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hyacinth51's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.5
simo517l's review against another edition
5.0
This book is really 4,5 stars. Most of the stories are great, and for someone who do not know a lot about the different doctors, this is a great way to feel them out. I found that out of the doctors that i have not seen in the show the third and fourth was the best.
melhara's review against another edition
4.0
Average Rating: 3.625/5
This audiobook contains twelve Doctor Who short stories by various well-known authors, and narrated by assorted narrators.
Disclaimer: the only Doctor Who shows that I've watched featured the First, Second, Third, Ninth, Tenth and Eleventh Doctors. I've never watched the seasons with the Fourth to Eight Doctors, so can't speak to the accuracy of the characterizations in some of these short stories.
1. A Big Hand for the Doctor (1/5)
This story, written by [a:Eion Colfer|10896|Eoin Colfer|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1254336426p2/10896.jpg] and narrated by [a:Nicholas Briggs|30673|Nicholas Briggs|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1328162927p2/30673.jpg], was pretty disappointing. It features the First Doctor and his granddaughter, Susan.
Unfortunately, I was completely disinterested and had a hard time getting into the story. It wasn't memorable at all. I'm writing this review after finishing the audiobook and can't, for the life of me, remember what happened in this story. All I remember is that the characterization of the Doctor wasn't at all how I remembered the First Doctor.
2. The Nameless City (2/5)
This story, written by [a:Michael Scott|27100|Michael Scott|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1243251417p2/27100.jpg] and narrated by [a:Frazer Hines|363112|Frazer Hines|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png], features the Second Doctor and his travel companion, Jamie McCrimmon.
This was better than the previous story, but as far as Doctor Who stories/plots go, it wasn't my favourite as I felt the adventure and excitement was lacking in this one.
3. The Spear of Destiny (4/5)
This story, written and narrated by [a:Marcus Sedgwick|110234|Marcus Sedgwick|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1298204345p2/110234.jpg], features the Third Doctor and Jo Grant.
I very much enjoyed this one, especially compared to the first two stories. The adventure was wonderfully entertaining. I think I really enjoyed this one mostly because I typically love Doctor Who episodes with alternate history stories where the Doctor and his companion(s) visit the past.
4. The Roots of Evil (5/5)
This story, written by [a:Philip Reeve|27379|Philip Reeve|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1436868938p2/27379.jpg] and narrated by [a:Sophie Aldred|376555|Sophie Aldred|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1360481272p2/376555.jpg], features the Fourth Doctor and Leela was highly entertaining and probably my favourite story from the bunch.
I could fully imagine this story as a full-on televised Doctor Who episode, which really speaks to the level of detail, plot twists and adventure that was encompassed in this story.
5. Tip of the Tongue (4.5/5)
This story, written by [a:Patrick Ness|370361|Patrick Ness|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1244216486p2/370361.jpg] and narrated by [a:Nicholas Pegg|54639|Nicholas Pegg|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1306510259p2/54639.jpg], features the Fifth Doctor and Nyssa.
Much like the previous story, I could also imagine this story as a fully televised episode of Doctor Who, featuring strange "truth-telling" creatures. While I very much enjoyed this cute story, I was very disappointed by the lack of presence of the Doctor and his companion.
6. Something Borrowed (2/5)
This story, written by [a:Richelle Mead|137902|Richelle Mead|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1270374609p2/137902.jpg] and narrated by [a:Sophie Aldred|376555|Sophie Aldred|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1360481272p2/376555.jpg], features the Sixth Doctor and Peri Brown.
I didn't find this story particularly interesting or memorable. I think this may be largely due to the fact that I was unfamiliar with the Sixth Doctor, his companions, and the villains from this time period.
7. The Ripple Effect (4.5/5)
This story, written and narrated by [a:Malorie Blackman|172977|Malorie Blackman|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1258760862p2/172977.jpg], features the Seventh Doctor and Ace.
Finally! The Daleks make an appearance!!
