The Deviant Strain

Review: Reading group tackles Justin Richards' novel.

Our second reading group tackling the latest ninth Doctor novels are Hugo, Freya, Ellie, Tasmin, and Rupert from West Dean C of E Primary School.

Last term, the team had been avid viewers of the adventures of the Ninth Doctor and Rose, watching the first episode in class and writing their own short stories. Now, they've had a chance to see if the Ninth Doctor book range measures up to their expectations.

So what did the intrepid team think of this tale of neglected Russian fleets, ancient stone circles and unspeakable experiments? Did it have them all fired up like a torpedo in a leaky atomic submarine or did it leave them as cold as a Siberian winter?

Note - contains plot spoilers. Teacher Andy Dobson takes up the story...

Was it exciting?

Rupert: "It was really exciting. There's a bit where these blue blobs attack the inn."

Ellie: "Yeah, that was cool. My favourite bit was when Sophia's trying to kill Rose and she's on the car bonnet."

Hugo: "Yeah, and she's holding on and her face is pressed against the windscreen."

Hugo re-enacts the scene to much amusement.

Freya: "No, that annoyed me. If Rose wanted somewhere safe to run to why didn't she just go to the TARDIS? The best bit was when the Doctor is running down the tunnel to get away from Sophia."

Tasmin: "I also liked the ship countdown."

Was it too scary?

So, thrills galore, but as their class teacher, I'd had reservations about the level of horror and violence for their age range. Had I come over all Mary Whitehouse or did the team feel the same?

Tasmin: "No, it wasn't really that scary, except when I stayed up until half past ten reading and my mum came in. That made me jump, but I like that kind of scary."

The others nod in agreement.

Rupert: "I thought the bit when they find the monkey experiments was a bit scary."

Freya: "But there's not blood and guts and stuff. It's just in our imaginations."

Was it funny?

The new series was enjoyed by the team for its humour. Did this book succeed in this respect?

Rupert: "It was quite a serious story so maybe it wouldn't be right to put jokes in."

Freya: "Oh, there was one bit where The Doctor's complaining his ears are too cold and says, 'Maybe next time I'll have smaller ears'".

Hugo: "Yes, that made me laugh."

Did the team feel they were drawn into the plot and characters?

Ellie: "I though the plot was interesting but a bit complicated."

Hugo: "I didn't like all the jumping between people and places. It got confusing at times."

Freya: "Some of the characters were good. I liked Alex, but he shouldn't have killed the guy who could predict things."

Tasmin: "He had to do it though. He had no choice. I though that was really sad."

Rupert: "Alex was good because we could remember his name."

Hugo: "Yes, I got really mixed up with all the Russian names. I couldn't remember who was who and what were those blue blobs dragging along?"

Ellie: "I don't know. They weren't very well described."

Freya: "Wasn't that so we would keep guessing what they looked like in our heads?"

Rupert: "I thought they were quite good because you don't usually get evil blobs, they're usually good."

Everyone goes quiet and stares at Rupert until Tasmin does her impersonation of a blue blob being nice. They team spend several minutes giggling and doing 'nice' blob impersonations very politely offering each other cups of tea.

What about the TARDIS team?

Freya: "Because of the plot, the Doctor was all serious and it wouldn't have been right for him to be funny and pull faces."

Rupert: "Yes, he's really strict."

Hugo: "I liked the way he kept popping up unexpectedly though."

Tasmin: "Rose is similar, but a bit more serious."

Ellie: "She hugs Jack a lot more than on TV."

Rupert: "Jack seems less intelligent than in the series and does daft things, but he's brave."

So, was it Doctor Who?

All agree that it was and that they'd like to see it on TV, but there was a worry about þblood and guts'.

Hugo: "If they did it, then they could put it on after Sunday lunch so people wouldn't be put off their food like at tea time and young children wouldn't have to go to bed straight after it and have nightmares."

Did it make sense?

Our team ranged from 9-11 year olds. Did they think the writing matched their comprehension skills?

