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Doctor Who: New Series Adventures #53
Doctor Who: The Blood Cell
"Release the Doctor — or the killing will start."
An asteroid in the furthest reaches of space - the most secure prison for the most dangerous of criminals. The Governor is responsible for the worst fraudsters and the cruellest murderers. So he's certainly not impressed by the arrival of the man they're calling the most dangerous criminal in the quadrant. Or, as he prefers to be known, the Doctor.
What does impress the Governor is the way the new prisoner immediately sets about trying to escape. And keeps trying. Finally, he sends for the Doctor and asks him why? But the answer surprises even the Governor. And then there's the threat — unless the Governor listens to the Doctor, a lot of people will die.
Who is the Doctor and what's he really doing here? Why does he want to help the Governor? And who is the young woman who comes every day to visit him, only to be turned away by the guards?
When the killing finally starts, the Governor begins to get his answers...
An asteroid in the furthest reaches of space - the most secure prison for the most dangerous of criminals. The Governor is responsible for the worst fraudsters and the cruellest murderers. So he's certainly not impressed by the arrival of the man they're calling the most dangerous criminal in the quadrant. Or, as he prefers to be known, the Doctor.
What does impress the Governor is the way the new prisoner immediately sets about trying to escape. And keeps trying. Finally, he sends for the Doctor and asks him why? But the answer surprises even the Governor. And then there's the threat — unless the Governor listens to the Doctor, a lot of people will die.
Who is the Doctor and what's he really doing here? Why does he want to help the Governor? And who is the young woman who comes every day to visit him, only to be turned away by the guards?
When the killing finally starts, the Governor begins to get his answers...
256 pages, Paperback
First published November 14, 2014
31 people are currently reading
1717 people want to read
About the author
James Goss
231 books181 followersJames Goss has written two Torchwood novels and a radio play, as well as a Being Human book. His Doctor Who audiobook Dead Air won Best Audiobook 2010. James also spent seven years working on the BBC's official Doctor Who website and co-wrote the website for Torchwood Series One. In 2007, he won the Best Adaptation category in the annual LA Weekly Theatre Awards for his version of Douglas Adams' novel Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 246 reviews
September 1, 2014
When Prisoner 428 shows up at The Prison, the Governor knows he's going to be trouble. But what does Prisoner 428 have to do with the mysterious power fluctuations? And will Prisoner 428 make good on his promise to escape? Of course he will. He's The Doctor...
I got this from Netgalley.
Since I'm a dyed in the wool Whovian, I was pretty excited when this popped up on Netgalley. Should I have been? Meh...
On the surface, this had the makings of a good Doctor Who book. The prison asteroid setting had a lot of potential, as did the prisoners who were mysteriously vanishing. I even enjoyed the paranoid feel sometimes, wondering what was behind everything.
Too bad this book is deeply flawed for a Doctor Who book. First off, it's narrated in the first person by the Governor of the prison planet, making us detached from the Doctor's antics. When I read a Doctor Who novel, I want the Doctor and whomever his companion is at the time center stage, not have their exploits relayed to me by some schmoe. Secondly, it's also not really exciting. It took forever to reveal why the Doctor was in the clink in the first place and also reveal the background of the Governor, something I could have safely gone the rest of my life without knowing.
My third objection is a litty iffy. As of this writing, all we know of the Twelfth Doctor is from the seconds of footage from Day of the Doctor and his regeneration sequence from Time of the Doctor. Apart from some remarks about his age, this very much felt like the Tenth Doctor was paired with Clara.
It wasn't a terrible book but I was very ready for it to be over by the 75% mark. Two hard-earned stars.
I got this from Netgalley.
Since I'm a dyed in the wool Whovian, I was pretty excited when this popped up on Netgalley. Should I have been? Meh...
On the surface, this had the makings of a good Doctor Who book. The prison asteroid setting had a lot of potential, as did the prisoners who were mysteriously vanishing. I even enjoyed the paranoid feel sometimes, wondering what was behind everything.
Too bad this book is deeply flawed for a Doctor Who book. First off, it's narrated in the first person by the Governor of the prison planet, making us detached from the Doctor's antics. When I read a Doctor Who novel, I want the Doctor and whomever his companion is at the time center stage, not have their exploits relayed to me by some schmoe. Secondly, it's also not really exciting. It took forever to reveal why the Doctor was in the clink in the first place and also reveal the background of the Governor, something I could have safely gone the rest of my life without knowing.
My third objection is a litty iffy. As of this writing, all we know of the Twelfth Doctor is from the seconds of footage from Day of the Doctor and his regeneration sequence from Time of the Doctor. Apart from some remarks about his age, this very much felt like the Tenth Doctor was paired with Clara.
It wasn't a terrible book but I was very ready for it to be over by the 75% mark. Two hard-earned stars.
May 13, 2015
I have been very bad with watching Doctor Who since they change the Doctor. Not that I didn't mind the change. I like Peter Capaldi as the Doctor; I just haven't had time to watch it. But among my countless ebooks did I find this book that I had requested from NetGalley and since I felt that I needed to get through some Netgalley books and since the book wasn't thick (a plus, take easy thin books first before the ones with many pages) did I feel that did was a good choice. Also, the book was interesting from the start, that's a plus.
I liked the story; I liked the fast-paced style of the book. I breezed through in a day and that felt good. The story was intriguing, why was the Doctor a prisoner, what was wrong with the prison? The ending was the only thing I felt didn't belong in a Doctor Who story. It was a lot more gruesome than I have ever experienced when it comes the show. Not bad, just yikes...
3.5 stars
I received this copy from the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review!
Review also posted on And Now for Something Completely Different and It's a Mad Mad World
I liked the story; I liked the fast-paced style of the book. I breezed through in a day and that felt good. The story was intriguing, why was the Doctor a prisoner, what was wrong with the prison? The ending was the only thing I felt didn't belong in a Doctor Who story. It was a lot more gruesome than I have ever experienced when it comes the show. Not bad, just yikes...
3.5 stars
I received this copy from the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review!
Review also posted on And Now for Something Completely Different and It's a Mad Mad World
November 18, 2018
The Governor is responsible for the most dangerous criminals in the universe. But who is Prisoner 428 who wants to be known as The Doctor and why is he there?
The first of the NSA to feature the Twelfth Doctor, Goss not only captures this incarnation perfectly but with the story’s narrative being told through the Governor’s perspective it really adds to a darker tone.
The first of the NSA to feature the Twelfth Doctor, Goss not only captures this incarnation perfectly but with the story’s narrative being told through the Governor’s perspective it really adds to a darker tone.
April 24, 2015
This is more like it!
On a distant asteroid in a far off and distinctly unstable future, a very sci-fi Alcatraz has been set up: a prison on a rock which, thousands of miles from anywhere, really is escape proof. The Governor rules over it in what he believes is a benign and friendly manner, but freshly arrived in custody is prisoner 428 – a tall, thin man with a Scottish accent and an annoyingly superior attitude.
