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Doctor Who: Missing Adventures #30
Doctor Who: Burning Heart
There's a god in the machine - and the god is insane.
In the self-contained Habitat on Dramos, things are getting out of control. Twenty million humans and aliens are at each other's throats, the lid barely held on by the Church of Adjudication, who through their OBERON systems wield absolute power. And we all know what absolute power does.
Other things have been corrupted too. People, human and alien alike, are changing - mutating into something that, if left unchecked, could consume their entire enclosed world.
Arriving in this disintegrating cosmopolitan society, Peri falls in with the charismatic leader of Human First, a movement dedicated to bringing order out of chaos. Meanwhile, the Sixth Doctor is powerless, imprisoned and put to the Inquisition by a church that really thinks its God is coming back.
If somebody doesn't do something, and do it soon, nobody's getting out alive.
In the self-contained Habitat on Dramos, things are getting out of control. Twenty million humans and aliens are at each other's throats, the lid barely held on by the Church of Adjudication, who through their OBERON systems wield absolute power. And we all know what absolute power does.
Other things have been corrupted too. People, human and alien alike, are changing - mutating into something that, if left unchecked, could consume their entire enclosed world.
Arriving in this disintegrating cosmopolitan society, Peri falls in with the charismatic leader of Human First, a movement dedicated to bringing order out of chaos. Meanwhile, the Sixth Doctor is powerless, imprisoned and put to the Inquisition by a church that really thinks its God is coming back.
If somebody doesn't do something, and do it soon, nobody's getting out alive.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 16, 1997
161 people want to read
About the author
Dave Stone
53 books16 followersStone has written many spin off novels based on the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who and Judge Dredd.
Stone also contributed a number of comic series to 2000AD and the Judge Dredd Megazine, focusing on the Dreddverse (Judge Dredd universe). In collaboration with David Bishop and artist Shaky Kane he produced the much disliked Soul Sisters, which he has described as "a joke-trip, which through various degrees of miscommunication ended up as a joke-strip without any jokes." Working independently, he created the better received Armitage, a Dreddworld take on Inspector Morse set in a future London, and also contributed to the ongoing Judge Hershey series.
Stone’s most lasting contribution to the world of Judge Dredd might well have been his vision of Brit-Cit, which until Stone’s various novels had been a remarkably underexplored area.
Stone also contributed a number of comic series to 2000AD and the Judge Dredd Megazine, focusing on the Dreddverse (Judge Dredd universe). In collaboration with David Bishop and artist Shaky Kane he produced the much disliked Soul Sisters, which he has described as "a joke-trip, which through various degrees of miscommunication ended up as a joke-strip without any jokes." Working independently, he created the better received Armitage, a Dreddworld take on Inspector Morse set in a future London, and also contributed to the ongoing Judge Hershey series.
Stone’s most lasting contribution to the world of Judge Dredd might well have been his vision of Brit-Cit, which until Stone’s various novels had been a remarkably underexplored area.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 26, 2024
The last 50 pages or so are the best of this particular DW installment, but I have a feeling that most readers won't make it to that point. The first 3/4 of this book feels chaotic and yet familiar in classic Doctor Who fashion. The planet is ruled by a religious police state (think Judge Dredd meets Priest) and there is the inevitable rebellion faction that opposes it. They are constantly fighting and attempting to strike at the heart of and destroy the other. When Six and Peri arrive, the former is taken prisoner by the adjudicators, and Peri is recruited by the rebellion. Nothing really happens until the very end, when the Doctor finally steps in to save the day. It's a fine, if forgettable story, cobbling together plot beats of other episodes and novels that have come before it. Six is his TV self, self-important, condescending and rude. Peri does her very best to get away from him as soon as possible, and then doesn't even consider his existence again until the very end.
When it comes down to it, the book focused way more on fighting then it did on politics, exposition, motive, or anything else of value. The reader gets no history of the planet, no rules or tenets of the church, no side characters to care about, and nothing to really sink their teeth into. There are simply humans, non-humans and the adjudicators fighting amongst themselves, and we are watching it play out from behind a window. There is a random woman who gets possessed by something at some point, but that isn't really explained either. Burning Heart truly feels like we got part of a story, and the rest was left on the cutting room floor. As it stands, it is ok, but it could definitely be better.
