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A review by scampr
Doctor Who: The Target Storybook by Una McCormack, Stephen Cole, Vinay Patel, Matthew Waterhouse, George Mann, Terrance Dicks, Matthew Sweet, Simon Guerrier, Mike Tucker, Gareth Roberts, Beverly Sanford, Susie Day, Joy Wilkinson, Colin Baker, Jenny T. Colgan, Jacqueline Rayner
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This book feels both for the fans and perfect for the more casual/beginner enjoyers of Dr Who. It is in essence a variety box, an anthology collection that gives the reader bite sized expeirences from across the show's universe and history. There are 15 stories in total, one for each of the 1st-12th Doctor's eras, the War Doctor, and 2 stories for the (at the time incumbent) 13th Doctor's era.
I say era specifically because not every short story in this book is a standard adventure with the Doctor, some are about companions, enemies, one-off side characters and one or two have even stranger focuses. This gives the collection an even greater sense of variety than you'd first expect, and means there truly is something for anyone in here. Most of these stories are around 30 pages long, so they're well paces and ideal to read in one sitting, plus you could do them in any order you like.
Returning to my initial statement, this book accommodates the casual Dr Who fan incredibly well. Short stories are already a less intimidating commitment for readers who are still exploring/trying out areas of the series, but on top of that the content of each story really encapsulates the spirit/style/themes/characters/etc of each Doctor's era (this could be the perfect gateway for a person who wants to get into the classic series or expanded media).
At the same time, it doesn't do this in a safe or uninteresting manner that could dissuade more accustomed fans. The majority of stories here expand on lore/character, fill in gaps, or are sequels/prequels to iconic stories - full of references and indulgences that make for a very rewarding read, while still standing on their own as enjoyable little tales.
I say era specifically because not every short story in this book is a standard adventure with the Doctor, some are about companions, enemies, one-off side characters and one or two have even stranger focuses. This gives the collection an even greater sense of variety than you'd first expect, and means there truly is something for anyone in here. Most of these stories are around 30 pages long, so they're well paces and ideal to read in one sitting, plus you could do them in any order you like.
Returning to my initial statement, this book accommodates the casual Dr Who fan incredibly well. Short stories are already a less intimidating commitment for readers who are still exploring/trying out areas of the series, but on top of that the content of each story really encapsulates the spirit/style/themes/characters/etc of each Doctor's era (this could be the perfect gateway for a person who wants to get into the classic series or expanded media).
At the same time, it doesn't do this in a safe or uninteresting manner that could dissuade more accustomed fans. The majority of stories here expand on lore/character, fill in gaps, or are sequels/prequels to iconic stories - full of references and indulgences that make for a very rewarding read, while still standing on their own as enjoyable little tales.