What truly makes this yarn work, and what sets it apart as a book – as opposed to a reject TV script rendered in prose – is that the whole is narrated by the Governor. It’s his voice and impressions of The Doctor that we hear, as well as how he’s charmed by his frequent visitor, Clara. It’s a book with not so much an unreliable narrator, as a narrator who is out of his depth and frequently clueless, but still anxious to make himself look good. Having our heroes viewed by this one off character, with a past that’s clearly mysterious (and will of course be revealed by the end), is the kind of trick which would never work on TV. Even if the producers used voiceover narration, the very language of television would swiftly make it superfluous. We can see, we don’t need to be told as well. In a book though this is a literary trick used cleverly and humorously to vary the format of Doctor Who, and the result is really successful.
I like it more than a number of the episodes broadcast in the last series, and I greatly enjoyed the last series.
On a distant asteroid in a far off and distinctly unstable future, a very sci-fi Alcatraz has been set up: a prison on a rock which, thousands of miles from anywhere, really is escape proof. The Governor rules over it in what he believes is a benign and friendly manner, but freshly arrived in custody is prisoner 428 – a tall, thin man with a Scottish accent and an annoyingly superior attitude.
What truly makes this yarn work, and what sets it apart as a book – as opposed to a reject TV script rendered in prose – is that the whole is narrated by the Governor. It’s his voice and impressions of The Doctor that we hear, as well as how he’s charmed by his frequent visitor, Clara. It’s a book with not so much an unreliable narrator, as a narrator who is out of his depth and frequently clueless, but still anxious to make himself look good. Having our heroes viewed by this one off character, with a past that’s clearly mysterious (and will of course be revealed by the end), is the kind of trick which would never work on TV. Even if the producers used voiceover narration, the very language of television would swiftly make it superfluous. We can see, we don’t need to be told as well. In a book though this is a literary trick used cleverly and humorously to vary the format of Doctor Who, and the result is really successful.
I like it more than a number of the episodes broadcast in the last series, and I greatly enjoyed the last series.
June 14, 2022
An asteroid is the most secure secure prison in the galaxy, containing only the most dangerous criminals that will never see the light of day again. No one has ever escaped it. But that doesn’t stop the newest prisoner from trying, much to the annoyance of the Governor who runs this prison. The Governor decides to meet with this prisoner. But all this new prisoner has to say is that his name is the doctor and if the Governor doesn’t release him, a lot of people will die.
It’s a different kind of book than I was expecting. The sole point of view is that of the Governor. What I really like about that is that we not only get to see the familiar protagonists in a new light but this also manages to give the story a more tense atmosphere.
On one hand it has everything you need to have a great Doctor Who story. With a cool setting on an asteroid, a great concept and a strong plot that immediately hooks you and mystery aplenty that keeps you guessing. On the other hand, this doesn’t exactly feel like an average episode from the TV series, which most of these kind of books strive for. I feel like even if you take Doctor Who completely out of it, you’re still left with a pretty good story though.
Overall, a very solid and well written Doctor Who book.
It’s a different kind of book than I was expecting. The sole point of view is that of the Governor. What I really like about that is that we not only get to see the familiar protagonists in a new light but this also manages to give the story a more tense atmosphere.
On one hand it has everything you need to have a great Doctor Who story. With a cool setting on an asteroid, a great concept and a strong plot that immediately hooks you and mystery aplenty that keeps you guessing. On the other hand, this doesn’t exactly feel like an average episode from the TV series, which most of these kind of books strive for. I feel like even if you take Doctor Who completely out of it, you’re still left with a pretty good story though.
Overall, a very solid and well written Doctor Who book.
November 6, 2014
"Sometimes, it's not the desitnation that counts, but how you get there. And sometimes both the journey and the destination are most rewarding."
This is one of the first books to come out featuring the 12th Doctor and Clara, and it was worth all the heightened anticipation!
I loved every page of this book! The story itself was really unique and full of suspense which kept me interested and on my toes the whole time. I think the author really nailed this incarnation of the Doctor perfectly; every bit of grumpiness and sassiness was present, which was just fantastic! The most interesting aspect however was the fact that it wasn't told from the Doctor's or even Clara's point of view, but rather a third character unique to this book. I enjoyed this, because it was fun to see these beloved characters through the eyes of a stranger. :)
This is one of the first books to come out featuring the 12th Doctor and Clara, and it was worth all the heightened anticipation!
I loved every page of this book! The story itself was really unique and full of suspense which kept me interested and on my toes the whole time. I think the author really nailed this incarnation of the Doctor perfectly; every bit of grumpiness and sassiness was present, which was just fantastic! The most interesting aspect however was the fact that it wasn't told from the Doctor's or even Clara's point of view, but rather a third character unique to this book. I enjoyed this, because it was fun to see these beloved characters through the eyes of a stranger. :)
March 27, 2017
Originally posted on: The Quirky Book Nerd
I have been a fan of this Doctor Who book series for a couple of years now, and the show itself even longer, and have found these books to be very entertaining. Even though they aren’t exactly the best literature ever, they are fun to read and feel a bit like extra episodes of the show. I have really been enjoying Peter Capaldi’s performance as the Doctor and Jenna Coleman as Clara, so I was very eager to begin the books starring this incarnation of the loveable time lord and his clever companion. However, I did not exactly get what I was looking for out of this novel.
The idea for the plot sounded very intriguing, but the execution of it caused it to fall a bit flat for me. The main reason I did not enjoy this book as much as I had hoped was due to the first person narration. Typically, these novels are written from a third person perspective. I think these stories generally work out a lot better with that type of narration because the actions of multiple characters, most importantly the Doctor and companion, can be followed more closely. The insight that a third person perspective gives you as a reader keeps the story moving at a better pace. It is also more interesting, as most readers likely want to actually see the Doctor’s actions play out rather than hear those escapades relayed back to them by an observer.
I also personally found myself not connecting at all with the Governor and not caring much for or about him as a character, which made the first person narration even more of a problem. It got to the point where I did not really care what was happening to him or what he thought; I just wanted to see what the Doctor was up to, how he was handling things. The main point of reading these stories is to see more of the Doctor’s and companion’s adventures and antics, and that was completely lost in this novel.
The setting of the prison and overall concept for the story was a good one and could have easily been a great plot for an episode. In the little that we get to see of them, I thought that the author did a fairly good job portraying Capaldi’s Doctor and Clara. At times, I did enjoy the mystery of why the Doctor was in the prison, and I was definitely intrigued to see how he and Clara would escape from this situation.
Overall, this was not a terrible book by any means, but it was definitely not one of my favorite Doctor Who books. With a few alterations, this could have been so much better than it was. Occasionally I felt that some of this story became slightly repetitive and dragged on a bit without making much progress or uncovering new details. Basically, it seemed like there was a lot of action but they weren’t really getting anywhere. The main details that were finally revealed in the end were somewhat interesting, but they definitely didn’t blow me away; and I can’t say that the reveal made me feel like it was worth getting through the rest of it.
