Quatermass' Book Reading Blog 3: Revenge of the Sequel

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Book 62...

REVIEW: Kick-Ass by Mark Millar and John Romita Jr


I have to admit, my interest in western comics and superheroes is not that great. They seem all too much like fantastical soap-operas in print. But I do make an effort to read some of the greats in the field, like the comics of Alan Moore. Watchmen remains my favourite work by him, with its depiction about how superheroes and costumed vigilantes would affect the history of the world, and who would try to become one, and why. The latter theme, about who would want to become a costumed vigilante and why, is a theme that was taken up and given a different angle in the recent comic book series, Kick-Ass, now also a film. It was probably because of the film, which I intend to watch some time, that I am now reading the book.

Dave Lizewski is a fairly normal guy, if a bit obsessed with comics and a girl who thinks that he is a complete and utter loser. But all that's about to change. After wondering why no superheroes exist, he decides to go out and become one. His first sortie is a disaster, nearly killing him, but when his second outing makes his vigilante persona of Kick-Ass an internet phenomenon, he finds himself at the centre of a situation that is soon out of his control. While juggling his personal life and his life as a vigilante, Lizewski encounters some new vigilantes, like the lethal child killer Hit-Girl, and her enigmatic father and handler, Big Daddy, and a friendly vigilante by the name of Red Mist. Unfortunately, Lizewski gets caught up in Hit-Girl and Big Daddy's quest to take down John Genovese, one of the top crime lords of New York, and things are sure to get messy.

Let's get something out of the way. This comic is violent. And not just bloody, but gory and nasty. Shooting, a cleaver through the head, and being crushed in a car crusher graphically are just some of the ways the characters go down. And the language uttered would strike a sailor deaf. Those familiar with the movie might recall a storm of controversy because of the fact that Hit Girl, supposed to be 10 in the comics and played by the 12-year old (at the time) Chloe Grace Moretz, utters, in her first appearance, strong expletives.

And yet, despite the violence, or perhaps even because of it (after all, most depictions of a superhero's world or that of a costumed vigilante, while violent, isn't as shockingly so as portrayed on the page), Kick-Ass is a fairly realistic depiction of what would happen if a number of people suddenly decided that they wanted to be superheroes. On the first few pages, we see a man with a winged costume attempt to fly off a building, only to end up dying as he hits a car parked below his, uh, 'flight zone'. Dave 'Kick-Ass' Lizewski himself has the crap beaten out of him on several occasions.

And despite it all, and the bittersweet conclusion, this is a fun romp. The storyline, while not exactly complex and often painful to read, is still enjoyable. The characters do seem at least believable, if a little shallow, and it's fun to watch what happens when the 'superheroes' bite off more than they can chew.

Kick-Ass is not for the weak of stomach or for those expecting a happy ending. But it is certainly fun, and a hoot. If you can stomach the violence, and have enjoyed Watchmen, try giving this a go.


9/10

First words: I always wondered why nobody did it before me.

Last words: ...wait until they get a load of ME.

The next book will probably be Doctor Who: The Highest Science.

Book 63...

REVIEW: Doctor Who: The Highest Science by Gareth Roberts


Gareth Roberts has been one of my favourite Doctor Who novel authors ever since I read his Missing Adventures stories The Romance of Crime and The English Way of Death. He has also written the entertaining TV stories The Shakespeare Code and The Unicorn and the Wasp. Now I go back to the very first Doctor Who story of his that was published, the New Adventure called The Highest Science...

Sakraat is said to be the home of a long-dead civilisation, whose pinnacle of achievement, the Highest Science, is legendary. The Doctor and Bernice Summerfield are tracking down a strange space-time phenomenon known as a Fortean flicker, a temporal anomaly known for attracting coincidence and transporting things through space and time, and they land on the otherwise unremarkable planet Hogsuum, possibly Sakraat. But they are not alone. A group of the warlike tortoise aliens known as the Chelonians have been transported there, and they hate humans. So has a bus filled with humans from the late 20th Century Earth, and a group of drugged out musicians led by a psychotic. But even that may pale in comparison to the man who is coming to Sakraat deliberately, the infamous criminal Sheldukher...

After enjoying Gareth Roberts' previous works, I have to confess to being disappointed by The Highest Science. Some allowance, obviously, has to be made for the fact that this was Roberts' first book, but the plot, while straightforward and simple in the end, is also somewhat messy. The Fortrean flicker is an interesting plot device, but in the end, although the cause is made clear, it still is rather too blatant a plot device, and not enough emphasis seems to be given over to the tituler Highest Science.

