Doctor Who: The Taking of Planet 5 (Doctor Who (BBC Paperback)) [Paperback]

Mark Clapham (Author), S. Bucher-Jones (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2000 | Series: Doctor Who (BBC Paperback)

Another adventure of the time-travelling Doctor Who.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: BBC Pubns; paperback / softback edition (April 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0563555858
• ISBN-13: 978-0563555858
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,820,903 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #74 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > Series

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars i REALLY wanted to like this book, April 9, 2000

By 

BJ "bratmood" (west hollywood, ca United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Doctor Who: The Taking of Planet 5 (Doctor Who (BBC Paperback)) (Paperback)

typically, i am not an avid reader of sci-fi. but since the BBC took the dr. who series back from virgin, the novels have typically been written with a very adult realism and a focus on tight storylines that was missing from many of the virgin books. there were some incredibly unique ideas that bucher-jones and clapman never allowed completely to be realized. their writing style was fast-paced, but many times they substituted huge scientific-sounding words and phrases (some real and some of their own creation) instead of focusing on important visual and conceptual descriptions. the basic plot was engaging and thought provoking, but more than once the action was brought to a screeching halt by some very odd description (compassion smelled musky? what was THAT about...) or an implausible plot turn. it is never fully explained who or what the original elder thing population infiltrated by the time lord soldiers truly is. the reader might assume they are mictlan, but too many aspects of this secret conflict are never clearly explained. And why have they chosen the fictional elder thing form? it is these details that become frustrating because they deserve a much better physical description and plot explanation. the authors have introduced one of the most original concepts of the series. the idea of the tardis as a bio-mechanoid lifeform was one of the most pleasant and exciting surprises of "The Taking of Planet Five". that, and the return of the fendahl, could have made this an incredible story. it is unfortunate that a completely ridiculous conclusion left this reader thinking....WHATEVE.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Typos detract from otherwise interesting story, April 7, 2000

By 

Suiseiseki "Desu" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Doctor Who: The Taking of Planet 5 (Doctor Who (BBC Paperback)) (Paperback)

The Taking of Planet 5 possesses an intriguing plot - the time-looped planet that holds the Fendahl - but suffers from a number of factors - incredibly convoluted explanations that would require a PhD in quantum theory to understand, flimsy characterisation where the 'bit players' are concerned, and dreadful typesetting. At least the last problem cannot be attributed to the authors!

As a result of the extensive over-explanation, it's very hard to visualise a lot of what is actually going on. There seems to be a lack of urgency while the tangent rolls off onto yet another huge explanation.

Compassion is as charming as ever. Miles didn't seem to think when creating such a antithetical companion, it is as a result very hard for the reader to empathise. If the character doesn't care, why should we care what happens to her? If the companion was more emotionally attached to either Fitz or the Doctor, it might make her future 'destiny' a little more bone-jarring and involved. As such, it's all too easy to think of her as a plot device.

There's a cute Transformers reference in here early on, and one of the best lines comes from the Doctor himself.

Overall: An interesting if a little complicated story. Younger readers will find it very hard to follow. Best read it a few times over!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A perfectly adequate Doctor Who book., April 7, 2000

By 

"djperry" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Doctor Who: The Taking of Planet 5 (Doctor Who (BBC Paperback)) (Paperback)

There are so many ways that this could have been an outstanding novel that it's frustrating: the core plot is gripping; many of the characters are fascinating; and the imagery and ideas are wonderful. So where did it go wrong? The story leans FAR too heavily on the past. It seems that barely a page goes by without the authors making a "clever" reference to a televised story or previous novel. They even go as far as including a footnote for a previous novel. Another problem lies in the TARDIS crew. Fitz shines, but the Doctor gets tortured yet again while Compassion does a credible impersonation of someone with absolutely no personality whatsoever. The biggest problem, though, is that I never bought into the main threat of the book. Frankly, it says a lot for how well-written this book is that I came away from it entertained at all, something that is a sore diappointment after reading the vastly superior _Interference_ and _The Blue Angel_.