When it comes down to it, the book focused way more on fighting then it did on politics, exposition, motive, or anything else of value. The reader gets no history of the planet, no rules or tenets of the church, no side characters to care about, and nothing to really sink their teeth into. There are simply humans, non-humans and the adjudicators fighting amongst themselves, and we are watching it play out from behind a window. There is a random woman who gets possessed by something at some point, but that isn't really explained either. Burning Heart truly feels like we got part of a story, and the rest was left on the cutting room floor. As it stands, it is ok, but it could definitely be better.
October 13, 2023
Ключевая особенность этой книги — присутствие тонко завуалированного мира судьи Дредда (имя местного «Дредда», Краатор — самая завуалированная часть… вуалирования). Но от такого кроссовера хочется контраста, конфликта, чтобы у сталкивания этих двух миров была цель, а тут просто Шестой Доктор, Пери и брутальный коп с подбородком решают проблему в как бы Мега-Сити Один. Это же два фундаметально разных франчайза, обидно за потенциал.
Другим ярким впечатлением является игра в «Как долго Пери сможет не замечать, что прибилась к группе нацистов?». Учитывая название организации «Humans First» — дольше чем возможно терпеть. Автор пытается здесь сказать, что во всех нас есть зерно ненависти к Другому, которое можно разжечь в определенных обстоятельствах, но это не эмоции, которые Пери испытывает в тот период. Она повелась на демагога (что тоже вполне заслуживающая исследования тема) без контекста, и затем был длинный побег от опасности с этими людьми.
Справедливости ради эта линия скорее всего длится только несколько часов (все еще слишком долго), но сюжет движется *очень* медленно, прыгая от персонажа к персонажу. Типичная склонность этих книги разделять Доктора и спутников в таких случаях выглядит огромным недостатком всей линейки.
Последней каплей оказалось открытие, что почти сверхъестественно харизматичный лидер этих нацистов — неудачливый художник. Пфффт, здесь моя способность давать книге шанс спаковала чемоданы и уехала в более теплый климат (а я остался здесь, в холоде 😥).
В попытке сказать что-нибудь хорошее про книгу отмечу, что Шестой Доктор у автора получается отлично. Нахальный, заносчивый, пафосный, переменчивый — его поведение очень развлекательно читается. Отдельно весело, что большую часть текста он проводит с инопланетянином, чем переводчик разговаривает только самыми изощренными и многосложными формулировками.
Другим ярким впечатлением является игра в «Как долго Пери сможет не замечать, что прибилась к группе нацистов?». Учитывая название организации «Humans First» — дольше чем возможно терпеть. Автор пытается здесь сказать, что во всех нас есть зерно ненависти к Другому, которое можно разжечь в определенных обстоятельствах, но это не эмоции, которые Пери испытывает в тот период. Она повелась на демагога (что тоже вполне заслуживающая исследования тема) без контекста, и затем был длинный побег от опасности с этими людьми.
Справедливости ради эта линия скорее всего длится только несколько часов (все еще слишком долго), но сюжет движется *очень* медленно, прыгая от персонажа к персонажу. Типичная склонность этих книги разделять Доктора и спутников в таких случаях выглядит огромным недостатком всей линейки.
Последней каплей оказалось открытие, что почти сверхъестественно харизматичный лидер этих нацистов — неудачливый художник. Пфффт, здесь моя способность давать книге шанс спаковала чемоданы и уехала в более теплый климат (а я остался здесь, в холоде 😥).
В попытке сказать что-нибудь хорошее про книгу отмечу, что Шестой Доктор у автора получается отлично. Нахальный, заносчивый, пафосный, переменчивый — его поведение очень развлекательно читается. Отдельно весело, что большую часть текста он проводит с инопланетянином, чем переводчик разговаривает только самыми изощренными и многосложными формулировками.
May 12, 2019
"Burning Heart" was a difficult read for me. Doctor 6 and Peri arrive on a colony world, a satellite of a larger world, in which the multicultural society is breaking down. The society is run by the Church of Adjudication - government, police, and official religion rolled into one. The church has been taken over by essentially a psychopath who is instigating increasingly harsh rules. Against them are the group known as "White Fire," run by another psychopath, a "humans first" nazi-like organization. Caught in between are the downtrodden non-humans, who are gradually rising up against both oppressors. And influencing it all, ratcheting up the hate, is an intelligence located in the main planet's equivalent of Jupiter's red spot, which has taken over the church's main computer and taken over bodies of various human and non-human people to "feed" it. The situation, which is never fully clarified in the book, gives Stone essentially a closed thunderdome of all out violence, which Stone gleefully throws himself into with vivid, gory, obscene-language laden abandon. The Doctor and Peri get split for most of the novel, with The Doctor out of the main action for so much of the novel one begins to wonder whether this is a Doctor Who novel at all. Stone also, in my view, mis-writes Doctor 6 as too irritating and seemingly uncaring. The end of the novel is somewhat similar to that of "The Greatest Show in the Galaxy," where The Doctor just apparently "knows" what is going on, but how he knows what is going on never gets clarified. Stone does know how to write a good sentence, how to keep the action moving, and to avoid absurdly over-the-top plot twists.