8. Spore (3/5)
This story, written by [a:Alex Scarrow|577975|Alex Scarrow|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1316760982p2/577975.jpg] and narrated by [a:Nicholas Pegg|54639|Nicholas Pegg|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1306510259p2/54639.jpg], features the Eighth Doctor who was travelling solo and briefly meets/saves a new companion - Evelyn Chan.
This was a good story but I felt like the plot was unoriginal.
9. The Beast of Babylon (4/5)
This story, written and narrated by [a:Charlie Higson|162326|Charlie Higson|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1243477698p2/162326.jpg], features the Ninth Doctor and new, temporary companion, Ali.
First of all, I thought the portrayal of this doctor was pretty good, and I quite liked Ali as a companion. This story takes place right after the Ninth Doctor has just met Rose and left her. The event of this story makes him realize that Rose would make an excellent companion and so he travels back to meet up with her before they go off on their adventures that would make up the rest of the television season.
10. The Mystery of the Haunted Cottage (4.5/5)
This story, written by [a:Derek Landy|165168|Derek Landy|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1521215464p2/165168.jpg] and narrated by [a:Ian Hanmore], features the Tenth Doctor and Martha Jones.
I thought this story captured the personalities of the Tenth Doctor and Martha Jones wonderfully. The story was also original, whimsical and full of great adventures. The worldbuilding was fantastic and I wish this story was longer. The was the story wrapped up at the end left me wanting more.
11. Nothing Hour (5/5)
This story, written and narrated by [a:Neil Gaiman|1221698|Neil Gaiman|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1234150163p2/1221698.jpg], features the Eleventh Doctor and Amy Pond (definitely my favourite Doctor Who companion ever).
The creep factor was pretty high for this one. The audiobook narration for this one was also excellent and was probably the best narrated story out of the bunch.
12. Lights Out (4/5)
This story, written by [a:Holly Black|25422|Holly Black|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1261867163p2/25422.jpg] and narrated by [a:Samuel Anderson|4305020|Samuel Anderson|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png], features the Twelfth Doctor and Clara.
This was a good story and I really enjoyed the interactions between Clara and the Doctor.
***#2 of my 2019 Book Riot Read Harder Challenge - An alternate history novel***
This audiobook contains twelve Doctor Who short stories by various well-known authors, and narrated by assorted narrators.
Disclaimer: the only Doctor Who shows that I've watched featured the First, Second, Third, Ninth, Tenth and Eleventh Doctors. I've never watched the seasons with the Fourth to Eight Doctors, so can't speak to the accuracy of the characterizations in some of these short stories.
1. A Big Hand for the Doctor (1/5)
This story, written by [a:Eion Colfer|10896|Eoin Colfer|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1254336426p2/10896.jpg] and narrated by [a:Nicholas Briggs|30673|Nicholas Briggs|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1328162927p2/30673.jpg], was pretty disappointing. It features the First Doctor and his granddaughter, Susan.
Unfortunately, I was completely disinterested and had a hard time getting into the story. It wasn't memorable at all. I'm writing this review after finishing the audiobook and can't, for the life of me, remember what happened in this story. All I remember is that the characterization of the Doctor wasn't at all how I remembered the First Doctor.
2. The Nameless City (2/5)
This story, written by [a:Michael Scott|27100|Michael Scott|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1243251417p2/27100.jpg] and narrated by [a:Frazer Hines|363112|Frazer Hines|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png], features the Second Doctor and his travel companion, Jamie McCrimmon.
This was better than the previous story, but as far as Doctor Who stories/plots go, it wasn't my favourite as I felt the adventure and excitement was lacking in this one.
3. The Spear of Destiny (4/5)
This story, written and narrated by [a:Marcus Sedgwick|110234|Marcus Sedgwick|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1298204345p2/110234.jpg], features the Third Doctor and Jo Grant.
I very much enjoyed this one, especially compared to the first two stories. The adventure was wonderfully entertaining. I think I really enjoyed this one mostly because I typically love Doctor Who episodes with alternate history stories where the Doctor and his companion(s) visit the past.
