Customer Reviews

Doctor Who: The Reign of Terror (No. 119)

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This historical Doctor Who story was novelised by Ian Marter, who played companion Harry Sullivan in the fourth Doctor's first season. Mr Marter wrote a number of novelisations, and have one thing in common - he endeavours to add sufficient detail to expand the story beyond a simple and straightforward novelisation.

In this story, the TARDIS arrives back on Earth - not, as Ian and Barbara hope, back in the London of 1963 but just outside of Paris in 1794, during the French Revolution. Captured (other than the Doctor) by soldiers, they are cast into prison as suspected spies and get caught up in various political machinations within the complex and paranoid French society.

While The Reign of Terror was probably the first Doctor Who story with deliberate comedy included, I don't think this translated well to the written word. Perhaps this is no bad thing.

The standout aspect of this novelisation, when compared to many others of Doctor Who stories, is the comparative richness of the text. Mr Marter could have written this book with less words, but rather than ignoring the detail of the world in which the travellers find themselves, he embroiders detail which assist in making this far more than many of its fellow novelisations. Given the often grimness of the period in which it is set, this helps in bringing the story to life.

The Doctor has made yet another attempt to return Ian and Barbara to 1963 England, but he missed his target in both space and time. Now, the time travelers find themselves just outside Paris in 1794, at the height of the Reign of Terror. Separated in Paris, they must find each other, while working very hard to stay alive!

This book is a novelization of final serial in the first season - The Reign of Terror. The story is very good, eschewing the powerful enemy cliché, and allowing the situation of the Reign of Terror to provide the needed conflict. Also, this one includes no alien monsters - in Revolutionary France, the inhuman monsters were all too human.

Yep, it's a very good story, interesting and suspenseful. If you are a Who-ite, like me, then you will love this novel, like me. I highly recommend this book.