July 14, 2023
I had a hard time with this book. The story had a great scope beyond what could be done with Doctor Who if this was made in the 1980s. It did help to expand the world building Adjudicators at the same time.
My issue is that I did not enjoy many of the characters and the plot was not interesting to me. This does not indicate the writing was bad. Others might find this book interesting.
The two star rating is based more on my enjoyment of reading the book.
My issue is that I did not enjoy many of the characters and the plot was not interesting to me. This does not indicate the writing was bad. Others might find this book interesting.
The two star rating is based more on my enjoyment of reading the book.
November 16, 2024
https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/burning-heart-by-dave-stone/
To be honest, not one of the more memorable Sixth Doctor novels. The Doctor and Peri land in a crumbling authoritarian society, closely aligned with the setting of the Judge Dredd comics. Peri ends up with the rebels and the Doctor (after flirting with death) with the Adjudicators. Lots of running around and biffing.
To be honest, not one of the more memorable Sixth Doctor novels. The Doctor and Peri land in a crumbling authoritarian society, closely aligned with the setting of the Judge Dredd comics. Peri ends up with the rebels and the Doctor (after flirting with death) with the Adjudicators. Lots of running around and biffing.
August 11, 2024
Following on from So Vile A Sin (but published before due to technical issues) this deals with an abandoned world as the Earth Empire's outer reaches collapse and before the formation of the federation.
Interestingly, Stone decides to lean-in to the uncomfortable elements of the early Sixth Doctor era, coming up with a tale that Eric Saward would have approved of but with more heart than one might expect.
Not perfect but pretty good.
Interestingly, Stone decides to lean-in to the uncomfortable elements of the early Sixth Doctor era, coming up with a tale that Eric Saward would have approved of but with more heart than one might expect.
Not perfect but pretty good.
November 13, 2024
With its roots as a Judge Dredd crossover very much on show, Burning Heart feels somewhat pointless in its published form. Without the true iconography and characters of 2000 AD, this was always going to feel like a pale imitation.
June 13, 2022
Keeping with the theme of the galaxy being a dystopian mess during his era, the 6th Doctor and Peri land on a space station that is a powder keg of human and alien politics, religion and all around stress and craziness.
It's also a station on the verge of civil war.
But, is something more sinister behind it...?
Generally don't love it when a story separates the Tardis crew for most of the book, but it worked pretty well here, as it showed us the two main sides of the conflict and fit the rocky relationship of the Doctor and Peri.
Plus, the big reveal of the menace was interesting and slightly different than alot of DW big bads.
The main story is very predictable and hits every expected trope, but is saved by how well the Doctor, Peri and their relationship is written.
The stealth Judge Dredd crossover aspect and a couple interesting side characters also help.
What is going on with Kane?
At first he's made a big deal, but his motivation is a mess and he's written like I should find him cool, which I didn't, and then it's hinted that I should know him and his very vague connection to the Doctor.
It never became clear, so he fails as both a character and easter egg.
It's also a station on the verge of civil war.
But, is something more sinister behind it...?
Generally don't love it when a story separates the Tardis crew for most of the book, but it worked pretty well here, as it showed us the two main sides of the conflict and fit the rocky relationship of the Doctor and Peri.
Plus, the big reveal of the menace was interesting and slightly different than alot of DW big bads.
The main story is very predictable and hits every expected trope, but is saved by how well the Doctor, Peri and their relationship is written.
The stealth Judge Dredd crossover aspect and a couple interesting side characters also help.
What is going on with Kane?
At first he's made a big deal, but his motivation is a mess and he's written like I should find him cool, which I didn't, and then it's hinted that I should know him and his very vague connection to the Doctor.
It never became clear, so he fails as both a character and easter egg.