The characters from the two main human camps also don't particularly engage me. I feel sorry for the '8:12' bus people, but the druggie musicians just seem to be there to move the plot along and screw up Benny by giving her the addictive bubbleshake. Sheldukher is more interesting, as is the Cell, his stolen biocomputer, but the rest of his party aren't.

The Chelonians are perhaps the star of this novel, being an interesting spin on a warrior race in the mold of the Sontarans. The thought of genocidal misanthropic hermaphroditic (yes, I said hermaphroditic) tortoises may sound laughable, but enough of their culture and military ability is given to make them a plausible Doctor Who monster, even if their realisation on the screen would be difficult.

While not actually bad, I expected more from The Highest Science. I wanted it to be a little more complex than it turned out, and the denouement is rather disappointing. It is still fairly good science fiction, and a decent Doctor Who story, but I prefer Gareth Roberts' later works.


8/10

First words: My heart stopped as I glanced up from the ruins of the temple of fallen idols.

Last words: Wherever they were going.

Book 64...

REVIEW: The Salmon of Doubt: Hitchhiking the Galaxy One Last Time by Douglas Adams, edited by Peter Guzzardi


If there are writers with whom I have felt affinity with, then I have to confess that Douglas Adams is one of them. He has lived a life that I dream of one day emulating, although ending up dead of a heart attack at a relatively young age is not one of the parts I intend to emulate. Although I received The Salmon of Doubt some time ago as a present, it is only now that I have decided to read it...

The Salmon of Doubt consists of a number of articles, interviews, and letters Douglas Adams wrote or contributed to, as well as two stories, the short story Young Zaphod Plays It Safe, set in the Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy universe, and the completed chapters of a novel that may have been the third Dirk Gently novel, tentatively titled The Salmon of Doubt. Compiled after Adams' death, the compilation also features contributions from editor Peter Guzzardi, and Adams' friends Stephen Fry and Richard Dawkins.

Despite the weirdness Douglas Adams represents, it can never be denied that he is an intelligent man with a substantial amount of wit. And even in these varied letters, we get a man who, despite his wackiness, is able to be both intelligent and passionate about the subjects he writes about, ranging from Apple computers to environmental awareness. Some don't quite excite me, and the necessarily fragmentary nature of the book does bring things down.

The stories present are also unusual, but interesting, Adams gems. Young Zaphod Plays It Safe is short, but in a way that it does not overstay its welcome, and is an excellent addition to the universe of the Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy. The Salmon of Doubt is a Dirk Gently book. I have to admit, I haven't thought that much of the original book (and never got around to reading the second book). Not that Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency was bad as much as the fact that, at the time I read it, it was confusing as hell, and I didn't get the Doctor Who connection until later. But maybe, after reading the surreal but well-written segments of The Salmon of Doubt, I should go back and read it with new eyes.

Unfortunately, being as fragmentary as it is, The Salmon of Doubt is hardly satisfying, despite its brilliance. And for some strange reason, the publishers omitted a third story, The Private Life of Genghis Khan, from this particular edition of The Salmon of Doubt. This is a pity, because this was a story which I would have liked to have read.

The Salmon of Doubt is a fragmentary, but still brilliant and entertaining glimpse into the mind and world of Douglas Noel Adams, easily one of the best writers to have ever lived. This excellent book only serves to remind us of too-early a loss of true talent and wit.



8.5/10

First words: Dear Editor,

Last words: And so he did.

Hitchhiker's Guide the the Galaxy is pretty good. I read a compiled version, "The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide", back about a decade ago. I got my wife a five book "trilogy" of Adam's Hitchhiker's series which I must read to her or else I might find myself under threat of being whacked with a very large inflatable plastic baseball bat.

Heh heh heh... It is a pretty good series.

Don't forget, Eoin Colfer, on commission, wrote a sixth book in the series, And Another Thing..., which I reviewed in a previous book-reading blog. It mitigates the ending of Mostly Harmless, which I heard Douglas Adams was unhappy about. And Another Thing... was pretty good, and a decent continuation of Adams' story, but it wasn't quite his style.

Book 65...