I have been a fan of this Doctor Who book series for a couple of years now, and the show itself even longer, and have found these books to be very entertaining. Even though they aren’t exactly the best literature ever, they are fun to read and feel a bit like extra episodes of the show. I have really been enjoying Peter Capaldi’s performance as the Doctor and Jenna Coleman as Clara, so I was very eager to begin the books starring this incarnation of the loveable time lord and his clever companion. However, I did not exactly get what I was looking for out of this novel.
The idea for the plot sounded very intriguing, but the execution of it caused it to fall a bit flat for me. The main reason I did not enjoy this book as much as I had hoped was due to the first person narration. Typically, these novels are written from a third person perspective. I think these stories generally work out a lot better with that type of narration because the actions of multiple characters, most importantly the Doctor and companion, can be followed more closely. The insight that a third person perspective gives you as a reader keeps the story moving at a better pace. It is also more interesting, as most readers likely want to actually see the Doctor’s actions play out rather than hear those escapades relayed back to them by an observer.
I also personally found myself not connecting at all with the Governor and not caring much for or about him as a character, which made the first person narration even more of a problem. It got to the point where I did not really care what was happening to him or what he thought; I just wanted to see what the Doctor was up to, how he was handling things. The main point of reading these stories is to see more of the Doctor’s and companion’s adventures and antics, and that was completely lost in this novel.
The setting of the prison and overall concept for the story was a good one and could have easily been a great plot for an episode. In the little that we get to see of them, I thought that the author did a fairly good job portraying Capaldi’s Doctor and Clara. At times, I did enjoy the mystery of why the Doctor was in the prison, and I was definitely intrigued to see how he and Clara would escape from this situation.
Overall, this was not a terrible book by any means, but it was definitely not one of my favorite Doctor Who books. With a few alterations, this could have been so much better than it was. Occasionally I felt that some of this story became slightly repetitive and dragged on a bit without making much progress or uncovering new details. Basically, it seemed like there was a lot of action but they weren’t really getting anywhere. The main details that were finally revealed in the end were somewhat interesting, but they definitely didn’t blow me away; and I can’t say that the reveal made me feel like it was worth getting through the rest of it.
August 23, 2017
This book is based on the television series. This has the Doctor played by Peter Capaldi and Clara as his companion. In this one, the Doctor is in a prison that is located on a distant asteroid. Everyone in this prison is in imminent danger.
This story is told thru the character of the Governor of the prison. This concept intrigued me as we get to see what people's impressions are of this obtrusive, know it all curmudgeon of a character. I was excited to see a bird's eye view of how he ingratiates himself into these people's lives. Sadly, the portrayal was a miss. It was too generic and could be used for any Doctor incarnation. I believe the problem was that this was written to coincide with the introduction of Capaldi as the Doctor in the series. The writer didn't have enough time to study this new Doctor. As for the story, I was into it but then it took a political turn. This was not needed. By the finale it took another turn and became a grisly sci-fi horror book. This book was all over the map.
I don't expect great literature when reading these media tie-in books. I am hoping it captures the show's vibes. This didn't. I think this author isn't for me. I have read one of his other tie-in books and I didn't like that one either. He knows about the universe but I feel like his interpretation is incorrect.
This story is told thru the character of the Governor of the prison. This concept intrigued me as we get to see what people's impressions are of this obtrusive, know it all curmudgeon of a character. I was excited to see a bird's eye view of how he ingratiates himself into these people's lives. Sadly, the portrayal was a miss. It was too generic and could be used for any Doctor incarnation. I believe the problem was that this was written to coincide with the introduction of Capaldi as the Doctor in the series. The writer didn't have enough time to study this new Doctor. As for the story, I was into it but then it took a political turn. This was not needed. By the finale it took another turn and became a grisly sci-fi horror book. This book was all over the map.
I don't expect great literature when reading these media tie-in books. I am hoping it captures the show's vibes. This didn't. I think this author isn't for me. I have read one of his other tie-in books and I didn't like that one either. He knows about the universe but I feel like his interpretation is incorrect.
November 23, 2015
James Goss is the most reliable of the current crop of writers tackling the standard BBC Doctor Who books right now. Whereas others will work to the formula of their idea of Doctor Who, relentlessly ploughing the same furrow, Goss at least attempts to do something different each time, to play with what can be achieved with Doctor Who in print.
Here his trick is to present the book as a first person narrative, a retelling of what happens when the Doctor investigates a prison by becoming a prisoner. The narrator’s the prison governor and, needless to say, he’s not quite as straightforward as he appears. What this device does allow is for some well-worked comedy of exasperation with the Doctor flagrantly disregarding that this is meant to be an ultra-secure, inescapable prison. It’s this comedy which forms the bulk of the novel with much of the plot not getting going until roughly halfway. Fortunately the idea’s good and Goss’s execution of it’s so deft you don’t mind. He nails Capaldi’s Doctor too, all eyebrows, glower and subterranean tolerance for fools and manages to draw up some nicely memorable characters of his own. They’re distinct and clearly have their own desires and agendas, no mean feat in relatively short books so dependent on action. Even more refreshing is the ending, which by Doctor Who custom is heading a certain way but doesn’t quite end up there. The new series adventures have rarely felt as ambitious as the ranges which preceded them; more standard tie-ins subservient to their parent series, but Goss has consistently managed to be quietly subversive and striven to produce books with some of the ambition of the peak Virgin or Eighth Doctor ranges. His name on a book’s cover continues to be a recommendation.
Here his trick is to present the book as a first person narrative, a retelling of what happens when the Doctor investigates a prison by becoming a prisoner. The narrator’s the prison governor and, needless to say, he’s not quite as straightforward as he appears. What this device does allow is for some well-worked comedy of exasperation with the Doctor flagrantly disregarding that this is meant to be an ultra-secure, inescapable prison. It’s this comedy which forms the bulk of the novel with much of the plot not getting going until roughly halfway. Fortunately the idea’s good and Goss’s execution of it’s so deft you don’t mind. He nails Capaldi’s Doctor too, all eyebrows, glower and subterranean tolerance for fools and manages to draw up some nicely memorable characters of his own. They’re distinct and clearly have their own desires and agendas, no mean feat in relatively short books so dependent on action. Even more refreshing is the ending, which by Doctor Who custom is heading a certain way but doesn’t quite end up there. The new series adventures have rarely felt as ambitious as the ranges which preceded them; more standard tie-ins subservient to their parent series, but Goss has consistently managed to be quietly subversive and striven to produce books with some of the ambition of the peak Virgin or Eighth Doctor ranges. His name on a book’s cover continues to be a recommendation.
November 21, 2014
(I got a copy courtesy of NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.)
Third 12th Doctor novel I read, and this one was quite surprising, in a way I hadn't expected.
It's narrated from the point of view of a secondary character, and not in the usual third person POV I've seen used in the other DW novels I read (granted, they don't amount to a lot, as previously mentioned). It was a bit disconcerting, and for some time I questioned that choice; however, after a while, I decided it wasn't so bad. On the one hand, the Doctor and Clara aren't so much the focus which can be seen as a problem. On the other hand, it allowed for a Doctor as seen by other people around him: how they perceived him, how he might come off to those who had no idea who he was, what kind of lasting impression he may leave on them. Because no matter what, the Doctor comes and go, and once he's gone, well, what's left behind? How is he going to be remembered?
