A review by rebelbelle13
Doctor Who: Genocide by Paul Leonard

2.0

This was fine, but it really wasn't great. After coming off of the high that was Bodysnatchers (the previous book in this series), Genocide is a real let-down. It's convoluted and confusing for no good reason, involves side characters just to swiftly kill them, and felt the need to pull in Jo Grant, her only purpose to ensure that Sam survived the adventure. This entire book is a 'what-if' scenario; what if another species populated and evolved on Earth instead of humans. It's an unstable future, one which the Doctor has to rectify before the whole universe implodes. The Doctor doesn't play much of a part in this installment at all. He feels vulnerable and not in control of the situation in the least, and things are happening to him instead of him actively attempting to rectify the problem. His companions do much more than he does, and that doesn't sit right with me. The only good this novel services is showing Sam's evolution as a companion. Vampire Science showed her wrestling with her feelings about the Doctor, Bodysnatchers showed her how to run and think and survive as a companion, and this installment taught Sam that she can't always fix everything or keep her hands clean. Other than that, it's not that great of a Doctor Who story. Here's hoping the next is better.