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Doctor Who: The Official Doctionary
Have you ever wondered what the Doctor is actually talking about? Are you burning to find out what the Blinovitch Limitation Effect is? Or what regeneration really is?
In this book, the Doctor takes you through all those tricky Time Lord words and phrases to teach you everything you need to know for travelling through time and space in the TARDIS with him.
In this book, the Doctor takes you through all those tricky Time Lord words and phrases to teach you everything you need to know for travelling through time and space in the TARDIS with him.
175 pages, Hardcover
First published October 4, 2012
About the author
Justin Richards
314 books242 followersJustin Richards was a British writer of science fiction, fantasy, and adventure fiction. He wrote science fiction and fantasy novels, including series set in Victorian and early 20th-century London, as well as contemporary adventure stories. He was best known for writing numerous spin-off novels, reference books, and audio plays based on the long-running BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who. Richards served as Creative Consultant for the BBC Books range of Doctor Who novels until 2017.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 2, 2020
Just right for the Dr Who fan in our family. Very detailed, lots of pictures, explains everything Dr Who. Not a big book, so easy to hold and read.
May 24, 2013
This book consists of alphabetical lists of various kinds with photos.
“Harkness, Captain Jack: You must know Captain Jack. Everyone knows Captain Jack Harkness. That’s not his real name, of course, I’m not sure if he remembers his real name. He used to work for the Time Agency – who are a shady lot – but they wiped his memories when he left. Now he runs Torchwood. Oh, and he’s immortal, too, thanks to that business with Rose Tyler and the Time Vortex. He did tell me once that he‘s also known as ‘the Face of Boe.’ But I think he was joking. Maybe. Wasn’t he?”(66)
“Mott, Wilfred: Donna’s granddad. What a gentleman. Didn’t know who he was when we first met, but we became firm friends. Every life is worthwhile, every single one. But if you’ve got to sacrifice yourself for someone else, then do it for someone like Wilf… Well, that’s a privilege.”(73) There's objects, villains, "Hats and other Cool Accessories," But Doctor Who is really all about the people. And the jokes. This is a fun little book.
January 17, 2022
This is such an enjoyable, cute, but ultimately underwhelming book. Written at the height of modern Who's popularity beyond the hardcore fandom (the late Tennant/early Smith years), it's a colorful book that it's nice to have on the nightstand or laying around to remember "the good old days", but there's so many other tie-in books that do a far better job at capturing the essence of the Doctor Who universe. The choice and quality of the images --which should have been one of its key selling/keeping points-- falls into the "meh" category. The structure itself is odd: although the book is presented as a "dictionary", several entries are just fillers and some of the ongoing jokes are lost if you don't read the entries in alphabetical order. Neverthless, to give credit where credit is due, Justin Richards made an excellent work in recreating all the whimsical angles of the 11th Doctor's characteristics (the whole "old man in a young person's body") and even the most inconsequential entries turn out to funnier than they should. A proof that there was a point where the BBC could publish and sell even subpar Doctor Who-related material, only the most die-hard Whovians need to check out this book.
December 25, 2021
Written as if by the Eleventh (or is it Twelfth?) Doctor, this is a miniature dictionary of the 'Doctor Who' universe.
November 10, 2015
This was a wonderful book to read. It was written as though you were having a conversation with the Doctor (Matt Smith era), asking him all the questions you may have.
Timeline wise this takes place before he saved Gallifrey (saved is a loose term, instead of destroying he just lost it). Gallifrey falls, no more!
It was a really light and quick read, and really fun. The pictures were fantastic and featured some of the greatest things from each of the doctors.
((I told my cousin that the book was available at Walmart and he handed me cash and kicked me out the door. So I took the liberty of reading it first.))
Fantastic book.
Timeline wise this takes place before he saved Gallifrey (saved is a loose term, instead of destroying he just lost it). Gallifrey falls, no more!
It was a really light and quick read, and really fun. The pictures were fantastic and featured some of the greatest things from each of the doctors.
((I told my cousin that the book was available at Walmart and he handed me cash and kicked me out the door. So I took the liberty of reading it first.))
Fantastic book.
July 19, 2013
LOVED IT!!!! This is useful in so many ways!
January 2, 2015
I flicked through as it was a birthday pressie for one of my friends and it was amazing
June 29, 2013
Good book! A must-have for every Doctor Who fan.
November 18, 2023
At the time of writing this, I am fairly sure this book is now obsolete, and by association this review will be too.
It's a fun, light-hearted encyclopaedia written from the perspective of this doctor. This at least makes the format feel a little less dry for younger readers, though at times the author can lay the "11th Doctor"-isms on a bit too thick.
There's some fun nods in there too. I especially like how it implies that even the Doctor Who themed episodes of Blue Peter are actually canonical to the Doctor Who universe!
It's a fun, light-hearted encyclopaedia written from the perspective of this doctor. This at least makes the format feel a little less dry for younger readers, though at times the author can lay the "11th Doctor"-isms on a bit too thick.
There's some fun nods in there too. I especially like how it implies that even the Doctor Who themed episodes of Blue Peter are actually canonical to the Doctor Who universe!
February 22, 2025
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A review by you!
Doctor Who: The Official Doctionary by Jason Loborik, Justin Richards
informative mysterious medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Interesting short book looking at different aspects of doctor who through the medium of a dictionary.
Open main menu
A review by you!
Doctor Who: The Official Doctionary by Jason Loborik, Justin Richards
informative mysterious medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Interesting short book looking at different aspects of doctor who through the medium of a dictionary.
November 30, 2022
I borrowed this from the donations box at work, and it was entertaining. The author sometimes overdid Eleven's quirkiness, but the descriptions of different things are often very humorous and clever. Also, I realized just how much I've forgotten from series one to four, and how completely unhinged so many things in Doctor Who really are.
