The English Way of Death (Doctor Who - the Missing Adventures Series) [Paperback]

Gareth Roberts (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: London Bridge (Mm) (April 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0426204662
• ISBN-13: 978-0426204664
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 4.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,018,883 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, May 9, 2004

By 

Henry "Henry" (Atlanta, GA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The English Way of Death (Doctor Who - the Missing Adventures Series) (Paperback)

Mr. Roberts does a fine job capturing the flavor, tone, and atmosphere of the Fourth Doctor years. His characterization of Romana and the other characters is well done and commendable.

However, Mr. Roberts has too many of those supporting characters. The villain is very predicatable and generic. The characterization of Tom Baker's 4th Doctor is adequate, but does not explore any new territory. There are a few shining moments when I laughed out loud from The Doctor's wit. Unfortunately, these moments are too sparse, and the Doctor has too little "screen time." Of course, The Doctor and Romana get separated at the beginning, and it seemed I was always reading more about Romana and K9 than The Doctor. This was disappointing because while Romana and K9 are good characters, the Fourth Doctor is a far more captivating hero. The plot itself was also generic and ordinary. Nothing makes this story stand out.

I wish Mr. Roberts had given The Doctor more "screen time," and had spent more time creating a truly memorable and unique plot. It seemed Mr. Roberts was more interested in his supporting cast of locals, than the hero, and I wish it had been otherwise.

If you're looking for a great 4th Doctor book, I highly recommend "The Festival of Death" by Jonathan Morris.

5.0 out of 5 stars "They would take strolls, attend functions, and generally sneer at everybody else", October 16, 2010

By 

Judy K. Hoyle "NerfFreak.net" (Va USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: The English Way of Death (Doctor Who - the Missing Adventures Series) (Paperback)

Some of the closing words by Mr. Roberts as he winds up this book. Which I must say, is a jewel in the crown of anybody's Doctor Who collection. The second of two that Gareth penned for the fourth Doctor and Romana, 'The English Way Of Death' is propably the best missing adventure I have read to date. His characters are outstanding and the Doctor and Romana are perfect. The book manages to feel very seaseon 17ish (if you know what I mean) while surpassing the plot of anything from that era (yes, even 'city of death'). In both 'Romance of Crime' and 'English Way of Death', Mr. Roberts proves to be a most able writer. His plots are multi-dimensional and his support characters are quite imaginintive. Overall, an enjoyable read, full of good lines by our two favorite characters and the plethora of extras Mr. Roberts provides. Brilliance!!!

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A magnificent Doctor Who book, December 27, 2000

By 

"grrreg" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The English Way of Death (Doctor Who - the Missing Adventures Series) (Paperback)

The Doctor somewhat embarrassedly steers the TARDIS to London in the 1930s to return some overdue library books, but once there Romana finds traces of time technology in use. A small group of elderly people from the future have established themselves in the 1930s for unknown reasons, and they aren't the only people with access to the time corridor. And then there's a mysterious vapour which is killing people, and worse...

Gareth Robert's follow up to his wonderful 'The Romance of Crime' is another great book. He has captured the characters of the Doctor and Romana from the seventeenth season wonderfully, and set them in great stories which put that period of Doctor Who (with the exception of 'City of Death') to shame.

If you are a Doctor Who fan and you haven't read this, do so.