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Eleventh Doctor Adventures #2

Doctor Who: Heart of Stone

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The Doctor, Amy and Rory are surprised to discover lumps of moon rock scattered around a farm. But things get even stranger when they find out where the moon rock is coming from - a Rock Man is turning everything he touches to stone! Can the Doctor, Amy and Rory find out what the creature wants before it's too late?

Originally published as a duology Heart of Stone / Death Riders

183 pages, Paperback

First published February 3, 2011

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About the author

Trevor Baxendale

83 books48 followers
Trevor Baxendale is a novelist who has penned several Doctor Who tie-in novels and audio dramas. He lives in Liverpool, England with his wife and two children.

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5 stars
25 (18%)
4 stars
49 (37%)
3 stars
45 (34%)
2 stars
10 (7%)
1 star
3 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
Profile Image for Jim C.
1,797 reviews35 followers
December 25, 2020
This is based on the television series. In this one, The Eleventh Doctor with Amy and Rory land on a rural farm. On this farm there has been an accident. The problem with this accident is some of the remains are moon rocks and this shouldn't be.

This was more of a novella than a full story. Usually books from this universe clock in at two hundred fifty pages and this one was under two hundred pages. Basically, books from this universe are a quick read and this one was even quicker. That didn't matter because I enjoyed this story so much. I want to see this story on the small screen. First off, the portrayals of the established characters were perfect. I had no problem picturing The Doctor's enthusiasm, Amy's bravery, and Rory being the unsung hero of the trio. As for the story it fits into this universe perfectly. Sure the science is kind of suspect but one expects that in a Doctor Who story. It had all the hallmarks of a traditional story one sees on the small screen.

I have read other offerings from this author in this universe and he just gets it. He gets the characters and portrays them correctly. The story seems to work as it is one more fun adventure with characters that are no longer on the show. I look forward to reading more from this author in this universe.
2,017 reviews57 followers
November 18, 2015
In a twist on the Midas myth and with a nod to Asimov, the Eleventh Doctor (Matt Smith) must solve the puzzle, protect Jess' father's farm from being rockified and/or unwillingly sold, and save the Earth. (Yes, I'm sure that last was a surprise to regular viewers/readers.)

There was one line which was obviously a scene-change suitable for television, and part of the ending was simplistically unrealistic, even for Doctor Who. But I enjoyed reading another DW monster-threatening-the-world story, and the characters of the Doctor, Amy and Rory had some good by-plays and remained consistent with the show.

So it was fun, but not one of the best.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
80 reviews
April 12, 2023
Quite some fun, setup is nice, kind of midas touch vibe. The problem resolution is a bit underwhelming though
Profile Image for Marjolein (UrlPhantomhive).
2,497 reviews57 followers
December 19, 2015
3.5 Stars

Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com

I still have to watch the last season of Doctor Who, but since I don't have a lot of time I'm coping for the moment with reading these short Doctor Who books. Which also focus on characters that I like better.

The 11th Doctor, Amy and Rory find themselves on a farm where they find some weird moon rock. Definitely something strange is going on.

I really quite liked this one. It was a reading an episode of the series. which always is a good thing. It was a very quick read as well, the story moved fast and there was a nice mystery to solve. The characters from the series were portrayed very well in my opinion. I would certainly pick up other Doctor Who novels by this author.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Profile Image for David T.
69 reviews1 follower
December 16, 2020
What an interesting book to end the year with. I had just fished reading three Harrys so I figured that I could take a break and read something lit as my last book. Well I read another 11th Doctor book and that should speak for itself.

This one, Heart Of Stone, made the most sense out of the many that I read this year. However it was still rushed confusing and like a usual 11th Doctor episode, not very good. Rory and Amy acted very out of character being to stupid and mean. Too the amount of pop culture references was very overloading. Though this book was a Christmas gift so it was a good thing that I read it before I had had it for over a year.

