Through Time: An Unauthorised and Unofficial History of Doctor Who [Paperback]

Andrew Cartmel (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0826417329 | ISBN-13: 978-0826417329 | Publication Date: December 20, 2005

The quirky British television series Doctor Who is a classic both of science fiction and television drama. First broadcast in 1963, it has remained an influential TV presence ever since, with an eagerly anticipated new series airing in 2005. As a vehicle for satire, social commentary, or sheer fantasy adventure, Doctor Who is unparalleled. It was a show created for children, but it was immediately usurped by adults. Arriving at a time of upheaval in the popular arts in Britain, Doctor Who was born into a television tradition influenced by the TV plays of Dennis Potter, the cult television drama The Prisoner, the James Bond films and Stanley Kubrick’s science fiction triptych — Dr Strangelove, 2001: A Space Odyssey and A Clockwork Orange. A British fantasy adventure that has unfolded across television screens over decades in the tradition of Lewis Carroll, Conan Doyle and HG Wells, the strength of Doctor Who has always been its writers and the ideas they nurtured. In this new history of the show, Andrew Cartmel (who was the script editor on Doctor Who from 1987 to 1990) looks into its social and cultural impact – providing a fascinating read for committed and casual fans alike.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is a book everyone can enjoy- not just Who fans, but all those curious about how and why science fiction does- and does not- work on television."- William Manus, Book Scope, September 2006

“This is a book everyone can enjoy- not just Who fans, but all those curious about how and why science fiction does- and does not- work on television.”- William Manus, Book Scope, September 2006

About the Author

Andrew Cartmel is a writer who lives in London. He was the script editor on Doctor Who from 1987 to 1990, and is also the author of the War Trilogy of spin-off novels from the show.

Product Details

• Paperback: 232 pages
• Publisher: Continuum (December 20, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0826417329
• ISBN-13: 978-0826417329
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,511,748 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars rough read for a fan, December 7, 2011

By 

Stumblinn (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Through Time: An Unauthorised and Unofficial History of Doctor Who (Paperback)

I usually read at least 3 - 5 books a week but this book took me a month to get through because I kept putting it down (rather than flinging it against a wall or out a window). So why did I give it four stars? It contains a lot of interesting behind the scenes information on the early years of Doctor Who up to as recently as the Christopher Eccleston year.

I would recommend it with the caveat that a true fan will appreciate the information while finding Mr. Cartmel's style very irritating. He repeatedly tears the show we love to pieces. Time and again, he will say most fans consider XYZ episode to be a great Doctor Who story but here let me tell you all the things that were terrible about it. As someone who has loved the Doctor for over a quarter of a century, I was not happy about all the pot shots the author took at the various doctors and at the show in general.

For someone who is mainly interested in TV show creation (and the history of such), this would be an excellent book as it gives a lot of behind the scenes data on things such as how budget issues required cutting corners that hurt the show and how creative differences weakened the show, etc. For a true fan, you will have to grit your teeth at all the disparaging remarks about the show (as I often found myself doing) to get through the book. I don't regret having done so though because I did learn enough new data to make having to wade through all of the put downs worth it.

The author does know his stuff. I just wish he had been less pompous in his attitude towards a beloved show.

4.0 out of 5 stars Great overview and history, December 13, 2010

By 

Sharon L. Richards "Writing Beatle Fan" (USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Through Time: An Unauthorised and Unofficial History of Doctor Who (Paperback)

I really liked this book. I've been a Who fan for years but only recently really got "into it". Love the new series but I will always have a spot in my heart for the original. Mr. Cartmel's book does justice to the beginngs of the show through to the time he worked with Sylvester McCoy's incarnation up to the publish date (Eccleston). I can only imagine what he'd have to say about the Tennant and Smith versions of the old Time Lord. Perhaps he can be persuaded? In any case, for the budding fanatic or those having followed the show for years "Through Time" does a good job of detailing behind the scenes and confirmed quite a few of my hunches I had about how the show was put together back in the day. Too bad indeed that most of Hartnell and Troughton's Doctors were erased. Something similar happened to the early recordings of my favorite band of the 60's at EMI studios on Abbey Road in London.