4. The Roots of Evil (5/5)
This story, written by [a:Philip Reeve|27379|Philip Reeve|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1436868938p2/27379.jpg] and narrated by [a:Sophie Aldred|376555|Sophie Aldred|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1360481272p2/376555.jpg], features the Fourth Doctor and Leela was highly entertaining and probably my favourite story from the bunch.
I could fully imagine this story as a full-on televised Doctor Who episode, which really speaks to the level of detail, plot twists and adventure that was encompassed in this story.
5. Tip of the Tongue (4.5/5)
This story, written by [a:Patrick Ness|370361|Patrick Ness|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1244216486p2/370361.jpg] and narrated by [a:Nicholas Pegg|54639|Nicholas Pegg|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1306510259p2/54639.jpg], features the Fifth Doctor and Nyssa.
Much like the previous story, I could also imagine this story as a fully televised episode of Doctor Who, featuring strange "truth-telling" creatures. While I very much enjoyed this cute story, I was very disappointed by the lack of presence of the Doctor and his companion.
6. Something Borrowed (2/5)
This story, written by [a:Richelle Mead|137902|Richelle Mead|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1270374609p2/137902.jpg] and narrated by [a:Sophie Aldred|376555|Sophie Aldred|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1360481272p2/376555.jpg], features the Sixth Doctor and Peri Brown.
I didn't find this story particularly interesting or memorable. I think this may be largely due to the fact that I was unfamiliar with the Sixth Doctor, his companions, and the villains from this time period.
7. The Ripple Effect (4.5/5)
This story, written and narrated by [a:Malorie Blackman|172977|Malorie Blackman|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1258760862p2/172977.jpg], features the Seventh Doctor and Ace.
Finally! The Daleks make an appearance!!
8. Spore (3/5)
This story, written by [a:Alex Scarrow|577975|Alex Scarrow|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1316760982p2/577975.jpg] and narrated by [a:Nicholas Pegg|54639|Nicholas Pegg|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1306510259p2/54639.jpg], features the Eighth Doctor who was travelling solo and briefly meets/saves a new companion - Evelyn Chan.
This was a good story but I felt like the plot was unoriginal.
9. The Beast of Babylon (4/5)
This story, written and narrated by [a:Charlie Higson|162326|Charlie Higson|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1243477698p2/162326.jpg], features the Ninth Doctor and new, temporary companion, Ali.
First of all, I thought the portrayal of this doctor was pretty good, and I quite liked Ali as a companion. This story takes place right after the Ninth Doctor has just met Rose and left her. The event of this story makes him realize that Rose would make an excellent companion and so he travels back to meet up with her before they go off on their adventures that would make up the rest of the television season.
10. The Mystery of the Haunted Cottage (4.5/5)
This story, written by [a:Derek Landy|165168|Derek Landy|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1521215464p2/165168.jpg] and narrated by [a:Ian Hanmore], features the Tenth Doctor and Martha Jones.
I thought this story captured the personalities of the Tenth Doctor and Martha Jones wonderfully. The story was also original, whimsical and full of great adventures. The worldbuilding was fantastic and I wish this story was longer. The was the story wrapped up at the end left me wanting more.
11. Nothing Hour (5/5)
This story, written and narrated by [a:Neil Gaiman|1221698|Neil Gaiman|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1234150163p2/1221698.jpg], features the Eleventh Doctor and Amy Pond (definitely my favourite Doctor Who companion ever).
The creep factor was pretty high for this one. The audiobook narration for this one was also excellent and was probably the best narrated story out of the bunch.
12. Lights Out (4/5)
This story, written by [a:Holly Black|25422|Holly Black|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1261867163p2/25422.jpg] and narrated by [a:Samuel Anderson|4305020|Samuel Anderson|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png], features the Twelfth Doctor and Clara.
This was a good story and I really enjoyed the interactions between Clara and the Doctor.