Somehow, this novel provided the beginning of an insight into that, in a different way from what the new series has made me used to. It's not distinctly Whovian, which isn't exactly great, but somehow, it still kept me interested. I also liked Clara better here than I usually do, with her happy petitioning and picketing and her own antics (the cake, her pupils...).
The plot itself was OK: not the best I've seen, but not the worst either. It had more of a political bend, something I don't see that often in DW, so here, too, the change can be seen as refreshing, or as annoying. It'll all depend on the reader.
Conclusion: a novel I quite liked, though I could reproach it not to be "Whovian" enough.
Third 12th Doctor novel I read, and this one was quite surprising, in a way I hadn't expected.
It's narrated from the point of view of a secondary character, and not in the usual third person POV I've seen used in the other DW novels I read (granted, they don't amount to a lot, as previously mentioned). It was a bit disconcerting, and for some time I questioned that choice; however, after a while, I decided it wasn't so bad. On the one hand, the Doctor and Clara aren't so much the focus which can be seen as a problem. On the other hand, it allowed for a Doctor as seen by other people around him: how they perceived him, how he might come off to those who had no idea who he was, what kind of lasting impression he may leave on them. Because no matter what, the Doctor comes and go, and once he's gone, well, what's left behind? How is he going to be remembered?
Somehow, this novel provided the beginning of an insight into that, in a different way from what the new series has made me used to. It's not distinctly Whovian, which isn't exactly great, but somehow, it still kept me interested. I also liked Clara better here than I usually do, with her happy petitioning and picketing and her own antics (the cake, her pupils...).
The plot itself was OK: not the best I've seen, but not the worst either. It had more of a political bend, something I don't see that often in DW, so here, too, the change can be seen as refreshing, or as annoying. It'll all depend on the reader.
Conclusion: a novel I quite liked, though I could reproach it not to be "Whovian" enough.
October 12, 2023
2022 52 Book Challenge - 35) From The Villain's Perspective
I can't describe how much I love this book. As much as it isn't very Doctor Who-ey, being that it's not from the Doctor or the Companion's perspective, I just really enjoy it.
Clara is barely in it, and even when she is, she's just being odd and kooky, which is sort of endearing.
The Doctor is seen from an outsiders perspective, and it was quite nice to read that way, to see the impact he has on "ordinary" people in universe.
The Governor was a decent enough character. I've labeled him as a villain, but he's more of a soft villain, considering his position and how he got there, and I like that the book is more of a diary of the events from his perspective, and I liked the inclusion of the understanding of the running and maintenance of the prison and its population. I also really liked the setting being a prison rock in space, and the political aspects of the background events.
I've read this book multiple times now, and the major problem that I had with it is that I still can't imagine the actual monster of the book. Its not particularly well described and the bits that are, I just find it really hard to imagine. I just feel that, when you've read a book 5+ times, you should be able to imagine some image of the monster, especially when the rest of the book is well described and able to be imagined. But the monster and the monsters location isn't well described, or even that long in the book, and I still don't really get how the Governor, who has walked the prison many many times, has never realised that the maps are incorrect.
I can't describe how much I love this book. As much as it isn't very Doctor Who-ey, being that it's not from the Doctor or the Companion's perspective, I just really enjoy it.
Clara is barely in it, and even when she is, she's just being odd and kooky, which is sort of endearing.
The Doctor is seen from an outsiders perspective, and it was quite nice to read that way, to see the impact he has on "ordinary" people in universe.
The Governor was a decent enough character. I've labeled him as a villain, but he's more of a soft villain, considering his position and how he got there, and I like that the book is more of a diary of the events from his perspective, and I liked the inclusion of the understanding of the running and maintenance of the prison and its population. I also really liked the setting being a prison rock in space, and the political aspects of the background events.
I've read this book multiple times now, and the major problem that I had with it is that I still can't imagine the actual monster of the book. Its not particularly well described and the bits that are, I just find it really hard to imagine. I just feel that, when you've read a book 5+ times, you should be able to imagine some image of the monster, especially when the rest of the book is well described and able to be imagined. But the monster and the monsters location isn't well described, or even that long in the book, and I still don't really get how the Governor, who has walked the prison many many times, has never realised that the maps are incorrect.
November 27, 2025
Title in English: THE BLOOD CELL
2.5 stars rounded to 3. Too many victims, too much violence for a Doctor Who episode
2.5 stars rounded to 3. Too many victims, too much violence for a Doctor Who episode
July 20, 2022
A kind of Shawshank Redemption in space, in loose terms - but one which hides a much darker core. The characterizations of The Doctor and Clara were in pitch perfect alignment with their screen personas, always interesting to see when an author doesn't have a lot to go on (as this was written early in 12's era).
The whole story is told from the perspective of The Governor, a sort of head warden on a lump of rock serving as a prison. I actually dropped my rating a bit (down from 4.5, I guess) because of the pure grisly darkness of the last act, which was a literal abattoir - and easily the darkest Doctor Who scenes I've ever experienced. The author knows how dark it is, and tries to temper it in a few ways, but it was gruesome.
I'm a big fan of 12, and would have liked to see him in the role for at least another season - especially without the convoluted plot baggage that Moffat made Clare into (I have a love/hate relationship with that character that boils down to a kind of resentment). There was some eerie premonition for political and viral events that occurred 5 or 6 years after the book's publication (in the US), that left me with another brand of queasiness. The real-life actors in that particular drama are not as redeemable as the ones in the book.
(I've shared this review from my StoryGraph page - find me there as art_cart_ron)
The whole story is told from the perspective of The Governor, a sort of head warden on a lump of rock serving as a prison. I actually dropped my rating a bit (down from 4.5, I guess) because of the pure grisly darkness of the last act, which was a literal abattoir - and easily the darkest Doctor Who scenes I've ever experienced. The author knows how dark it is, and tries to temper it in a few ways, but it was gruesome.
I'm a big fan of 12, and would have liked to see him in the role for at least another season - especially without the convoluted plot baggage that Moffat made Clare into (I have a love/hate relationship with that character that boils down to a kind of resentment). There was some eerie premonition for political and viral events that occurred 5 or 6 years after the book's publication (in the US), that left me with another brand of queasiness. The real-life actors in that particular drama are not as redeemable as the ones in the book.
(I've shared this review from my StoryGraph page - find me there as art_cart_ron)
August 10, 2014
The fact that their prison was inescapable was a point of pride for the governor, now if only he could just get prisoner 428 to stay put.
The premise of The Blood Cell was fascinating. Take one impenetrable prison set on an asteroid. Add disappearing prisoners, a prison head that has a mysterious past, and a prison that is slowly turning against itself before adding a dash of the Doctor in all his new snarky, edgy glory with a healthy dose of pop culture references for good measure.
I think this could have been a good episode in the hands of the right director, however, I had trouble following this novel as a book.
