Mark Campbell, Doctor Who: The Complete Guide (London: Robinson, 2010)
This book provides a thorough catalogue of every Dr Who episode, film and spin-off series. Handy book however I was somewhat surprised by the pessimist criticism that opens the book.
"Torchwood", "The Sarah Jane Adventures", "K-9", etc, I had no idea these spin-off TV shows existed. There's a whole Whovian universe out there.
A comment I liked in the 'Afterword':
“'Doctor Who' isn't about special effects. 'An Unearthly Child' (1) had some amazing ones for its time but, in telling a beautifully paced small-scale story with characters whom one could instantly empathise, it provided the perfect template for all future adventures. Reality mattered. This was not airy-fairy fantasy or nuts-and-bolts hard SF. This was a human story set in a credible alternate world.” (page 204)
“It's still all about the people.” (page 205)
“... the 2000s series has rarely touched politics, preferring instead to highlight spiritual and religious themes: 'The Impossible Planet' / 'The Satan Pit' (174), 'Gridlock' (181), 'HumanNature' / 'The Family of Blood' (185). Christian imagery features heavily in 'Father's Day' (163), 'Blink' (186) and 'Voyage of the Damned' (188).” (page 206)
Interesting to read that Peter Cushing (whose best-known roles outside the Hammer productions include Grand Moff Tarkin in 'Star Wars' (1977) was Dr. Who in "Dr. Who and the Daleks" (1965) and "Daleks – Invasion Earth: 2150 A.D." (1966).
(pages 235-236)
Whereas there are some episodes considered 'the best' by other people, Campbell has little to admire about giving them a low rating, e.g.
William Hartnell's THE DALEK INVASION OF EARTH (1965), p12; and THE MEDDLING MONK (1965), p17
Sylvester McCoy's THE CURSE OF FENRIC (1989), p146-7
David Tennant's LOVE AND MONSTERS (2006), p166
Matt Smith's THE BEAST BELOW (2010), p194-195
Still, based on Campbell's reviews I plan to track down and watch:
Patrick Troughton's TOMB OF THE CYBERMEN (1967)
John Pertwee's THE GREEN DEATH (1973), p62-3
Tom Baker's GENESIS OF THE DALEKS (1975), p71-72; THE BRAIN OF MORBIS (1976) p75-76; THE SEEDS OF DOOM (1976), p76-77; and THE ROBOTS OF DEATH (1977), p82
Peter Davidson/Colin Baker's THE CAVES OF ANDROZANI (1984), p124
David Tennant's THE GIRL IN THE FIREPLACE (2006), p163-164; BLINK (2007), p176; and MIDNIGHT (2008), p186
THE FIRES OF POMPEII with Peter Capaldi as Caecilius (2008), p182
Matt Smith's THE ELEVENTH HOUR (2010), p193-194