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michelle_arnold's review
5.0
This book is absolutely brilliant and a must-read for any Doctor Who fan. Unlike most Doctor Who books, which are basically well-written fanfiction (fun, but not canon), this book was written by Steven Moffat and IS canon! It tells the story of the 50th anniversary special, but in much more depth and with a lot of details that weren't (and in some cases, couldn't have been) in the televised special. The book is brilliantly written and delightful to read. Some lines made me laugh out loud, which I rarely do while reading, and every chapter had some lines I stopped and read again to burn them in my brain because I liked them so much. If you're still confused about some details of that episode, this book will clear them up for you. If you thought it was too short for a bloody 50th anniversary special, this book will put it right for you. If you wished River Song could have been in the 50th anniversary special, this book will make your wish come true. If you're not sure what the big deal is with Osgood, this book will answer that. If you wanted Tom Baker's role in the whole thing confirmed, this book will do that. And if you can't wait to see Jodie Whittaker in the role of the Doctor, you don't have to. Chapter 13. If you only read one Doctor Who book in your life, make it this one!
katiewhocanread's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide and War
Moderate: Confinement, Violence, Mental illness, Body horror, and Death
Minor: Torture and Sexism
harper42's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
an_awful_jack's review
4.0
Moffat expands on an already brilliant episode, and although some of my favourite parts are slightly changed and the ending feels a little rushed but all in a great it's a great reimagining of one of my Moffat's best stories
britnyinvt's review against another edition
5.0
I’ve read other Doctor Who adventure novels before but this is the first one I’ve read that was also a televised episode. The 50th anniversary special is one of my favorites, and I really loved how it expands upon what you see in the episode. The different points of view from the different Doctors (and companions) was fascinating and enjoyable.
jonathanpalfrey's review against another edition
3.0
"The Day of the Doctor" was a 50th-anniversary party episode, an extravagant romp featuring three Doctors and Clara, plus UNIT, Zygons, and a very implausible version of Queen Elizabeth I. It's quite fun to watch (John Hurt is good in it), but a bit of a mess, and the Queen Elizabeth stuff is ludicrous.
Moffat is a screenwriter, but here he gets to play at being a novelist, adapting his own script. He makes a decent stab at it. The main features of the story remain, of course, plus some extra details—about which I have mixed feelings, but at least something has been added to the screen version.
I find the result readable enough, but I prefer watching the show on screen. As a novel, I think 3 stars is a fair rating: I can reread it occasionally with some degree of enjoyment, but it doesn't come close to being a favourite.
I haven't bought any other Doctor Who novels; I tried this one as an experiment. Although this wasn't one of his best scripts, Moffat is the best screenwriter yet to write for the show, so it seemed worth trying.
Moffat is a screenwriter, but here he gets to play at being a novelist, adapting his own script. He makes a decent stab at it. The main features of the story remain, of course, plus some extra details—about which I have mixed feelings, but at least something has been added to the screen version.
I find the result readable enough, but I prefer watching the show on screen. As a novel, I think 3 stars is a fair rating: I can reread it occasionally with some degree of enjoyment, but it doesn't come close to being a favourite.
I haven't bought any other Doctor Who novels; I tried this one as an experiment. Although this wasn't one of his best scripts, Moffat is the best screenwriter yet to write for the show, so it seemed worth trying.
almostlikequake's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
evelyngreeves's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
This was a fun, fairly quick read. I liked the unusual writing style though some might find it a bit gimmicky. I was pleasantly surprised that it was more complex than a simple retelling of the TV story (out of order, fourth wall breaking).
elon's review
4.0
All the good parts of the Special/episode, with bonus content! Sadly, it also added stuff that felt out of place and/or annoying, like the narrative between the chapters, and an obsession with a non-existing chapter and a really odd chapter with River. It also has most of the flaws of the original episode, but improved on lots of details.
ashleec15's review
5.0
Oh, this book is a delight! Laughter, tears, all in all a thoughtful romp of a book. Same story, different telling of it. If you're a Doctor Who fan, it is a treat.