The plot is very basic. A Rock Man, made of Moon rock, has the power to turn everything it touches into stone forever. So now The Doctor, Rory, and Amy (of cores the three will always be split up and never work together) must stop the beast before it is too late!
Profile Image for Joe Pranaitis.
Author 23 books87 followers
December 6, 2018
Author Trevor Baxendale brings us another great adventure with the Doctor, Amy and Rory. The TARDIS lands in a pigpen on a farm that is having trouble. Once the Doctor, Amy and Rory step outside they find out that that the Innocent little Conway farm is about to have trouble but it's Chris, Jess Conway's soon to be who knows what is going on. Soon the Doctor finds out that the moon rock that Chris had with him turns out to be the reason why most of the English farm has been turned to moon rock. The heart of stone is the vessel in which a being from 4 billion years ago crashed onto the moon. This is a great Doctor Who tale and one that gives Rory a little time with the doctor that he hasn't had before. I highly recommend that if you're a Doctor Who fan that you pick this book up. 
Profile Image for Lindsey Lawntea.
888 reviews17 followers
March 29, 2021
Doctor Who: Heart of Stone follows the Eleventh Doctor, Amy, and Rory as they venture into the countryside, where a mysterious figure is turning everything it touches to moon rock. This was a simple Doctor Who story that is fit for young, middle-grade readers and was a nice, cozy read. The conclusion felt like it wrapped up a little *too* neatly, even for a younger audience. However, it was overall an enjoyable story and a quick read due to the lower reading level.

Note: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not compensated in any other fashion for the review and the opinions reflected below are entirely my own. Special thanks to the publisher and author for providing the copy.
Profile Image for Stacy.
98 reviews
September 29, 2025
The Doctor, Amy, and Rory land the TARDIS in a pig pen on the Conway's farm. They soon discover that there is an entity on the loose that is inexplicably turning everything it touches into moon rock - including people. When one of the Conways is turned, the Doctor and his companions have to split up to save the day.

This was a quick and enjoyable read, but nothing that wowed me. It's definitely written for a younger audience. I thought that the characters were portrayed well, though. Their dialogue and actions ring true with the TV series, which is not always the case in this sort of book. It's worth a read on a rainy day to tide you over until more episodes air.
Profile Image for Mercedez.
128 reviews1 follower
July 3, 2022
Interesting idea and execution of this particular situation in the Doctor's adventures. I overall found it very bland with no real work behind it. I'm sure if the writing had gone a little more in-depth about the situation at hand, it'd be a bit more of an intriguing read. Small book, expect shortcuts to the end.
Profile Image for John Peel.
Author 441 books167 followers
May 25, 2018
The Doctor, Amy and Rory arrive at an English farm that's under a bizarre form of attack that turns things to stone. The Doctor has to work out what's happening and try to restore things to normal. Rather simplistic and it doesn't always follow its own internal logic, but a mildly decent tale.
Profile Image for Benedict Reid.
Author 1 book3 followers
April 26, 2020
I've just not been enjoying reading for the past few months and this really worked for me as a palate cleanser. Heavy on plot, with characters already well drawn via tv and past books, perfect for keeping me turning the pages. Just like a kids book should be.
Profile Image for Daniel Kukwa.
4,782 reviews126 followers
August 2, 2021
It's another simple, straightforward YA novel, but I'd rate it closer to 3.5 stars. It reads as a particularly enjoyable un-filmed episode from the 11th Doctor's time, as adapted by Terrance Dicks in his late 70s workman-like phase. A pleasant if undemanding hour of reading.
Profile Image for Jacob.
122 reviews
July 18, 2023
Definitely a book aimed towards children. Adults won't find much in this. It's a fairly simple, straightforward tale with enough action in it to make the reading experience quite breezy. The characterisation of the Doctor, Amy and Rory are on point though.
Profile Image for Samael Kovacs.
219 reviews2 followers
September 26, 2021
Just a fun light hearted tale with one of the best TARDIS teams.

