Doctor Who: The Indestructible Man (Doctor Who (BBC Paperback))
by Simon Messingham
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Book Summary Information
Author: Simon MessinghamEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2005-01-04
ISBN: 0563486236
Number of pages: 256
Publisher: Random House UK
Book Reviews of Doctor Who: The Indestructible Man (Doctor Who (BBC Paperback))
Book Review: A good read but not quite on the mark
Summary: 4 Stars
First off, I have to state that I'm an American and don't know so much about Gerry Anderson's body of work (I watched Thunderbirds when I was little but retain little memory of it; enough to understand some of the references at least). This being a loving tribute to Anderson's own particular oeuvre, one would think, then, that the book held no interest. I found to my delight that was not the case at all!
I found the book to be well written, engaging (even with no understanding of 2/3 of the references) and the characters get some amazing character development. But, the question remains: did these characters need this kind of development? Don't get me wrong, I'm all for mature Who (which the BBC line is pulling off miles better than Virgin ever did, I must say!) but...
... Zoe attempting to slit her wrists?! Jamie gone psychotic? I kept hearing all of this brouhaha about Zoe getting engaged, some even called him her husband. An interesting idea. He gets shot within two pages of proposing to her. She then attempts in no uncertain terms to off herself multiple times over this character we've really no chance to get to know save for a couple of pages of Zoe's inner monologues.
I understand what Messingham was trying to do: to show a companions total isolation when they truly believe they are stranded and the Doctor's dead. Each takes to a Father/Doctor in desperation and dependence to fill that role in their lives. Quite an interesting idea to explore, and a solid concept at that! And I won't say anything drastic like 'these are innocent characters Messingham spoilt!' but it does feel... wrong somehow to see both Jamie and Zoe behaving this way.
That said, Zoe's arc is far more believable and Messingham gives us more reason and more understanding as to why she'd turn the way she did. Jamie's not so lucky though I did enjoy his 'Dawn of the Dead'-esque scene with the Shiners which only left me wanting to learn more about them!
As for the wonderful characterization of the second Doctor I kept hearing about, I'm ashamed to admit that at time when I would pick it up again, I'd forget which Doctor I was reading. Yes, he's well characterized but it really made me realize how similar the authors have fallen into writing the Second, Fourth and Eighth.
As for sympathetic characters, well, I really found none outside of our heroes. Yes, well developed, intriuging personalities but is Bishop really supposed to be sympathetic? Matthews? Didn't really give a toss about either of them, honestly, not in any sort of empathetic way.
I did actually like the book and highly recommend it as sci-fi entertainment and to fans of the characters but, as a Who novel, it just has too many faults.
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