Anyway, I've seen all the televised Three stories and I've read every single piece of written Three material I've got my hands on - I am missing a couple of the Big Finish Short Trips books, but other than that, I've read every Three tie-in novel (Virgin Missing Adventures, BBC Past Doctor Adventures) and short story there is. And as every Classic Who fan knows, other than this year's Doctor Who 50th Anniversary monthly e-shorts, one per each incarnation of the Doctor, there's been a complete lack of new past Doctor stories & novels for quite a few years now.
So when I found out that there'd be a brand new Three novel out this year, as part of BBC's current effort to get acclaimed science fiction authors write tie-in novels for the classic series Doctors, I was both extremely excited and not a little worried. Would it be awesome? I've waited for new Third Doctor material for years - would I be disappointed? I tried my best to dampen my enthusiasm and expectations and hope for a good read, not something earth-shattering.
Harvest of Time
Alastair Reynolds
****
One of science fiction's most acclaimed authors delivers a spectacular original novel in the Doctor Who universe featuring the Third Doctor, as played by Jon Pertwee.
After billions of years of imprisonment, the vicious Sild have broken out of confinement. From a ruined world at the end of time, they make preparations to conquer the past, with the ultimate goal of rewriting history. But to achieve their aims they will need to enslave an intellect greater than their own...
On Earth, UNIT is called in to investigate a mysterious incident on a North Sea drilling platform. The Doctor believes something is afoot, and no sooner has the investigation begun when something even stranger takes hold: The Brigadier is starting to forget about UNIT's highest-profile prisoner. And he is not alone in his amnesia.
As the Sild invasion begins, the Doctor faces a terrible dilemma. To save the universe, he must save his arch-nemesis... The Master.
Harvest of Time would have felt right at home during season 8 or 9, featuring the Master at his charming (and ruthless) best, the UNIT capable and familiar, Jo enthusiastic and willing to take initiative. Come to think of it, I have to say in many ways the Doctor really came off as the weaker character here, compared to the Master, although it fit in with the show - and the Master/Doctor relationship, the central point of the book (in addition to the action-and-time-travel-oriented plot) was portrayed beautifully.
I think my only complaint is really that there was a bit too much Doctor/Master and far too little Doctor/Jo, but that's an issue of personal preference (and I absolutely adored Roger Delgado's Master, so it's not truly an issue either). Another complaint might be that the novel was a little too close to Three's era as we saw it on TV (just with much better special effects, obviously), with no risk-taking at all, but since it is my absolute favourite Doctor Who era, I'm really quite happy with that.
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