What do you think?
Rate this book
Companion Piece: Women Celebrate the Humans, Aliens and Tin Dogs of Doctor Who
In Companion Piece, editors L.M. Myles (Chicks Unravel Time) and Liz Barr bring together a host of award-winning female writers, media professionals and more to examine the wide array of humans, aliens and tin dogs who have accompanied the Doctor in his adventures throughout time and space.
Tansy Rayner Roberts (Ink Black Magic) finds the defining attribute of Sara Kingdom, while Amal El-Mohtar (The Honey Month) looks at the extent to which the Doctor himself is a companion, particularly to the Brigadier. Nina Allan (“Angelus”) rewatches – with some concern – Sarah Jane Smith’s debut for the first time in ages, and Seanan McGuire (Rosemary and Rue) addresses the ethics of using violence through the lens of Leela, Ace and Amy Pond.
Other contributors include Karen Miller (The Innocent Mage), Deborah Stanish (Chicks Unravel Time), Lynne Thomas (Chicks Dig Time Lords), Joan Francis Turner (Dust), Mary Robinette Kowal (Shades of Milk and Honey) and Tehani Wessely (FableCroft Publishing).
Tansy Rayner Roberts (Ink Black Magic) finds the defining attribute of Sara Kingdom, while Amal El-Mohtar (The Honey Month) looks at the extent to which the Doctor himself is a companion, particularly to the Brigadier. Nina Allan (“Angelus”) rewatches – with some concern – Sarah Jane Smith’s debut for the first time in ages, and Seanan McGuire (Rosemary and Rue) addresses the ethics of using violence through the lens of Leela, Ace and Amy Pond.
Other contributors include Karen Miller (The Innocent Mage), Deborah Stanish (Chicks Unravel Time), Lynne Thomas (Chicks Dig Time Lords), Joan Francis Turner (Dust), Mary Robinette Kowal (Shades of Milk and Honey) and Tehani Wessely (FableCroft Publishing).
272 pages, Paperback
First published April 7, 2015
5 people are currently reading
182 people want to read
About the author
L.M. Myles
13 books30 followersI’m a Scottish writer, editor and geek, with a blog called Follow That Trebuchet cause medieval siege weaponry is awesome, most especially trebuchets.
I co-edited the Hugo Award nominated anthology Chicks Unravel Time (with Deborah Stanish), and Companion Piece (with Liz Barr), and I’ve written for Doctor Who in prose and on audio, most recently the title story on the Big Finish release Breaking Bubbles and Other Stories.
My writing’s been published in Cranky Ladies of History, Uncanny Magazine, and Bernice Summerfield: Present Danger, amongst others.
You can also hear me say very sensible things about Doctor Who on the Verity! podcast.
I co-edited the Hugo Award nominated anthology Chicks Unravel Time (with Deborah Stanish), and Companion Piece (with Liz Barr), and I’ve written for Doctor Who in prose and on audio, most recently the title story on the Big Finish release Breaking Bubbles and Other Stories.
My writing’s been published in Cranky Ladies of History, Uncanny Magazine, and Bernice Summerfield: Present Danger, amongst others.
You can also hear me say very sensible things about Doctor Who on the Verity! podcast.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 14 reviews
February 28, 2015
A wonderful read from start to finish, and yes, I'd say that even if I didn't have an essay in the book -- after all, I hadn't read any of the others before now! As with Chicks Unravel Time, Companion Piece made me want to go back and re-watch episodes I haven't seen in a long time -- even, shockingly, Mel's episodes, which I was never in love with at the time but am now willing to give a second chance based on Liz Barr's enthusiastic essay. It also seems like it's long past time for me to give Benny a chance beyond The Dying Days and Human Nature; I should rewatch some Peri episodes now that I have a new appreciation for her intelligence and compassion; and how nice it was to read someone praising Victoria's intellect and tenaciousness, since even after watching most of her serials last year, I was tired of the screaming after a while.
In short: Companion Piece shows off the good in every companion, and as a near-lifelong fan of Doctor Who, this makes me happy indeed.
In short: Companion Piece shows off the good in every companion, and as a near-lifelong fan of Doctor Who, this makes me happy indeed.
April 17, 2015
Full disclosure: I am Goodreads friends with one of the authors, which is how I was alerted to the existence of this book. Although L M Myles is also a name that is familiar to me from Twitter, being someone who is often retweeted by Paul Cornell. Social media, eh? Anyway, I bought this book because Anna's in it and I trust her to write for Quality Publications.
The five stars is because it's a quality publication and I really enjoyed reading it. Not only did I learn stuff, it also made me feel better about my fannishness. It's a diverse lot of authors who've followed a lot of different paths into the fandom and they have lots of interesting things to say about who the companions were, how they were handled by the show and why. And what they mean to us, of course. I am ashamed to admit my tolerance for sitting through many Old Who stories is quite low, but on the other hand, I love spoilers and a companion-centric discussion of Who necessarily involves cherry-picking the best bits of many different stories, not all of which I have watched yet. It's great! For example, take the case of Sara Kingdom. Even if her episodes still existed, I'd be watching them basically just to see her. Alas, those episodes are no more and now the bulk of my knowledge of her comes from this book. But I don't feel short-changed by that at all.
tl;dr - this book is great, it both enlightened and delighted me!
