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Product Description
Product Description
From 1963 to 1989, for the most part at teatime on Saturdays on BBC1, Doctor Who was a British TV institution. The series had its roots in British science fiction but grew to take in many other influences: historical drama, Hammer horror, satire, conspiracy thriller, even pantomime. Over the years it developed a uniquely eccentric style, at once cosily familiar and cosmically terrifying, and many of its characters, creatures and objects have become indelibly iconic - the Doctors and his assistants, the TARDIS, the Time Lords, and a nightmarish universe of monsters and villians: Cybermen, Ice Warriors, the Master and, of course, the Daleks. The idea that the Doctor should have the power of regeneration was forced on the show's makers when William Hartnell, the original star, could not carry on. But the changing face of the Doctor became key to the evolution of the series and, for many, whole phases of life are summed up in the casting changes: Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy and, in a one-off incarnation, Paul McGann. Even now, in the shape of Christopher Eccleston, the Doctor is set to return. In this comprehensive study, Kim Newman follows the Doctor's travels through time, examining outstanding stories, as well as prominent themes, recurrent character and monster types and the show's generic positioning between Quatermass and Star Trek, to assess the show as television masterpiece and cultural phenomenon.
About the Author
Kim Newman is a contributing editor to Sight and Sound and Empire magazines. His fiction includes the novels Anno Dracula and Life's Lottery and the Doctor Who tie-in novella 'Time and Relative'.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Kim Newman is always worth reading. His fiction (ANNO DRACULA, THE QUORUM, etc) is entertaining and intelligent and his film criticism (NIGHTMARE MOVIES) is notable for the author's incisive prose and the depth of knowledge of his subject. The same goes for this volume, although as a fellow reviewer has pointed out it's a little slim and overpriced. Even if, like me, you vastly disagree with Newman's assertion that the rot set in for "classic" DR WHO from 1977 when K9 showed up, you can't fail to want to read what he has to say. If nothing else it's refreshing to see the author's affection for the 1960's episodes coupled with a sense of erudition and a genuinely original perspective.
However, fans of the 1980's episodes might feel a little short changed here. Pity the poor fan who might happen to enjoy stories starring Sylvester McCoy or Colin Baker as Newman clearly has so much contempt for this period of the show's history he barely engages with it at all. Granted the show was not as popular as in the mid '60's and '70's but just because something is not popular does that mean it is unworthy of discussion? Patrick Troughton's final serial THE WAR GAMES from 1969 did not do very well in terms of ratings, but most people see this as one of WHO's key "texts".
Even '80's serials which have a reasonable amount of critical acclaim such as 1988's REMEMBRANCE OF THE DALEKS he labels a "meaningless runaround" which seems excessively harsh and dismissive. His dogmatic view is that the show was no longer relevant to a large audience and was failing to address itself to anyone who was not a hardcore fan (interestingly I know people who became fans because of episodes in this era).
What about GHOST LIGHT (surely comparable for its allusiveness to Newman's own ANNO DRACULA), or the witty PARADISE TOWERS, or the media savvy VENGEANCE ON VAROS or the interesting SURVIVAL...? Newman sadly doesn't want to discuss these with the level of analysis to which one might feel they are entitled (in spite of Colin Baker's horrid clown costume or McCoy's equally vile question mark pullover!)
Nevertheless this is a very interesting piece of criticism and is valuable for intelligently reflecting the views of people who feel that the original run of DR WHO on TV went badly off the rails by the end of its first 26 years. Whether I like it or not it seems that this is an opinion held by many.
However, fans of the 1980's episodes might feel a little short changed here. Pity the poor fan who might happen to enjoy stories starring Sylvester McCoy or Colin Baker as Newman clearly has so much contempt for this period of the show's history he barely engages with it at all. Granted the show was not as popular as in the mid '60's and '70's but just because something is not popular does that mean it is unworthy of discussion? Patrick Troughton's final serial THE WAR GAMES from 1969 did not do very well in terms of ratings, but most people see this as one of WHO's key "texts".
Even '80's serials which have a reasonable amount of critical acclaim such as 1988's REMEMBRANCE OF THE DALEKS he labels a "meaningless runaround" which seems excessively harsh and dismissive. His dogmatic view is that the show was no longer relevant to a large audience and was failing to address itself to anyone who was not a hardcore fan (interestingly I know people who became fans because of episodes in this era).
