Book Review: Into The Nowhere

Author: Jenny T. Colgan
Title: Into The Nowhere
Publisher: Random House UK
Publish Date: Jan 16 2014
Buy: Amazon

Review Copy Provided By: Net Galley
Book Blurb: 

Time Trips – groundbreaking Doctor Who adventures by some of the most respected writers in the Universe. Short stories that are bigger on the inside…

The Eleventh Doctor and Clara land on an unknown alien planet. To the Doctor’s delight and Clara’s astonishment, it really is unknown. It’s a planet the Doctor has never seen. It’s not on any maps, it’s not referenced on any star charts or in the TARDIS data banks. It doesn’t even have a name. What could be so terrible that its existence has been erased?

Review: Jenny Colgan definitely has The Eleventh Doctor down. I was glad that this time, she wrote a story with current companion, Clara. I liked that it was obvious that this story took place after The Day Of The Doctor. There were a lot of references to things in the past, particularly K-9 at the very beginning of the story.

I also liked how when they landed on the "Nowhere" planet...aka "Anthony" she referenced Gallifrey too. Jenny kept with canon quite a bit. Even the fez attempts to make an appearance. It wouldn't be 11 without the fez!

I was intrigued by the planet and the strange skeleton inhabitants. I will say, these Time Trips are entirely too short to get a really good story on, especially in the sci-fi genre. So the story does feel a bit rushed, but thankfully it does feel like a Doctor Who episode, which is what most people are looking for when there are several months to go before we get a new season. (Plus it is nice to have 11 even if it is only in short story form).

One of the nice things about Jenny's story is how well she brings Clara to life. Clara is one of the most undeveloped companions in New Who, and though this was just a short story, I felt like I knew her better.

Jenny also makes this story touching, as the Doctor saves the planet in a round about way, and though you never know what the planet really is, you have an idea by the time you get to the end. (What with all the apples, snakes and knowledge references) Definitely one of the best time trip stories!

Rating: 4 flowers

TLC Book Tours Book Review: Dark Horizons

Author: Jenny T. Colgan
Title:Doctor Who: Dark Horizons
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: BBC Books (August 13, 2013)
Buy: Amazon

Book Blurb: “Now, you may or may not have noticed, but we appear to be on fire…” On a windswept northern shore, at the very tip of what will one day become Scotland, the islanders believe the worst they have to fear is a Viking attack. Then the burning comes. They cannot run from it. Water will not stop it. It consumes everything in its path – yet the burned still speak. The Doctor is just looking for a game on the famous Lewis chess set. Instead he encounters a people under attack from a power they cannot possibly understand. They have no weapons, no strategy and no protection against a fire sent to engulf them all. Add in some marauding Vikings with very bad timing, a kidnapped princess with a secret of her own and a TARDIS that seems to have developed an inexplicable fear of water, and they all have a battle on their hands. The islanders must take on a ruthless alien force in a world without technology; without communications; without tea that isn’t made out of bark. Still at least they have the Doctor on their side… Don’t they? A thrilling new adventure starring the Doctor, as played by Matt Smith in the acclaimed Doctor Who series from BBC Television.

Review: Wooo hee ooooo

Oh wait..just listen



You can't start any discussion of Doctor Who without the theme playing in your head.

So let the episode begin. Jenny Colgan has given us a companionless story, or at least companionless in the vein that the 11th Doctor doesn't have The Ponds or Clara (in any of her incarnations) with him on this adventure.

This book is perfect for those of us waiting for the next episode to air. (And it allows us to have some extra time with the 11th Doctor before he regenerates)

The writing seems geared for a younger audience, which can be distracting for older fans who are possibly expecting something more grown up.

The Doctor finds himself in Viking times. You get Viking warriors, island people that want no parts of them and a princess that would rather be on her way to Valhalla. Oh and don't forget a fire-like alien that is burning up animals and humans alike.

The Doctor Who geek in me was trying to figure out where in his timeline this story occurred, because the the TARDIS under water thing was dealt with in the episode Cold War in part two of series 7 with Clara as the companion...

But I'm not going to nit pick. Jenny really had Matt's Doctor spot on...and I loved one scene where he envisions his former self with K-9. Big sigh there. I also love his interaction with Luag. From the very beginning, 11 has had a way with children, and I loved that Jenny kept that up here.

The budding romance between Henrik and Freydis was a nice touch and something done well by Jenny who usually writes some awesome chicklit.

This is what Doctor Who is all about. I could easily envision this book as an episode. It was fun and fast paced and Jenny has Matt Smith's Doctor down perfectly. (I only wish Amy and Rory had been with him)

If you are a Who fan (like me) you'll gobble up the story and all the others too

Rating: 4 flowers