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A review by rebelbelle13
Doctor Who: Beltempest by Jim Mortimore
1.0
WHAT. WAS.THAT. Seriously, I have never read a more complicated-for-no-reason, out of character, ego-stroking science fiction book before, ever. I have read and watched a lot of fantasy, sci-fi, and Doctor Who in my day and you occasionally come across something that is so bloated, where clearly the author is attempting to break out and showcase his "talent", well beyond the breadth and scope of what the book is actually supposed to be. Beltempest is trying so desperately to be something that it isn't. Jim, this is Doctor Who. It's not a philosophical book about birth and death and what the universe means. We expect a little waxing rhapsodic with certain Doctors, but this is over the top and unnecessary.
Not only is the writing over the top and complicated for no reason, the plot makes very little sense. We're meant to believe an ancient race came to the dying Bel galaxy, put its fetus in the sun (thereby giving it millions of more years of life) and nano-bots evolved on one of the planets, looking to use humans as vehicles to take over the universe? There's also the usual influx of side-characters who aren't that important in the scheme of things, and are going to die anyway. Sam has regressed yet again, and Jim has the Doctor acting like a confused child, who whips out random items and then gets upset when he can't decide what to do. In the end, he doesn't really do anything, and his being there doesn't make a whit of difference.
This is also the highest body count of any Who book yet, with deaths in the billions.
The core idea is ok, I suppose, and given to another capable author, could have been told better and reworked to a halfway decent story. As it stands, it really deserves a 1.5. And as I can't do half stars, I'm rounding down this time, because I can't get back the time I wasted reading this.
Not only is the writing over the top and complicated for no reason, the plot makes very little sense. We're meant to believe an ancient race came to the dying Bel galaxy, put its fetus in the sun (thereby giving it millions of more years of life) and nano-bots evolved on one of the planets, looking to use humans as vehicles to take over the universe? There's also the usual influx of side-characters who aren't that important in the scheme of things, and are going to die anyway. Sam has regressed yet again, and Jim has the Doctor acting like a confused child, who whips out random items and then gets upset when he can't decide what to do. In the end, he doesn't really do anything, and his being there doesn't make a whit of difference.
This is also the highest body count of any Who book yet, with deaths in the billions.
The core idea is ok, I suppose, and given to another capable author, could have been told better and reworked to a halfway decent story. As it stands, it really deserves a 1.5. And as I can't do half stars, I'm rounding down this time, because I can't get back the time I wasted reading this.