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cameron_cassidy's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
baileyreid37's review
2.0
All one star other than Suspicious Minds by Jacqueline Rayner, which was 4 stars.
wirsindgefangene's review against another edition
4.0
Happiness in book form ♡
Some stories were better than others of course but it's a must read for River Song fans.
Some stories were better than others of course but it's a must read for River Song fans.
iphigenie72's review against another edition
3.0
Most of the stories included in this are very entertaining and this is definitely worth the read especially if you are, like me, a huge River Song fan.
I've made notes reading this (I hardly ever do this, but I knew I would have so much to say), but I will be very good hiding my spoilers because that's the first thing that really got me into River, that she is the spoiler free girl, I try to be just like her on that level though reading Doctor Who Magazine religiously, I sometime get a little more spoiled than I would like.
Picnic at Asgard by Jenny T. Colgan. 2 stars.
I was very disappointed in this story, I thought it was predictable and what is most on River's mind is something I don't think the character would ever entertain to begin with. It has the wrong energy to it, it just doesn't feel like River or the Doctor.
Suspicious Minds by Jacqueline Rayner. 5 stars.
I was expecting a lot from this, I just love Jacqueline's column in DWM and her sense of humor does so often reflect mine; I was not disappointed this was my favorite of the whole book! The tone is just right, this really feel like River and the Doctor at their most funny, witty selves. One of the traditional enemy is given and entire different angle than usual here and I loved that (see how good I am in not spoiling you even though that enemy's race is named in the first page of this short story). I loved how events in Doctor Who's timeline are referred to in a casual way. The story takes the time to establish the characters before putting them in jeopardy. This was just perfect, this one would have been worth the price all on its own.
A Gamble with Time by Steve Lyons. 4 stars.
Its nice to have River more on her own, making the big decisions. I thought this story had a nice rhythm. The concept is not new, but it is well executed. I defy you to not fall in love with the hero, you'll know by the end who I mean, I was misty eyed after reading this one.
Death in New Venice by Guy Adam. 3 stars.
The River here made me think a lot about the one in The Husbands of River Song, a lot harder, knowing what has to be done. I thought the story intriguing, enjoyable, not knowing exactly what was going on for a while, but a coherent explanation. I have to quote this little gem about diary writing : "I haven't got time for all this damn dialogue, besides I'm paraphrasing like hell, if I could remember what she said, word for word, my memory would be so brilliant I wouldn't need a diary." ... and that's the truth about journal writing!!!
River of Time by Andrew Lane. 3 stars.
We get to see River has an archaeologist!!! There's also a pure alien threat which River has to defeat all on her own, but she shows us how clever she can be. Very fun.
I'm so glad to have bought this, I just think any River fan will love it too. Now, I need to listen to The Diary of River Song, series 1 by Big Finish, I'm sure that's gonna be a blast too!
Have fun and... run.
I've made notes reading this (I hardly ever do this, but I knew I would have so much to say), but I will be very good hiding my spoilers because that's the first thing that really got me into River, that she is the spoiler free girl, I try to be just like her on that level though reading Doctor Who Magazine religiously, I sometime get a little more spoiled than I would like.
Picnic at Asgard by Jenny T. Colgan. 2 stars.
I was very disappointed in this story, I thought it was predictable and what is most on River's mind is something I don't think the character would ever entertain to begin with. It has the wrong energy to it, it just doesn't feel like River or the Doctor.
Spoiler
I guess what doesn't serve this story is that The Girl Who Died has Vikings in it and the episode played not so long before the release of this book even though I'm pretty sure the writing of the short story must have been already done with when the episode aired. I also feel like the comments on teenagers it made were the usual and it was too easy to know who the culprit was. The other thing that bothered me, a lot, was it took a marvellous moment River mentions in the Silence in the Library / Forest of the Dead two-parter and made it just blah, nothing special when I think it had to be much more than what is portrayed here.Suspicious Minds by Jacqueline Rayner. 5 stars.
I was expecting a lot from this, I just love Jacqueline's column in DWM and her sense of humor does so often reflect mine; I was not disappointed this was my favorite of the whole book! The tone is just right, this really feel like River and the Doctor at their most funny, witty selves. One of the traditional enemy is given and entire different angle than usual here and I loved that (see how good I am in not spoiling you even though that enemy's race is named in the first page of this short story). I loved how events in Doctor Who's timeline are referred to in a casual way. The story takes the time to establish the characters before putting them in jeopardy. This was just perfect, this one would have been worth the price all on its own.