REVIEW: Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith by Matthew Stover, from the screenplay by George Lucas

I mentioned in my previous review of a Star Wars book, Death Star, that I am not a Star Wars fan per se. However, I still retain an interest in the franchise, and it was because of this that I finally decided to read the novelisation of the third Star Wars prequel, Revenge of the Sith...

The Clone Wars are drawing to a close. Following a daring rescue of Chancellor Palpatine from the grasp of Count Dooku and General Grievous of the Separatists, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker find themselves caught up in politics. The Jedi are concerned that Palpatine is using the war to gain more power, due to the influence of the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, and intend to use Anakin as a spy on Palpatine, something Anakin is not happy about. But Anakin has even more to worry about, as his wife Padme is pregnant, and he keeps on having recurring dreams of her dying, something that he will prevent, even if it means sacrificing everything he has worked for...

The problem, I think, that people have between the original Star Wars trilogy and the prequels is partly the look and style of the prequels, and partly the way that the stories have been written. In the original trilogy, it was a relatively simple good vs evil romp, while the prequels were more about politics and complexity. Personally, I have little objection with the stories that have been done, but rather, how they have been done.

That being said, I did like the Revenge of the Sith film, if only because it showed how the Empire was born, along with how Anakin Skywalker turned into Darth Vader. It was clumsy in many respects, but it worked. It filled the gaps, and explained many things.

Reading the book, however, is something of a revelation. I am reminded of some Doctor Who novelisations, particularly Malcolm Hulke's Doctor Who and the Cave Monsters, Ben Aaronovitch's Remembrance of the Daleks, Marc Platt's Ghost Light, Ian Briggs' The Curse of Fenric, and John Peel's novelisations of Power of the Daleks and Evil of the Daleks. These novelisations expand and even improve on the original story without cheapening the original.

Matthew Stover manages to take a film which is probably the best of the Star Wars prequels, and brings it up to a new level. He gives the characters new life and depth, particularly Obi-Wan and Anakin. Some scenes are abridged or abbreviated, and dialogue is changed to make some things more plausible, like Palpatine's manipulation of Anakin, and Palpatine manipulating the situation when confronted by a group of Jedi led by Mace Windu.

I get the feeling that this should have been how the movie should have been. I actually enjoyed reading this book more than I did the film. It actually made me care about the characters from the Star Wars prequels. Stover writes with a poetry that, while intrusive at times, is done appropriately for the most part, with perhaps the most triumphant example showing us what it is like when Darth Vader awakens after being reconstructed and revived.

There are disappointments. I feel that there was room for even more expansion without detriment to the story, and Yoda's trip to Kashyyyk is reduced to a footnote. The execution of Order 66 is also reduced to little more than a couple of paragraphs, and a couple of the fight scenes did not excite me as much as they did in the film.

It has its faults, but Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith is a novelisation of high standard. Star Wars fans will certainly love it, and those disappointed by the prequels may do well to give it a try, and see if the prequels are redeemed.



9/10

First words: This story happened a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away.

Last words: Love can ignite the stars.

Book 66...

REVIEW: Northern Lights by Philip Pullman

Having enjoyed Philip Pullman's The Ruby in the Smoke, a mystery novel featuring Sally Lockhart, I knew that one time or another, I would come to Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy. Having finally gotten the motivation to do so, I have read the first book in the saga, Northern Lights (or The Golden Compass, as it is known in America and as a film).

In a world where people's souls manifest in physical form as 'daemons', Lyra Belacqua, an orphan living in Oxford, eavesdrops on a meeting between her uncle, the enigmatic Lord Asriel, and the scholars and authorities of Jordan College. They discuss a mysterious substance known as 'Dust', and Asriel, thanks to Lyra, avoids a deliberate attempt at poisoning him. But there is a mysterious group at work that comes to Oxford, kidnapping young children and sending them to the North. Lyra becomes involved when she is made the apprentice of the enigmatic and ruthless Mrs Coulter, who seems to be after a device Lyra was given shortly before leaving Oxford...

I have to admit, I do actually have a misotheistic bent, and Philip Pullman's protrayal of the Church, while harsh, is still appealing to me. I do cringe at some of the more stronger portrayals, but then again, the major adult opponent of the Church, as we see at the end of the book, is little better, given what he is prepared to do to stop them.

The characters themselves are not quite interesting, with the exception of Lord Asriel. Lyra seems a little too inconsistent and immature to be a truly believable heroine, and I did not detect much in the way of character development as the story progressed. And the other characters, for the most part, seemed to exist mostly to impede or hasten the progress of the story.