***#2 of my 2019 Book Riot Read Harder Challenge - An alternate history novel***
inkandplasma's review against another edition
4.0
Character - 8
Atmosphere - 7
Writing - 7
Plot - 8
Intrigue - 7
Logic - 6
Enjoyment - 8
Rating: 7.29 / 4 stars
Atmosphere - 7
Writing - 7
Plot - 8
Intrigue - 7
Logic - 6
Enjoyment - 8
Rating: 7.29 / 4 stars
sarahelisewrites's review against another edition
5.0
An excellent collection of stories, featuring well-developed versions of each Doctor. Favorites include Neil Gaiman's Nothing O'Clock, Richelle Mead's Something Borrowed (featuring one of my favorite Doctor Who villains of all time!), and Marcus Sedgwick's The Spear of Destiny - however, all are worth a read!
kikizubik's review against another edition
4.0
12th Doctor - Lights out by Holly Black - 2/5 - I'm dissapointed, because I like Holly Black, but this story didn't work for me.
11th Doctor - Nothing O'clock by Neil Gaiman 4/5 - I liked the atmosphere of the story, really gripping
10th Doctor - The mystery of haunted cottage by Derek Landy 4/5
9th Doctor - The Beast of Babylon by Charlie Higson 4,5/5 - I had so much fun
8th Doctor - Spore by Alex Scarrow 3/5
7th Doctor - The Ripple effect by Malorie Blackman 5/5 - THIS! One of my favorite story of this collection!
6th Doctor - Something borrow by Richelle Mead 5/5 - Holly Black story dissapointed me, but Richealle Mead one was so good! Love every page of it!
5th Doctor - Tip of the tongue - Patrick Ness 4/5
4th Doctor - The roots of Evil - Philip Reeve 4/5
3rd Doctor - The spear of destiny - Marcus Sedgwick 3/5
2nd Doctor - Nameless city - Michael Scott 2/5
1st Doctor - A big hand for the Doctor - Eoin Colfer 2/5"
11th Doctor - Nothing O'clock by Neil Gaiman 4/5 - I liked the atmosphere of the story, really gripping
10th Doctor - The mystery of haunted cottage by Derek Landy 4/5
9th Doctor - The Beast of Babylon by Charlie Higson 4,5/5 - I had so much fun
8th Doctor - Spore by Alex Scarrow 3/5
7th Doctor - The Ripple effect by Malorie Blackman 5/5 - THIS! One of my favorite story of this collection!
6th Doctor - Something borrow by Richelle Mead 5/5 - Holly Black story dissapointed me, but Richealle Mead one was so good! Love every page of it!
5th Doctor - Tip of the tongue - Patrick Ness 4/5
4th Doctor - The roots of Evil - Philip Reeve 4/5
3rd Doctor - The spear of destiny - Marcus Sedgwick 3/5
2nd Doctor - Nameless city - Michael Scott 2/5
1st Doctor - A big hand for the Doctor - Eoin Colfer 2/5"
djinnetta's review against another edition
4.0
I'm gonna take a break from reading this. I'm ready to move on to something else. But this was enjoyable. 3 1/2 stars
booksandbark's review against another edition
3.0
Clearly, this isn't high literature or anything, but it sure was entertaining. Also just the thing I needed in a chaotic and stressful 2021.
A quick story about how I came to read this compilation of short stories: I was super into Doctor Who in middle and high school, right around the time that this volume was published. Someone bought it for me thinking I'd like it, but I was so put off by the Eleventh Doctor's last season and the Twelfth Doctor's first season that I stopped watching the show entirely and thus never got to actually reading this book. When I exhausted all of the television shows I had ever heard of during the COVID-19 pandemic, I finally got back around to Doctor Who—and ended up absolutely loving Peter Capaldi's latter two seasons as the Doctor (and even kind of liked some of the episodes in his first). So I decided to take a crack at this and see how I liked it.