A Gamble with Time by Steve Lyons. 4 stars.
Its nice to have River more on her own, making the big decisions. I thought this story had a nice rhythm. The concept
Spoiler
of time-travelling and time-loopsDeath in New Venice by Guy Adam. 3 stars.
The River here made me think a lot about the one in The Husbands of River Song, a lot harder, knowing what has to be done. I thought the story intriguing, enjoyable, not knowing exactly what was going on for a while, but a coherent explanation. I have to quote this little gem about diary writing : "I haven't got time for all this damn dialogue, besides I'm paraphrasing like hell, if I could remember what she said, word for word, my memory would be so brilliant I wouldn't need a diary." ... and that's the truth about journal writing!!!
River of Time by Andrew Lane. 3 stars.
We get to see River has an archaeologist!!! There's also a pure alien threat which River has to defeat all on her own, but she shows us how clever she can be. Very fun.
I'm so glad to have bought this, I just think any River fan will love it too. Now, I need to listen to The Diary of River Song, series 1 by Big Finish, I'm sure that's gonna be a blast too!
Have fun and... run.
dbld1369's review against another edition
5.0
I love River. Was lovely to read things from her perspective.
idgiethreadgoode's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
4.0
nwhyte's review against another edition
4.0
https://nwhyte.livejournal.com/3007892.html
I think Jacqueline Rayner has the best story here, "Suspicious Minds" featuring an Auton version of Elvis and a bunch of hints at River's own past. I also liked Jenny Colgan's "Picnic at Asgard", which fills in that particular gap in continuity, and "River of Time" by Andrew Lane which actually has River functioning as an archaeologist.
I think this collection works better than The Missy Chronicles, basically because River Song is a more interesting and more complex character.
I think Jacqueline Rayner has the best story here, "Suspicious Minds" featuring an Auton version of Elvis and a bunch of hints at River's own past. I also liked Jenny Colgan's "Picnic at Asgard", which fills in that particular gap in continuity, and "River of Time" by Andrew Lane which actually has River functioning as an archaeologist.
I think this collection works better than The Missy Chronicles, basically because River Song is a more interesting and more complex character.
alex_molly's review against another edition
4.0
I really love River Song, she is one of my favorite characters and I think that the potential of her story is huge. This book proves it.
I especially loved the last two stories, no Doctor at all, just River and the whole universe. we got to see her as Professor Song, as a time traveler and as a very interesting woman.
I especially loved the last two stories, no Doctor at all, just River and the whole universe. we got to see her as Professor Song, as a time traveler and as a very interesting woman.
ak17's review against another edition
5.0
*The doctor’s voice* Rivah!
Ah yes River. I love River. Her name, her face, her clothes and the zero chill she has.
This book is made up of five short stories written by different authors. I have always been partial to Jenny Colgan (yasss gurl, yasss) so Picnic at Asgard is naturally my favourite. I expected the Norse gods to be honest, but a theme park run by otters is so much better. I only wish that River hadn’t had that “let’s have a baby impulse”.
My second favourite was A Gamble with Time. No doctor, well, only as a plot device really. Doctor called River and asked her to take care of a stranger. For a few hours, he must not meet his past self. Easier said than done, when the doctor is in danger and the only person capable of saving him is the before mentioned stranger (you can really tell I totally forgot his name). Stranger saves him and cue a never-ending loop where one version of that man is trapped forever. Ah yes, timey wimey stuff.
The stories aren’t connected, but all the authors nailed River’s character. Some decided to bring forward her murderous tendencies and some just went and had fun. After all River allows you to have endless possibilities. Nothing is too weird for her. Nothing too extravagant and nothing she can’t turn into a sexual reference.
Oh the references. They made me sigh and throw away the book but damn it, they were great!
reader1718's review
5.0
Love it!
River Song is one of my favorite Doctor Who characters and this book was a wonderful opportunity to travel with her on many incredible adventures.
River Song is one of my favorite Doctor Who characters and this book was a wonderful opportunity to travel with her on many incredible adventures.