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11th out of 126 books
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32 voters
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Doctor Who: Beautiful Chaos (New Series Adventures #29)
by
Gary Russell
Donna Noble is back home in London, catching up with her family and generally giving them all the gossip about her journeys. Her grandfather is especially overjoyed - he's discovered a new star and had it named after him. He takes the Doctor, as his special guest, to the naming ceremony. But, the Doctor is suspicious about some of the other changes he can see in Earth's he...more
Hardcover, 256 pages
Published
January 9th 2009
by Random House UK
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Gary Russell has a problem (some would say) with continuity. He enjoys it too much and liberally doses his stories with things most readers aren't even aware of, including elements from other novels, comic strips and audios. How does he fare in the New Series line, where continuity really isn't encouraged? Very well, actually! Beautiful Chaos DOES have a returning monster from the classic series, and there's a paragraph that mentions the monster's extra-canonical appearances, but it's fleeting. ...more
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Out of the four Doctor Who books I have read so far, this one has to be my favorite. Not because of the adventure, or the M-TEKs, or the purple electricity, but because of the fact that what happened to Donna (at the end of season four) happened to Donna. It brings a new look at Donna's mother, Sylvia, and her grandfather, Wilf. It shows what they've been going through, since the Doctor had to erase Donna's memory for her own safety. Its worse than having someone you know die. They're still ther...more
By far the best Doctor Who novel I have read, the overall plot and characters combined with a well written and well-structured set up makes this a worth while read. Though the story itself is great, it is the characters that are most notable, the use of Donna's family was extremely clever of the author, as it gave you a chance to re-visit characters that were not always featured. The enemies were good, though were not very memorable, as was (unfortunately) the actually rather impressive story-li...more
"http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1291348.html#cutid2[return][return]This I think is the best New Series Adventure I have yet come across. The audiobook is narrated by Bernard Cribbins, and Wilf Mott is a central character in the story which takes the Doctor and Donna back to contemporary London, dealing with the Noble family's complex dynamics, and also with an old enemy (who also featured in the excellent second series of Sarah Jane audios, and whose presence is signalled by the introduction...more
I have to admit I am absolutely obsessed with these books and this is without a doubt my favorite so far. It's a sequel to the "Masque Of Mandragora" storyline from the Fourth Doctor television series and much like in that episode, The Doctor truly shines in this story. The Mandragora Helix returns to exact revenge on The Doctor for foiling it's attempts at taking control of Earth in 15th Century Italy. Whereas in the 1400s Mandragora used religion as a means to control men, in modern ...more
This is one of my favorite of the New-Who books. It's the first Gary Russell book that I've read, and I was very impressed with his characterization of Donna, and - almost more importantly - her family.
Unlike Rose's family, Donna's folks got a bit sidelined until the last three or four episodes. Which is sad, because this book really shines in the fact that it shows their potential. It almost makes me wish that Wilf had been a companion too! *laughs*
Either way, if you'r...more
Unlike Rose's family, Donna's folks got a bit sidelined until the last three or four episodes. Which is sad, because this book really shines in the fact that it shows their potential. It almost makes me wish that Wilf had been a companion too! *laughs*
Either way, if you'r...more
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Bunxena
rated it
Recommends it for:
Ten fans, particularly those who like or at least don't hate Donna
Recommended to Bunxena by:
Chapters (thank goodness they carry Dr Who novelizations)
* * * 1/2 rounded to 4
This was a surprisingly enjoyable Doctor Who novelization. I say surprising because my friend who actually owns this book (I gave it to her for Christmas with the full intention of borrowing it when she was finished... that's the best kind of gift!) said it was not immediately obvious where it was set in the Ten/Donna timeline. The first part, titled "One Day", appears to take place after the events of the end of Series 4, but then the next part, which...more
This was a surprisingly enjoyable Doctor Who novelization. I say surprising because my friend who actually owns this book (I gave it to her for Christmas with the full intention of borrowing it when she was finished... that's the best kind of gift!) said it was not immediately obvious where it was set in the Ten/Donna timeline. The first part, titled "One Day", appears to take place after the events of the end of Series 4, but then the next part, which...more
The Doctor and Donna are popping over for a quiet weekend in Chiswick— the usual: regaling Wilf on his granddaughter's latest adventure, catching up on life in London, and trying not to argue with Sylvia. But life on the TARDIS brings no quiet weekends, and the Doctor starts to suspect there’s a little something strange in the air —talk of M-TEKs, a new exciting gadget that’s launching—… or is it something in the sky?
