AS part of the ongoing 50th anniversary celebrations for Doctor Who, BBC books have issued three new adventures in book form featuring the Eleventh Doctor as portrayed by Matt Smith.
The Dalek Generation by Nicholas Briggs.
Plague of the Cybermen by Justin Richards.
Shroud of Sorrow by Tommy Donbavand.
As the voice of the Daleks on the TV series, and Executive Producer of the Big Finish Dr Who audio dramas, Nicholas Briggs has been involved with the franchise since 1999 and his expertise shows in this story.
Set on Sunlight 349, a world in the Dalek Foundation, the Daleks are seen by the population as saviours and a force for good.
When The Doctor arrives in response to a psychic message, he immediately senses that something isn’t right.
Having also rescued three children from the Daleks’ clutches, the Doctor has to try and get to the bottom of what exactly his greatest enemy is up to.
Justin Richard’s Plague of the Cybermen again has The Doctor alone.
He arrives in the 19th century village of Kilmtenburg where there appears to a some sort of plague affecting the villagers, the dead walk again and there is the legend of the Plague Warriors.
In the tunnels beneath the nearby castle, all becomes clear as the Doctor yet again goes into battle against one of his oldest adversaries.
Shroud of Sorrow teams the Doctor with his latest TV assistant, Clara Oswald – as played by Jenna-Louise Coleman.
It’s the day after President Kennedy’s assassination and people are seeing their dead loved ones wherever they go.
In Dallas itself, The Doctor, Clara, FBI agent Skeet and reporter Mae Callon join forces with a team of clowns to fight against the Shroud, a being that feeds off sorrow.
As well as being uncomplicated and therefore rollicking good stories, the three books introduce us to the ‘new’ Eleventh Doctor; someone who wants to be left alone, but can’t resist getting involved.
The plots move at a brisk pace and the characterisations are excellent.
Donbavand’s book in particular is superb, with a moving tribute to Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart and the Doctor hinting that something special is happening at tea-time in the UK the day after the most famous assassination in modern history.
Published by BBC Books on 11th April 2013.
ISBN Numbers:
The Dalek Generation by Nicholas Briggs: 978-1-849-90575-6
Plague of the Cybermen by Justin Richards: 978-1-849-90574-9
Shroud of Sorrow by Tommy Donbavand: 978-1-849-90576-3
Martin Hutchinson
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