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A review by kandicez
Doctor Who: Dead of Winter by James Goss
3.0
This story is told through letters, journal entries and memories, so the point of view is continually changing. It took quite a lot of pages to get used to the narrative. Longer than it should have, I thought. Then about halfway through the book something is revealed that makes you want to go back and re-read the first half. Kudos to Goss for this twist, I just wish he could have delivered it in a more straightforward way.
This was definitely a proper Doctor story. He is the reluctant hero, who at times seems to be almost cruel. Later when we look back we see that his possible cruelty is simply kindness that we were unable to see or understand at the time. Smith's 11th Doctor was captured on the page perfectly. I doubted at first, but that middle of the book twist solidified Goss' handle on the character.
Amy and Rory were equally presented as themselves. I was torn, though, because despite getting their characters and personalities correct, Goss made a few continuity errors that I found almost unforgivable as a Who-vian. For instance, he has Rory remembering an interaction with Amy's father. WTF? And the memory occurred (supposedly) when they were adults. I didn't misunderstand, either, because I went back and read the surrounding pages to be certain this wasn't some of the witchery involved in the plot twist. Nope. Just poor research, editing, whatever. There were a few other notable discrepancies as well, but I'll leave it at one example.
The "alien" in this novel was equally Doctor worthy. Often we encounter "other" and see it as evil, out to destroy the planet or race, when in reality they are simply too alien for us to understand their motives. Thank goodness the Doctor understands for us and explains it all.
Overall it was an enjoyable read with a great twist.
This was definitely a proper Doctor story. He is the reluctant hero, who at times seems to be almost cruel. Later when we look back we see that his possible cruelty is simply kindness that we were unable to see or understand at the time. Smith's 11th Doctor was captured on the page perfectly. I doubted at first, but that middle of the book twist solidified Goss' handle on the character.
Amy and Rory were equally presented as themselves. I was torn, though, because despite getting their characters and personalities correct, Goss made a few continuity errors that I found almost unforgivable as a Who-vian. For instance, he has Rory remembering an interaction with Amy's father. WTF? And the memory occurred (supposedly) when they were adults. I didn't misunderstand, either, because I went back and read the surrounding pages to be certain this wasn't some of the witchery involved in the plot twist. Nope. Just poor research, editing, whatever. There were a few other notable discrepancies as well, but I'll leave it at one example.
The "alien" in this novel was equally Doctor worthy. Often we encounter "other" and see it as evil, out to destroy the planet or race, when in reality they are simply too alien for us to understand their motives. Thank goodness the Doctor understands for us and explains it all.
Overall it was an enjoyable read with a great twist.