The 11th Doctor behaves exactly as I thought he would.
Profile Image for Scarlett.
221 reviews
December 9, 2024
This was everything i need it to be
It was quick, It was fun, It was doctor who and it was the Ponds. I couldn’t ask for more
Profile Image for Conan Tigard.
1,134 reviews3 followers
November 13, 2015
Doctor Who: Heart of Stone is an exciting science fiction story based on the hit television series Doctor Who. This book stars characters that appear with the 11th doctor. In this story, Amy Pond and Rory Williams end up with the Doctor on the Conway farm, run by Ralph Conway and his daughter, Jess. They are attacked by a Rock Man that has the ability to change anything it touches into moon rock, including people. Unfortunately, Ralph Conway finds this out the hard way. It is up to the Doctor and his companions to save the day. Can they find a way to reverse the sudden organic molecular reconfiguration the is occurring and stop the entire planet from being turned into moon rock?

To say I liked this story would be an understatement. I loved this story. Is it a little hokey? Sure, but I like hokey. Is it far-fetched? Yep, what what Doctor Who episode isn't? Is is a fun story that will keep your eyes glued to the page? Oh, yes, it is, very much so. Are the characters well-written? Yepper, the author nails them. Is the story filled with thrilling escapades that leave the reader wanting more? You bet it is. Bravo!

It only took me three nights to breeze through this story, the first Doctor Who book I have ever read. I am a fan of the show, having seen many of the older shows from the 1980's. When the show was revamped with the 9th doctor, I made sure to watch every episode with my young daughter, who is now also a major fan of the show. What I loved about this story was the way it sucked me in and made me think about the book all day while I was at work. I couldn't wait to get back home and read more. What more can you ask of a book?

Overall, Doctor Who: Heart of Stone is an excellent story that sucked me in and didn't let me go until I finished the book. I even stayed up late last night just so I could find out how the Doctor was going to beat the Rock Man and save the Earth. So, if you love science fiction or are a Doctor Who fan, you need to pick up this book now. The book comes out later this month, so get ready to find yourself a copy and prepare to be taken on an adventure. I look forward to reading more Adventures of the 11th doctor soon.

I rated this book a 9 out of 10.
Profile Image for Tracey.
1,115 reviews291 followers
March 31, 2016
Out of the few Doctor Who novels I've read in the past few years, this one did the best job of capturing the feel of the show. The Doctor (#11) felt like pretty much like the Doctor; Amy and Rory felt pretty much like Amy and Rory. And Amy wasn't nasty and unpleasant as she was in the others.

So the TARDIS lands in the pig pen of an English farm, and turns out there's a monster on the loose – a huge man made of stone, who turns everything it touches to stone. And that's sort of a problem with the story, because the author seems to kind of forget about that when int's inconvenient; there's a dog whose condition is never addressed, and also a pregnant pig. The former bothered me for obvious reasons (dog), and the latter was probably pretty important to the farm. Since both animals were specifically singled out in the writing, I was surprised their fates weren't followed up.

When the Doctor says "Do you remember I said that the transformation was unstable, and therefore reversible?" it results in eye-rolling and and a sighed "Yes, I do, because you've repeated it a good half dozen times now".

And … I'm sorry … TARDIS in pig pen. And no one comments on it – or the fact that three adults pile in and out of it on a regular basis. I know Doctor Who isn't a model of logic and sense at the best of times – but … big blue box in a pig pen. Unusual, no? But no one raises an eyebrow. Not even the pigs.

The usual disclaimer: I received this book via Netgalley for review.
Profile Image for Andrea Guy.
1,483 reviews66 followers
November 19, 2015
This was quite possibly one of the best Doctor Who books that I've read. Trevor Baxendale really brought 11, Amy and Rory to life again. Doctor Who books should always leave you wishing that it was an actual episode. This is definitely one of those books.