Although The Blood Cell was a Doctor Who novel, the Governor was the main character and through whom readers were allowed entrance into the story. This left the plot feeling jumbled at times as past events tumbled out all wibbly wobbly, and scenes jarred from too descriptive to too much conversation. This narrative really called for the visual back up.
The other drawback with this novel is that with a little tweaking, the novel could have easily become any sci-fi, with the exception of a small handful of scenes, nothing felt distinctly Whovian.
Now, on to the good.
I realize some fans are up in arms about Clara as a companion but, I have become rather fond of the Impossible Girl and this novel only increased my delight. Clara's petitions and picketing were the perfect counter to the Doctor's brooding and, perhaps depression. I laughed out loud at her interactions with the Governor and loved the perfectness of their order.
Also, as I mentioned earlier, I do think this could have been an interesting episode, so for readers who have a good background when it comes to all things Whovian and creating mental landscapes they may be able to fill in the gaps a little better than a mama who's little one is overachieving in the teething department.
3 out of 5 stars
I received this book through Netgallery in exchange for my honest opinion
The premise of The Blood Cell was fascinating. Take one impenetrable prison set on an asteroid. Add disappearing prisoners, a prison head that has a mysterious past, and a prison that is slowly turning against itself before adding a dash of the Doctor in all his new snarky, edgy glory with a healthy dose of pop culture references for good measure.
I think this could have been a good episode in the hands of the right director, however, I had trouble following this novel as a book.
Although The Blood Cell was a Doctor Who novel, the Governor was the main character and through whom readers were allowed entrance into the story. This left the plot feeling jumbled at times as past events tumbled out all wibbly wobbly, and scenes jarred from too descriptive to too much conversation. This narrative really called for the visual back up.
The other drawback with this novel is that with a little tweaking, the novel could have easily become any sci-fi, with the exception of a small handful of scenes, nothing felt distinctly Whovian.
Now, on to the good.
I realize some fans are up in arms about Clara as a companion but, I have become rather fond of the Impossible Girl and this novel only increased my delight. Clara's petitions and picketing were the perfect counter to the Doctor's brooding and, perhaps depression. I laughed out loud at her interactions with the Governor and loved the perfectness of their order.
Also, as I mentioned earlier, I do think this could have been an interesting episode, so for readers who have a good background when it comes to all things Whovian and creating mental landscapes they may be able to fill in the gaps a little better than a mama who's little one is overachieving in the teething department.
3 out of 5 stars
I received this book through Netgallery in exchange for my honest opinion
January 20, 2015
I like being a part of the Doctor Who world when there aren't any episodes showing on the TV.
This tome was good. It definitely had the dark atmosphere that the episodes in Series 8 were supposed to have.
I thought the plot would have been really predictable and would turn out that the Governor was being controlled by some superior force and was made to look after a prison against his will full of empty cells. Turns out I was completely wrong and the people in the cells did actually exist. And it turned out that the Governor actually wanted to be in charge of the prison after what he had done as president.
I think this would have made quite a solid episode of it were put in to the main TV series. Alas, it would have been a 15 at the least due to the amount of gore (which was lightly talked about) during the Judge scene in the Blood Cell. It may have put some people off of any snacks they were having to see mutilated corpses being hung upon a giant robot for it to "learn" why people sin.
As much as I really enjoyed his book, I felt that there was too much to-ing and fro-ing between the Doctor and the Governor before the action at the end. And, in my opinion, Clara felt came across as a little bit childish when she was visiting The Prison. Should this have been an episode in the show, I would say that it was a brilliant storyline, but the script fell a little flat in some places.
4.5 stars to this book.
P.S.: You really need to think about letting people have half star ratings, Goodreads!
This tome was good. It definitely had the dark atmosphere that the episodes in Series 8 were supposed to have.
I thought the plot would have been really predictable and would turn out that the Governor was being controlled by some superior force and was made to look after a prison against his will full of empty cells. Turns out I was completely wrong and the people in the cells did actually exist. And it turned out that the Governor actually wanted to be in charge of the prison after what he had done as president.
I think this would have made quite a solid episode of it were put in to the main TV series. Alas, it would have been a 15 at the least due to the amount of gore (which was lightly talked about) during the Judge scene in the Blood Cell. It may have put some people off of any snacks they were having to see mutilated corpses being hung upon a giant robot for it to "learn" why people sin.
As much as I really enjoyed his book, I felt that there was too much to-ing and fro-ing between the Doctor and the Governor before the action at the end. And, in my opinion, Clara felt came across as a little bit childish when she was visiting The Prison. Should this have been an episode in the show, I would say that it was a brilliant storyline, but the script fell a little flat in some places.
4.5 stars to this book.
P.S.: You really need to think about letting people have half star ratings, Goodreads!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 14, 2014
Hmph.
Mixed feelings about this one, and not a lot to say.
Basically ... I liked the book well enough, but there was not one. single. thing. about it that screamed (or even whispered) Doctor Who to me. (Other than the cover and stuff.)
And more to the point, there wasn't one single thing about Prisoner 428 that said "Twelfth Doctor" to me. Not even a little bit. Sigh.
Actually, other than being called The Doctor, I didn't even get The Doctor from him. Like, not even a generic Doctor vibe. Just some random guy who accidentally repeats some phrases we've had on the show and tinkers a bit, but somehow he managed to do so in a way that, try as I might (and I tried very hard because I wanted my Twelve), I couldn't hear in Twelve's voice at all, and neither could I see Twelve in him.
And there was some girl named Clara, whom the Doctor travels with, but I think it's just a coincidence that her name was also Clara Oswald. She could have been called, dunno, Mary Smith or whatever, and I'd never have suspected this was supposed to be Clara.
Meh.
That aside, a reasonably okay little book. Just really disappointing.
Mixed feelings about this one, and not a lot to say.
Basically ... I liked the book well enough, but there was not one. single. thing. about it that screamed (or even whispered) Doctor Who to me. (Other than the cover and stuff.)
And more to the point, there wasn't one single thing about Prisoner 428 that said "Twelfth Doctor" to me. Not even a little bit. Sigh.
Actually, other than being called The Doctor, I didn't even get The Doctor from him. Like, not even a generic Doctor vibe. Just some random guy who accidentally repeats some phrases we've had on the show and tinkers a bit, but somehow he managed to do so in a way that, try as I might (and I tried very hard because I wanted my Twelve), I couldn't hear in Twelve's voice at all, and neither could I see Twelve in him.
And there was some girl named Clara, whom the Doctor travels with, but I think it's just a coincidence that her name was also Clara Oswald. She could have been called, dunno, Mary Smith or whatever, and I'd never have suspected this was supposed to be Clara.
Meh.
That aside, a reasonably okay little book. Just really disappointing.
January 31, 2015
I had suffered with a phobia of books for roughly 11 years, which was heartbreaking for me as I'd loved books beforehand. To get back into reading, I bought some Doctor Who books (because I love the show) between 2013 and 2014, and after three books, I was doubting I'd really get the fear under control and my passion back. Then I read the first page of this book and I had a massive smile on my face, almost in tears, because I felt that same excited feeling I did as a kid getting lost right away in a story. I actually had an urge to read a bit every night, which was a totally new experience for me.
