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tehani's review against another edition
5.0
So yes, I have an essay in this book (about self-professed "mouth on legs" Aussie firecracker Tegan), and yes, I know several other contributors personally or as a fan of their writing, and yes, I've enjoyed Mad Norwegian books in the past… That said, I'm a huge Doctor Who fan, and this book is really darn good, so regardless of any personal feelings, I would say the same thing. It's five star, it's fantastic for dipping in and out of, nodding furiously when an author says something I agree with, berating them aloud (sometimes in public) when I disagree, and being absolutely delighted to discover companions I'd barely heard of (from the Classic series) or make connections that caused me glee.
Personal favourites were many! "Donna: Noble by name and Noble by Nature" by Karen Miller, "Scientists, Not Office Boys" by Anna Livingston, "Amy's Choice: Doctor Who Companions and the Nightmare of Domesticity" by Una McCormack, "The Ones He Leaves Behind" by Foz Meadows, "Science Princess FTW" by Mary Robinette Kowal, "What has Romana Ever Done for Us?" by Phoebe Taylor…
Dammit, look, they're all good! Not a single one I didn't enjoy in some aspect or get something out of. Loved Stephanie Lai's defence of Peri, really enjoyed that Emma Ward examined a non-TV companion, and so much more. You should check this book out. It's great.
Personal favourites were many! "Donna: Noble by name and Noble by Nature" by Karen Miller, "Scientists, Not Office Boys" by Anna Livingston, "Amy's Choice: Doctor Who Companions and the Nightmare of Domesticity" by Una McCormack, "The Ones He Leaves Behind" by Foz Meadows, "Science Princess FTW" by Mary Robinette Kowal, "What has Romana Ever Done for Us?" by Phoebe Taylor…
Dammit, look, they're all good! Not a single one I didn't enjoy in some aspect or get something out of. Loved Stephanie Lai's defence of Peri, really enjoyed that Emma Ward examined a non-TV companion, and so much more. You should check this book out. It's great.
nwhyte's review against another edition
5.0
http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/2530005.html
This is the sixth of the Geek Girl Chronicles, and the third of them to collect essays by women about Doctor Who (following on from Chicks Dig Time Lords and Chicks Unravel Time). Published earlier this year, it is eligible for next year's Hugo nominations as Best Related Work; the first in the series won that category in 2011, and Mad Norwegian Press has had three more nominations since (Chicks Unravel Time, Chicks Dig Gaming and Queers Dig Time Lords).
Obviously this is mainly going to appeal to Who fans with a decent knowledge of both Old and New Who, but I commend it to the rest of you anyway. I think the weakest essay here is better than the weakest ones in the two previous volumes; I think that there are a couple of really standout pieces (the para I quote above is from "Scheherazade and Galahad in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks", by Mags L. Halliday, which was one of my favourites); and I think that the best of them relate the ongoing story of Doctor Who to wider cultural and literary trends in a way that should be relevant to anyone with an interest in the genre.
This is the sixth of the Geek Girl Chronicles, and the third of them to collect essays by women about Doctor Who (following on from Chicks Dig Time Lords and Chicks Unravel Time). Published earlier this year, it is eligible for next year's Hugo nominations as Best Related Work; the first in the series won that category in 2011, and Mad Norwegian Press has had three more nominations since (Chicks Unravel Time, Chicks Dig Gaming and Queers Dig Time Lords).
Obviously this is mainly going to appeal to Who fans with a decent knowledge of both Old and New Who, but I commend it to the rest of you anyway. I think the weakest essay here is better than the weakest ones in the two previous volumes; I think that there are a couple of really standout pieces (the para I quote above is from "Scheherazade and Galahad in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks", by Mags L. Halliday, which was one of my favourites); and I think that the best of them relate the ongoing story of Doctor Who to wider cultural and literary trends in a way that should be relevant to anyone with an interest in the genre.
catherine_t's review against another edition
5.0
Yet another collection of essays by the folks behind Chicks Dig Time Lords and Chicks Unravel Time, Companion Piece discusses the characters who travel in the TARDIS as guests of the Doctor. Naturally, most of the essays are on Classic Who companions, simply because there are so many more of them, as opposed to New Who companions. But I'm trying to broaden my Who-rizons and learn more about the Classic era, so I was more than happy to read about companions I've never even heard of, such as Steven Taylor and Sara Kingdom (both of whom, according to the essayists, were awesome during their time in the TARDIS). I was also interested to read differing views of the same companion: Jo Grant, for instance, was discussed in two essays; one praised her, whilst the other was a bit dismissive.
I'm not sure the folks at Mad Norwegian Press can add anything further to the Doctor Who dialogue, but if Companion Piece is the last book, it's a high note to go out on.
I'm not sure the folks at Mad Norwegian Press can add anything further to the Doctor Who dialogue, but if Companion Piece is the last book, it's a high note to go out on.
kellswitch's review
4.0
A collection of essays examining the many and various companions that have traveled with the Doctor over the years.
I read the earlier collection, Chicks Dig Time Lords and really enjoyed it so I was happy to get my hands on this one and it did not disappoint.
I have to admit I am a Classic Who fan and not a New Who fan at all, so I found the older companions much easier and interesting to read about but all of the essays were well written and make interesting points. Some covered the same companions but from a different perspective and it was fun and informative seeing how two different people could form such radically different opinions about the same companion or even the same costumes.
To me there seemed to be a fair coverage between New Who and Classic Who companions, so there should be plenty for fans of each and no companion seemed to be lost in the shuffle.
A must read for Doctor Who fans.
I read the earlier collection, Chicks Dig Time Lords and really enjoyed it so I was happy to get my hands on this one and it did not disappoint.
I have to admit I am a Classic Who fan and not a New Who fan at all, so I found the older companions much easier and interesting to read about but all of the essays were well written and make interesting points. Some covered the same companions but from a different perspective and it was fun and informative seeing how two different people could form such radically different opinions about the same companion or even the same costumes.
To me there seemed to be a fair coverage between New Who and Classic Who companions, so there should be plenty for fans of each and no companion seemed to be lost in the shuffle.
A must read for Doctor Who fans.
bluebec's review
4.0
So I've learnt that it is possible to read too many essays about doctor who in one sitting. I've also learnt that everyone views the doctor's companions slightly differently, and that many of us are able to find feminist meaning in work not intended to be feminist.
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