The story itself is a rather singular and simple construct, straightforward, and while this is by no means a bad thing, I was expecting something meatier. This is basically going from A to B and then on to C, with obstacles in the way. This is a too-simple adventure romp with philosophical trappings rather than true drama.

However, Pullman is a master of excellent concepts and worldbuilding. Despite the fantastic setting, it is a somewhat believable one with its own rules and history. The true nature of what is going on in the North is a shocking revelation, and the motivation of the Church in doing so, while heinous, is at least understandable.

Despite its faults, Northern Lights was actually an enjoyable read. I do intend to read the rest of the His Dark Materials trilogy some time in the future, if only to see how it ends. Philip Pullman may be a little heavy-handed in showing his views towards organised religion, but he doesn't let it interfere too much with the story.


8.5/10

First words: Lyra and her daemon moved through the darkening Hall, taking care to keep to one side, out of sight of the kitchen.

Last words: End of Book One.

Book 67...

REVIEW: The New Adventures: Oh No It Isn't! by Paul Cornell

After the Doctor Who television movie came out in 1996, Virgin Publishing wasn't able to renew its licence for original Doctor Who novels, as the BBC wished to make its own. The New Adventures novels did continue, but instead of following the Doctor, they followed one of his companions from the original run of New Adventures, Bernice Summerfield, archaeologist. Oh No It Isn't! is the first in this spin-off line, and I have just finished reading it...

Settling into the life of an academic on the world of Dellah, Professor Bernice Summerfield is trying to put her failed marriage and her adventures with the Doctor behind her. Taking a group of archaeology students to the recently un-quarantined planet of Perfecton seems like a perfect distraction, while a group of academics investigate the planet, which is soon to be consumed by a supernova. But a combination of the invading data-pirates known as the Grel and the planet's own technology conspire to create a disaster. While the remaining academics must flee the remaining Grel, Bernice wakes up in a landscape that seems out of multiple fairy tales, and must find out whether it is a hallucination, an afterlife, or the weirdest pantomime she has ever seen...

Paul Cornell writes well, I have to say. I have read his Doctor Who New Adventures Timewyrm: Revelation, No Future, and Happy Endings, along with the excellent Missing Adventure Goth Opera, so looking at a story which is not a Doctor Who story (although with Bernice herself present, not to mention the Gareth Roberts-created self-opinionated artist Menlove Stokes, who seems to have become more heroic since the last time he was seen, it is still clearly in the same universe) was both novel and intriguing.

The plot is rather straightforward, even if the revelations isn't, and it takes a while for everything to slot into place. The characters, with the exception of Bernice, Menlove Stokes, and Wolsey (Bernice's cat, formerly the Doctor's), while entertaining, aren't really that complex or interesting. That being said, the Grel are a race of alien beings who manage to be both amusing and threatening at the same time, and there is also an interesting revelation about the Perfectons that came out of left field.

While short and not as complex as I would have liked, not to mention a little confusing, Oh No It Isn't! was an entertaining read that shows great potential in the Bernice Summerfield series. One day, I should really get around to reading more of them.


8.5/10

First words: The great red building in the shape of a barrel had grown dark in the rain, the natural tan of its bricks staining with the water.

Last words: The Professor slipped the module into one of his gown's deepest pockets, glanced ruefully at some distant, imagined audience of his own, and then closed the door behind him.

What might be next? Probably Stardust by Neil Gaiman.

And hot on the heels of the last one is Book 68...

REVIEW: Stardust by Neil Gaiman and illustrated by Charles Vess

Having had something of a taste of Neil Gaiman from his comic book series The Sandman and his collaboration with Terry Pratchett, Good Omens, I decided to try, tentatively, Gaiman's recent adult picture book, a fantasy story called Stardust, which was turned into a film not long ago.

At the start of the Victorian era, there is a small village called Wall, where there is a wall separating the human world from the realm of Faerie. The young Tristran Thorn, eager to win the heart of the town beauty, vows to fetch her a star that he sees falling outside the town, beyond the wall. But he is not the only one trying to find the star, itself a living thing. The last heirs to the Lordship of Stormhold are searching for something that knocked the star from the heavens, and a witch-queen is searching for the star to extend her life, and that of her sisters...

