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15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"I've seen a lot of strange things...Abominable snowmen, Werewolves, Demons. Vampires. But Roman gods with mystical powers?, June 8, 2006
The Stone Rose, a 10th Doctor adventure is a much better effort, from Jacqueline Rayner, than Winner Takes All, a 9th Doctor adventure was. She has done an excellent job capturing the personality of the newly regenerated Doctor, an impressive feat considering these adventures were written largely from seeing only season 2 scripts and possibly the CHRISTMAS INVASION (which is referenced in this story). David Tennant brings a lot of traits to the role that a "generic Doctor" as written by Terrance Dicks would fail to do justice. Tennant's 10th Doctor is a times a quirky mad fool like Tom Baker and like a light switch, he can turn into the menacing presence of an angry headmaster. Rayner conveys this Doctor, very well, only dropping the ball occasionally. Rose, Jackie and particularly Mickey are written very well, although appearing only briefly in the story, Mickey delivers genuinely brilliant and moving spiel upon learning of Rose's apparent "death."
All characterization aside, this story has plenty to offer, nice pacing and a story following what seems to be an obvious clichéd storyline, only to twist just enough to pleasantly surprise any reader familiar with the genre. The story begins with Mickey leading Rose, Jackie and the Doctor through a museum, revealing a 2000 year-old Roman sculpture of Rose. Accepting this as an invitation the Doctor and Rose immediately proceed to ancient Rome where they respond to the obligatory cry for help. They rescue a man whose son has disappeared, then meet a slave, who is no Seer, but seems to have definite knowledge of the future. The Doctor and Rose learn the missing boy, Optatus, was last seen with the artist who has conveniently just finished a sculpture of the boy (oh really?) And the sculptor would like to have Rose model for him too (you don't say?) The Doctor and Rose seem locked into a series of preordained events ultimately leading to Rose's disappearance, the Doctor's imprisonment and fight for freedom in the Flavian Amphitheatre a.k.a. the Colosseum, even Roman gods with mystical powers (and then things get alittle weird.)
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Entertaining, June 15, 2006
While I wouldn't wax poetic about the writing, I can say that this was a fairly fun and entertaining read (especially for those in need of a Doctor fix between seasons). I found myself wanting a bit more interaction between Rose and the Doctor - Rayner writes their chemistry quite well, but unfortunately doesn't indulge us as often as I'd like. Still, there are some good moments between the pair. While part of the plot is completely predictable, there is an interesting twist worked into the end. If you want brain candy (as I did) this is the way to go.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Just like an episode..., February 12, 2007
The book reads just like an episode on television, which is both good and bad. GOOD, in that it basically captures the spirit of the show and gives the characters an adventure with a few close calls, puzzles to figure out, and timelines to cross. BAD, in that this isn't a television show -- it's a book.
See, the best thing about novelizations is that they let you explore things that movies or TV episodes can't -- emotions, thoughts, motivations, etc. A book is a great chance to get to know the characters better: to insert memories, to demonstrate how they reason and think their way through events, to explore how what's happening affects them and why, to delve into their feelings for other characters. All the kinds of things that are difficult to show on TV, but which really fill out a novel, adding depth and texture and interest.
It appears to be aimed more at young adults than the adult crowd, which is fine, so long as you're not expecting anything deep or meaningful. No plunges into the inner workings of the Doctor's mind or examinations of his relationship with Rose, here. Basically, it's a good book with an interesting storyline, plenty of trouble for Rose and the Doctor to get into, and even a brief tour of ancient Rome. The characterization wasn't perfect, and it seemed a rather simplified adventure, even with all that happens. But that works very well for the younger readers it's written for.
"The Stone Rose" is worth buying and worth reading. I give 4 stars, only because it does lack the depth I expected from a novelization. Other than that, it's a fine book!
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by Stephen Cole
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