The five stars is because it's a quality publication and I really enjoyed reading it. Not only did I learn stuff, it also made me feel better about my fannishness. It's a diverse lot of authors who've followed a lot of different paths into the fandom and they have lots of interesting things to say about who the companions were, how they were handled by the show and why. And what they mean to us, of course. I am ashamed to admit my tolerance for sitting through many Old Who stories is quite low, but on the other hand, I love spoilers and a companion-centric discussion of Who necessarily involves cherry-picking the best bits of many different stories, not all of which I have watched yet. It's great! For example, take the case of Sara Kingdom. Even if her episodes still existed, I'd be watching them basically just to see her. Alas, those episodes are no more and now the bulk of my knowledge of her comes from this book. But I don't feel short-changed by that at all.
tl;dr - this book is great, it both enlightened and delighted me!
May 25, 2015
This is an essential read for Whovians, particularly women, to get an excellent view into the psychology and themes of "Doctor Who" across its many seasons (or series, for the Anglophiles). While a couple of the critical essays are a bit overlong, the overwhelming majority are well-written, well-researched pieces that explore the role of companions and their histories. This level of critical analysis (really, academic essays at times) helps give greater social context to many of the companions from Who both Classic and New.
July 30, 2021
A wide-ranging look at the Doctor's companions by female writers, timed to the 50th anniversary of the series. They are all breezy, entertaining essays, but I must admit I was expecting a bit more, a bit deeper, and a bit more spicy...something more akin to what I found in the "Outside In" series of books. I also think several companions deserve much more in the way of examination & multiple view points, particularly Tegan, Turlough, and Liz Shaw. It's a perfectly serviceable collection, but nothing that really blew me away.
August 11, 2015
So yes, I have an essay in this book (about self-professed "mouth on legs" Aussie firecracker Tegan), and yes, I know several other contributors personally or as a fan of their writing, and yes, I've enjoyed Mad Norwegian books in the past… That said, I'm a huge Doctor Who fan, and this book is really darn good, so regardless of any personal feelings, I would say the same thing. It's five star, it's fantastic for dipping in and out of, nodding furiously when an author says something I agree with, berating them aloud (sometimes in public) when I disagree, and being absolutely delighted to discover companions I'd barely heard of (from the Classic series) or make connections that caused me glee.
Personal favourites were many! "Donna: Noble by name and Noble by Nature" by Karen Miller, "Scientists, Not Office Boys" by Anna Livingston, "Amy's Choice: Doctor Who Companions and the Nightmare of Domesticity" by Una McCormack, "The Ones He Leaves Behind" by Foz Meadows, "Science Princess FTW" by Mary Robinette Kowal, "What has Romana Ever Done for Us?" by Phoebe Taylor…
Dammit, look, they're all good! Not a single one I didn't enjoy in some aspect or get something out of. Loved Stephanie Lai's defence of Peri, really enjoyed that Emma Ward examined a non-TV companion, and so much more. You should check this book out. It's great.
Personal favourites were many! "Donna: Noble by name and Noble by Nature" by Karen Miller, "Scientists, Not Office Boys" by Anna Livingston, "Amy's Choice: Doctor Who Companions and the Nightmare of Domesticity" by Una McCormack, "The Ones He Leaves Behind" by Foz Meadows, "Science Princess FTW" by Mary Robinette Kowal, "What has Romana Ever Done for Us?" by Phoebe Taylor…
Dammit, look, they're all good! Not a single one I didn't enjoy in some aspect or get something out of. Loved Stephanie Lai's defence of Peri, really enjoyed that Emma Ward examined a non-TV companion, and so much more. You should check this book out. It's great.
August 14, 2015
So I've learnt that it is possible to read too many essays about doctor who in one sitting. I've also learnt that everyone views the doctor's companions slightly differently, and that many of us are able to find feminist meaning in work not intended to be feminist.
April 19, 2022
An interesting look at the companions of Doctor Who from a female perspective. Some very thought-provoking essays in this one looking at various aspects of the Doctor Who companions usually through a look at an individual companion. Particularly interesting ones include one that looks at race and one about why the new series is awful to its female companions. Definitely worth for those who are interested in different takes on Doctor Who that's fun and easy to read. (Other highlights from this publisher include Chicks Dig Time Lords: A Celebration of Doctor Who by the Women Who Love It and Chicks Unravel Time: Women Journey Through Every Season of Doctor Who.)
November 8, 2025
An excellent collection of essays! The contributors pull from the large breadth of Doctor Who (just at 50 years old at the time of the compilation), diving deep into the characters, their actions, and their legacies. Being the Rose Tyler fan that I am, I particularly enjoyed the ones that covered her. I might not agree with all that was written, but they were some fascinating takes. A great read!