I have only seen a small part of the film, so I went into this book with virtually no prejudices about the story. Which is just as well. To say that this is a fairy tale is a rather apt description, though it is not a fairy tale designed for children. After all, there is sex and quite a bit of violence.

The story and characters are not exactly complex, although we have some character development on the behalf of both Tristran and the star, Yvaine. While this does bring the story down quite a bit, this is meant to be a fairy tale, and they are not noted for their deep stories or characters.

However, Neil Gaiman is a master at writing a fantasy landscape that feels both original and real, with a lyricism and poetry to his words that brings the relatively simple story to a wonderful level. Credit, too, must go to Charles Vess, in creating illustrations that bring the world to life. I am reminded of reading the dark-natured but ultimately happy fairy tale Dean Koontz wrote, Oddkins, which I happily read as a child and enjoyed. While not suitable for children, this has this sort of feel. Even though it is a fairy tale, it has many aspects of what happens to a hero during and after his quest treated in a realistic manner, albeit a stylised one.

This is a fairy tale storybook for adults, and a simple romance, designed, I feel, to be an antidote to the mundane life we live today. Gaiman is to be commended for this excellent contribution to fantasy literature. If you think you can tolerate a simple but beautiful story for adults, then I suggest that you try Stardust.


8.5/10

First words: There was once a young man who wished to gain his Heart's Desire.

Last words: (Not recorded due to spoilers)

Book 69...

REVIEW: Doctor Who: Island of Death by Barry Letts


A little over a year ago, Barry Letts died. One of the longest serving and influential producers of Doctor Who, he also directed five stories and most of a sixth, co-wrote four television stories with Robert Sloman, and became executive producer for a season when the series was revamped for the 80s. But after the series originally ended, he also contributed to two radio dramas featuring Jon Pertwee as the Doctor, along with Elizabeth Sladen (Sarah Jane Smith) and Nicholas Courtney (Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart), The Paradise of Death and The Ghosts of N-Space, along with novelisations of the same. And for the BBC books range, he co-wrote Deadly Reunion with his former script editor and prolific Doctor Who novelist Terrance Dicks, and this book by himself, Island of Death.

One of Sarah Jane Smith's colleagues has joined a New Age cult, and Sarah has become suspicious when one of the members is a former right-wing government minister Sarah exposed because of corruption. Taking photographs and a drugged drink to the Doctor for analysis, Sarah manages to convince him that this cult, which worships an insect-like being called the Skang, is a potential threat. Especially after the Doctor makes a connection to a series of strange murders, where the victims have had all their internal organs and fluids extracted. The Doctor, Sarah, and the Brigadier pursue the Skang cultists to India, and then to an island in the Indian Ocean, but they may already be too late...

The advantage of having Barry Letts writing this is that he already has a good pedigree of writing Doctor Who stories (his most notable being The Daemons), and knows exactly how to characterise the Doctor, Sarah Jane Smith, and the Brigadier. Every one of them feels right for the time, even if the story seems more centred on Sarah, and the Doctor and the Brigadier do not get much character development.

The story itself, however, is a mild disappointment. It feels more like it is a reused idea from the Jon Pertwee era, novelised, and while this does give a nice feel, it is also altogether too straightforward and uncomplex story, not deep or complex enough. And considering that Barry Letts is writing about arthropodic villains from space that are taking over people and hiding behind religious ceremony with a view to taking over the Earth...is this Planet of the Spiders, reran?

The Skang are an intriguing, but ultimately misused adversary. Because of their nature, they give the Doctor a bit more of moral agonising before he needs to wipe them out, as they are not completely immoral, but are, in many cases, decently natured. But they also do not care about what they do to humanity, and what the Doctor does to stop them is both well set-up and in keeping with his character from the era.

While Doctor Who fans might want to give it a whirl, and people who are looking for some decent science fiction should try it, Island of Death, unfortunately, is not the best of Barry Letts' work on Doctor Who. It is still an above average book with much to commend it, but it still feels a little too run-of-the-mill for its own good.


8/10

First words: 'Is it vampires, Prof?'

Last words: There's nowt so queer as folk, as her mum used to say.

Having just been to the Lifeline Bookfest, I have obtained a number of books to read. My next book to be read, however, will probably be The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli, which I obtained from the library, probably to be closely followed by the Missing Adventure Doctor Who: The Shadows of Weng-Chiang.

