Written by Mark Morris
After a noted delay, I finally managed to get my hands on this book.
It’s surprising in many ways, primarily in the characterization. First of all, the historical guest star — Mahatma Gandhi — is very much kept in the background, as a supporting character, offering commentary, some advice, and unexpected reactions to the increasingly bizzare situations in the story. Actually, what I most enjoyed about the use of Gandhi was his childlike delight, as alien incursion & a zombie-ish army shake up the every day reality of the time…and doesn’t phase him for a second!
Secondly, Donna is given a good chunk of the plot, and Morris demonstrates a great command of her personality. We get a few more juicy & playful moments of flirting and hero-worship, that do wonders to dispell any remaining notion that Ms. Noble is just a loud-and-irritating mouth on legs. We feel the humidity and heat, see the poverty, and hear the chanting crowds through her eyes and ears…all completely effective & evocative.
In fact, the best thing about Ghosts of India is that it would make a superb TV episode. The rich period colour, the snappy dialogue, the action set pieces, a fascinating alien race with a deliciously different look…I could picture it all perfectly in my mind. The pace of the story is equal to the pace of any Graeme Harper-directed TV outing, and it loses nothing by being confined to the printed page.
It’s not the best of the recent novels, but it maintains the new consistent level of quality and fun established by BBC Books. We’ll settle on calling it a good archetype for what successful Doctor Who books should be like.
8
See the books to the right?
That’s the most recent batch of novels. They’ve all had superb reviews. The Donna outing is apparently another outstanding examination of the companion character, the Doctor-on-his-own book has been acclaimed as a new high point for the BBC 10th Doctor line, and the Martha book is a combination of an old Missing Adventure novel & a short story collection. I can’t wait to read them…
…but I DO have to wait!
I’m saving them for my trip to Japan, over March Break. They will help to make 13 hours on the airplane fly by…but it’s not easy, looking at them as they sit on my table, whispering to me to READ THEM NOW! I’ve been inhaling books over the last month, and this pile is BEGGING to be consumed. BEGGING, I tell you…
Strength of will has never been so difficult to maintain. :D