The Doctor and the Ponds land in a pigsty on a farm where a rock monster is wrecking havoc. I loved the Conway family, especially the loyalty between daughter and father. Then there's Jess' boyfriend Chris. He works for a research facility and it takes awhile to figure out if he's a good guy or a villain.

The story's monster is The Rock Man, who is made from something in moon rock, and everything he touches turns to stone, including a few of the stories characters. The Doctor has to make sure that the Earth doesn't turn into a big old moon rock.

I have a soft spot for the Eleventh Doctor and an even softer spot the Ponds. I totally loved it. It is a breezy read. One that you can get through in about the same time it takes to watch the 50th Anniversary Special.

If you are a fan of Matt Smith's Doctor, this is definitely one of the stories you must read!!!
Profile Image for Carol Keen.
Author 9 books122 followers
February 11, 2016
​It's time. Time for another fun journey with the 11th Doctor, Amy and Rory. I've said it before, and I say it again, Matt Smith is an amazing Doctor and this author captured that so very well.

A totally messy farm is being destroy by a rock monster. That would make any farm a mess. Anything he touches turns to rocks. Makes life really hard if everything turns into rocks, not to mention deadly, unless you can be un-turned from being moon rocks?

This book is cute, fun and spot-on when it comes to these beloved characters. I am so happy I got this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review. A great read!
Profile Image for Arlene Arredondo.
566 reviews11 followers
December 21, 2015
The Eleventh Doctor and his companions, Amy and Rory, found themselves in a farm where an accident of sorts happened and a wall has fallen, but the rocks that are all over the place are moon rocks. The Doctor, as always, need to investigate the rocks and where did they come from. Night falls and a rock monster attacks, converting all that he touches into moon rocks. Will the Doctor be a victim of this thing? probably, will Amy and Rory be involved in the mess? Of course.
Fast paced, full of action and tea.
Note: I received a digital copy free from Netgalley for review purposes.
Profile Image for Ruby.
607 reviews51 followers
April 6, 2016
For Doctor Who fans jonesing for Matt Smith's Doctor will love this fun and amazing story. The Doctor and his companions are surprised to discover a man who can turn anything he touches into stone. What matters is why and can he be stopped before everything is a pile of useless rock?!

The author did brilliantly with the way the characters are written, keeping them true to their personalities on the show. As I said before, those looking for Matt Smith returning, this story will help the missing him.
Profile Image for Join the Penguin Resistance!  .
5,661 reviews331 followers
May 26, 2016
Review: DOCTOR WHO HEART OF STONE by Trevor Baxendale


An exciting adventure awaits the Doctor, Amy, and Rory, on an isolated rural farm in England, all too near to a top-secret research center. The research investigation into the properties of moon rocks results in horrendous changes, and unleashes a "Rock Monster" whose touch turns EVERYTHING into--you guessed it, Moon Rock. A fast-paced read!
Profile Image for Gerek Tupy.
49 reviews2 followers
December 21, 2020
It was basically just a script for an episode. The book wasn’t bad, but it was a very easy and quick read. The Doctor Amy and Rory has a face off against an evil monster made from Moonrock. Everything the monster touches turns to Moonrock. How will the gang win against all odds. Well they do, but honestly it wasn’t very clear how. I gave the book a four star rating.
146 reviews3 followers
November 20, 2015
I really enoyed this from the first page. Amy, Rory and the doctor finds a really strange rock and starts investigating what is going on. There is mystery and horror combined in one great story. It's an amazing quick read.

disclaimer: I got a copy from netgalley for my honest review
Profile Image for Jean.
35 reviews
November 29, 2015
Heart of stone

I like the book it was fun. I gave it 4 stars because it was something I grew up with in the 60's. Ok 5 stars, it was very good! At least to me.
Profile Image for Ryan.
9 reviews
December 14, 2015
quick read that is very much like a television episode.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews

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