Customer Reviews

The Roundheads (Dr. Who Series)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Doctor Who always appealed to me the most as a sci-fi/ horror hybrid, I never cared that much for the so-called 'history' adventures, of which there were a lot, especially in the early years.
Gatiss' ROUNDHEADS is a welcome exception. Here in Europe this writer is known foremost for his British tv comedyseries, I read somewhere he is also a big Doctor Who fan. This novel, for me, proves that.
There's a big passion evident in Gatiss' writing. He makes the world of Doctor Who (and history!) come to live, and he just draws you in it.

ROUNDHEADS is very conservative in it's set-up (and it's execution) but come and think of it, that's why I like it so much. It's about the Doctor (in his second incarnation) and his companions who wind up in England at the time of Cromwell and the roundheads. They get mixed up in a plot to help the captured king escape and also, when a history book from the future is misplaced and falls into the wrong hands, they'll have to set history back on it's proper course.
I won't spoil anymore for you, but rest assured, there's plenty of adventures en even some bloody, gruesome stuff, which I, as a horror buff just love! THIS IS GREAT STUFF! ...
GO GET IT!

I since have bought all of Mark Gatiss other Who books. Can't wait to read those also!

Author Mark Gatiss does an excellent job of portraying the Second Doctor and his companions during the English civil wars. Fine details of the period are well presented however some knowledge of this part of history might be beneficial. Between Ben joining a pirate ship and the twisting plot, the book was a joy to read!

These days when the show does historical adventures, there tends to be some kind of science-fictional element to it, probably to pacify the people who come in expecting their SF shows to have some actual science-fiction. And while we'll probably never see it again, there is something to be said for the "pure" historicals, where the cast isn't facing some kind of bizarre alien menace or whatnot in Merry Olde England and merely has to try and navigate court intrigue or cultural misunderstandings or just try to stay alive when everyone else is trying to kill them. Plus, it's a good way to see how much the writers did their research. Here, the TARDIS, in tempermental fashion, dumps the crew in London just after the Civil War (English, that is, for the Yanks) when the Roundheads have just won and are in the process of cleaning up. Deposed King Charles is safely in lock-up but Royalist elements are plotting to get him out before someone takes his head off. And into this blunders the Doctor and his friends. Gatiss would eventually write one of the pseudo-historicals for the new series (the one with Charles Dickens and the zombies, which would be an awesome name for a band) so it's clearly an interest of his. That in mind he seems to be keeping the details right, with plenty of local color, even when it doesn't seem that relevant to the plot. After a somewhat clunky start where he has to separate the TARDIS crew (the Doctor suggests they all split up and explore, even though that has never led to anything but trouble) but once things get moving, he keeps them moving. The Doctor and Jamie get captured, Ben gets mugged and shoved onto a ship, and Polly almost commits treason out of time. Gatiss juggles all of this well, with a small supporting cast who are all conspiring in one form or another and what he ends up with is a pleasantly entertaining read that manages to retain the historical feel without seeming too contrived. Even Ben's plot, separated from everyone else for quite a while, not only eventually connects with the main plot but remains fun due to the presence of a rather vibrant crippled captain, and their high-seas adventures are a nice contrast to all the sitting around in jail cells everyone else does. It can be properly classified as a "romp" without any hint of irony and while it's none too deep, the Doctor is characterized well (giddy and bumbling only until he needs to be clever again, he also gets in a good line about alternate histories), the scenery is interesting. You may not like this if have a inherent distaste for those types of historical stories but if you can conceive of the show as something other than space stations and aliens, this might be worth a look.

In England in 1648, the four members of the TARDIS crew split up to explore whatever takes their fancy. Inevitably they find themselves drawn into events around a plan to rescue King Charles from prison.

In this book, Mark Gatiss takes the opportunity to explore the characters, especially Ben and Polly. Ben was established as a sailor in his first appearance, but this book is his first real opportunity to demonstrate his nautical skills after he is pressganged into serving on a ship. Polly gets romantically entangled with a Royalist conspirator, although she doesn't learn this at first. And the Doctor and Jamie are imprisoned in the Tower of London (being Scottish, Jamie's supposed allegiances make him an enemy of the Lord Protector).

Mark Gatiss is a good writer. He paces things well, and understands foreshadowing. He is also fairly humorous (as one would hope, based on 'The League of Gentlemen' TV series which he is one of the writer/actors in) but not overbearingly so.

Even if you are not a fan of the Doctor's historical adventures, you may still enjoy this one.

This is a standard historical adventure in British history. Unfortunately, it is not very exciting. The history is interesting, and the travails of Ben and Polly are okay. However, there are no plot twists. And the Doctor has very little "screen time." Most of the adventure is with Ben and Polly, who are plain, wood-cut characters. Gatiss also seemed to include lots of filler to get the necessary 280 pages for BBC Books publishing requirements. The Doctor tries to get out of a guarded room for several pages, only to re-enter the room and be ushered away by an antagonist. I don't recommend this one--don't waste your time.

December, 1648. Although victorious over the Cavaliersin the Civil Wars, the Roundheads are struggling to retain power. Plans are afoot to spirit King Charles from his prison, and 2nd the Doctor and his companions become embroiled in the intrigue... Ben finds himself press-ganged and on board a mysterious ship to Amsterdam. Polly is an unwitting accomplice in the plot to rescue the King, and the 2st Doctor and Jamie find themselves arrested and imprisoned in the Tower of London under suspicion of conspiracy. Can the Doctor and Jamie escape, manage to find Ben and Polly and still ensure that history remains on its proper course?