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jtcmedia's review
3.0
I thought that a lot of the characters matched the same ones from Jon Pertwee's story of Inferno. If you keep that story in mind, you will see some striking similarities.
connorwhittl3's review
3.0
Concise thoughts of a Who Fan going through the classic stories.
As a DW story: 7/10
Interesting plot, with a lot of great moments espesially those involving the Doctor and Jamie.
The antagonist in this episode is unique, threatening and felt genuinely quite menacing.
Compared to the Screen: - I haven't seen the particular episodes this book is based on, but believe that the chemistry and feel of the trio was captured amazingly.
Non-Who Perspective - 3/10
This segment refers more to, 'could somebody jump into the series here, and if they did how would it be perceived.'
I feel this story relies heavily on the moments between the trio, which are really emphasised by all their past adventures together. Readers without that context would like miss out.
As a DW story: 7/10
Interesting plot, with a lot of great moments espesially those involving the Doctor and Jamie.
The antagonist in this episode is unique, threatening and felt genuinely quite menacing.
Compared to the Screen: - I haven't seen the particular episodes this book is based on, but believe that the chemistry and feel of the trio was captured amazingly.
Non-Who Perspective - 3/10
This segment refers more to, 'could somebody jump into the series here, and if they did how would it be perceived.'
I feel this story relies heavily on the moments between the trio, which are really emphasised by all their past adventures together. Readers without that context would like miss out.
felinity's review
3.0
3.5 stars
Definitely old-school, Monster of the Week variety! The Second Doctor (Patrick Troughton), accompanied by Jamie and Victoria, has arrived on a beach with some very strange seaweed... and people in strange suits. Naturally they soon find themselves in mortal peril, and struggling to find allies (or at least people who will believe them) while figuring out exactly how strange this seaweed monster is.
This is also Victoria's last trip with the Doctor.
Definitely old-school, Monster of the Week variety! The Second Doctor (Patrick Troughton), accompanied by Jamie and Victoria, has arrived on a beach with some very strange seaweed... and people in strange suits. Naturally they soon find themselves in mortal peril, and struggling to find allies (or at least people who will believe them) while figuring out exactly how strange this seaweed monster is.
Spoiler
There was one moment where I was wondering, "Why on earth doesn't he use his sonic screwdriver??!" and then realized it didn't exist yet. I know some people think this is the first episode in which it appears, but seriously - he uses something the size of an old microchip. That's not at all the same thing.This is also Victoria's last trip with the Doctor.
nwhyte's review
http://nhw.livejournal.com/982106.html[return][return]I admit I found the original story a bit lacking; since then, however, I've seen the few surviving clips on the "Lost In Time" DVD and it really does look much better than it sounded. Also, in the context of a Doctor Who which was moving more to contemporary England as a setting, it makes more sense; it is a successful (and maybe in some ways better) prototype for some of the Pertwee stories. (Drilling-awakes-ancient-enemy of course goes back to Lovecraft and before, but reappears in Who in Inferno and The Power of Kroll at least.)[return][return]Anyway, the book is OK, and as you can see has prompted me to re-evaluate the original story, but it is not a great work of literature. As with too many of the Target novelisations, it is mostly narrated as if the author were simply writing down what is visible on the TV screen, and Pemberton's occasional excursions into tight third are actually jarring and often unsuccessful. The Doctor and companions get apparently killed so often that it loses dramatic impact (and this occasionally calls forth thunderously bad prose, citing for instance pp 129-130). On the other hand, the book does make more sense than the original story and fills in some of the plot gaps and backgrounds to the characters, and Victoria's decision to depart is decently foreshadowed. And the monster, as so often, is more convincing on the printed page. So I don't regret buying it.
haunted_air's review
4.0
I think this is the best Target novelization that I read so far. Not that I read many but still, this is very good. It's creepy, gives more insight to the characters, there are nice moments of this Tardis Team (one I really love). It's a shame the original version of this story is missing. The BBC audio version of is a good way of experiencing it.
It ends with a heartfelt goodbye to Victoria and sets up her exit nicely, you get why she wanted to leave, no matter how much she cares for Jamie and the Doctor and likes spending time with them, she had enough of life threatening dangers and terrifying creatures. I love that the Doctor gives her space to make up her mind and doesn't try to convince her to stay.
Victoria is a very interesting companion in this sense because she was never someone to seek adventures and gives them up for a "normal" life. Also, companions in the classic era of the show don't always get this much attention in their last story and the reason behind their departure tends to come a bit out of nowhere. With Victoria, it's consistent with her character: she joined the Tardis because she had nowhere else to go, so when she gets a chance to settle down, she takes it. I feel she often gets dismissed for not being brave but this is why I like her, she's often terrified but still tries her best despite her fear.
It ends with a heartfelt goodbye to Victoria and sets up her exit nicely, you get why she wanted to leave, no matter how much she cares for Jamie and the Doctor and likes spending time with them, she had enough of life threatening dangers and terrifying creatures. I love that the Doctor gives her space to make up her mind and doesn't try to convince her to stay.
Victoria is a very interesting companion in this sense because she was never someone to seek adventures and gives them up for a "normal" life. Also, companions in the classic era of the show don't always get this much attention in their last story and the reason behind their departure tends to come a bit out of nowhere. With Victoria, it's consistent with her character: she joined the Tardis because she had nowhere else to go, so when she gets a chance to settle down, she takes it. I feel she often gets dismissed for not being brave but this is why I like her, she's often terrified but still tries her best despite her fear.
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