Scan barcode
prof_chronotis's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Wonderful adaptation, Gareth Roberts did a fine job of maintaining the Douglas Adams vibe.
bogirita's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
tamararama's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
jclermont's review against another edition
5.0
So much fun. Perfect depiction of the fourth doctor and retaining the humor of Douglas Adams. Great read!
showell's review against another edition
4.0
Shada opens with a visit to Cambridge University in England, where a young scientist hoping to impress a potential girlfriend borrows an unusual book from one of his professors. The book, of course, turns out to be an ancient Time Lord Artifact, and the usual Fourth Doctor high jinks and almost-universe-ending chaos ensue. It's a fun read that feels very true to the Tom Baker version of the original TV show.
See my full review at my book blog: BostonWriters: Book Review Round-up: October 2019 Edition.
See my full review at my book blog: BostonWriters: Book Review Round-up: October 2019 Edition.
michidoc's review against another edition
4.0
Dire che sono una Whovian, chi mi conosce lo sa, è riduttivo. La mia conoscenza delle serie classiche non è buona: ho tutta la teoria ma mi manca la pratica, ovvero ho nozione di chi è cosa ma non ho visto le puntate. Tom Baker in ogni caso è un gran signore oggi che è un anziano vecchietto, e quando era un giovane quarantenne tutto occhi, tutto capelli, tutto sorrisone e tutta sciarpa, era anche splendido (sotto tanti aspetti, non parlo certo di estetica). Stiamo poi parlando di Douglas Adams, di cui ahimè ancora non mi sono letta niente ma di cui ho visto l'adattamento in film della Guida Galattica per Autostoppisti. Gareth Roberts, che è uno sceneggiatore molto bravo, ha fatto un lavoro sapiente nel riprendere il materiale lasciato da Douglas Adams e ha creato un'avventura interessante, divertente, piena di colpi di scena e anche di drama, in uno stile scorrevole e accattivante. Shada è un gioiellino e andrebbe letto da ogni fan del Dottore e di Douglas Adams, e soprattutto da chi è entrambe le cose!
Ricordatevi l'asciugamano!
Ricordatevi l'asciugamano!
riverstills's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
kilgoretroutsky's review against another edition
4.0
Wherein the Universe is doomed, tea is served almost too frequently even by British standards, and the Doctor brings a spaceship to multiple orgasms...
I picked this book up for no reason other than Douglas Adams' name emblazoned on the cover. It's one of his Dr Who stories that, due to the strike, never made it to air. And at this point in my life, I was glad to see his name again. I read the Hitchhiker books straight through years ago, same with the Dirk Gently ones, and I was missing his humor something terrible. So, when I was idly browsing in a bookstore months ago, I picked it up without a second thought. Even though not exactly a Douglas Adams novel, it was enough for me.
Gareth Roberts did a commendable job here. He had a lot of material going in, what with the original scripts and Adams' notes, but it has to be said that connecting the dots left behind and the fact he was able to piece it all together to turn it into something that read like Adams was a hell of thing to pull off. It was all there: the humor, the improbability, and the way you were left wishing you could spend just a few more pages with these characters once the story ended. And that was what Douglas Adams was always good at. That's what all enjoyable stories are good at.
Was it the greatest science fiction novel ever written? Well, no, but it was damn fun. And sometimes, that's enough.
I picked this book up for no reason other than Douglas Adams' name emblazoned on the cover. It's one of his Dr Who stories that, due to the strike, never made it to air. And at this point in my life, I was glad to see his name again. I read the Hitchhiker books straight through years ago, same with the Dirk Gently ones, and I was missing his humor something terrible. So, when I was idly browsing in a bookstore months ago, I picked it up without a second thought. Even though not exactly a Douglas Adams novel, it was enough for me.
Gareth Roberts did a commendable job here. He had a lot of material going in, what with the original scripts and Adams' notes, but it has to be said that connecting the dots left behind and the fact he was able to piece it all together to turn it into something that read like Adams was a hell of thing to pull off. It was all there: the humor, the improbability, and the way you were left wishing you could spend just a few more pages with these characters once the story ended. And that was what Douglas Adams was always good at. That's what all enjoyable stories are good at.
