You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.51 AVERAGE
4.51 AVERAGE
This book is an absolutely fascinating background story of the making of the fourth season/specials of new Doctor Who from showrunner Russell T. Davies. It's told through a series of emails and text messages between Davies and Doctor Who Magazine writer Benjamin Cook.
The exchanges are for the most part incredibly compelling, and I spent more than one night pushing off bedtime so that I could keep reading more. At times I could tell chunks of email between the two had been cut out for length, but for the most part the whole package made sense.
It is a bit of a slog at times, as the book is just huge and detailed (and I wasn't particularly invested in seeing the original screen plays), but the burning desire to know it all just kept me going. There are also a number of truly priceless quotes about writing, it's meaning and Doctor Who under Davies.
I only wish there was more about the third season of Torchwood, as it was my favorite, and the occasional references and small details felt like an immense tease. How did he settle on that overtly political plotline? Did he wrestle at all with the non-consent of Jack's grandson as the vessel to defeat the 456? But ah well, the book is billed as about Doctor Who, not Torchwood, no matter how much I wish it had been about both.
The exchanges are for the most part incredibly compelling, and I spent more than one night pushing off bedtime so that I could keep reading more. At times I could tell chunks of email between the two had been cut out for length, but for the most part the whole package made sense.
It is a bit of a slog at times, as the book is just huge and detailed (and I wasn't particularly invested in seeing the original screen plays), but the burning desire to know it all just kept me going. There are also a number of truly priceless quotes about writing, it's meaning and Doctor Who under Davies.
I only wish there was more about the third season of Torchwood, as it was my favorite, and the occasional references and small details felt like an immense tease. How did he settle on that overtly political plotline? Did he wrestle at all with the non-consent of Jack's grandson as the vessel to defeat the 456? But ah well, the book is billed as about Doctor Who, not Torchwood, no matter how much I wish it had been about both.
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
This book is like my Bible. I have never related to a process of being more than I have Russell's erratic workflow. In all my years of writing essays and failing to start novels, I have never heard someone describe exactly how I work as well as a couple of guys exchanging emails 15 years ago who have never actually met me.
Beyond this, The Writer's Tale is a style guide for my own work and correspondence, not just in the example scripts, but in how every word of every email is there for a reason, whether for pace or wit or effect. Everything can and SHOULD be well written, even 4am emails to your pal about nothing in particular. Human beings are nothing without wit and I'll never tolerate a bland email again.
Also maybe I'll finally start that Death in Heaven Target novelisation? I've been thinking about it for so long now
Beyond this, The Writer's Tale is a style guide for my own work and correspondence, not just in the example scripts, but in how every word of every email is there for a reason, whether for pace or wit or effect. Everything can and SHOULD be well written, even 4am emails to your pal about nothing in particular. Human beings are nothing without wit and I'll never tolerate a bland email again.
Also maybe I'll finally start that Death in Heaven Target novelisation? I've been thinking about it for so long now
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
funny
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
It was a pretty long book that I slowly polished off throughout my trip in Taiwan. Good thing I had a lot of time on trains and planes. I'm the kind of person who likes to listen to the dvd commentary about how they came up with something so this type of book is perfect for me, especially when it's about a show I love. Everything seems so planned when we see the final product but sometimes it's a mixture of luck, accident, and images/thoughts percolating under the surface for years
hard not to just gush over this as a Doctor Who fan, but it really is a fascinating look at the guy who revived the show
funny
informative
inspiring
relaxing
slow-paced
A perfect book for Doctor Who fans, Russell T Davies Fans, and anyone interested in the behind the scenes of how TV is made and created. I only wanted to put it down to watch many different TV shows that it provoked me to understand in an entirely different way.
A fabulous insight is all I can really say. Took me a while to read, but I loved it.
I almost gave it 4 stars because I never thought it would end but I enjoyed it far too much for it to deserve that! As a Doctor Who fan, it was so interesting to read all the secrets, behind the scenes info and the ideas that never made it. What was also interesting was Russell T's writing process; would never have thought he goes through all the same motions of not starting, staying up all night and procrastinating as me! I can't believe I didn't read this book sooner. it made me laugh a lot and has taught me so much about writing, Doctor Who and life in general.