It was rather difficult for me to find a copy of, but the book Tambu by Robert Asprin was a favorite of mine. I think it really attempts to challenge people regarding the maxim of "don't judge a book by its cover", since - at least in this point of history - there are some keywords which would register with the department of homeland insecurity. However, the actual story within it is rather fascinating, at least to me, and if you have the time and opportunity to review it I would like to make that request of you Quatermass.

Sorry, but I do not take requests, iamnotaparakeet. And even if I did, Tambu is not available at my local library. I've just checked. So I don't have the opportunity or the inclination.


Book 70...

REVIEW: The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli

I am not noted for liking many books written before 1950, and especially before 1900. They tend to write, I feel, with complete and utter dryness. I decided, given how short it was, to give Niccolo Machiavelli's infamous work, The Prince, a whirl, see what it is like.

A political treatise, The Prince is what could be called an instruction manual for governments and rulers. While many people have derided Machiavelli for his endorsement of unsavoury practises, it is clear upon reading that his work is actually a pragmatic one. Given how fragmented and violent Italy, where Machiavelli lived, was at the time he wrote The Prince, his words do not seem as nasty as they would be by today's standards. Indeed, Machiavelli's works make sense in the corporate world, whose resemblance to the Italy of the Renaissance is uncanny, with only murder and standard warfare not being present. Some people have even suggested that Machiavelli was a satirist.

I do not know whether it was because of Machiavelli's style itself, or because of the translator, George Bull, but The Prince reads like a conversation, easy to follow and easy to understand, providing you have a little background in history, which both Machiavelli and, in this edition, a series of annotations provide. The book reads as both intelligent and yet accessible.

Of course, the very concepts portrayed therein are quite abhorrent, and this seems more like correspondence than a real book. The relevancy of this book to the average person may not be readily apparent, and only politicians, corporate hatchetmen, and academics in political science and psychology would probably find any deep meaning to it. But it is written well, and the concepts therein may give people who read it some thought about why some people act the way they do.



8/10

First words: Men who are anxious to win the favour of a Prince nearly always follow the custom of presenting themselves to him with the possessions they value most, or with things they know especially please him; so we often see princes given horses, weapons, cloth of gold, precious stones, and similar ornaments worthy of their high position.

Last words: 'Nor in th' Italian breasts extinguished.'

Book 71...

REVIEW: Doctor Who: The Shadow of Weng-Chiang by David A McIntee

One of my favourite Doctor Who stories of all time, despite the mildly racist tone, was The Talons of Weng-Chiang. Set in Victorian London, it pitted the Doctor and Leela against a war criminal from the 51st Century, who had taken control over a Chinese Tong society and used a Chinese stage magician to do his bidding. Many of the things done in the story, like having an English actor in make-up to play a Chinese character, would cause some small amount of offence nowadays, but the story itself was a brilliant one, written by Doctor Who writer extraordinaire Robert Holmes. To make a sequel to this story would be hard, but David A McIntee has succeeded...

While tracking down the Key to Time, the Doctor, K9, and Romana are diverted to Shanghai in 1934, despite the fact that they have already found one segment on Earth previously. The Tracer used for tracking the Key's Segments is showing off strange signals. Trying to figure out why, the Doctor and Romana end up embroiled in the intrigue of the city, with a Japanese invasion threatening and the world on the brink of war. While the Doctor is forced to work with policeman Sung-Ching Li, Romana ends up with the vigilante Yan Cheh, but they all have to deal with the beautiful leader of the Tong of the Black Scorpion, Hsien-Ko. Is Hsien-Ko an agent of the Black Guardian? Or are her plans more personal? Why does she seem to want the help of the Doctor? And why is the strange, child-like figure she is with seems so familiar? The shadow of Weng-Chiang, aka Magnus Greel, falls heavily on Shanghai, and the Doctor must find out what Hsien-Ko's true motives and plans are before it is too late.

Creating a sequel to a well-loved Doctor Who story, or indeed any story, would be difficult. An example of a successful sequel in the TV series would be The Time of Angels/Flesh and Stone to Blink. A rather less successful sequel, though not a disaster, would be Attack of the Cybermen to Tomb of the Cybermen. Many sequels in the New Adventures and Missing Adventures series were attempted, and I have to say, The Shadow of Weng-Chiang is perhaps one of the most successful.

