George Mann “Doctor
Who: Engines of War” (Broadway Books,
2014)
George Mann has been given an exceedingly difficult
assignment. Write the first book about
the adventures of the War Doctor. Keep
in mind that we only know hints from other doctors, and what was shown on the
anniversary special. The special that
only told the very end of the War Doctor’s story.
The problem then is how to write a story that feels like the
Doctor, but doesn’t feel like a generic doctor. Mann has written other Who
novels, so the basic concept is simple enough.
Did he pull it off? I
have to give him a mixed score. The
story itself is solid enough. The Doctor discovers that the Daleks are
developing a new temporal weapon that they can use to wipe out the Time Lords
and everything they’ve ever done. He has
to stop the Daleks while dealing with less than helpful Time Lord culture on
Gallifrey.
The Doctor, unfortunately does not seem as distinct as I
would have liked. There are a couple of
moments where he seems angrier than usual, but for the most part I think that
we could have substituted another doctor into the story & had everything
work the same way. Perhaps I’m judging
harshly and no one could have given a distinct War Doctor. But that seems clearly what the goal should
be.
Another issue that I have is the treatment of Cinder, the
book’s companion. She’s a young woman
raised during the war by a resistance cell.
We are introduced to her as a tough fighter. Killing Daleks is what she does. Yet later she’s abruptly captured and tortured
on Gallifrey, of all places. Not only is this a violation of her character, but
it is not even used for any real dramatic purpose. Why is she treated this way?
On the whole, Engines
of War was a fun read and an entertaining look at a rather mysterious
period of Doctor Who. Who doesn’t want a
glimpse into the Time War?