Personally speaking, given the little I've read in my adult life, the dialogue was strong, clever and witty (and I'm a sucker for strong, clever, witty dialogue so it went down well), and it blew me away, and the plot was really interesting and funny in places. I loved the whole relationship between the three of them, the Doctor and Clara with the Governor, because getting inside his head was a brilliant perspective.
Personally speaking, given the little I've read in my adult life, the dialogue was strong, clever and witty (and I'm a sucker for strong, clever, witty dialogue so it went down well), and it blew me away, and the plot was really interesting and funny in places. I loved the whole relationship between the three of them, the Doctor and Clara with the Governor, because getting inside his head was a brilliant perspective.
February 4, 2017
Okay so this started really well. And I mean really well. From the first page I had no idea what would happen, and what happened to the Doctor and Clara. Why the cell? And what did the Commander have against the Doctor? I couldn't wait to read more!
The characters were written really well, Clara and 12 were portrayed completely on point and there were some great lines through the book, and I love the reference to books itself.
What let this down is the writing lagged in the middle, and towards the end. The plot was kind of gappy, so it stopped making sense after a while.
The characters were written really well, Clara and 12 were portrayed completely on point and there were some great lines through the book, and I love the reference to books itself.
What let this down is the writing lagged in the middle, and towards the end. The plot was kind of gappy, so it stopped making sense after a while.
May 30, 2018
Started off super interesting then for some reason I lost interest and the ending wasn’t very memorable at all. Decided to read this because Capaldi is the best ‘New Who’ doctor imo! You disagree? Well, you’re wrong ;) What a guy.
April 5, 2017
Buen capítulo del Doct... digo, buena historia del Doctor.
June 10, 2023
Go to jail
Do not pass Go
Welcome to hell
428
The Doctor is found guilty
Life with out patrol
And then the killings start.
This is a second read and one day wonder on 9th of June 2023
Do not pass Go
Welcome to hell
428
The Doctor is found guilty
Life with out patrol
And then the killings start.
This is a second read and one day wonder on 9th of June 2023
July 14, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. It feels harsh to give it only three stars because there were parts I really chuckled at, parts I found really interesting, and other parts that were gripping. But ultimately, I think it’s the right rating. The book was good, but not great and not excellent.
The story is very light and you can get through it quickly. The setting is interesting and quite well-drawn. The mystery is built well. The plot trots along at a good pace — not too fast and not too slow.
I really enjoyed the atmosphere in the story, especially early on. I liked the Doctor’s resourcefulness and the plot was light and fast enough to keep you interested easily.
However, the novel has a few issues. Quite a few of the other reviews mentioned this, and it’s hard to put a finger on it precisely, but the characters feel somewhat ‘off’. It has an air of fan-fiction in that the characters feel like imitations rather than the real thing. Even the original characters feel shallow, including the main villain. The whole story is as thin as paper. The action is fun, the mystery is intriguing, the dialogue is often snappy, but there it little in the way of emotions or depth. Reading this book is a bit like eating candy floss — and that’s okay! Sometimes a read like this is nice, as long as you know what you’re in for.
It was a fun little romp but, at the end, I’m left feeling that it was quite forgettable. Still well worth reading — it’s a good time! I rate this book a solid three stars.
The story is very light and you can get through it quickly. The setting is interesting and quite well-drawn. The mystery is built well. The plot trots along at a good pace — not too fast and not too slow.
I really enjoyed the atmosphere in the story, especially early on. I liked the Doctor’s resourcefulness and the plot was light and fast enough to keep you interested easily.
However, the novel has a few issues. Quite a few of the other reviews mentioned this, and it’s hard to put a finger on it precisely, but the characters feel somewhat ‘off’. It has an air of fan-fiction in that the characters feel like imitations rather than the real thing. Even the original characters feel shallow, including the main villain. The whole story is as thin as paper. The action is fun, the mystery is intriguing, the dialogue is often snappy, but there it little in the way of emotions or depth. Reading this book is a bit like eating candy floss — and that’s okay! Sometimes a read like this is nice, as long as you know what you’re in for.
It was a fun little romp but, at the end, I’m left feeling that it was quite forgettable. Still well worth reading — it’s a good time! I rate this book a solid three stars.
January 3, 2020
A naso, prima ancora di leggerlo, mi intrigava e ora che l'ho divorato l'ho messo subito tra i miei romanzi preferiti sul Dottore.
Non do cinque stelline perché diverse cose mi hanno fatto storcere il naso (descrizioni confuse, colpi di scena quasi per niente preparati), ma nel complesso mi è piaciuto molto.
Non do cinque stelline perché diverse cose mi hanno fatto storcere il naso (descrizioni confuse, colpi di scena quasi per niente preparati), ma nel complesso mi è piaciuto molto.
September 8, 2024
Borrowed from MJs library at Durham but forgot. I ❤️ twelveclara so much that I wished they had more time together
November 10, 2021
Good book, though as we all know by now, viruses mutate more when they are actually spreading, not when they lack hosts to spread through.
January 20, 2025
This was....not what I was expecting. This was a proper horror novel. Both about politics (pandemic politics at that) and bloody limbs and gore. Goodness gracious this and Blood of the Daleks are thus far my favorite DW novels. Don't know what that says about me lol.
March 29, 2015
Scroll down for the review in English.
Esta novela cambia el punto de vista habitual. Normalmente vemos la acción desde el punto de vista del Doctor, el compañero o quien sea que les está ayudando. Éste no es el caso aquí. Toda la historia está narrada desde el punto de vista del director de la prisión y añade algo interesante a la historia. Vemos los pensamientos de una persona a la que no le gusta el Doctor y al principio no sabemos por qué su opinión es tan negativa. Normalmente prefiero la narración en tercera persona, pero la primera persona funcionó muy bien, porque el director es bastante misterioso.
La caracterización del Doctor es definitivamente mejor que en Silhouette, pero todavía había momentos en los que pensé que sonaba más como el Undécimo. Sin embargo, no muchos momentos.
El argumento fue interesante, aunque me hubiera gustado ver a Clara más involucrada en esta aventura. Esto pone el punto de mira en el Doctor, pero como vemos lo que hace a través de los ojos del director, la parte del Doctor es más pequeña. Me gustó que este argumento fuera más siniestro que la mayoría de las NSAs. No hay descripciones demasiado sangrientas, pero el autor crea el argumento de tal modo que podemos rellenar los huecos fácilmente. Además, tenemos dilemas morales mayores, no tan grandes como en esta temporada de la serie, pero este libro hizo que pensara en elecciones y sus consecuencias, que no son siempre previsibles.
