Story: 1613. The Globe Theatre in London has been burnt down by one of Shakespeare’s rivals, Francis Pearson. But, during Pearson’s escape from the crime scene, he encounters what he believes is the Devil himself, and is quickly posessed.
2000 years later, and the world has changed…but not much. All the overcities are gone (see Original Sin) but one, and it is the home of the New Vatican. The world is awash with history – quite literally. A multitude of Englands, Frances, Germanies, all built to reflect different periods of history, all existing together. Famous names from bygone ages all live here together, and sometimes more than one of each! There are three Lord Byrons, two Casanovas, Mary Shelley, a Borgia, Johann Faust, Cardinal Richelieu, the Four Musketeers, just to name a few. These clones, or “reprises” as they are called, roam about having adventures, generally existing merely to provide a more realistic historic atmosphere. These reprises all came from the same place – The Theartre of Transmogrification, which roams the world at the controls of its ringleader, who is known only as Personna.
But what is MANAGRA? Miles Dashing of Dashwood would love to know. It was his dying father’s last word, and he has been searching for the secret of its meaning ever since.
Review: I don’t know what to say about this book. Was it good or bad? There is so much subterfuge and subplotting, that you almost become bogged down in it all. But then, just when you feel like you’re being led down the garden path, you get a few Vampires thrown in to stir up the pot.
It is hard to get the character of the Fourth Doctor right, and here it almost succeeds. Almost. This is one of those stories that maybe would have suited the Fifth Doctor better, just by his sheer nature. I’m only giving it 7 out of 10. They can’t all be winners.
Year: 1995
Author: Stephen Marley
Publisher: Virgin