Does what it says on the tin!
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I think it is important to note that this is not intended to be an epic tale but simply a quick read. At merely 100 pages (large font at that) readers will polish this off in no time.
That aside the plot content is perfectly acceptable providing a fast, fun Doctor Who adventure against that classic mechanised menace - the Cybermen. A bargain at less than two pounds.
The book ties up the slight continuity issue that some Cybermen were created on earth and had therefore never travelled through the void so would not have been sucked into the void at the end of the 2nd season. This story deals with a small Cyber-contingent that were left behind.
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Another brilliant Doctor Who Quick-Read from Terrance Dicks
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Barcode: 9781846073724
In 2007 Terrance Dicks provided us Who fans with the ace 'Made Of Steel' - it was well paced, fun and exciting - everything a good Doctor Who story should be. And now we have 'Revenge of the Judoon', which if anything, is even better!
Set in 1902 at the dawn of the 20th century the Doctor and Martha get to meet King Edward VII in the form of a ace adventure taking the form of the classic Who scenario - psuedo-historical setting where advanced technology is being involved way before its time.
It's a great idea updated very well. Martha is utilised well and Terrance Dicks has toned down the slight cheesiness of the 10th Doctor found in 'Made of Steel' and he now comes across as a far more serious character, befitting of his title as a Time Lord. The supporting roles are really well done too, Captain Harry Carruthers, a man in the employ of the King stepping in to fill one of those crucial 'one-off-companion-esque' roles.
This is a very fast story, taking place on an epic global scale going from Scotland to London to the Middle East all in the space of a day. But where Dicks succeeds is boiling this epic scale down to tightly paced dialogue and snappy action scenes where we see our heroes forced to make fast decisions in order to save the day.
My only criticisms would be in the title of the book itself. The Judoon are neither the main 'villains' in this story and while their upwards-rain-building-transport technology appears early on, they themselves don't appear till much later. For a story called 'Revenge of the Judoon', they neither do much revenge or even feature in the story that much.
That said though, it's only a minor quibble and on the whole this is a fantastic book, quick to read and at a great price too. Well worth getting!
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A decent quick read
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Yes, Terrance Dicks is still out there, still writing Doctor Who novels; this is in the BBC's £1.99 "quick reads" series. The Doctor and Martha get mixed up with a remnant cell of Cybermen (left over from "Doomsday") and also deal with thick and uncomprehending military types. Dicks makes a valiant effort to catch the Tenth Doctor's character, and on the whole succeeds, with only a few passages which I thought too reminiscent of the Third Doctor of Dicks' novelisations.
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Steel yourself for a cracking mini-adventure!
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As an English teacher I am well aware of the barrage of criticism aimed at the literacy levels of many of today's children. What you have here is a superb range of stories that waste little time on preamble but plunge the reader instantly into the story and then keep them hooked right to the end. The new series of Doctor Who has thrown up a range of publications that even rival the golden era of the Target novelisations; the 'Quick Reads' range are just one example of these. Following on from 'I am a Dalek' this entry into the series once again pits The Doctor and Martha against the remorseless men from Mondas and delivers a fast-paced yet intelligent tale that admirably mirrors the current TV series. There is now a 'Doctor Who' reading club at my school and they are eagerly awaiting the return of the Judoon in the next Quick Read...
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Remember, it's a Quick Read
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I think it's worth remembering that this is a 'quick read' which is generally aimed at encouraging kids to read or a few adults when they have the time. For example, I read half of this book in bed last night and I'll no doubt read the other half tonight. For £1.99, you can't really fault that.
With that in mind, yes it is short, but then it is meant to be and i felt that I was reading a 10th Doctor and Martha story. It reminded me somewhat of the 'Short Trips' books that have previously been published for the preceding Doctors. The author has clearly watched enough of Tennant's episodes to know who he's writing about and how to write him.
So far, I've found the story easy to follow, easy to read and it has left me wanting to know what's about to happen.. and that in my mind, is a brilliant foundation for a good book.
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