Was it the greatest science fiction novel ever written? Well, no, but it was damn fun. And sometimes, that's enough.
jadziadax's review against another edition
5.0
always wary of tv tie-in novels, but this was so FUN! Just fun and a bit like a hot of tea - comforting and cozy. Thanks to Brierly for buddy reading!
dantastic's review against another edition
4.0
The Doctor and Romana receive a mysterious distress signal, leading them to Cambridge University, home of The Doctor's old friend and fellow Time Lord, Professor Chronotis. Chronotis inadvertantly lets a Time Lord artifact, a book entitled The Worshipful and Ancient Law of Gallifrey, pass into the hands of a clueless young student. Unfortunately, an egomanic called Skagra also has designs on the book and will do anything to get it. Can The Doctor find the book, stop Skagra's nefarious scheme, and unearth the secrets of Shada?
I have a confession to make. Before getting hooked on the adventures of the eleventh Doctor and began backtracking, my only exposure to Doctor Who was on Sunday nights, waiting through Pertwee and Baker episodes for Red Dwarf to come on. I've since mended my ways.
I recently read [b:Doctor Who: The Coming of the Terraphiles|8454751|Doctor Who The Coming of the Terraphiles|Michael Moorcock|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327112317s/8454751.jpg|13318865] and was disappointed with it despite it having been written by Michael Moorcock. I'm happy to say that this one was loads better.
Crafted from mostly unfilmed [a:Douglas Adams|4|Douglas Adams|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1189120061p2/4.jpg]'s scripts, Shada is the tale of three Time Lords against a man with a sphere capable of absorbing people's minds. Skagra, the villain, manages to be simultaneously menacing and somewhat ridiculous. From his first appearance at the Think Tank, Skagra presents a capable threat to the Doctor. The subplots involing the unspoken feeling between the grad students, Clare and Chris, as well as Professor Chronotis and his place in the secret history of the Time Lords, kept things from being The Doctor running from enemies on every other page.
The meaning of the title, Shada, is only revealed about 75% of the way through. I don't want to spoil anything but I would love to see Shada depicted in a future Doctor Who episode. I guess I'll have to settle for watching Tom Baker's run as the fourth Doctor.
The writing was very engaging. There were tastes of Adams' style throughout but without as much absurdity as the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. The Guide was even mentioned once in the text. References to past and future Doctor Who episodes were littered throughout, even mentioning edible ballbearings. I loved when Roberts had the Doctor poke fun at his supposed reliance on the Sonic Screwdriver. "I'm about to not rely on it for everything again in a moment" or something to that effect.
In conclusion, Shada is everything Coming of the Terraphiles wasn't. There's plenty of the Doctor and the Sonic Screwdriver gets a fair amount of use. While there is a lot of the Doctor and companions running from enemies, there's a good amount of humor and dramatic tension as well. I wouldn't say it's a must read for Doctor Who fans but it's a lot of fun.
I have a confession to make. Before getting hooked on the adventures of the eleventh Doctor and began backtracking, my only exposure to Doctor Who was on Sunday nights, waiting through Pertwee and Baker episodes for Red Dwarf to come on. I've since mended my ways.
I recently read [b:Doctor Who: The Coming of the Terraphiles|8454751|Doctor Who The Coming of the Terraphiles|Michael Moorcock|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327112317s/8454751.jpg|13318865] and was disappointed with it despite it having been written by Michael Moorcock. I'm happy to say that this one was loads better.
Crafted from mostly unfilmed [a:Douglas Adams|4|Douglas Adams|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1189120061p2/4.jpg]'s scripts, Shada is the tale of three Time Lords against a man with a sphere capable of absorbing people's minds. Skagra, the villain, manages to be simultaneously menacing and somewhat ridiculous. From his first appearance at the Think Tank, Skagra presents a capable threat to the Doctor. The subplots involing the unspoken feeling between the grad students, Clare and Chris, as well as Professor Chronotis and his place in the secret history of the Time Lords, kept things from being The Doctor running from enemies on every other page.
The meaning of the title, Shada, is only revealed about 75% of the way through. I don't want to spoil anything but I would love to see Shada depicted in a future Doctor Who episode. I guess I'll have to settle for watching Tom Baker's run as the fourth Doctor.
The writing was very engaging. There were tastes of Adams' style throughout but without as much absurdity as the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. The Guide was even mentioned once in the text. References to past and future Doctor Who episodes were littered throughout, even mentioning edible ballbearings. I loved when Roberts had the Doctor poke fun at his supposed reliance on the Sonic Screwdriver. "I'm about to not rely on it for everything again in a moment" or something to that effect.
In conclusion, Shada is everything Coming of the Terraphiles wasn't. There's plenty of the Doctor and the Sonic Screwdriver gets a fair amount of use. While there is a lot of the Doctor and companions running from enemies, there's a good amount of humor and dramatic tension as well. I wouldn't say it's a must read for Doctor Who fans but it's a lot of fun.