The second of the July Who novel releases, Nuclear Time sends the Doctor, Amy and Rory to 1980s America in a wibbly-wobbly-timey-wimey plot not totally apart from Steven Moffat's recent season finale, only this is scribed by the excellent Oli Smith (who also wrote the Daily Express exclusive CD release The Runaway Train). We see the two human companions only for a brief time here as they are (spoiler of sorts) killed by a nuclear bomb set off in Appletown, and much like his attempt to keep his consciousness in Amy's memories by going back in his time-line and reminding her of his TARDIS, the Time Lord must go back in his time-line here and stop the bomb's detonation and/or Amy and Rory being in the vicinity. It sounds rather complex, but that's because it is. Often, you'll get lost amongst the intelligence of Smith's writing, and may just skip to the next chapter for the much used catch-up. The absence of our usual companions means that a couple of side characters are brought into the lime-light, and in many ways it's the story of forgotten professor Albert and disgraced corporal Geoff and not the Doctor himself- though we do get a better look into the alien's mind and the way it works. On the whole, Nuclear Time's use of in-media-res and plotlines similar to The Waters Of Mars (though not as emotional) are effective, but the characterisation is a bit off, and the final 100 pages drag a bit too much for readers to truly enjoy. Nevertheless, a fun, if too complex, read.
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