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arthurbdd's review
4.0
One of the more comfy of the Doctor Who New Adventures range, in that it's not trying to be ostentatiously edgy or "mature" in a 1990s way but is simply telling a solid story which tackles a few grown-up themes with a bit more directness than the TV show would have permitted itself. And it's a lot of fun with it! Full review: https://fakegeekboy.wordpress.com/2024/03/05/the-virgin-new-adventures-nightshade-to-deceit/
rowan5215's review
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
hidekisohma's review against another edition
3.0
I was actually quite excited to read this one. I like Mark Gatiss a lot as a writer from his book "Last of the Gaderenes" and loved him in "Twice up on a time" as an actor. So i was very excited for this one. Unfortunately...this one wasn't great. It was okay at best.
This one is about a bunch of people in a small British town in 1968 dying weirdly and then turning into mummies and basically disintegrating after seeing visions of long dead people they cared about.
The doctor's kind of tired and wants to retire, but of course, that's not an option because bad crap follows him wherever he goes.
I had two main issues with this book.
1. WAYYYYYYYY too many side characters. like normally a good doctor who book has like 5-7 side characters. this one was INSANE. it had at least 20 characters they introduced either to have them die or not die, but my god. he gave literally every single new person who showed up a backstory and for 230 pages, thats a LOT for so short a book. People would show up, have a two page backstory, and then die and i'm sitting there like "okay, was i supposed to care there? like what the hell was that?"
and of course, the most interesting side character dies, and we're left with the weenies that i don't give a crap about. But ah, such is my life when it comes to stories I read.
2. The violence. Look, i know doctor who can get a bit violent at times, but Jesus huffington christ. This book had a LOT of gross death. Like i thought I was reading a Trevor Baxendale Doctor who novel for a while. Lot of people melting, lot of melting zombie visions, it was just very gross to be honest. Didn't need to have that many people die or be that violent.
Pretty much the only thing i really enjoyed about this one was the fact that the writing style was pretty easy to read and wasn't an incomprehensible MESS like "Cat's Cradle: Time's Crucible" or "Man in the Velvet mask". Despite all the people, i could follow the basic story and understand what was going on with the villain of the book. I thought the villain was a bit stock, boring, and underdeveloped, but at least i knew what the villain WAS.
This being the 8th book in the series, it's definitely not the WORST in the series, but it's by no means the best. Being the first book in the series NOT in a trilogy or quadrilogy, and especially being written by Mark Gatiss, I had some hopes for it, but between the violence, the million people, and Ace falling in love IMMEDIATELY with some guy just because....i don't know, he EXISTS it all felt a little too...meh for my taste. That's why i'm giving this book an even 3 out of 5. Because that's exactly what it was. Meh. Serviceable, but Meh.
Even 3 out of 5.
This one is about a bunch of people in a small British town in 1968 dying weirdly and then turning into mummies and basically disintegrating after seeing visions of long dead people they cared about.
The doctor's kind of tired and wants to retire, but of course, that's not an option because bad crap follows him wherever he goes.
I had two main issues with this book.
1. WAYYYYYYYY too many side characters. like normally a good doctor who book has like 5-7 side characters. this one was INSANE. it had at least 20 characters they introduced either to have them die or not die, but my god. he gave literally every single new person who showed up a backstory and for 230 pages, thats a LOT for so short a book. People would show up, have a two page backstory, and then die and i'm sitting there like "okay, was i supposed to care there? like what the hell was that?"
and of course, the most interesting side character dies, and we're left with the weenies that i don't give a crap about. But ah, such is my life when it comes to stories I read.
2. The violence. Look, i know doctor who can get a bit violent at times, but Jesus huffington christ. This book had a LOT of gross death. Like i thought I was reading a Trevor Baxendale Doctor who novel for a while. Lot of people melting, lot of melting zombie visions, it was just very gross to be honest. Didn't need to have that many people die or be that violent.
Pretty much the only thing i really enjoyed about this one was the fact that the writing style was pretty easy to read and wasn't an incomprehensible MESS like "Cat's Cradle: Time's Crucible" or "Man in the Velvet mask". Despite all the people, i could follow the basic story and understand what was going on with the villain of the book. I thought the villain was a bit stock, boring, and underdeveloped, but at least i knew what the villain WAS.
This being the 8th book in the series, it's definitely not the WORST in the series, but it's by no means the best. Being the first book in the series NOT in a trilogy or quadrilogy, and especially being written by Mark Gatiss, I had some hopes for it, but between the violence, the million people, and Ace falling in love IMMEDIATELY with some guy just because....i don't know, he EXISTS it all felt a little too...meh for my taste. That's why i'm giving this book an even 3 out of 5. Because that's exactly what it was. Meh. Serviceable, but Meh.
Even 3 out of 5.
shane's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to give this a four but the ending just felt like a complete betrayal to me. The Doctor acted entirely out of character as far as I can see and even now I fail to see the reason for such a blatant and it has to be said, nasty turn off events.
The author said it was supposed to be resolved in the next novel, but for whatever reason, wasn't. it just didn't make any sense for him to lie so blatantly to Ace like that, especially over something that meant so much to her.
Anyway, I'm still looking forward to the next one since it has a terrific reputation as one of the best in the series.
The author said it was supposed to be resolved in the next novel, but for whatever reason, wasn't. it just didn't make any sense for him to lie so blatantly to Ace like that, especially over something that meant so much to her.
