Birthright (Professor Bernice Summerfield) [Audiobook] [Audio CD]

This book is set concurrently with Iceberg, where the Doctor has an adventure without his companions. With two very strong character as Bernice and Ace, it is possible to write a novel without the series' lead character.

Nigel Robinson's second original Doctor Who novel is an improvement on his first (Timewyrm: Apocalypse), which seemed too bland for my tastes. By focussing in on the two companions, amongst the most popular in the series history, and having two interesting and strangely linked settings, he appears to have hit upon a combination that suits him.

I really enjoyed "Birthright" when it was published. I enjoyed the way that the Doctor's fingerprints were allowed to remain all over the action, even when he was offscreen. I enjoyed the new character Muldwych, who seems to have an intimate connection with the Doctor. He wears the same blue Roman ring favored by the first Doctor, and much of his dialogue is recycled from the TV episodes. I enjoyed the way the first 100 pages were anchored by new companion Benny, who in 1993 was still a novelty act.

This time around, however, I'm afraid that "Birthright"'s technical faults grabbed my attention more than the story. Benny, whose character was never really firmly defined from year to year, has some horrible moments in this story -- she aids in the theft of jewelry from the person of an unconscious assault victim, and is seen to exult at the death of a foe. While I still enjoyed the story's fast pacing, the writing style of a 216-page book feels more like an outline of a novel than a book in its own right. Passages which should convey tension or drama feel more like Post-It notes describing what the author intends to do. A room is described as "a massive chamber the size of a small church". I'm not sure how that works. Another character recognizes the "shape of a tall blue box" simply from seeing a square outline in the grass.

Other elements of the book -- the Doctor's offstage manipulations, the strange motivations of Muldwych -- were interesting, tantalizing hints in 1993, but have yellowed with disuse. Muldwych is basically a one-off character (he did have a cameo in "Happy Endings"), and it's a shame we never found out what Robinson intended for him.

"Birthright" remains an interesting time capsule into what "Doctor Who" looked like in print in 1993. Unfortunately, even though all the elements for success are there, it's something less than a complete story in its own right.

What better way to flesh out character relationship than to thrust them into an adventure involving just the both of them, (Newer companion Benny and hardened war soldier Ace) without the focal point of the novel (The Doctor) to get in thier way. The most important part of this relationship is Benny seeing Ace's point of view regarding the Doctor's meddling and using her as a pawn in on of his games.

Benny's part throughout the novel is by far the better, with her off-the-cuff very likeable type of manner and the eerie 1909 setting of London streets , whereas Ace's character is still continuing the very unlikeable, bitter, untrusting person since she rejoined the team 3 stories ago.

Another good point is the introduction of the hermit, Muldwych, who seems to play another part of the Doctor's little known history. (Frustratingly, as in accordance to other novels that deal with the history of The Doctor, you're left in Wonderland Limbo again)

Most importantly, being a companion novel to ICEBERG (where you find out where the Doctor has been) doesn't mean you will have to read ICEBERG to enjoy and understand what goes on in BIRTHRIGHT. RECOMMENDED reading!!!!