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93 reviews for:
Doctor Who: 12 Doctors, 12 Stories
Eoin Colfer, Charlie Higson, Richelle Mead, Alex Scarrow, Derek Landy, Holly Black, Philip Reeve, Patrick Ness, Marcus Sedgwick, Neil Gaiman, Michael Scott, Malorie Blackman
4.05 AVERAGE
93 reviews for:
Doctor Who: 12 Doctors, 12 Stories
Eoin Colfer, Charlie Higson, Richelle Mead, Alex Scarrow, Derek Landy, Holly Black, Philip Reeve, Patrick Ness, Marcus Sedgwick, Neil Gaiman, Michael Scott, Malorie Blackman
4.05 AVERAGE
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!
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"
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
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]).
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
A nice mix of stories set in the Doctor Who universe. Some stunningly good, a couple of them ok but only one I didn't like at all.
Very cool concept. As is usual with Doctor Who, some of these stories were fantastic, others not so much. Overall, a very entertaining read for any whovian.
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Most of the stories are conceptually very interesting, but can't be played out to their full potential in only ~40 pages each. All in all I'm sad to say that I had to fight my way through this book most of the time because of that, though it got a lot better in the second half. And a lot worse at the same time. It's a lottery, really.
I made little status updates after each story I read, just my raw thoughts that probably won't make a lot of sense to anyone who hasn't read the book, but I might as well include them here anyway with an additional rating for each and every one of them because I can.
Everything from here on contains SPOILERS, so don't read on if you want to experience the stories on your own.
1. "A Big Hand for the Doctor" (2/5)
A grumpy old man with no humour that only smiles for his ... granddaughter? How- Who- ... no. I don't even want to know. Also apparently the Doctor has lost his hand and grew it back one or the other way at least twice now. Lovely.
2. "The Nameless City" (2/5)
Much more likeable than the first Doctor, though his utterly scottish companion thinks he's a fairy. They fight fishpeople in glasshouses with loud bagpipe music. Exactly what I expect from Doctor Who.
3. "The Spear of Destiny" (3/5)
Te Doctor drives a car even though he has a TARDIS. He wants to steal Odin's spear, because he can I guess. A lot of exposition with only little sense between it, but at least now I know Time Lords can function as a heating system. Very useful.
4. "The Roots of Evil" (2/5)
The Doctor visits a massive treehouse floating around in space, where he almost gets executed for something the 11th Doctor did. Timey Wimey. His companion is incredibly violent, can't stand her. But K9 appears for like one sentence so all is good.
5. "Tip of the Tongue" (4/5)
These short stories are surprisingly much better when they don't follow the Doctor or his companions, but instead characters he helps. He saves a small, truth speaking alien species from its slavery by Pumpkin Squirrel Sheep Fish. Also Jonny Heftklammern is the best name I've EVER seen.
6. "Something Borrowed" (2/5)
The Doctor and his companion visit a planet with structures based on Las Vegas for a wedding they have to stop in the end because of the Rani, who apparently is yet another evil Time Lord I have never heard of before. Also there are tiny Pterodactyls flying around and attacking/kidnapping people for MONTHS and nobody even tried doing anything against them so far because whatever.
7. "The Ripple Effect" (1/5)
They get trapped in an alternate universe where Daleks are good and ladiladila, really good concept, rational and good Doctor, but that COMPANION. Oh. My GOD. I don't think I have ever seen a character asking such dumb questions, being so selfrighteous and pretentious and SELFISH like that. What an absolute airhead. This has me so irrationally angry JFC.
8. "Spore" (4/5)
Earth is being infected by an alien pathogen and naturally only the Doctor can stop it. A very dark story leaving no details to your imagination and a serious, calm and yet still witty Doctor - I love it! Compared to the last story this was a blast. Also no companion, what a delight!
9. "The Beast of Babylon" (0/5)
The Doctor has to stop planet devouring creatures and meets a new companion along the way. Now this companion knows him for like 3 seconds and can already tell him his entire lifestory because she's oh so clever and cheeky. Halfway through the story the author remembers to tell us that she's not even humanoid but an aggressive crustacean killingmachine. Also that Rose Tyler subplot was so unbelievably unnecessary.
10. "The Mystery of the Haunted Cottage" (5/5)
This. Was amazing. Very short summary, the Doctor and his companion, Martha, are trapped in a world of fiction and try to figure out what it's all about. The whole plot is so unbelievably creative. It had me laughing a few times and Doctor and Martha felt so in character it felt like watching an episode of the show.
11. "Nothing O'Clock" (4/5)
People wearing masks that don't look very convincing buy every house on earth and with that earth itself. One of those people eats a kid. Who's unconvincing now? The Doctor has to go back in time to figure out who those people, or rather this one entity is and what they...it...wants. Absolutely amazing creature design I love it...them? Whatever.
12. "Lights Out" (2/5)
In an intergalactic café where you can get the third best coffee in the universe people suddenly die – but only when the lights go out. Out of the perspective of an alien that fears the dark that is kind of interesting. But at the same time kind of dull. Also we've come to a full circle, the Doctor is a grumpy old man again.
I made little status updates after each story I read, just my raw thoughts that probably won't make a lot of sense to anyone who hasn't read the book, but I might as well include them here anyway with an additional rating for each and every one of them because I can.
Everything from here on contains SPOILERS, so don't read on if you want to experience the stories on your own.
1. "A Big Hand for the Doctor" (2/5)
A grumpy old man with no humour that only smiles for his ... granddaughter? How- Who- ... no. I don't even want to know. Also apparently the Doctor has lost his hand and grew it back one or the other way at least twice now. Lovely.