El único problema que tuve con esta novela es que hay una escena en una celda que parecía que la habían simplificado mucho, puede que para los lectores más jóvenes. Se insinúa que han estado sucediendo cosas terribles, pero el olor que se describe es sólo de sangre. Teniendo en cuenta todo lo que se ha insinuado, esta descripción es demasiado limpia. No es algo grande, ni que distraiga, pero es algo de lo que me dí cuenta.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
This novel changes the usual point of view. We usually see the action from the point of view of the Doctor, the companion or whoever else is helping the team. This is not the case here. The whole story is told from the point of view of the governor of the prison and it adds something interesting to the story. We see the thoughts of a person who dislikes the Doctor and we don't know at first why the man's opinion is so low. I generally prefer a third person narrative, but the first person worked well, because the governor is a bit mysterious himself.
The characterisation of the Doctor is definitely better than in Silhouette, but there were still a few moments where I thought that he sounded more like the 11th. Not many though.
The plot was interesting, although I would have liked to see Clara more involved in this adventure. This does put the focus on the Doctor, but as we see his actions through the governor's eyes, the part of the Doctor is smaller. I liked that this plot is darker than most NSAs. There aren't extremely gory descriptions, but the author builds the plot in a way that we can easily fill in all the blanks. Also, we have bigger moral dilemmas, not as big as in this season of the show, but this book made me think about choices and their consequences, which are not always foreseeable.
The only issue that I had with this novel is that there's a scene in a cell that seemed to be simplified a lot, maybe for younger readers. It's implied that horrible things had been happening there for a while, but the smell that is described is just blood. Considering all that's implied, this description is too clean. It's not something big or distracting, but still something that I noticed.
Esta novela cambia el punto de vista habitual. Normalmente vemos la acción desde el punto de vista del Doctor, el compañero o quien sea que les está ayudando. Éste no es el caso aquí. Toda la historia está narrada desde el punto de vista del director de la prisión y añade algo interesante a la historia. Vemos los pensamientos de una persona a la que no le gusta el Doctor y al principio no sabemos por qué su opinión es tan negativa. Normalmente prefiero la narración en tercera persona, pero la primera persona funcionó muy bien, porque el director es bastante misterioso.
La caracterización del Doctor es definitivamente mejor que en Silhouette, pero todavía había momentos en los que pensé que sonaba más como el Undécimo. Sin embargo, no muchos momentos.
El argumento fue interesante, aunque me hubiera gustado ver a Clara más involucrada en esta aventura. Esto pone el punto de mira en el Doctor, pero como vemos lo que hace a través de los ojos del director, la parte del Doctor es más pequeña. Me gustó que este argumento fuera más siniestro que la mayoría de las NSAs. No hay descripciones demasiado sangrientas, pero el autor crea el argumento de tal modo que podemos rellenar los huecos fácilmente. Además, tenemos dilemas morales mayores, no tan grandes como en esta temporada de la serie, pero este libro hizo que pensara en elecciones y sus consecuencias, que no son siempre previsibles.
El único problema que tuve con esta novela es que hay una escena en una celda que parecía que la habían simplificado mucho, puede que para los lectores más jóvenes. Se insinúa que han estado sucediendo cosas terribles, pero el olor que se describe es sólo de sangre. Teniendo en cuenta todo lo que se ha insinuado, esta descripción es demasiado limpia. No es algo grande, ni que distraiga, pero es algo de lo que me dí cuenta.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
This novel changes the usual point of view. We usually see the action from the point of view of the Doctor, the companion or whoever else is helping the team. This is not the case here. The whole story is told from the point of view of the governor of the prison and it adds something interesting to the story. We see the thoughts of a person who dislikes the Doctor and we don't know at first why the man's opinion is so low. I generally prefer a third person narrative, but the first person worked well, because the governor is a bit mysterious himself.
The characterisation of the Doctor is definitely better than in Silhouette, but there were still a few moments where I thought that he sounded more like the 11th. Not many though.
The plot was interesting, although I would have liked to see Clara more involved in this adventure. This does put the focus on the Doctor, but as we see his actions through the governor's eyes, the part of the Doctor is smaller. I liked that this plot is darker than most NSAs. There aren't extremely gory descriptions, but the author builds the plot in a way that we can easily fill in all the blanks. Also, we have bigger moral dilemmas, not as big as in this season of the show, but this book made me think about choices and their consequences, which are not always foreseeable.
The only issue that I had with this novel is that there's a scene in a cell that seemed to be simplified a lot, maybe for younger readers. It's implied that horrible things had been happening there for a while, but the smell that is described is just blood. Considering all that's implied, this description is too clean. It's not something big or distracting, but still something that I noticed.
September 20, 2014
The first thing to capture my attention about The Blood Cell was the blurb on the front cover promising death if the Doctor wasn’t released. It was all I needed to want to dive headfirst into the story to see where the story would take me. From the blurb to the last line The Blood Cell had me hooked, so hooked that I read the entire book in one sitting.
This Doctor Who story is told from a different point of view than most of the Doctor Who books I’ve come across. It’s written in first person from a man simply known as “the Governor.” While I was reading I was reminded of when I listened to the Doctor Who Audio book Dead Air (read by David Tennant). The first person narrative is pulled off through the clever use of it being a journal of what had happened, which is similar to the recorded narrative of Dead Air. This takes some of the focus off of the Doctor in the beginning of the story, but because of the nature of the prison and my curiosity to find out more about the Governor I didn’t mind.
James Goss did an excellent job writing both the Doctor and Clara. He masterfully incorporated the 12th Doctor into the story and I loved getting to see more of one of my favorite Doctors. Clara is brilliant in her parts as well, easily stepping into each new situation with the Doctor. As with all the Doctor Who books I’ve read recently featuring Clara I’d love to see more of her but for this story she fit just fine. The other characters in this book were also well written and interesting. I found myself really liking a few, and really disliking others. The Governor interested me from the very beginning and I truly enjoyed getting to know him and his back story.
The Blood Cell is a little darker than most of the Doctor Who books, but this doesn’t at all take away from it’s enjoyment. It balances the dark with the Doctor’s quirky and often laugh out loud funny reactions to situations and people. Can anyone say sonic spoon?
Overall I was very pleased with The Blood Cell. It was a great chance to get to see more of 12 and Clara as well as give me an entertaining read between DW episodes. I’d recommend it to anyone in need of a good Doctor Who fix.
Note: I received an electronic copy of this book from Netgalley for my fair and honest opinion as I have stated above.
This Doctor Who story is told from a different point of view than most of the Doctor Who books I’ve come across. It’s written in first person from a man simply known as “the Governor.” While I was reading I was reminded of when I listened to the Doctor Who Audio book Dead Air (read by David Tennant). The first person narrative is pulled off through the clever use of it being a journal of what had happened, which is similar to the recorded narrative of Dead Air. This takes some of the focus off of the Doctor in the beginning of the story, but because of the nature of the prison and my curiosity to find out more about the Governor I didn’t mind.
James Goss did an excellent job writing both the Doctor and Clara. He masterfully incorporated the 12th Doctor into the story and I loved getting to see more of one of my favorite Doctors. Clara is brilliant in her parts as well, easily stepping into each new situation with the Doctor. As with all the Doctor Who books I’ve read recently featuring Clara I’d love to see more of her but for this story she fit just fine. The other characters in this book were also well written and interesting. I found myself really liking a few, and really disliking others. The Governor interested me from the very beginning and I truly enjoyed getting to know him and his back story.
