Story: The Doctor has taken his companions here for a break after the events in “Head Games”, finding the place to be very relaxing, and the people to be very neighborly. Now, when I say “people,” I don’t just mean humans. There are humanoids who resemble regular “people,” but there are also robots who are self aware that call themselves people. These robots come in all shapes and sizes, from small marble sized, to giant ship sized, but they don’t look like human people, as the human people find it unnerving talking to a robot “person” who looks like a human person. In this world, tables are robots, but only sometimes “people.” There is a controlling influence inside this sphere – a giant computer, who is a “person,” that is known as “God.” It isn’t called God because it is omnipitant, it’s merely a term of endearment used by the locals. God creates the weather, manages the night and day cycles, and watches over the goings on inside the sphere. But, unlike the real God, he doesn’t see and know all. You see, there has been a murder, and it is a robot “person” who is the victim. God is not sure how it happened, so the Doctor takes charge of the investigation.
Review: Now, this was not the best book in the world. Lately my standards have gone way up, thanks to the brilliant “Millennial Rites”. I’m not in favor of an author messing about with Doctor Who mythos, or adding ridiculous characteristics to the Time Lord civilization, unless, of course, it is done properly. Here, it is not. I’m not saying that this book was bad. All the integral parts are there in full force: The Doctor is acting like the Doctor. Bernice is doing what she does best. Unfortunately, Chris and Roz take a literary beating. I suppose their characters are still being established, but to shove them both in the sack with aliens seems a bit much. I don’t mind the swearing, when it’s used in context, and it’s mostly only the “S” word. But to throw it around frivolously just becomes ludicrous.
I’m only going to give this book a 7 out of 10. If I had read this book before “Millennial Rites”, it would’ve gotten an 8, but hey, my standards have changed.
Year: 1995
Author: Ben Aaronovitch
Publisher: Virgin
Pages: 272