2. "The Nameless City" (2/5)
Much more likeable than the first Doctor, though his utterly scottish companion thinks he's a fairy. They fight fishpeople in glasshouses with loud bagpipe music. Exactly what I expect from Doctor Who.
3. "The Spear of Destiny" (3/5)
Te Doctor drives a car even though he has a TARDIS. He wants to steal Odin's spear, because he can I guess. A lot of exposition with only little sense between it, but at least now I know Time Lords can function as a heating system. Very useful.
4. "The Roots of Evil" (2/5)
The Doctor visits a massive treehouse floating around in space, where he almost gets executed for something the 11th Doctor did. Timey Wimey. His companion is incredibly violent, can't stand her. But K9 appears for like one sentence so all is good.
5. "Tip of the Tongue" (4/5)
These short stories are surprisingly much better when they don't follow the Doctor or his companions, but instead characters he helps. He saves a small, truth speaking alien species from its slavery by Pumpkin Squirrel Sheep Fish. Also Jonny Heftklammern is the best name I've EVER seen.
6. "Something Borrowed" (2/5)
The Doctor and his companion visit a planet with structures based on Las Vegas for a wedding they have to stop in the end because of the Rani, who apparently is yet another evil Time Lord I have never heard of before. Also there are tiny Pterodactyls flying around and attacking/kidnapping people for MONTHS and nobody even tried doing anything against them so far because whatever.
7. "The Ripple Effect" (1/5)
They get trapped in an alternate universe where Daleks are good and ladiladila, really good concept, rational and good Doctor, but that COMPANION. Oh. My GOD. I don't think I have ever seen a character asking such dumb questions, being so selfrighteous and pretentious and SELFISH like that. What an absolute airhead. This has me so irrationally angry JFC.
8. "Spore" (4/5)
Earth is being infected by an alien pathogen and naturally only the Doctor can stop it. A very dark story leaving no details to your imagination and a serious, calm and yet still witty Doctor - I love it! Compared to the last story this was a blast. Also no companion, what a delight!
9. "The Beast of Babylon" (0/5)
The Doctor has to stop planet devouring creatures and meets a new companion along the way. Now this companion knows him for like 3 seconds and can already tell him his entire lifestory because she's oh so clever and cheeky. Halfway through the story the author remembers to tell us that she's not even humanoid but an aggressive crustacean killingmachine. Also that Rose Tyler subplot was so unbelievably unnecessary.
10. "The Mystery of the Haunted Cottage" (5/5)
This. Was amazing. Very short summary, the Doctor and his companion, Martha, are trapped in a world of fiction and try to figure out what it's all about. The whole plot is so unbelievably creative. It had me laughing a few times and Doctor and Martha felt so in character it felt like watching an episode of the show.
11. "Nothing O'Clock" (4/5)
People wearing masks that don't look very convincing buy every house on earth and with that earth itself. One of those people eats a kid. Who's unconvincing now? The Doctor has to go back in time to figure out who those people, or rather this one entity is and what they...it...wants. Absolutely amazing creature design I love it...them? Whatever.
12. "Lights Out" (2/5)
In an intergalactic café where you can get the third best coffee in the universe people suddenly die – but only when the lights go out. Out of the perspective of an alien that fears the dark that is kind of interesting. But at the same time kind of dull. Also we've come to a full circle, the Doctor is a grumpy old man again.
A bit of an uneven collection, with some of the stories for earlier Doctors reading somewhat on the generic side. It does pick up the further you get into it, especially once you reach the NuWho Doctors.
Some highlights:
Patrick Ness's Fifth Doctor story, which places the Doctor and his companion in the background for most of the story and focuses on the human characters who get caught up in the latest round of alien weirdness.
Derek Landy's Tenth Doctor story sets Martha and the Doctor against bad English children's fiction and it is utterly delightful. Martha and Ten were a great pairing too frequently bogged down in the show with Ten's Rose angst and Martha's unrequited crush. This story skips all of that and glories in their banter and chemistry and it's easily my favorite.
Neil Gaiman's Eleventh Doctor story has easily the best villain of the collection in the Kin, an intensely creepy foe that I would have loved to see in an episode. This story might have been my favorite except Amy feels oddly flat in this, reduced mainly to being the shouty Scottish girl and not much else.
Holly Black's Twelfth Doctor story is Twelve at his most Twelviest, scary eyebrows and brusquely kind. I'm still mourning the loss of Peter Capaldi's Doctor despite being excited for Thirteen, so I very much appreciated this one.
Some highlights:
Patrick Ness's Fifth Doctor story, which places the Doctor and his companion in the background for most of the story and focuses on the human characters who get caught up in the latest round of alien weirdness.
Derek Landy's Tenth Doctor story sets Martha and the Doctor against bad English children's fiction and it is utterly delightful. Martha and Ten were a great pairing too frequently bogged down in the show with Ten's Rose angst and Martha's unrequited crush. This story skips all of that and glories in their banter and chemistry and it's easily my favorite.
Neil Gaiman's Eleventh Doctor story has easily the best villain of the collection in the Kin, an intensely creepy foe that I would have loved to see in an episode. This story might have been my favorite except Amy feels oddly flat in this, reduced mainly to being the shouty Scottish girl and not much else.
Holly Black's Twelfth Doctor story is Twelve at his most Twelviest, scary eyebrows and brusquely kind. I'm still mourning the loss of Peter Capaldi's Doctor despite being excited for Thirteen, so I very much appreciated this one.