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19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely Brilliant, January 29, 2009
This review is from: Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale (Hardcover)
If you think the description of what this book is about lets you know what you're getting into, you're wrong. Well, half wrong. You do get to understand what a head writer/show runner has to deal with day to day. You even get to read a few of Russell T. Davies' first drafts of the episodes for series 4 of Doctor Who. All Through Emails.
But - You also get to hear his inner most thoughts of procrastination, stress, the absolute passion he has for his characters, (every one of them that he has created) and the passion he has for writing. He talks of writing as if his head never turns off, and he even admits he would be writing whether or not he had a job on a tv show. He brings you into his passion and his excitement when he decides to kill off a character, or when he discusses why it all is for the good of the story.
The other half of the emails are by Benjamin Cook. He asks all the right questions at all the right times. I was almost surprised that when I asked something in my head, he would be right there asking the question and sometimes even asking a better one.
Russell doesn't want it to be a "how you should write" book, but he does teach you that the way you write is just wonderful and the love you have for writing and creating is the most important thing. There was so much advice in this book that I'm sure Russell didn't think he was giving but I'm glad he gave.
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24 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Master Class for Aspiring and Professional Writers, November 30, 2008
This review is from: Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale (Hardcover)
As the author of a book on writing myself ( The Musical Theatre Writer's Survival Guide), and as a fellow very hard on books about writing (I don't think they're worth much unless they're by people who actually do the kind of writing they're expounding on for a living), I promise you, this one is worthwhile. For anyone who tells or wants to tell stories in any print or performance medium.
Though the book collects the seemingly unedited, largely unexpurgated email dialogue between Russell T Davies and journalist Benjamin Cook -- and as such may instill the apprehension that it will be a long-winded ramble (the print is small and it is a BIG, THICK book, and a coffee-table edition at that) -- it turns out to be a breathless and often un-put-downable read, akin to any of the classical philosophical exchanges of literature between mentor and student. Davies, despite being a telly populist at heart, is among the brightest, most articulate dramatists in the English speaking world, with a staggering analytical perception I'd liken only to a very few (such as Sondheim and Stoppard) and his thoughts and observations are passionate, funny, touching, instructive and provocative throughout. He makes it clear that he doesn't mean for his process to be regarded as any kind of template for everybody's process, but as with any great writer, the acquaintance is still well worth making. And there are full scripts represented too. Not only that, but among the profuse illustrations are many by Davies himself, who seems to be as gifted a cartoonist as he is a wordsmith.
Caveats? One, and it may be a big one. I'm not sure how well the text of this book will translate to anyone who is not at least passing familiar with Davies' new millennium renovation of DOCTOR WHO in general, and his work on season four (the primary launching pad for this book's ruminations) in particular. Not that it isn't all quite comprehensible -- but I wonder if it will resonate as meaningfully to one who isn't already an aficionado. It's probably worth at least a trip to the public library to find out; whereupon if it passes muster, I would absolutely recommend shelling out the shekels to add it to yours.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Incredible insight into the creative process behind Dr Who Season 4, December 6, 2008
This review is from: Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale (Hardcover)
This textbook-sized tome (512 page of 2 column printed in some relatively small font) contains correspondence (emails) between Russell and Benjamin (the author) as the development of season 4 begins.
These e-mails radiate personality and huge insights into where the seeds of ideas germinated into the final product and some seeds just withered (i.e. Season 4's companion called "Penny").
Though I shouldn't be, I am amazed by the volume of Russell's text and how he seems so fearless and, at the same time, racked with doubt. You do feel the power of his love for television medium and his completely driven nature.
The writing process is something that cannot be described with a few pages or even a book but this book feels like it pushes around the edges so completely, you feel like you getting a glimmer of the forces that defines the product of the writing process.
Now, I agree that you should really be versed with Doctor Who TV lore and the universe created within the last 4 years - and more than a passing understanding of English colloquialisms. Just like the TV show, you will feel more impact if you understand the body of work that leads up to the present.
It is just great fun to peek into Russell's mind to see how he created one of the most enjoyable shows on TV (for me at least).
Now, I _wish_ they had also done this with Joss Whedon while he was doing Buffy, Angel and/or Firefly.
*sigh* Meanwhile, I'll be sated with this one.
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