Salvation (Doctor Who Series) [Paperback]

Steve Lyons (Author)

Book Description

Series: Doctor Who Series | Publication Date: January 1999

New York, 1965. A time of conflict between ideologies, races, generations and genders, when crime runs rife and an unpopular war drags on in a distant land. In the midst of this turmoil, people cry out to their gods. And now, it seems, the gods have answered their call. Walking the slums and tenements of downtown Manhattan, demonstrating extraordinary powers, five strangers are gathering a growing crowd of worshippers.

Steven wants to believe in miracles, but the Doctor is more skeptical. What are the strangers' real motives, and why does history make no mention of these events? As New York begins to tear itself apart, the Doctor's non-interventionist principles are tested to their limits.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: BBC Pubns (January 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0563555661
• ISBN-13: 978-0563555667
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,609,182 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #77 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > Series

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A new pantheon for modern times?, October 17, 2000

By 

"grrreg" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Salvation (Doctor Who Series) (Paperback)

Dodo Chaplet is perhaps the companion of the Doctor most in need of fleshing out. We really didn't get introduced to her (she just stumbled into the TARDIS in the final minutes of 'The Massacre') and we never really saw her go (she was bundled off to the country, never to return, halfway through 'The War Machines'). Given that she is a cut-down version of Vicki (who was herself a cut-down version of Susan), she needs some attention.

Recognising that Dodo seemed entirely at home in the TARDIS in 'The Ark' (simply disbelieving that it could travel through time), Steve Lyons undertakes a story which establishes Dodo as part of the TARDIS crew and sees some travel in space (from England to America) that still allows her scepticism to be in place.

'Salvation' is a story about mysterious beings, claiming to be gods, arriving on Earth and setting themselves up as a modern-day pantheon. They are Max, the God of Materialism; Norman, the God of Order; Jennifer, the Goddess of Free Love; Dennis, the God of War; and their leader, the Patriarch. And some amusement they caused me (gods named Norman and Dennis? Much chuckling.)

The theme of the story is largely the need to believe, and what people will do for their beliefs - and to those who have different beliefs. But it also remains a human story, even with its larger focus.

Mr Lyons is far kinder in his approach to Dodo than some other authors have been (see 'The Man in the Velvet Mask' and 'Who Killed Kennedy?'), but I really wonder why authors are so obsessed with giving Dodo a sex life.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good, June 6, 2004

By 

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

This review is from: Salvation (Doctor Who Series) (Paperback)

The writing is excellent. The story is interesting. The plot is just okay. The Doctor is superbly written, as are companions Steven and Dodo.

Something about this plot felt awkward. Aliens taking on the roles of gods in Central Park was just a bit hard to conceptualize. The idea itself makes sense, but it's hard to imagine such a "hoax" happening in 1965 (or any time). When Doctor Who deals with aliens on Earth, it works better when the least people know about it (such as novels: Scream of the Shalka & Human Nature). Perhaps this is why X-Files is so believable.

However, when masses of people are involved in such a grand event of gods/aliens, it makes for a far less believable, credible story.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great job as usual, Steve, June 28, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Salvation (Doctor Who Series) (Paperback)

For originality in Dr Who books, this is up near the top. The author not only comes up with some original aliens, but develops the idea enough that that whole book is worth reading (not just part of it).