Customer Reviews

About Time 6: The Unauthorized Guide to Doctor Who (Seasons 22 to 26, the TV Movie)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Gayest Doctor Who moments. The Cartmel Plan. Etc., etc., etc.

If you want a guidebook, or even just a set of essays and opinions, about the sixth and seven doctors episodes, then you need this book. Obsessive doesn't even begin to describe the coverage. Heck, get all of the "About Time" books for the complete Dr. Who fandom experience.

This last volume of the books that examine the classical Doctor Who series is a must, as is all the books in the series. Sure, there are spelling mistakes and just plain mistakes, but they are few and far between. I loved the extra information - such as the chapters on Peter Cushing and the Daleks movies. I have those movies, so it is great fun to learn more about the behind the scenes and how the films were made.

This is a spectacular series of books. The detail provided is unequalled and the observations, particularly through the essays and the lore, are wonderful. I made my way through the tiny print of volumes 1, 2, 4, and 5 with great ease.

Volume 6, covering the end of Colin Baker's tenure as the Doctor as well as Sylvester McCoy's years in the role and McGann's outing, is tougher going. On the surface, all is the same. However, as I read this volume, I couldn't shake the sense of the author's disdain for this period of the series. Granted, these years were not the peak but, as someone who loves Doctor Who, I found the undercurrent of negativity difficult. (Right now, I am reading Running Through Corridors which is a great antidote for this volume. It is relentlessly positive...or tries to be.)

I have to wonder if the absence of Lawrence Miles as co-author of this volume is the reason for the change in tone. Not knowing either author, I don't know, but it's a strange coincidence. I'm almost afraid to go back and make my way through Volume 3. This gigantic tome, covering the Pertwee years, is now in a 2nd edition but has only Wood's name on the cover. I have to hope that the strength of these years will carry us through any of the weaknesses.

All of that said, any fan of the original Doctor Who series is crazy not to have all 6 of these books on his or her shelf. Such a collection of information is a must.

This volume covers the spiral of destruction which ended the run of the original Doctor Who show, and is not only very well researched it is also eminently readable.

As with all the previous volumes, where the writers veer from their genuine expertise (the show) into sophomoric / wikipedia level education on science, literature etc. I just skip the passage. If you're going to quote German, get the spelling right. Likewise appeals to authority on subjects like "what we actually know" about black holes - laughably little, in fact, including whether they exist- don't add to the wonders of the book series.

However, what is wonderful is the compilation of gossip fragments, wry humour, genuine love of the show and the critiques of every episode and era.

A more detailed examination of kalachakra tantra and its heavy influence over not just Barry Letts but Doctor Who (even the current version: smile, touch, look being all the new Doctors do) would be the only thing I'd like to see in a second edition.

Highly recommended even for Doctor Who Wales fans, this is what online forums pretend to be and fail miserably at.