11.27.2013
Shada
by Gareth Roberts, based on a screenplay by Douglas Adams, 376pgs, hardcoverSeries: Doctor Who
Overall Grade: B
A recommended read for invested Doctor Who fans with a knowledge of "classic" Who. Roberts, with explanations in the afterword, adapts and builds off an original, unaired Doctor Who episode written by Douglas Adams, to bring the reader a complete and resolved version of 'Shada'. Featuring the Fourth Doctor, Romana and K-9, the story bounces between space and Cambridge University, accidentally involving two young, on-the-cusp-of-a-romance professors when an evil villain shows up looking for an ancient and powerful Gallifreyan artifact that the retired Time Lord Professor Chronotis has in his posession.
Based on Roberts' recounting, I will admit that he probably did a deft job weaving Shada into a logical and satisfactory Doctor Who tale. I am always happen to learn more about the Time Lords and their culture and there was much in this book to please me in that regard. Somehow though, during my reading, the Fourth Doctor lost some of his charm, and his chauvinism became more prevalent, which was sad. I can't say if this was due to the change in medium (tv vs. book) or not.
Still I would recommend it to "hardcore" fans, so they can finally "see" the episode that might have been. But if you didn't know it was missing to begin with, it's probably not worth the read.
Labels: genre: fiction, genre: scifi, media: book, series: Doctor Who