March 17, 2013
This book had a lot of problems, even though at times it managed to capture this particular version of The Doctor perfectly. There were a number of plot holes. The author spends an inordinate amount of time setting the futuristic scene, throwing in so much techno-jargon and future-slang at times that it becomes near impossible to follow the narrative. At other times he jumps from point of view to point of view, which normally would be fine but this case is combined with protagonists not knowing which each other leading to much confusion about whether the character being described is a new character or one that was on the first page. Worse these point of view shifts also frequently are written from the future and come with a flash back to the present tense with extra details thrown in (not to mention the real flash backs from the present to the past which usually added nothing at all to the story). Add it all up and you have a story that's exceptionally difficult to follow.
And I haven't even mentioned that this is a thinly veiled Doctor Who & Judge Dredd cross-over. It's as if someone used a word processor to find and replace 'Judge' with 'Adjudicator'/'Adjudicate' and 'Dredd' with 'Craator'. There's even a sentence in the book where on character is judging another and the word 'adjudgement' is used, even though it makes no sense in the sentence. Ugh.
In my professional adjudgement this Missing Adventure should have stayed missing.
And I haven't even mentioned that this is a thinly veiled Doctor Who & Judge Dredd cross-over. It's as if someone used a word processor to find and replace 'Judge' with 'Adjudicator'/'Adjudicate' and 'Dredd' with 'Craator'. There's even a sentence in the book where on character is judging another and the word 'adjudgement' is used, even though it makes no sense in the sentence. Ugh.
In my professional adjudgement this Missing Adventure should have stayed missing.
November 16, 2025
September 2023
3.5/5
I'm genuinely surprised how low the Goodreads rating for this one is. I mean, it's by no means a perfect novel but I did enjoy it (and was especially surprised by the optimism of the ending!) Perhaps it leans a bit too hard on the Sixth Doctor's meanness at the beginning - I suppose if you don't like him, or his relationship with Peri, or the grimmer and meaner parts of his era, then this book isn't going to work for you because it is clearly trying to capture some of that on-screen feeling from the era. But I like all those things, so it worked out fine for me.
October 2025
It's messy as all getout and I definitely think there are moments where it evokes the nastiness of the era without reflecting on it...but on the whole I like this even more on a second read. So much of the Sixth Doctor's EU stuff wants to soften him and his era, which I understand, but as someone who has a complex love of his run on the show I really appreciate Stone just diving on in there, seeing it through to the end, and then managing to wrestle something cautiously optimistic out of the darkness anyway. The Doctor may not be able to act the all-conquering hero like some previous incarnations could do but the effort is still worth it, however limited, to make the world better for as many people as you can.
3.5/5
I'm genuinely surprised how low the Goodreads rating for this one is. I mean, it's by no means a perfect novel but I did enjoy it (and was especially surprised by the optimism of the ending!) Perhaps it leans a bit too hard on the Sixth Doctor's meanness at the beginning - I suppose if you don't like him, or his relationship with Peri, or the grimmer and meaner parts of his era, then this book isn't going to work for you because it is clearly trying to capture some of that on-screen feeling from the era. But I like all those things, so it worked out fine for me.
October 2025
It's messy as all getout and I definitely think there are moments where it evokes the nastiness of the era without reflecting on it...but on the whole I like this even more on a second read. So much of the Sixth Doctor's EU stuff wants to soften him and his era, which I understand, but as someone who has a complex love of his run on the show I really appreciate Stone just diving on in there, seeing it through to the end, and then managing to wrestle something cautiously optimistic out of the darkness anyway. The Doctor may not be able to act the all-conquering hero like some previous incarnations could do but the effort is still worth it, however limited, to make the world better for as many people as you can.
January 19, 2011
Can you mash-up Doctor Who and Judge Dredd without the universe imploding? Apparently you can...as Dave Stone more than adequately proves. It's a rather slight story, but full of ridiculously amusing characters (the best being a C-3POish millipede), and it captures the 6th Doctor and Peri almost uncomfortably close to the mark.
Well, this WAS their post-Varos relationship...takes some time to get used to the irritability...
Well, this WAS their post-Varos relationship...takes some time to get used to the irritability...
February 10, 2011
Missing Adventure (MA) with the sixth Doctor and Peri. At the nasty end of the spectrum. I can't say I like it, and it isn't very good, but it does have its moments and the sixth Doctor is much himself. The one that was originally drafted as a Judge Dredd crossover.
February 24, 2010
I've nver quite pinpointed why, but I always seem to struggle with Dave Stone's works.
September 17, 2012
All time the best book seller
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews