Coming of the Terraphiles has proven a bold move by BBC Books for its beloved Doctor Who "New Series Adventures" franchise of novels, published all on its lonesome and written by famed sci-fi author Michael Moorcock. At 350 pages, it is no quick flick either, and in fact the sheer length of the hardback is where some marks are lost. I am not in any way an avid follower of Moorcock's work so know little of his general structures, but Coming of the Terraphiles takes its time to get going and even when it does there's little in the way of the epic battles, Doctor speeches or classic references that some of the best Who stories are known for. But thereagain, some stories are remembered for their laid-back, comedic approaches, and that is where this novel shines. The author fabulously recreates the on-screen dynamic of Matt Smith and Karen Gillan as the Eleventh Doctor and Amy respectively, though often the dialogue of the Doctor could easily be attributed to the likes of Tom Baker's or Patrick Troughton's Time Lords. Plus, multiple strands to the plot ensure that though it is a Who read, it feels like an episode through human perspectives (or indeed alien ones) on the situation. Fans of Doctor Who should expect a slow yet eventful romp through time and space that mixes writing styles of such greats as Russell T Davies and even Agatha Christie with its twisting mysteries, but not expect a style close to the main series with cliff-hangers and old monsters, instead revelling in the science-fiction masterpiece Moorcock has crafted (please don't let it be his only contribution to the franchise!).
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