The First Doctor & Susan: A Big Hand for the Doctor by Eoin Colfer
I really, really wanted to like this story. Eoin Colfer is the author of some of my favorite books from when I was a kid, but the pacing was so off, the characterization of Susan was shoddy, and the premise was absurd, even for Doctor Who. But—while I can't speak to the accuracy of this characterization as I've never watched Classic Who—I did really enjoy how grumpy One was and admired how two of my favorite Doctors, Nine and Twelve, channel that energy in the revival. 1/5 stars
The Second Doctor & Jamie McCrimmon: The Nameless City by Michael Scott
This was a lot of fun! I really liked the dynamic between Jamie and Two, and this totally seemed like one of those contrived-yet-enjoyable episodes that I'd love. I hadn't realized that the Doctor had had well-written male companions in the past, and after reading this I kind of felt bad for the men of New Who who've been so horribly characterized. 5/5 stars
The Third Doctor & Jo: The Spear of Destiny by Marcus Sedgwick
This is another one of those stories that I felt was a bit contrived, which is a shame because Marcus Sedgwick is another of my favorite writers from my childhood. I think I would've liked Jo as a companion had I ever watched Classic Who, but there were parts of this story that were utterly bizarre. The Doctor drying his clothes using his body heat?? What? 3/5 stars
The Fourth Doctor & Leela: The Roots of Evil by Philip Reeve
An interesting concept, but another one where the ending wrapped up far too quickly and neatly to be believable. I liked the glimpse we got of Eleven in this story, though, and Four's reaction to him! I do have to wonder how the Doctor doesn't cross paths with his past/future incarnations more often given all the time-traveling... 2/5 stars
The Fifth Doctor & Nyssa: Tip of the Tongue by Patrick Ness
This was an interesting story, but it really didn't feature too much of the Doctor or Nyssa. It was almost as if Ness had an idea for a brilliant short story, then got the chance to write a short story for a Doctor Who anthology, and then chose to insert the Doctor in the smallest way possible. It wasn't a bad story by any means, but just not very Doctor Who-like. 3/5 stars
The Sixth Doctor & Peri: Something Borrowed by Richelle Mead
To be honest, I wasn't a big fan of the first-person narration by the companion (in this story or any of the others). Something about it just doesn't work for me, and although I liked both Peri and Six well enough, the plot seemed very clichéd, like the plot of every movie containing an evil villain and a wedding ever. I did like the glimpse we got of the Rani, a Classic Who villain who I don't think the revival ever plans on bringing back, but ultimately this story wasn't really for me. 3/5 stars
The Seventh Doctor & Ace: The Ripple Effect by Malorie Blackman
I really liked this story as it gets at some of the most interesting questions that Doctor Who poses, questions that are so vital to the character's core: hope and belief and fear and hate and whether or not to follow the laws of time. The idea of a world of friendly Daleks is something we've never seen in the TV series (or at least in New Who), and I'd really love to see this as an episode. Even if the physics part was super... not accurate (if any of the physics in Doctor Who can be described as accurate...), this was still a fun read. 4.5/5 stars
The Eighth Doctor & Evelyn Chan: Spore by Alex Scarrow
A really timely short story about a killer virus that threatens to destroy all of humanity. How fun. I'd be lying if I said that I probably enjoyed this one more because of its relevance to the current time, but I also thought that it was a very neat, very Doctor-y story, even if Evelyn Chan, a new companion, wasn't that well written. 4/5 stars
The Ninth Doctor & Ali: The Beast of Babylon by Charlie Higson
This was... not my favorite. Everything was off, from the characterization of Nine to the introduction of the new companion, to the way his relationship with Rose was described... and I'm not even sure what happened with regards to the plot?? Definitely my least favorite story in the collection. 1/5 stars
The Tenth Doctor & Martha: The Mystery of the Haunted Cottage by Derek Landy
While I wouldn't have said no to a good Donna story (although I doubt they'd have been able to pull it off without Catherine Tate there to voice it over), I'm so glad that they decided to focus on Martha with this one. She was really underutilized in the TV series, and I've always wanted to see more of her. As a fiction lover, I liked the idea of this one, but it was also one of those... more bizarre episodes of Doctor Who. Still, the characterization of Ten, right down to his vocal tics, was on the nose, and I enjoyed reading this one. 3.5/5 stars
The Eleventh Doctor & Amy: Nothing O'Clock by Neil Gaiman
Out of those covered in this collection, Eleven and Amy are my least favorite Doctor and companion, respectively. But Neil Gaiman is just a fantastic writer, and even though his TV scripts fell flat, I'm glad they gave him the chance to do this story. This read just like an episode of Who, and he clearly studied the relationship between Eleven and Amy and wrote it perfectly. This easily the best short story of the lot, from a craft perspective, because Neil Gaiman is simply that good. 5/5 stars
The Twelfth Doctor & Fifty-One: Lights Out by Holly Black
I was hoping that this would have the same creepy, grumpy vibe as the rest of Twelve's run. Honestly. I was just hoping that this would be good. Twelve is probably my favorite of all the incarnations I've seen, and this story... did not nail his character. I like the premise of him getting distracted on a coffee run, but it's almost directly stolen from the transition between "Deep Breath" and "Into the Dalek"—and not done as well here. He talked so much and complained so little that he hardly felt like the same cantankerous character we've all grown to know and respect through his run on Who. Still, the premise was interesting and very... Doctor-y, but it needed to be pulled off in a better way, or with a better-written Doctor. 1.5/5 stars
Averaging everything, that's 3/5 stars overall. Great ideas, inconsistent quality. On the whole, not unlike the TV series of Doctor Who.