February 12, 2017
Right. After reading the Doctor's little "definitions" in here, I remember why I don't like Eleven's quirks as much as those of the other Doctors. Eleven's annoying.
December 31, 2024
I’m a mature adult
January 6, 2014
Bookworm Speaks!
Doctor Who: The Official Doctionary
Bookworm has recently been enamored by the universe of the long-running British science fiction show Doctor Who, whose quirky protagonist travels through time and space with his time machine, The TARDIS, meeting and battling, all sorts of colorful characters and villains.
The Doctionary is a guide to the places, people, and technology the Doctor has encountered. Like a dictionary the entries are arranged from A to Z but unlike most dictionaries that Bookworm has read, the entries are arranged into categories which are placed in alphabetical order within them. The entries are for the most part confined to the 2005 relaunch of the series, but a few of the Doctor’s classic adventures are seen in the pages.
Where this book shines is in the writing (like all books) but this one is unique. As it says on the cover: The Doctor likes to Talk and this book is written with the words of the Doctor. The entries are written in such a manner as the Doctor would be telling his compatriots, brief, quick and slightly off. For example, the section devoted to villains and monsters is titled: “Not So Nice ‘People’ and stuff.” Accurate but not a very proper format. What makes Doctor Who great is how unproper the Doctor is.
The tradeoff of this book that makes its most prominent flaw is the formatting itself. The writing is in the style of what the Doctor himself would write. The Doctor’s quirky style is a great part of his appeal but it can get irritating at some times. The Doctor’s irreverent style could be a turnoff for new readers not familiar with the character.
Also in the vein of dictionaries, the entries do not go into a lot of detail. In interest of space constraints now doubt, but also to keep with the Doctor’s style. If your looking for in depth analyses of people and places you may be disappointed. Also, while Bookworm is of the belief that Doctor Who appeals to all ages, the writing in this book may come off as slightly juvenile but The Eleventh Doctor is known to be quite a childish character.
But perhaps this was intentional by the writers. This is not an encyclopedia, it is a dictionary it only provides the briefest of tastes to characters, places, and things with vast histories. This could be so that is the wandering book enthusiast happens upon this tome and reads an entry that piques his or hers curiosity, they may want to stream a episode or two, read another book, and maybe, just maybe they will transform into a fellow whovian.
One can only hope.
Final Verdict: The Official Doctionary while not as detailed as the visual dictionary, it is nonetheless a delightful read both into the whoniverse and the mind of the Doctor
Doctor Who: The Official Doctionary
Bookworm has recently been enamored by the universe of the long-running British science fiction show Doctor Who, whose quirky protagonist travels through time and space with his time machine, The TARDIS, meeting and battling, all sorts of colorful characters and villains.
The Doctionary is a guide to the places, people, and technology the Doctor has encountered. Like a dictionary the entries are arranged from A to Z but unlike most dictionaries that Bookworm has read, the entries are arranged into categories which are placed in alphabetical order within them. The entries are for the most part confined to the 2005 relaunch of the series, but a few of the Doctor’s classic adventures are seen in the pages.
Where this book shines is in the writing (like all books) but this one is unique. As it says on the cover: The Doctor likes to Talk and this book is written with the words of the Doctor. The entries are written in such a manner as the Doctor would be telling his compatriots, brief, quick and slightly off. For example, the section devoted to villains and monsters is titled: “Not So Nice ‘People’ and stuff.” Accurate but not a very proper format. What makes Doctor Who great is how unproper the Doctor is.
The tradeoff of this book that makes its most prominent flaw is the formatting itself. The writing is in the style of what the Doctor himself would write. The Doctor’s quirky style is a great part of his appeal but it can get irritating at some times. The Doctor’s irreverent style could be a turnoff for new readers not familiar with the character.
Also in the vein of dictionaries, the entries do not go into a lot of detail. In interest of space constraints now doubt, but also to keep with the Doctor’s style. If your looking for in depth analyses of people and places you may be disappointed. Also, while Bookworm is of the belief that Doctor Who appeals to all ages, the writing in this book may come off as slightly juvenile but The Eleventh Doctor is known to be quite a childish character.
But perhaps this was intentional by the writers. This is not an encyclopedia, it is a dictionary it only provides the briefest of tastes to characters, places, and things with vast histories. This could be so that is the wandering book enthusiast happens upon this tome and reads an entry that piques his or hers curiosity, they may want to stream a episode or two, read another book, and maybe, just maybe they will transform into a fellow whovian.
One can only hope.
Final Verdict: The Official Doctionary while not as detailed as the visual dictionary, it is nonetheless a delightful read both into the whoniverse and the mind of the Doctor
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
November 23, 2016It took me a long time to finish this book. I was not in a hurry because I wanted to read a little and then watch the various Doctor Who shows from the very beginning (Had to get the old ones from the library and there were some missing shows) to understand some of the dialect and why are those ding dong Daleks still hanging around. Other than that, I enjoyed the book and still using it as a reference when I get stuck on something and a huge fan of David Tennant. It's just a great book to have around.
March 28, 2014
Awesome alphabetical listing of all things Doctor Who, classic and modern. It reads like both a dictionary and a journal with entries written as though the doctor has made his own observations on everything and everyone he had ever encountered. I love the section on "Not So Nice 'People' and Aliens abs Monsters and Things..."
January 24, 2014
Good, but a lot of very common knowledge. Younger teens rather than older would probably learn more, but it's great for entertainment and hello, narrated by the Doctor. Can't really beat that.
April 9, 2016
It is quite amusing, it is written as though the doctor is speaking.
April 13, 2016
Quite funny, but not very educational and few references to old Who.
January 22, 2017
A great book about the doctors adventures.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews