Doctor Who: Mission to Magnus [Paperback]

Philip Martin (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Carol Pub Group (August 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 042620347X
• ISBN-13: 978-0426203476
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,004,811 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars The return of the green scaly foes, February 17, 2001

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"grrreg" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Doctor Who: Mission to Magnus (Paperback)

In 1985, the BBC decided to give Doctor Who a "rest" (although rumours persist that they actually cancelled it and were forced to continue due to public outcry...). Several stories were planned and in the writing stage when this edict came down. Three of these stories were novelised by their scripters - this one, featuring the return Sil and the Ice Warriors, was written by Sil creator Philip Martin.

The TARDIS pulled off course by Anzor, another Time Lord who bullied him while they were both at school. The Doctor responds by becoming a cringing coward, but they eventually escape to the planet Magnus Epsilon. There are plots within plots as the natives of the planet work with Anzor, but there is a mysterious series of happenings which reveal the presence of the Ice Warriors...

Not a very good example of Philip Martin's writing skills (both the earlier 'Vengeance on Varos' and later 'Mindwarp' are considerably better), its main problem is that it seems to largely be two stories stuck together - initially, the Doctor and Peri are facing Anzor and, just when he is defeated, up turn the Ice Warriors.

Sil's role is also comparatively small, and really misses Nabil Shaban's wonderful screen presence. The Ice Warriors are very bland; really, they could be any alien race... And I really hated the idea of a Time Lord school bully!

The end result is a very light read with the recurring opponents very poorly served.