Customer Reviews

Doctor Who (Bfi TV Classics)

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I came to this book not just as a Doctor Who fan (who has spent the last 9 months watching all of the classic series in order) but as a fan of this book series. BFI (British Film Institute) has been around for decades and have contributed much to serious film/tv criticism. There are literally hundreds of these slim volumes from classic tv shows to modern films and every thing in between. I've read a 1/2 dozen with another dozen waiting for me to get around to them.

This book will not please every Doctor Who fan, and it is especially NOT recommended for fans of the new series, as it only covers the original eight doctors with about 4 pages of material on the new series (with mentions of Series One from 2005 throughout the text). I purchased (and am reviewing) the original version of this book. While the 2nd edition is currently for sale on Amazon (it runs about 6 pages longer so one could probably assume there is slightly more info on the new series) there probably isn't a huge text difference.

As to the book, it runs 5 chapters (slightly over 100 pages) with small photos (both color and b/w) throughout. The text is somewhat academic, but reads fairly well, without any fan-boy type hype about the show, it's plots or the different doctors. Newman (who wrote a "Who" Telos novella awhile back) approaches the show in a historical context as someone who watched from the very beginning. He has a perspective that I don't have, having come to the game very late (only a few years ago) and like your favorite James Bond, I think your favorite Doctor has much to do with when you were born. There are as many flaws in the series as attributes, and Newman tries to treat them all equally and fairly (this may annoy some - but not me).

My local library did not have this book (nor hardly any from the series) so I was forced to buy the ones I was interested in and I don't regret it. While the retail price may seem high, these are high quality books, bound well and will certainly not fall apart after a few readings. I have had good luck with all of the used copies I've accumulated from the series.

Like the Star Trek franchise and many other franchises, Doctor Who has had many critical books written about the series. Kim Newman's book is another point of view in regards to the Who franchise; covering the entire series (the changes, faults, etc.) up until David Tennant's era.

The book is good for research, I think; and unless you are a completest, I would recommend borrowing the book from your local library. (For its size, the book is a bit pricey at a little over $15, when I think it would be around $5).