GHOST LIGHT

[Tony]

Here we are discussing Marc Platt's novelization of GHOST LIGHT! If you want to hear your review of or comments on this book read on the air, or you have a specific question about the book, please post it here by no later than 11pm CST on Friday, July 18!

[Dave]

Apparently, this story is very confusing, Most of the cast, including Sylvester McCoy, though so, as did the director. I didn't. It has a lot of loose threads, and not everything is explained thoroughly, but that is a good way to seed future stories. The fact that those stories wouldn't be televised ones is beside the point.
In fact, one of those stories in book form is based on the first draft of this story, when it was still called Lungbarrow. It was set on Gallifrey, and producer John Nathan Turner felt it gave too much away about the Doctor's background, hence the severe rewrite. I couldn't see any link between the two stories when I watched Ghost Light again after reading Lungbarrow, but I can see it, if faintly, when I compare the two books.
There's quite a lot more here than made it to the screen, with several scenes, some of which were filmed, restored. There's also a nice prologue, in all but name as it begins the first chapter. It removes any mystery about where the Doctor and Ace end up, but it works well for all that. It also removes any surprise of Ace's confession that she burned the house down, replacing it with a low level tension about when she'd come clean. At least, I think so. As I know the story I can only guess.
The only thing I really didn't like in the TV story was John Hallam's voice. Perhaps it's because I've seen him in other roles a he's been more gruff, but he sounded too fey. Then again, he was playing Light, so maybe the choice to play it like that makes sense. Still, I'm happy to give Light a deeper timbre when reading.
3.5 stars.