Island of Death

Review: Buddhists from space in new book.

You know you're in for a good time when a Doctor Who book opens with plucky journalist Sarah Jane Smith looking for dodgy goings-on in the bushes on Hampstead Heath at night.

This good-hearted romp of an adventure is as cosy as cocoa on a rainy evening. It features the Third Doctor, trying to solve a problem with his alien-hunting friends at UNIT.

What is the cult of the Skang run by the charismatic Hilda? Why are its members being drained of blood? "Oh lor!" as Sarah would say.

"Crikey!" you'll think as the Doctor's friend Jeremy gives up all his worldly possessions and heads off to a mysterious island to be fed mind-expanding drugs, never mind what Mummy tells him.

"Jinkies!" you'll exclaim as everyone boards a boat to rescue him, and the Brigadier drinks solidly.

As aliens mix with disgraced politicians and Jeremy continues his quest for spiritual enlightenment and first class nosh, the Doctor and friends search from England to India to the uncharted seas. "Goodness gracious me!" as Major Chatterjee of the Indian Army would say.

A high-octane mixture of Wilbur Smith and Willard Price, this book is a solid slice of nostalgia, a world where the Doctor's a name-dropping alien with accident-prone friends, and, no matter how high the death toll, you know it'll all turn out well in the end.

NB: Also features a truly startling scene involving the Indian Ocean, and the Doctor singing to his friends, the killer whales.

Send us your comment now. We'll publish the best on this page.

james
very good (awsome)

Linda Mather
I think Island of Death was right up there with Ghosts of N-Space, both very good,its too bad they were not done for tellie ( not that they would have been able to do the FX needed for both stories at the time, I am only suprized at how long it took them in this story to suss out that someone was trying to kill Sarah-Jane, in a normal story like this one if people had gone overboard into the waters, the Brig would have been forced to go by the orders of the Ships cpt. instead he punched out the captain and had the ship turned back around to rescue the Dr. and Sarah-Jane, I don't think this story would have worked around any other Dr. and companion.

Georgina Baker
I think its a book you'll want to read over and over again and one you can't put down

ben
doctor who books are defintly the best when I watch the first episode of doctor who I loved it and the books are just as good ! my favorite one so far is THE FEAST OF THE DROWNED its an amazing book about some aliens who knock over ships and kill the people to eat , its an incredible volcabualy and an amazing read I am going to rate it 100/100

Harvey Unwin
This book is more evocative of the two radio series in teh early nineties than the TV series in the early seventies. The character of the 3rd Dr is , surprisingly, hardly evoked with neither his Tv mannerisms or preoccupations manifest. The story is overlong , padded out by an overlong sailing segment and resolved incredibly quickly by a deux ex machina. This is not a terrible book but it's not a terribly good one either.

Abbie Mathers
I totally disagree with The hodded claw you should read every single one and i watch doctor everyday because i have got them on dvd they are so good everybody should read the books and watch the episodes because well they,re funny and they are actually sci-fi which is really good!

the wheel
i cant really get into the old series books, i prefer the audios, butthe New Series books read very well

Billy
I lso think the doctor who books are so amazing just how the writers describe the surroundings is abouluty amazing...

Abbie Mathers Age: 10
I love doctor who i watch them everyday on the dvd and i love the books they are really gripping

Lara!
By the sound of it, this book sounds great, it has the eliment of adventure and excitment which entices me into reading the doctor who books and watching it on TV. The best show ever :)

Douglas carr
Island of death?Wheres that?

Paul Tapner
A highly enjoyable read that captures the era well and is far better than the two radio stories that Barry Letts wrote early in the 90's.

Kara
Great book. Please, please, PLEASE don't stop making the PDA's, BBC. There aren't any more scheduled after December and you haven't made an announcement about their future yet. Don't stop them!

Mark
I love all the books and I have never missed any of the episodes. I cant wait for the new series

flynn
I am Dr. Who mad. I have a large savings tin for it. Does any one else go to the BBC shop in Norwich?

The Rani
good to see Jeremy back for another adventure, finally the PDA's are back on track and better than ever :)

Paul Delaney
I have read,collected Dr Who books since a child when Target was the publishing company. About five years ago I picked up Terrence Dick's the eight Doctors & I never looked back. The books are brilliant, they are very well written by authors who have been involved in the classic series & a whole new bunch of seasoned TV writers who have been big fans of the series. The quality of writing is spot on; at times it is a pity that some of them will never be filmed because the plotlines are quite superior. The storylines featuring new enemies such as Faction Paradox & old enemies such as the Daleks do not detract from the legend that is Doctor Who; rather they add a whole new layer of mystery to the character & his companions. It is this atmosphere that has translated well into the new series. Want to enjoy some great Who till he returns at Christmas, then make your way to your local bookstore & receive some further enlightenment I promise you will put aside that bestseller to stock your shelves with some of the best entertainment available in print Doctor Who books!

lara
I love every book. I have got the first three and i am going to get the new three that are coming out, they are all brilliant i'm even trying to write one my self! :P

emma heather
grrrreat stories. never disappointed with anything dr who related. by the way can anyone tell me if there are plans to show more original dr who series on the beeb?

Will
I think the books allow people to imagine storys that would never have been possible. Such as "Winner takes all"

The Hooded Claw
Sorry - completely disagree with this 'review'... 'Island of Death' is absolutely terrible! Badly written, badly plotted, 1-D characters, and with all the suspense of a wet weekend in Cromer. Avoid!!

Robert Paulson
The BBC novels provide that extra something especially to fans in the States who can't get enough of the good Doctor.

Colins Lucky Knickers
Theres something I find comfortable about a Pertwee adventure. Perhaps its because I think I would feel safe in the 3rd Doctors company, or maybe that I remember the characters from his era back when I was a kid, or from watching the stories on dvd again. Even in book format its all good....

Jake McMahon
The Who books are brill. Also, why can't you get the 9th doctor books in paperback!? Grrr..

Rob Stickler
Let's hope we aren't witnessing the end of the BBC's fantastic range of original adventures for the first eight, no nine, Doctors! Please give us more, Beeb!

Doc Derby
Just like the Planet of the Spiders, this book has one episode too many. Too many scenes are just set up for Doctor to reminisce without any real reason or part of the story. I love this range of books but a poor showing from Mr.Letts.

Ben from Aberdeen
The Doctor Who books are a real treat, and although the new tv series is every bit as enjoyable as the original, these books show just how powerful the imagination really can be. The story of Doctor Who just wouldn't be complete without these wonderful stories. Keep up the great work!!!

Charlie Boddington
Its good that they make the books because not only are they entertaining, but they provide a bigger expansion of the Doctor Who universe.

backmasked
i think all of this already happened in a Pertwee tv episode... only i was the one who took the mind expanding drugs.

Jessica
I love Doctor Who Books. They are very well-written and you cant put them down. I recommened them to anyone.

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