December 8, 2016
Companion Piece is another book in the "Chicks Dig" series (other volumes include: Chicks Dig Time Lords, Chicks Dig Comics, etc.). This essay collection focuses on the companions in Doctor Who. The essays represent a variety of viewpoints, but often have a Feminist perspective. What I love about Companion Piece is that the essays really get you to think and to re-consider one's opinions about various eras of Doctor Who and the companions therein. This collection begs the reader to reconsider companions that they may have not really cared for, and to think about how others might view a character - positively. But it also gives the reader unique, thought-provoking essays that will have the astute female reader nodded her head - and not as yet another dismissal of early companions as "screamers" (the "defense" of Barbara Wright is brilliant, as is the essay on Nyssa or "Science Princess FTW"). Companion Piece moves way beyond the common, oft-repeated fannish "wisdom" of long-time male Doctor Who fandom and gives the reader new ideas to consider. It even had me reconsidering my opinions about a couple of companions that I've never liked [Mel, Peri].
This essay collection is highly recommended to all Doctor Who fans but also to anyone interested in Feminist film/literary/television critique, as well as anyone who just wants to read passionate, intelligent, essay-writing.
The collection also is overwhelmingly positive, never strident. I loved that.
Again, highly recommended.
This essay collection is highly recommended to all Doctor Who fans but also to anyone interested in Feminist film/literary/television critique, as well as anyone who just wants to read passionate, intelligent, essay-writing.
The collection also is overwhelmingly positive, never strident. I loved that.
Again, highly recommended.
October 11, 2015
http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/2530005.html
This is the sixth of the Geek Girl Chronicles, and the third of them to collect essays by women about Doctor Who (following on from Chicks Dig Time Lords and Chicks Unravel Time). Published earlier this year, it is eligible for next year's Hugo nominations as Best Related Work; the first in the series won that category in 2011, and Mad Norwegian Press has had three more nominations since (Chicks Unravel Time, Chicks Dig Gaming and Queers Dig Time Lords).
Obviously this is mainly going to appeal to Who fans with a decent knowledge of both Old and New Who, but I commend it to the rest of you anyway. I think the weakest essay here is better than the weakest ones in the two previous volumes; I think that there are a couple of really standout pieces (the para I quote above is from "Scheherazade and Galahad in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks", by Mags L. Halliday, which was one of my favourites); and I think that the best of them relate the ongoing story of Doctor Who to wider cultural and literary trends in a way that should be relevant to anyone with an interest in the genre.
This is the sixth of the Geek Girl Chronicles, and the third of them to collect essays by women about Doctor Who (following on from Chicks Dig Time Lords and Chicks Unravel Time). Published earlier this year, it is eligible for next year's Hugo nominations as Best Related Work; the first in the series won that category in 2011, and Mad Norwegian Press has had three more nominations since (Chicks Unravel Time, Chicks Dig Gaming and Queers Dig Time Lords).
Obviously this is mainly going to appeal to Who fans with a decent knowledge of both Old and New Who, but I commend it to the rest of you anyway. I think the weakest essay here is better than the weakest ones in the two previous volumes; I think that there are a couple of really standout pieces (the para I quote above is from "Scheherazade and Galahad in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks", by Mags L. Halliday, which was one of my favourites); and I think that the best of them relate the ongoing story of Doctor Who to wider cultural and literary trends in a way that should be relevant to anyone with an interest in the genre.
June 7, 2016
A collection of essays examining the many and various companions that have traveled with the Doctor over the years.
I read the earlier collection, Chicks Dig Time Lords and really enjoyed it so I was happy to get my hands on this one and it did not disappoint.
I have to admit I am a Classic Who fan and not a New Who fan at all, so I found the older companions much easier and interesting to read about but all of the essays were well written and make interesting points. Some covered the same companions but from a different perspective and it was fun and informative seeing how two different people could form such radically different opinions about the same companion or even the same costumes.
To me there seemed to be a fair coverage between New Who and Classic Who companions, so there should be plenty for fans of each and no companion seemed to be lost in the shuffle.
A must read for Doctor Who fans.
I read the earlier collection, Chicks Dig Time Lords and really enjoyed it so I was happy to get my hands on this one and it did not disappoint.
I have to admit I am a Classic Who fan and not a New Who fan at all, so I found the older companions much easier and interesting to read about but all of the essays were well written and make interesting points. Some covered the same companions but from a different perspective and it was fun and informative seeing how two different people could form such radically different opinions about the same companion or even the same costumes.
To me there seemed to be a fair coverage between New Who and Classic Who companions, so there should be plenty for fans of each and no companion seemed to be lost in the shuffle.
A must read for Doctor Who fans.
June 13, 2015
An interesting collection of essays on the companions of Doctor Who, ranging from reminiscences to more academic pieces. It's well worth a read, but not my favourite of the Mad Norwegian Press books.
Want to read
February 18, 2015Picked up a copy at Gallifrey One and am very excited to read it (though I have already, predictably, read the essay about Polly and enjoyed it).
Displaying 1 - 13 of 14 reviews