What about GHOST LIGHT (surely comparable for its allusiveness to Newman's own ANNO DRACULA), or the witty PARADISE TOWERS, or the media savvy VENGEANCE ON VAROS or the interesting SURVIVAL...? Newman sadly doesn't want to discuss these with the level of analysis to which one might feel they are entitled (in spite of Colin Baker's horrid clown costume or McCoy's equally vile question mark pullover!)
Nevertheless this is a very interesting piece of criticism and is valuable for intelligently reflecting the views of people who feel that the original run of DR WHO on TV went badly off the rails by the end of its first 26 years. Whether I like it or not it seems that this is an opinion held by many.
5 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a slim volume, rather overpriced, but still worth purchasing. For long-time Doctor Who enthusiasts, there will be few new facts here; however, there should still be a couple of 'I hadn't thought of that!' moments due to Newman's insightful analysis. Rather oddly, he dates Doctor Who's decline from the advent of K9 and gives the series from thereon in rather short shrift (and little space). There is a definite bias towards the sixties stories which (I presume) reflects the age of the author. It's a flawed book - by no means perfect - but still a worthwhile read.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
2 reviews
Another winner in the BFI series
8 Nov 2011
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I came to this book not just as a Doctor Who fan (who has spent the last 9 months watching all of the classic series in order) but as a fan of this book series. BFI (British Film Institute) has been around for decades and have contributed much to serious film/tv criticism. There are literally hundreds of these slim volumes from classic tv shows to modern films and every thing in between. I've read a 1/2 dozen with another dozen waiting for me to get around to them.
This book will not please every Doctor Who fan, and it is especially NOT recommended for fans of the new series, as it only covers the original eight doctors with about 4 pages of material on the new series (with mentions of Series One from 2005 throughout the text). I purchased (and am reviewing) the original version of this book. While the 2nd edition is currently for sale on Amazon (it runs about 6 pages longer so one could probably assume there is slightly more info on the new series) there probably isn't a huge text difference.
As to the book, it runs 5 chapters (slightly over 100 pages) with small photos (both color and b/w) throughout. The text is somewhat academic, but reads fairly well, without any fan-boy type hype about the show, it's plots or the different doctors. Newman (who wrote a "Who" Telos novella awhile back) approaches the show in a historical context as someone who watched from the very beginning. He has a perspective that I don't have, having come to the game very late (only a few years ago) and like your favorite James Bond, I think your favorite Doctor has much to do with when you were born. There are as many flaws in the series as attributes, and Newman tries to treat them all equally and fairly (this may annoy some - but not me).
My local library did not have this book (nor hardly any from the series) so I was forced to buy the ones I was interested in and I don't regret it. While the retail price may seem high, these are high quality books, bound well and will certainly not fall apart after a few readings. I have had good luck with all of the used copies I've accumulated from the series.
This book will not please every Doctor Who fan, and it is especially NOT recommended for fans of the new series, as it only covers the original eight doctors with about 4 pages of material on the new series (with mentions of Series One from 2005 throughout the text). I purchased (and am reviewing) the original version of this book. While the 2nd edition is currently for sale on Amazon (it runs about 6 pages longer so one could probably assume there is slightly more info on the new series) there probably isn't a huge text difference.
As to the book, it runs 5 chapters (slightly over 100 pages) with small photos (both color and b/w) throughout. The text is somewhat academic, but reads fairly well, without any fan-boy type hype about the show, it's plots or the different doctors. Newman (who wrote a "Who" Telos novella awhile back) approaches the show in a historical context as someone who watched from the very beginning. He has a perspective that I don't have, having come to the game very late (only a few years ago) and like your favorite James Bond, I think your favorite Doctor has much to do with when you were born. There are as many flaws in the series as attributes, and Newman tries to treat them all equally and fairly (this may annoy some - but not me).
My local library did not have this book (nor hardly any from the series) so I was forced to buy the ones I was interested in and I don't regret it. While the retail price may seem high, these are high quality books, bound well and will certainly not fall apart after a few readings. I have had good luck with all of the used copies I've accumulated from the series.
A good book for what it is....
26 Oct 2010
Format:Paperback
Like the Star Trek franchise and many other franchises, Doctor Who has had many critical books written about the series. Kim Newman's book is another point of view in regards to the Who franchise; covering the entire series (the changes, faults, etc.) up until David Tennant's era.
The book is good for research, I think; and unless you are a completest, I would recommend borrowing the book from your local library. (For its size, the book is a bit pricey at a little over $15, when I think it would be around $5).
The book is good for research, I think; and unless you are a completest, I would recommend borrowing the book from your local library. (For its size, the book is a bit pricey at a little over $15, when I think it would be around $5).
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