It is obvious from the cover, but the only actual character from Talons to make it through to the sequel (besides the Doctor, obviously) was the homicidal ventriloquist dummy, Mr Sin, the Peking Homunculus. However, the main villainess, Hsien-Ko, has an unexpected link to the events of the original story, and she is also one of the best villains to ever grace a Doctor Who novel, being complex, sympathetic, and trying to recruit the Doctor into her schemes, even though she knows that he may disrupt them.

The other characters range in complexity, but they are all intriguing, and we have sympathetic Asian characters, in contrast to the original story (where Li'Hsen Chang, while willing to kidnap young women to give to his master to feed off their life force, and to kill the Doctor, was ultimately a tragic figure, but not quite sympathetic). While I am surprised at the lack of European characters beyond short appearances, this actually works out well.

While some of the escapades that the Doctor and Romana go through would not look out of place in an Indiana Jones film (and specifically, Temple of Doom), it manages to still feel like Doctor Who. The Doctor, Romana, and K9 are all given moments to shine in the story, and most parts of the plot are well explained.

There are minor quibbles with the writing style, which makes it hard to spot when a character comes in, or when a vital piece of exposition is announced. And the revelation of the true allegiances of one character seem rather unbelievable, at least at first, although his motivations for doing so are at least sound enough that you barely notice.

The Shadow of Weng-Chiang, while short, is still quite packed with lots to recommend it. An excellent sequel to an excellent story that did not appear to need one, it is a surprise, and a very pleasant one at that. Doctor Who fans should get it if they can. Jago and Litefoot may not be in it, but you won't be disappointed.


9.5/10

First words: The pale but cheery face of the moon hung proudly amongst its accompanying stars, beaming through the clear skies.

Last words: And, like so many, dreamt of revenge.

Book 72...

REVIEW: Star Wars, The Thrawn Trilogy: Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn


Having read and reviewed two Star Wars novels for this book-reading blog, I thought it about time that I try a third. I decided to read the first volume in the acclaimed Thrawn Trilogy, set five years after the events of Return of the Jedi, and showing that even though the Emperor and Darth Vader are dead, the fight is not over.

Five years have passed since the Battle of Endor, but the galaxy is not at peace. The New Republic has to contend with the remnants of the Empire, part of which has become revitalised under the command of Grand Admiral Thrawn, whose tactics towards his men and his enemies make him even more of a threat. But Thrawn is not the only threat to the New Republic. Luke, a pregnant Leia, and Han have to deal with politics on a regular basis, politics that may tear the New Republic apart from within, and the trio are being targeted by a mysterious group of aliens during diplomatic missions. While Thrawn gains the aid of a deranged former Jedi, Han and Leia must avoid another kidnapping, and Luke must face his own demons, searching for answers on Dagobah, unaware that there is someone targeting him for death...

While I am not a Star Wars fan per se, I have to admit to being impressed by the quality of writing they employ in the novels I have read thus far. While Heir to The Empire is not quite up to the standard of Death Star and the novelisation of Revenge of the Sith, it is still quite strongly written by Timothy Zahn. The threats to the fledgling New Republic from both without and within are plausible.

The familiar characters from the films all are written fairly well, echoing their natures from the films. Of the new characters, three particularly spring to mind. Admiral Thrawn is the strongest of the new characters, an alien Grand Admiral in the Imperial starfleet who is a brilliant tactician, as well as a reasonable commander to his men. Although he does execute one of his underlings, it is done in a surprisingly reasonable manner, and Darth Vader should have taken notes. His immediate underling, Pallaeon, is also interesting, in that he grows from being afraid of Thrawn to admiring him.

Another character of interest is Mara Jade, a character who later plays a big role in the Expanded Universe, and whose introduction is handled very well, as someone who has a major desire to kill Luke Skywalker. Her characterisation, while a little rabid at first, does eventually gain some depth.

Amongst the poor points of the book include the character of Jedi Master Joruus C'Baoth, who seems rather flat and one-note, not even enjoyable as a literary large ham. The writing style seems a little old-fashioned at times, a little too formal, and given that this was written before the prequels, you can hear creaks of continuity straining under the weight (Darth Vader and the Emperor are called Dark Jedi, not Sith Lords).

Nonetheless, this is certainly a very good Star Wars novel that is effectively the 'Episode VII' of the series. It feels suitable, even if the fit seems a little strained, and I am seriously considering reading the next volume, if only to see what happens next.



8.5/10

First words: 'Captain Pallaeon?' a voice called down from the portside crew pit through the hum of background conversation.

Last words: 'We'll think of something.'