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scampr 's review for:
Doctor Who: The Last Dodo
by Jacqueline Rayner
adventurous
challenging
funny
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I've noted before that the 10th Doctor and Martha have a really great track record when it comes to the novels, and that trend continues here. At it's core this story is pretty solid and typical, but it has some really great and unique ideas and features that elevate it into something more special.
One of these is the framing device that pops up throughout, which is essentially Martha journaling some of her experiences and thoughts. This enhances Martha as a character, giving us a deeper insight into what she's feeling and thinking about things going on, developing her dynamic with the Doctor, and the shift in perspective really freshens up the reading experience/pacing.
The decision to do this also feels really appropriate given the ethical/moral questions this story wants to explore.
While the concept of a space/future zoo isn't exactly a new idea, it also isn't incredibly common and makes for a good base premise. The sci-fi ideas at play are cool, even encroaching on silly at times but it all works under the rompy tone of the story. The exploration of poaching, black markets, ecological conservation and animal exploitation/captivity are handled generally well and provides some interesting substance behind the adventure of it all.
Another special aspect of this book is the zoology device that Martha uses. This pops up between chapters, giving us facts about certain animals and how many she's seen, all updating chronologically with the events of the story. It's a really fun and rewarding structural feature which links nicely to the extra focus Martha has.
The Doctor and especially Martha are (as usual) are the standouts here, along with the titular dodo! The other characters are decent all round - and the story is good but nothing unexpected - however these both serve as a solid foundation for the special touches, resulting in a story that is greater than the sum of its parts.
One of these is the framing device that pops up throughout, which is essentially Martha journaling some of her experiences and thoughts. This enhances Martha as a character, giving us a deeper insight into what she's feeling and thinking about things going on, developing her dynamic with the Doctor, and the shift in perspective really freshens up the reading experience/pacing.
The decision to do this also feels really appropriate given the ethical/moral questions this story wants to explore.
While the concept of a space/future zoo isn't exactly a new idea, it also isn't incredibly common and makes for a good base premise. The sci-fi ideas at play are cool, even encroaching on silly at times but it all works under the rompy tone of the story. The exploration of poaching, black markets, ecological conservation and animal exploitation/captivity are handled generally well and provides some interesting substance behind the adventure of it all.
Another special aspect of this book is the zoology device that Martha uses. This pops up between chapters, giving us facts about certain animals and how many she's seen, all updating chronologically with the events of the story. It's a really fun and rewarding structural feature which links nicely to the extra focus Martha has.
The Doctor and especially Martha are (as usual) are the standouts here, along with the titular dodo! The other characters are decent all round - and the story is good but nothing unexpected - however these both serve as a solid foundation for the special touches, resulting in a story that is greater than the sum of its parts.