(Note: my edition was published in 2014, prior to Jodie Whitaker's casting as 13, so it doesn't contain the short story that was commissioned for her incarnation of the Doctor. For that, check out the latest edition, [b:Doctor Who: Thirteen Doctors 13 Stories|39349798|Doctor Who Thirteen Doctors 13 Stories|Naomi Alderman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1544294230l/39349798._SY75_.jpg|61003602]).
A quick story about how I came to read this compilation of short stories: I was super into Doctor Who in middle and high school, right around the time that this volume was published. Someone bought it for me thinking I'd like it, but I was so put off by the Eleventh Doctor's last season and the Twelfth Doctor's first season that I stopped watching the show entirely and thus never got to actually reading this book. When I exhausted all of the television shows I had ever heard of during the COVID-19 pandemic, I finally got back around to Doctor Who—and ended up absolutely loving Peter Capaldi's latter two seasons as the Doctor (and even kind of liked some of the episodes in his first). So I decided to take a crack at this and see how I liked it.
The First Doctor & Susan: A Big Hand for the Doctor by Eoin Colfer
I really, really wanted to like this story. Eoin Colfer is the author of some of my favorite books from when I was a kid, but the pacing was so off, the characterization of Susan was shoddy, and the premise was absurd, even for Doctor Who. But—while I can't speak to the accuracy of this characterization as I've never watched Classic Who—I did really enjoy how grumpy One was and admired how two of my favorite Doctors, Nine and Twelve, channel that energy in the revival. 1/5 stars
The Second Doctor & Jamie McCrimmon: The Nameless City by Michael Scott
This was a lot of fun! I really liked the dynamic between Jamie and Two, and this totally seemed like one of those contrived-yet-enjoyable episodes that I'd love. I hadn't realized that the Doctor had had well-written male companions in the past, and after reading this I kind of felt bad for the men of New Who who've been so horribly characterized. 5/5 stars
The Third Doctor & Jo: The Spear of Destiny by Marcus Sedgwick
This is another one of those stories that I felt was a bit contrived, which is a shame because Marcus Sedgwick is another of my favorite writers from my childhood. I think I would've liked Jo as a companion had I ever watched Classic Who, but there were parts of this story that were utterly bizarre. The Doctor drying his clothes using his body heat?? What? 3/5 stars
The Fourth Doctor & Leela: The Roots of Evil by Philip Reeve
An interesting concept, but another one where the ending wrapped up far too quickly and neatly to be believable. I liked the glimpse we got of Eleven in this story, though, and Four's reaction to him! I do have to wonder how the Doctor doesn't cross paths with his past/future incarnations more often given all the time-traveling... 2/5 stars
The Fifth Doctor & Nyssa: Tip of the Tongue by Patrick Ness
This was an interesting story, but it really didn't feature too much of the Doctor or Nyssa. It was almost as if Ness had an idea for a brilliant short story, then got the chance to write a short story for a Doctor Who anthology, and then chose to insert the Doctor in the smallest way possible. It wasn't a bad story by any means, but just not very Doctor Who-like. 3/5 stars
The Sixth Doctor & Peri: Something Borrowed by Richelle Mead
To be honest, I wasn't a big fan of the first-person narration by the companion (in this story or any of the others). Something about it just doesn't work for me, and although I liked both Peri and Six well enough, the plot seemed very clichéd, like the plot of every movie containing an evil villain and a wedding ever. I did like the glimpse we got of the Rani, a Classic Who villain who I don't think the revival ever plans on bringing back, but ultimately this story wasn't really for me. 3/5 stars
