumps and scares as the classmates realize that Tanya is on to something, and the danger this house represents could be a danger to the world at large - and only they can stop it.  But can they stop it before the developer who has purchased the property comes in and demolishes the old stone house?  And just what happened to Tanya...?

Benedict gives a bit of a lengthy build-up, but it's well worth the payoff in the end.  And while the overall mystery does have resolution, there is a subplot that is left unanswered, giving it some real-world feel (since, let's face it, every mystery in the real world doesn't get a clean-cut resolution, does it?).

Fans of the Class television show will enjoy this novel, and since it doesn't appear we'll be getting any more seasons from BBC, this and the next two books will have to serve to quench our thirst for more stories of these characters.

RATING:  7 white bone spiders out of 10 for expanding the Class universe, even if just a tiny bit.