- Paperback: 256 pages
- Publisher: Dr Who (18 May 1995)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0426204433
- ISBN-13: 978-0426204435
- Product Dimensions: 17.3 x 10.7 x 2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
173,121 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #65 in Books > Fiction > Science Fiction > Series
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Product Description
Synopsis
The Doctor takes Benny to an English village just before the outbreak of World War I. He has chosen to give up his alien powers, forget his identity, and become human. Benny keeps an eye on the ex-Time Lord as he starts work as a schoolteacher. Which is just as well, as some aliens are in pursuit.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
I enjoyed the new TV series episodes "Human Nature" and "Family Of Blood" so much that I tracked down a copy of this out-of-print novel that the TV episodes were based on, and it's just as enjoyable.
The book features the Seventh Doctor (aka Sylvester McCoy), who I always enjoyed on TV but this story actually suits the youthful exuberance of the Tenth Doctor better, as he's young and vulnerable enough to be in love.
In places the book is identical to the TV script, but in many places it weaves into a totally different story. In particular there is a much more gradual build-up explaining how and why the Doctor bumped into these aliens and why he had to hide in human form. It's interesting to see how a book evolved into a TV episode several years later, and a good read for Who fans.
The story has some much more adult elements in the book- some of the deaths are much more brutal, and there are sinister sexual undertones, so I wouldn't recommend this book to young kids.
The last few pages do get a little confusing as there is a story arc being tied up here that ran through a lot of the Virgin New Adventures books, and for some mostly unexplained reason Death pops up and completes a previously arranged bargain with the Doctor, which having not read the previous books in the series I didn't understand at all. But despite this it's still a gripping read.
There are also some curious coincidences between the book and the TV show, such as members of the school named Moffat and Sangster- both names with connections to series 3.
The book features the Seventh Doctor (aka Sylvester McCoy), who I always enjoyed on TV but this story actually suits the youthful exuberance of the Tenth Doctor better, as he's young and vulnerable enough to be in love.
In places the book is identical to the TV script, but in many places it weaves into a totally different story. In particular there is a much more gradual build-up explaining how and why the Doctor bumped into these aliens and why he had to hide in human form. It's interesting to see how a book evolved into a TV episode several years later, and a good read for Who fans.
The story has some much more adult elements in the book- some of the deaths are much more brutal, and there are sinister sexual undertones, so I wouldn't recommend this book to young kids.
The last few pages do get a little confusing as there is a story arc being tied up here that ran through a lot of the Virgin New Adventures books, and for some mostly unexplained reason Death pops up and completes a previously arranged bargain with the Doctor, which having not read the previous books in the series I didn't understand at all. But despite this it's still a gripping read.
There are also some curious coincidences between the book and the TV show, such as members of the school named Moffat and Sangster- both names with connections to series 3.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
After several largely disappointing entries into the New Adventures series Paul Cornell has come up with a cracker. To be honest I hated 'Love and War' and was indifferent to 'No Future'; 'Timewyrm:Revelation' was mildly intriguing but 'Human Nature' is easily his best effort (that I've read so far).
The tantalising concept of The Doctor exchanging his Timelord physiology to become human for a while becomes reality when The Doctor meets a group of renegade aliens. He becomes housemaster at an Etonesque public school and falls in love - the latter is handled well enough to avoid being as awful as it sounds. Meanwhile, Benny becomes involved with a suffragette - with amusing consequences...for a while at least.
This was the first 'New Adventure' that has been a pleasure to read - the reviewer before last must have stumbled erroneously across 'Doctor Who' because there is no way any fanboy (or girl!) could fail to be charmed by The Doctor's whimsical take on humanity and the taut way the narrative strands are woven right to the end.
The tantalising concept of The Doctor exchanging his Timelord physiology to become human for a while becomes reality when The Doctor meets a group of renegade aliens. He becomes housemaster at an Etonesque public school and falls in love - the latter is handled well enough to avoid being as awful as it sounds. Meanwhile, Benny becomes involved with a suffragette - with amusing consequences...for a while at least.
This was the first 'New Adventure' that has been a pleasure to read - the reviewer before last must have stumbled erroneously across 'Doctor Who' because there is no way any fanboy (or girl!) could fail to be charmed by The Doctor's whimsical take on humanity and the taut way the narrative strands are woven right to the end.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Out of print, but recently dramatised.
I read this novel years ago. It's fantastically memorable; one of Paul Cornell's many flashes of genius. Bewildered schoolmaster John Smith finds himself caught up in a battle for life and time when the "Family" arrive in the English countryside, searching for a stranger named the Doctor... Set against the backdrop of Britain on the brink of the first world war, it's a novel crackling with the energy of a burgeoning storm. Questions about war, mortality and what it means to be human spiral into Smith's final dilemma.
*** This novel has also been dramatised in the 'Doctor Who' episodes 'Human Nature' and 'The Family of Blood' (New Series, Season 3, 2007). It's very well done. Watch it.
I read this novel years ago. It's fantastically memorable; one of Paul Cornell's many flashes of genius. Bewildered schoolmaster John Smith finds himself caught up in a battle for life and time when the "Family" arrive in the English countryside, searching for a stranger named the Doctor... Set against the backdrop of Britain on the brink of the first world war, it's a novel crackling with the energy of a burgeoning storm. Questions about war, mortality and what it means to be human spiral into Smith's final dilemma.
*** This novel has also been dramatised in the 'Doctor Who' episodes 'Human Nature' and 'The Family of Blood' (New Series, Season 3, 2007). It's very well done. Watch it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Fear makes companions of us all
This is a classic Dr. Who tale that attempts to explore what makes the Doctor a hero. The idea of the Time Lord taking a break from himself is novel, but it is the way in which... Read more
Published on 1 July 1999
Poor
The concept behind the book is quite exciting and intriguing. Sadly the story is poorly realised and very quickly becomes a boring travesty of a tale. It misses its target. Read more
Published on 24 May 1999
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