Gary Russell has the best handles on the characters’ voices that I ...more
Gary Russell has the best handles on the characters’ voices that I ...more
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A good, quick read that felt very much like a missing episode of the show. It adds a lot to the characterization of Donna's family, particularly her grandfather, who gets to kick some ass and generally be awesome here. Since it's technically set after series 4, with the main story told as a flashback, it's very sad for those (like me) who loved Donna, but it's also a nice send-off for the character in a way that couldn't be done on the show proper.
I've got a decent collection of Doctor Who novels (seriously NOT a surprise to anyone that knows me!) and I have to say, this one is one of the best of all of them. Not so much for the plot/storyline, mind you... but because it acknowledges what happened to Donna, treats it with respect AND most importantly, features Wilf heavily. I adore his character & am thrilled that this story includes so much of him.
I love Doctor Who, and particularly this pairing.
While I can't say that it was a 5 star story, I did enjoy the plot and the characters I've already grown to love. There's something to be said for already established characters from tv shows - the whole story played out in my head like an episode. The characters all had their voices, and I could add in various mannerisms as I saw fit.
*sigh* I miss the 10th Doctor. And Donna.
While I can't say that it was a 5 star story, I did enjoy the plot and the characters I've already grown to love. There's something to be said for already established characters from tv shows - the whole story played out in my head like an episode. The characters all had their voices, and I could add in various mannerisms as I saw fit.
*sigh* I miss the 10th Doctor. And Donna.
Beautiful Chaos is, as near as I can tell, a story used to fill in the space between the heart-breaking story Wilf tells about the new life that was given to - and subsiquently taken away from - Donna Nobel.
The major story is alright, but is basically filler, and a reminder f just how amazing Donna actually was.
A meloncholly story to be sure.
The major story is alright, but is basically filler, and a reminder f just how amazing Donna actually was.
A meloncholly story to be sure.
David
rated it
This Tenth and Donna adventure is mostly Wilf-centric tale. Wilfred Mott is Donna's Granddad. Newspaper seller, amateur astronomer and alien conspiracy theorist. He's not allowed to have a webcam though.... One of the better Doctor Who books.
I loved this book and it portrays Wilfred Mott beautifully and it shows the dynamic in the household and allows the reader greater depth into the character that isn't seen on screen and it makes him an even more cherished character.
This may be Gary Russell's best-ever Doctor Who novel. A beautiful, poignant post-script to the 10th Doctor/Donna era of the program...and it makes her near-tragic departure all the more heartbreaking.
While I thought I wouldn't be as interested in the story line as the last Doctor Who book I read (The Story of Martha) I actually found this book to be much better written. They spent a lot of time on the character development, instead of so much "and then they did this, and then this happened to them, etc." Plus I love Donna, so not the typical companion, and Wilf, her father. All in all, a fun book.
This was brilliant, and incrediably moving. Wilf gets centre stage, and his story is so touching that it nearly eclipses the big bad. Great for characterisation.
So many Doctor Who books (and I have all the new ones)....a written review is unnecessary for them all. *** Very good book, more of a background on Donna and her family, nice read.
Good story. Takes place just before the end of Donna's trip with The Doctor. A bit sad at the end, but still a good story.
I limped through this but would never recommend it to anyone. It was barely tolerable. If I hadn't been doing other stuff I would have abandoned this within the first chapter.
I really enjoyed this book. To me it felt like an episode of the show. All the characters seemed very true to the show.
This book has serious chapter!fail which makes it difficult to get lost in when reading.
One of my favorite Doctor books ever! The author got the characters spot on!
I love the Doctor and Donna as characters. This book was mostly slight, but for those who want some kind of closure with the Doctor/Donna story, this provides a peek. It made me want to cry.
Classic Doctor Who story, great writing.
A lovely little prelude to the episode The Stolen Earth.
A beautiful Doctor and Donna story.
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![Doctor Who: Beautiful Chaos [Abridged] (Audio CD)](http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1328766359s/6977253.jpg)
Gary Russell is one of the script editing team for Doctor Who, Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures, and the author of many novels and reference books in the Doctor Who range. A former editor of Doctor Who Magazine, he also was the producer of Doctor Who audio dramas for Big Finish Productions for eight years. He was also an actor and is best known for his role as Dick in the 1978 television se...more
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