Anyway, I'm still looking forward to the next one since it has a terrific reputation as one of the best in the series.
spacephilosopher's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
scampr's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Following on from the Timewyrm arc and Cat's Cradle tirology, this is the very first standalone novel of the VNAs. I've yet to get my hands on those first seven books, but I get the sense that this one would've been a breath of fresh air for readers going through chronologically. Nightshade is a fantastic self contained story that has some good character work and thematic exploration, really fits the tone and ideas of the 7th Doctor's era, and delivers some great horror.
From what I'm aware the 1950s sci-fi Quatermass is the inspiration behind some of the concepts/vibes of this novel, as well as the titular Professor Nightshade character. Even though I'm not familiar with Quatermass, it was still pretty easy to understand these elements and find interest in what they uniquely brought to the story.
A gloomy and sheltered Northern town in the late 1960s makes for a great setting full of dark atmosphere and ominousness. The characters that populate Crook Marsham are well rounded and believable which is really important for the dark and horrific directions the plot takes to have its proper impact.
The Doctor and Ace are the standouts, characterised perfectly whilst also exploring new territory and personal conflicts that motivate the story. Close behind them is Trevithick (the elderly actor that formerly played Professor Nightshade), who becomes increasingly enjoyable as the story goes along and plays an interesting part in events.
Eldritch entities lurking beneath the earth and monsters that weaponise people's dreams and memories against them are by no means original concepts, but they're executed particularly well here with the imagery, action beats and theming they bring.
The story provides some great allegory and exploration of memory and nostalgia , both its effects on our main characters and on a meta level the reader/fans.
The concise pacing and tension makes this an engaging read, but there are a small handful of moments (and one specific, slightly irrelevant chapter) that drag by comparison.
My only other and very minor complaint is that this novel builds up certain stakes and emotions about something only to end very abruptly. From what I remember the following story Love and War doesn't really touch on this something, so while it isn't wholly the fault of Nightshade, it is still a little annoying that we don't get a full explanation or fallout for what was set up.
From what I'm aware the 1950s sci-fi Quatermass is the inspiration behind some of the concepts/vibes of this novel, as well as the titular Professor Nightshade character. Even though I'm not familiar with Quatermass, it was still pretty easy to understand these elements and find interest in what they uniquely brought to the story.
A gloomy and sheltered Northern town in the late 1960s makes for a great setting full of dark atmosphere and ominousness. The characters that populate Crook Marsham are well rounded and believable which is really important for the dark and horrific directions the plot takes to have its proper impact.
The Doctor and Ace are the standouts, characterised perfectly whilst also exploring new territory and personal conflicts that motivate the story. Close behind them is Trevithick (the elderly actor that formerly played Professor Nightshade), who becomes increasingly enjoyable as the story goes along and plays an interesting part in events.
Eldritch entities lurking beneath the earth and monsters that weaponise people's dreams and memories against them are by no means original concepts, but they're executed particularly well here with the imagery, action beats and theming they bring.
The story provides some great allegory and exploration of memory and nostalgia , both its effects on our main characters and on a meta level the reader/fans.
The concise pacing and tension makes this an engaging read, but there are a small handful of moments (and one specific, slightly irrelevant chapter) that drag by comparison.
My only other and very minor complaint is that this novel builds up certain stakes and emotions about something only to end very abruptly. From what I remember the following story Love and War doesn't really touch on this something, so while it isn't wholly the fault of Nightshade, it is still a little annoying that we don't get a full explanation or fallout for what was set up.
plaidbrarian's review against another edition
3.0
Starts off as a compelling, legitimately spooky ghost story, but about halfway through devolves into that old Doctor Who chestnut, the "base under siege" story. And there's a subplot involving a retired actor who once played a part on TV that was more or less Professor Quatermass, and though he gets a few good scenes, it doesn't really lead anywhere. It's too bad, too, because Gatiss absolutely nails the characterization - it's easy to envision Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred saying this stuff as actual TV dialog - and, like I said, he's good with the scares. It's a decent read, but it could have been great.
Oh, and interestingly, even if only to me, this was the first book I read entirely digitally via Stanza on my iPod. And while it wasn't as enjoyable as an actual book, I didn't hate the experience. I guess I'm ready for the future. So where the hell's my Elroy Jetson rocket belt?
Oh, and interestingly, even if only to me, this was the first book I read entirely digitally via Stanza on my iPod. And while it wasn't as enjoyable as an actual book, I didn't hate the experience. I guess I'm ready for the future. So where the hell's my Elroy Jetson rocket belt?
isayhourwrong's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
3.75
My favourite so far, well done mr gatiss
nwhyte's review
3.0
http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1418628.html
The setting is a familiar Whovian one (most recently seen in The Eleventh Hour): rural England, alien menace, the Doctor sorts it out. To be specific, we're in a Yorkshire village in December 1968; Gatiss packs in a lot of detail, including some memorable characters - the staff of the local radio observatory; the young man who develops a relationship with Ace; the elderly actor who used to play Professor Nightshade on telly (a mixture between Quatermass and the First Doctor). Gatiss says in the notes that he was trying to write a Who book that really belonged more in the horror genre; it works for me.
The setting is a familiar Whovian one (most recently seen in The Eleventh Hour): rural England, alien menace, the Doctor sorts it out. To be specific, we're in a Yorkshire village in December 1968; Gatiss packs in a lot of detail, including some memorable characters - the staff of the local radio observatory; the young man who develops a relationship with Ace; the elderly actor who used to play Professor Nightshade on telly (a mixture between Quatermass and the First Doctor). Gatiss says in the notes that he was trying to write a Who book that really belonged more in the horror genre; it works for me.