7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
As good as any other Who novel, if not better, November 25, 2005
This review is from: The Deviant Strain (Doctor Who) (Hardcover)
I was never a really big fan of Who books, prefering the tv series instead. But my brother has the newer books-and a few old ones-and got me back into the 'verse of Who novels. This book is a great read, passing into post-Cold War Russia. Captain Jack is, as always, a great laugh, not afraid to show off for humans and aliens alike. Rose shows that not all of the Doctor's female Assistants and Companions scream, run or faint at the sight of something with a third eye or slightly too big a head. The perfect model for the modern girl. The Doctor shows yet again his happy, somewhat 'bouncy' way of handling things, that leaves most people who don't know him stumped.
A great read and a must have for all Who Fans.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic!!, July 5, 2006
This review is from: The Deviant Strain (Doctor Who) (Hardcover)
This, like all the ninth doctor books is a quick read. It moves along at a pretty good pace (sort of like an extended episode), won't bore you with too many details (i.e. the science behind stuff), and let's you get a little more Capt. Jack.
This one takes place in modern times and has the most "X Files" feel to it then the previous ones. I do like that they are mixing up eras in the books, and visiting more different planets then the series.
If you like the series, you'll enjoy the books.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
A Good Story, But..., November 9, 2007
This review is from: The Deviant Strain (Doctor Who) (Hardcover)
The story itself is great. It has plot twists that keep it interesting, a few original characters to liven things up, a mystery to be solved, and some good, old fashioned, creepy monsters. The setting is unusual--a tiny, mostly abandoned village on the icy coast of Russia, with empty nuclear submarines as the eerie backdrop for an alien invasion.
It has some tense moments, and some gross moments, and it is descriptive enough to make you shiver as you read it. Overall, I'd say that the monsters are tame enough for older kids to enjoy, while the plot is just complex enough that adults should enjoy it as well.
I did have one problem with it, though. While it's an excellent sci-fi/monster story, it isn't really a "Doctor Who" story. It stars the Ninth Doctor, Captain Jack, and Rose, but the names seemed almost like a coincidence. Most of the time, they didn't act like themselves. In the show, the three of them have distinctive personalities, which is what made them so popular--the Doctor's bragging and quick-talking bravado, the lovely banter between the Doctor and Rose, Jack's legendary flirting, the amazing chemistry between all three of them. But there was very little in this book to replicate that. I enjoyed reading the story, but when I'd finished, I was struck with the thought that they appeared to be generic characters labeled "Jack", "Rose", and "The Doctor".
So, if you want a mildly creepy sci-fi adventure, this is a great book! But if you want a true "Doctor Who" story, something that really portrays the Doctor, Jack, and Rose as themselves, try one of the other books, or look online for fan-fiction.
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