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mthorley23's review against another edition
3.0
Read at the request of my 12 year old son. 3.5 stars. Not bad for a fan fiction! I enjoyed reading this!
weweresotired's review against another edition
3.0
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In honor of the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who, BBC Books has reissued/redesigned/reawesomed a series of eleven books -- one for, you guessed it, each Doctor. The Silent Stars Go By follows our current Doctor, Amy, and Rory, as they try to get back to Leadworth for Christmas. As usual, though, their TARDIS trip is more than a bit... off.
Instead of present day England, the trio winds up in the far, far, far future on a planet colonized by Morphans, people who are distant descendants of humans as we know them. It wouldn't be a Doctor Who story if trouble didn't almost immediately ensue, of course, and that happens when Rory goes back to the TARDIS to get something and the trio gets split up. Most of the first half of the book involves a lot of running and hiding and trying to explain why they have suddenly shown up on this planet; the back half involves a lot of running and hiding and fighting alien monsters, and then finally solving the mystery. In other words, just another day in the life of the Doctor and his companions.
The author really nails the voices of Amy, Rory, and the Doctor. I could hear their voices in my head when I was reading the dialogue. There's one particular dramatic monologue by the Doctor that I could practically envision Matt Smith acting out, it was just that spot on with his voice, speech patterns, etc. There are also lots of recurring jokes and humorous moments in the story, both in the banter between the characters, and in some rather witty verbal misunderstandings from the Morphans.
There were some parts where the book dragged a little, particularly in the sections which only focused on the Morphans. And like any Who story, the final conclusion and how the Doctor works out the problem felt rushed and a little convoluted, but if you're a Who fan, you're probably used to that. I don't think you need much prior knowledge about the show to read this book and understand it, but the book's real strengths -- the dialogue and relationship between Amy, Rory, and the Doctor -- have more meaning if you're familiar with the characters already. There is some violence of the scary-alien-monster kind, but otherwise, this is a very clean read.
In honor of the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who, BBC Books has reissued/redesigned/reawesomed a series of eleven books -- one for, you guessed it, each Doctor. The Silent Stars Go By follows our current Doctor, Amy, and Rory, as they try to get back to Leadworth for Christmas. As usual, though, their TARDIS trip is more than a bit... off.
Instead of present day England, the trio winds up in the far, far, far future on a planet colonized by Morphans, people who are distant descendants of humans as we know them. It wouldn't be a Doctor Who story if trouble didn't almost immediately ensue, of course, and that happens when Rory goes back to the TARDIS to get something and the trio gets split up. Most of the first half of the book involves a lot of running and hiding and trying to explain why they have suddenly shown up on this planet; the back half involves a lot of running and hiding and fighting alien monsters, and then finally solving the mystery. In other words, just another day in the life of the Doctor and his companions.
The author really nails the voices of Amy, Rory, and the Doctor. I could hear their voices in my head when I was reading the dialogue. There's one particular dramatic monologue by the Doctor that I could practically envision Matt Smith acting out, it was just that spot on with his voice, speech patterns, etc. There are also lots of recurring jokes and humorous moments in the story, both in the banter between the characters, and in some rather witty verbal misunderstandings from the Morphans.
There were some parts where the book dragged a little, particularly in the sections which only focused on the Morphans. And like any Who story, the final conclusion and how the Doctor works out the problem felt rushed and a little convoluted, but if you're a Who fan, you're probably used to that. I don't think you need much prior knowledge about the show to read this book and understand it, but the book's real strengths -- the dialogue and relationship between Amy, Rory, and the Doctor -- have more meaning if you're familiar with the characters already. There is some violence of the scary-alien-monster kind, but otherwise, this is a very clean read.
jusan's review against another edition
5.0
The cover was amazing to begin with, but the stories inside are just as good. I enjoyed both of them, and it makes me want to watch Doctor Who. Very glad I decided to pick it up and give it a chance.
beth_books_123's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting read- 3*
I really enjoyed this Doctor Who adventure. I enjoyed the setting, the characters and the plot. However, I did feel something was missing from this adventure but I'm unsure what.
I really enjoyed this Doctor Who adventure. I enjoyed the setting, the characters and the plot. However, I did feel something was missing from this adventure but I'm unsure what.
katya_s's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
starryworlds's review against another edition
4.0
I loved the way that this book featured two villains, the ice warriors and something else that was created by the machinery in the mountains (I can't tell you what they are exactly, otherwise it will give the story away). The only episode I have seen of the ice warriors is The Cold War and I enjoyed a different storyline in this book where there was a whole army of them rather than one.
I like the way that Amy, Rory and The Doctor spilt up on the book, because it allows the reader to have different perspectives on what is going on. Also with Amy, Rory and The Doctor meeting different people and teaming up with them, even though you don't expect them to.
Although, I like how at the very beginning there is a poem called "'O Little Town of Bethlehem', a song of Earth before" gives a little hint to the storyline. The end of the book was beautiful and it kind of had a happily ever after.
For anyone that likes Doctor Who, I strongly recommend this book because it has suspense, adventure, drama, comedy and a little bit of romance.
I like the way that Amy, Rory and The Doctor spilt up on the book, because it allows the reader to have different perspectives on what is going on. Also with Amy, Rory and The Doctor meeting different people and teaming up with them, even though you don't expect them to.
Although, I like how at the very beginning there is a poem called "'O Little Town of Bethlehem', a song of Earth before" gives a little hint to the storyline. The end of the book was beautiful and it kind of had a happily ever after.
For anyone that likes Doctor Who, I strongly recommend this book because it has suspense, adventure, drama, comedy and a little bit of romance.
fortunesdear's review against another edition
3.0
Good enough until the twist occurred which bumped it up for me from a two-star book to a three. Just wish had gotten a bit more at the end.
meagan_kay's review against another edition
4.0
This was a fun, interesting book. It's a good story with great characters.
saoki's review against another edition
4.0
This one was a delight. A good story with great characterization for the 11th Doctor, Amy and Rory, an interesting setting and a plot that is not what it seems. And even if it does involves a lot of running down corridors, the pace is fantastic and there isn't a single scene that could have been cut.
I'd say it is as good as a TV episode, but this is really one of those stories that make use of those things a novel can do that a TV show possibly couldn't. Some really great images here.
I'd say it is as good as a TV episode, but this is really one of those stories that make use of those things a novel can do that a TV show possibly couldn't. Some really great images here.