The Seventh Doctor & Ace: The Ripple Effect by Malorie Blackman
I really liked this story as it gets at some of the most interesting questions that Doctor Who poses, questions that are so vital to the character's core: hope and belief and fear and hate and whether or not to follow the laws of time. The idea of a world of friendly Daleks is something we've never seen in the TV series (or at least in New Who), and I'd really love to see this as an episode. Even if the physics part was super... not accurate (if any of the physics in Doctor Who can be described as accurate...), this was still a fun read. 4.5/5 stars
The Eighth Doctor & Evelyn Chan: Spore by Alex Scarrow
A really timely short story about a killer virus that threatens to destroy all of humanity. How fun. I'd be lying if I said that I probably enjoyed this one more because of its relevance to the current time, but I also thought that it was a very neat, very Doctor-y story, even if Evelyn Chan, a new companion, wasn't that well written. 4/5 stars
The Ninth Doctor & Ali: The Beast of Babylon by Charlie Higson
This was... not my favorite. Everything was off, from the characterization of Nine to the introduction of the new companion, to the way his relationship with Rose was described... and I'm not even sure what happened with regards to the plot?? Definitely my least favorite story in the collection. 1/5 stars
The Tenth Doctor & Martha: The Mystery of the Haunted Cottage by Derek Landy
While I wouldn't have said no to a good Donna story (although I doubt they'd have been able to pull it off without Catherine Tate there to voice it over), I'm so glad that they decided to focus on Martha with this one. She was really underutilized in the TV series, and I've always wanted to see more of her. As a fiction lover, I liked the idea of this one, but it was also one of those... more bizarre episodes of Doctor Who. Still, the characterization of Ten, right down to his vocal tics, was on the nose, and I enjoyed reading this one. 3.5/5 stars
The Eleventh Doctor & Amy: Nothing O'Clock by Neil Gaiman
Out of those covered in this collection, Eleven and Amy are my least favorite Doctor and companion, respectively. But Neil Gaiman is just a fantastic writer, and even though his TV scripts fell flat, I'm glad they gave him the chance to do this story. This read just like an episode of Who, and he clearly studied the relationship between Eleven and Amy and wrote it perfectly. This easily the best short story of the lot, from a craft perspective, because Neil Gaiman is simply that good. 5/5 stars
The Twelfth Doctor & Fifty-One: Lights Out by Holly Black
I was hoping that this would have the same creepy, grumpy vibe as the rest of Twelve's run. Honestly. I was just hoping that this would be good. Twelve is probably my favorite of all the incarnations I've seen, and this story... did not nail his character. I like the premise of him getting distracted on a coffee run, but it's almost directly stolen from the transition between "Deep Breath" and "Into the Dalek"—and not done as well here. He talked so much and complained so little that he hardly felt like the same cantankerous character we've all grown to know and respect through his run on Who. Still, the premise was interesting and very... Doctor-y, but it needed to be pulled off in a better way, or with a better-written Doctor. 1.5/5 stars
Averaging everything, that's 3/5 stars overall. Great ideas, inconsistent quality. On the whole, not unlike the TV series of Doctor Who.
(Note: my edition was published in 2014, prior to Jodie Whitaker's casting as 13, so it doesn't contain the short story that was commissioned for her incarnation of the Doctor. For that, check out the latest edition, [b:Doctor Who: Thirteen Doctors 13 Stories|39349798|Doctor Who Thirteen Doctors 13 Stories|Naomi Alderman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1544294230l/39349798._SY75_.jpg|61003602]).
fancyfroggie's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.75