The Blood Cell is a little darker than most of the Doctor Who books, but this doesn’t at all take away from it’s enjoyment. It balances the dark with the Doctor’s quirky and often laugh out loud funny reactions to situations and people. Can anyone say sonic spoon?
Overall I was very pleased with The Blood Cell. It was a great chance to get to see more of 12 and Clara as well as give me an entertaining read between DW episodes. I’d recommend it to anyone in need of a good Doctor Who fix.
Note: I received an electronic copy of this book from Netgalley for my fair and honest opinion as I have stated above.
April 15, 2023
I've owned many of the BBC New Series novels since I was a kid but never really read any of them properly. Now, all these years later, as we await new Doctor Who episodes a year in the future, I have taken to finally reading those I had as a kid and others that interest me. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘊𝘦𝘭𝘭 was one that came in the latter category as the Twelfth Doctor is my favourite Doctor, it seemed a good place to start. I have experienced many stories by James Goss before - whether short stories or Big Finish audios - and despite his prolific and admired reputation in Doctor Who extended universe fiction, I've always found them to be very hit or miss.
This one was a surefire hit. A very pleasant surprise that the first New Series novel I take to read all the way through would be an especially strong one. The Doctor is in prison, and the prison is not all that it seems. A simple concept - but played out wonderfully. Always unraveling a mystery and revealing twists and turns along the way.
Coincidentally, of the three books I have read so far this year, they have all been first person mysteries. A single narrator discovering the truth about some secret. Either that, or I've got a very specific taste. The first person narration worked very well for this book and allowed the story to be told in an unexpected and refreshing way. The Doctor's introduction, for example, wasn't abundantly clear until after a few pages of only being referred to as "Prisoner 428". Similarly, Clara's introduction took a while before she was no longer referred to as "the girl" (though this one was readily apparent who "the girl" in question was). The story was gripping, exciting, and I was engaged throughout.
A particular standout of James Goss stories with a great plot and characters who really leapt from the page. The Twelfth Doctor and Clara were written perfectly (even if some phrases and behaviours were clearly constructed from pre-Series 8 character briefs) and I could really hear their voices in every single line. The Governor was a wonderful 'love-to-hate' character, and all other side characters served their purpose expertly. I highly recommend this to fans of the Twelfth Doctor, fans of the Moffat era, or any Doctor Who fan looking for a place to start with the BBC New Series novels.
This one was a surefire hit. A very pleasant surprise that the first New Series novel I take to read all the way through would be an especially strong one. The Doctor is in prison, and the prison is not all that it seems. A simple concept - but played out wonderfully. Always unraveling a mystery and revealing twists and turns along the way.
Coincidentally, of the three books I have read so far this year, they have all been first person mysteries. A single narrator discovering the truth about some secret. Either that, or I've got a very specific taste. The first person narration worked very well for this book and allowed the story to be told in an unexpected and refreshing way. The Doctor's introduction, for example, wasn't abundantly clear until after a few pages of only being referred to as "Prisoner 428". Similarly, Clara's introduction took a while before she was no longer referred to as "the girl" (though this one was readily apparent who "the girl" in question was). The story was gripping, exciting, and I was engaged throughout.
A particular standout of James Goss stories with a great plot and characters who really leapt from the page. The Twelfth Doctor and Clara were written perfectly (even if some phrases and behaviours were clearly constructed from pre-Series 8 character briefs) and I could really hear their voices in every single line. The Governor was a wonderful 'love-to-hate' character, and all other side characters served their purpose expertly. I highly recommend this to fans of the Twelfth Doctor, fans of the Moffat era, or any Doctor Who fan looking for a place to start with the BBC New Series novels.
December 8, 2014
I received a copy of this book in exchanged for a honest review. In no way did the author or publishing company influence my review. For all my reviews, see my blog fashion-by-the-book.tumblr.com
There is a man in The Governor's Prison. He's a strange man, who pleads his innocence and tries to escape. Not to mention the strange things he came with, the way he talks, and the girl who tries (and fails) to visit him everyday. Who is this man? The Governor tries to pay no attention to him, or his warnings. But when people start to die, he decides to look closer at this prisoner. Or, as he prefers to be called, The Doctor.
The Good: Clara Oswald is seriously great in book-form. Goss got her down well, I think. And I liked the mentions of her and the TARDIS' ongoing feud. And, although it's sorely lacking in Clara/Doctor moments, there is a fun conversation towards the end, when the Doctor hurts his toe :)
The Bad: Oh lord. I hate even mentioning this, but do you remember the episode we all pretend doesn't exist? I know you do. And if you didn't... [image error]
Well, this book reminded me of that ill-fated episode. No, no. There weren't any awkward seductions or "monsters" who literally absorb people and wear their faces on their stomach (*shudders*). But it did have an extreme lack of the Doctor, and a main character who I could care less about. The Governor... I get the feeling he was suppose to be a kicked puppy, if you will. Someone we should feel sorry for? But, alas, the kicked puppy thing only works in a few cases. Instead, The Governor is boring and useless. And it takes way too long to see his story, if you even care about it at that point. And, to be honest, I couldn't care enough to really pay much attention to the plot, which was kind of spacey and weird (HA! Spacey. Sorry....) anyways.
With Doctor Who books, you have a 50/50 chance of getting a good one or a bad one. This one is definitely the latter.
There is a man in The Governor's Prison. He's a strange man, who pleads his innocence and tries to escape. Not to mention the strange things he came with, the way he talks, and the girl who tries (and fails) to visit him everyday. Who is this man? The Governor tries to pay no attention to him, or his warnings. But when people start to die, he decides to look closer at this prisoner. Or, as he prefers to be called, The Doctor.
The Good: Clara Oswald is seriously great in book-form. Goss got her down well, I think. And I liked the mentions of her and the TARDIS' ongoing feud. And, although it's sorely lacking in Clara/Doctor moments, there is a fun conversation towards the end, when the Doctor hurts his toe :)
The Bad: Oh lord. I hate even mentioning this, but do you remember the episode we all pretend doesn't exist? I know you do. And if you didn't... [image error]
Well, this book reminded me of that ill-fated episode. No, no. There weren't any awkward seductions or "monsters" who literally absorb people and wear their faces on their stomach (*shudders*). But it did have an extreme lack of the Doctor, and a main character who I could care less about. The Governor... I get the feeling he was suppose to be a kicked puppy, if you will. Someone we should feel sorry for? But, alas, the kicked puppy thing only works in a few cases. Instead, The Governor is boring and useless. And it takes way too long to see his story, if you even care about it at that point. And, to be honest, I couldn't care enough to really pay much attention to the plot, which was kind of spacey and weird (HA! Spacey. Sorry....) anyways.
With Doctor Who books, you have a 50/50 chance of getting a good one or a bad one. This one is definitely the latter.
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