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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Paradise Dull,
By
This review is from: Doctor Who: Paradise Towers (Doctor Who Library) (Paperback)
The later books of the Target range of Doctor Who novels are notable for having given the writers of many stories from the eras of the Sixth and Seventh Doctors a second crack at their stories. On the surface at least, that is exactly what writer Stephen Wyatt did when he novelized his 1987 story Paradise Towers for the range about a year after broadcast. Yet, given the reputation of Paradise Towers as a TV story, does the novelization improve it?The novelization allows Wyatt to show the story he originally intended, before casting and production values potentially harmed it on its way to the screen. The Kangs are teenage girls rather than the considerably (and obviously) older versions seen on in the TV version. The Caretakers ineffectiveness and obsession with their rulebook is given a new dimension as they are portrayed as fat, often middle aged men rather than coming across as a bad rip-off of the Keystone cops. Pex isn't the wimpy would be action hero of the TV version but instead is as physically different from the TV version of the character as one can get. The result of all this is that Wyatt's original vision of Paradise Towers shines throughout the book. Yet that vision isn't necessarily a good one. The basic idea at the heart of Paradise Towers is an intriguing one and really an idea worthy of a classic Doctor Who story. The execution of the story itself is anything but. Wyatt's second crack at the story might fix a whole number of other issues in the story but it doesn't fix the two basic problems with the story: it's a runaround with no real threat and it's a badly written black comedy. In fact the comedy comes across worse in here than it did on TV. Wyatt's original idea is all but buried amongst a poor execution. So does Paradise Towers the novelization improve upon Paradise Towers the TV story? Yes and no. Yes, it does improve upon the characters seen in the story by allowing Wyatt's original intentions to come across. No, it doesn't fix the issues with the poor execution of a bad idea. This novelization of Paradise Towers therefore is really only for the Doctor Who fan seeking to fill in a gap in their Target book collection.
3.0 out of 5 stars
Build high for happiness,
This review is from: Doctor Who: Paradise Towers (Doctor Who Library) (Paperback)
Agreeing to take Mel to a luxurious swimming pool to allow her to relax and recover, the Doctor sets the course for Paradise Towers, a great living environment built to house people. But when they arrive, the place is very run down and populated with people who have broken down in tribes - the Caretakers, the Rezzies, and a variety of all-girl Kang tribes. But there is something else in the building, controlling matters behind the scenes...'Paradise Towers' is perhaps the first taste of what a large proportion of the TV Seventh Doctor serials would be like - familiar in some ways, but new in others. Adapted to a novel by scriptwriter Stephen Wyatt, it makes an interesting read. If you have watched the TV serial, you'll know what the story is about. However, in the novel, Mr. Wyatt has the opportunity to present more background information. So, if you liked the TV serial, you'll probably like the book, and the reverse is true. If you haven't watched the TV serial, you will get a story which is on a fairly small and claustrophobic scale, with interesting ideas presented in sometimes inappropriate ways. Its quite well written, but smacks of a need to create a new style of Doctor Who.
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