- Paperback: 288 pages
- Publisher: BBC Books; paperback / softback edition (5 Feb 2001)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0563538252
- ISBN-13: 978-0563538257
- Product Dimensions: 17.6 x 11 x 2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 291,389 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
It is the first day of the 21st century, and a space race between rival Earth entrepreneurs is underway.
Both teams are being aided by an alien race called the Kulan. They were stranded on planet Earth after their scout ship crashed there and, as far as the rival teams are concerned, the Kulan are motivated by a desire to get back to their home planet.
What they don't realize is that in fact the wrecked scout ship was part of a Kulan invasion force, sent ahead of the rest of its fleet to investigate Earth. The Kulan are a ruthless race who invade planets to exploit whatever economic value they contain, and the rest of the fleet is due to arrive in 2001.
However, the stranded Kulan need to escape planet Earth's radio-thick atmosphere to contact the fleet and arrange their rendezvous. Will one of the teams succeed in helping the Kulan to destroy Earth -- or will the Doctor succeed in averting a catastrophic attack?
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
This is Colin Brake's first novel, ( personally I think he should stick to script writing for TV ).
From The Burning to Father Time, it has been fantastic to see a series of gripping novels, that have been well written, a joy to read and remembered fondly. Sadly, Escape Velocity does not do justice to its predecessing stories of The Doctor's century of helplessness.
The idea of having our favourite Time Lord stranded on Earth, given his near-immortality potential and WALKING through history for a change, was truly brilliant. I take my hat off to the person who thought of that one.
Escape Velocity however does not put the cherry on the cake, as I hoped.
Colin Brake's obsession with Brussels eclipses the actual storyline, the Kulan seem a rather flat, destructive race and their 'cop-out' end was not at all scintilating. Also the characters depicted were, agreeably, stereotypical of his script-writing background and the death tool was a little overused.
Is it me, or is the character of Control becoming boring now ?
The novel has its saving graces, I admit. The Doctor's final discovery of his true TARDIS is magical, along with his reunion with Fitz. The character of Anji Kapoor seems promising too and I must admit I have this image in my head of her looking like Nisha Batra from Brookside!
At least we know now that The Doctor is back on track, even if his memory is still not what it used to be and the end of the book leaves nostalgic thoughts with us all, I am sure.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
For a book that brought closure to one of the most unique (and to many traditionally-minded fans, troubling) eras of the Doctor's history, Escape Velocity seemed a bit flat. I don't know quite what bothered me more -- the rather low-rent menace of the Kulan or the contrived stereotypes of the supporting characters. With the exception of the major players -- the Doctor, Fitz and, most notably, new companion Anji -- every character you'll meet in Escape Velocity is an archetype/stereotype worn thin by years of TV drama (not surprising, given Brake's TV writing background). Most annoyingly, some of the plot elements are so ludicrously contrived that I'm amazed they got past an editor. In particular, Arthur Tyler's third-act revelation (it's scarcely a spoiler but I won't mention it here; you'll know it when you see it) is utterly unnecessary.
Still, this is the book that puts things to rights, ends the earthbound arc and reunites Doctor and TARDIS. For that, I can't fault it too much. What's more, Anji Kapoor has been treated to the best introduction any companion has enjoyed in a long time, even though it sometimes seems like Brake is stopping just short of summing up her entire personality in a series of bulleted points. In many ways, this is Anji's book, and faced with a Doctor we no longer quite know, not to mention a Fitz with troubling memory problems, it's reassuring to be able to head into a new "season" of books secure in the knowledge that we're familiar with at least one character.
One last thing: does anyone proofread or edit at BBC Books anymore? The BBC DW line has long been a source of comical typos, but Escape Velocity is a treasure trove of comma splices, peppered with misused apostrophes for good notice. Scary. If you read this, Justin Richards, I'll be happy to do a spot of gratis proofreading if your resources are stretched a bit too thinly...
Oh dear, not another corporate boardroom infiltrated by aliens. Sigh. Not particularly *bad* as such, but nothing particularly good, either. Average, bland, this novel has nothing new to say.
Oh, and new companion Anji Kapoor is already starting to annoy me. Hopefully the Doctor will lose her on a starship heading for a collision course with prehistoric Earth *real* soon.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
THE DOCTOR - TRAVELLER IN SPACE AND TIME AGAIN!
This is a good end to the arc that began with the Burning. Sure the book has it's weaknesses - it can be a little muddled at times - but the author characterises the Doctor well... Read more
Published on 7 Feb 2001
A well presented empty experience
The end of the stuck on Earth arc is not as bad as it could have been, but suffers from a badly limp plot and uninteresting supporting characters. Read more
Published on 7 Feb 2001
Bland
The truth lies somewher between the following two reviews. The current story arc, which began with "The Burning" was generally of a very high standard. Read more
Published on 4 Feb 2001 by Booksmith
Well Written This Is Not
Can't agree with the reviewer below - this is more by-the-numbers writing, clunky prose with no finesse. Read more
Published on 2 Feb 2001
It's not quite back to business as usual just yet.
Colin Brake's Escape Velocity is the final book in the current arc, and reunites the Doctor with both his TARDIS and his travelling companion Fitz. Read more
Published on 26 Jan 2001
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