Freya: "Yes, it was no problem. In fact I thought the description could have been better. I didn't know what half the characters looked like."

Tasmin: "That can be better when it's in your head."

The rest of the team agree.

Hugo: "There shouldn't have been so many Russian names."

The others point out that it was set in Russia.

Hugo: "And there was too much jumping around from one setting to another."

The team concede this point.

Finally, would they read another book in the Ninth Doctor range?

All nod enthusiastically.

A qualified success then from these reviewers. The Deviant Strain may not have hit the bull's eye but it did at least hit the target.

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

elysia
a serious,moving book.the tales of murder going on in russia really spooked me out

Anita Boreham
I am currently reading the book at the moment-top stuff!

Hannah (14)
the best book so far.Captain jack was really brave and i loved the way he was always looking out for the girl who couldn't do anything

dani
The deviant strain so far i think is an exiting book. The murder investigation has brought the book to life. FANTASTIC!

Victoria Brennan
Really loved this book and plot was excellent-could definately see it as an episode! Loved the twists in it and it was very exciting. Definately worth the read!!!

Lew
This is one of my fav Doctor Who books. The blobs are great!

Zoe
I haven't finished the book yet, but I am annoyed about it because I want to know what happens! But when I finish it, what will I read? Most probably Justin Richards's last novel, The Clockwise man.

Amy (10)
I know what stopped the full impact of book - Jack doesn't flirt! Apart from that, it was amazing, and the monsters were suitably horrific. I got confused with the Russian names, though - some of the people were not needed and just sort of stood there to be insulted by Jack, who was very grouchy.

Joe Tackett
Good book, I just wished we got the 9th Doctor books in the USA. I have to pay to have the books shipped over.

charlie (15)
This book is really great! i love every doctor who book i have read and this is no exception!

tasmin (reader of book)
thankyou to everyone who read my and my friends review of doctor who the deviant strain!

Lara
I just finished the book and thought it was great. Thats my favorite out of the new collection of doctor who books. I was super-glued to it! :] luv lara x

Jordan Ashton
The best Doctor Who Book out right now

mat
i hate to say it but richards should simply not write the books, he does not capture the magic of the ninth doctor, while rose and jack are incredibly bland in his tale

Andy Dobson
In reply to Richard Bignell, believe it or not, there are two West Deans in Sussex. We're the other one. Terror Of The Zygons was filmed just over a mile away though.

Marcus
It was alright but out of the five I've read, including the first three, this one and Only Human. I'd rate it bottom.

qaf2002
Not bad ...but very formulaic Doctor Who story...I really didnt think Richards captured the characters very well...and I for one was waiting for a Rutan at one point...maybe that's what let it down...it was okay but very simple and not very heartfelt

Andrew
I enjoyed Justin Ricahards last Doctor Who novel the Clockwise man so i will hopefully get my hands on this one

dk
really good book. but not as good as the others. it had some strengths

Molly
The book is amazing I love it so much I brought to more doctor who books and the firat one i am reading is turning out the same way!

charlie:)
I enjoyed Justin Richards other book: the clockwise man, and knew i'd love this one! The storyline kept switching people so it was quite confusing but when i really got into the book i thought it was great!

Aled Seago (16)
It was nice to have a more serious adventure for a change. It was very grim and realistic, and I agree that the Russian names were rather confusing. But, another great success for the nineth and best doctor ever!

Carys
That sounds like a brill book guys i cant wait 2 read it.I think there sound be some more jokes in it though since u said it woz 2 serious

Richard Bignell
I wonder if the Reading Group are aware that their little village was one of the locations used during the filming of Pat Troughton's final story, 'The War Games', back in 1969?

Steffan Alun
A brilliant plot, if a bit complicated - similar to The Empty Child; a clever explanation that justifies the monsters. However, although the Russian names didn't put me off, the sheer number of characters did. Catherine and Boris didn't seem to serve much of a purpose, and could easily have been one person. A lot of the main soldiers were easy to confuse. It might have been a bit too dark and serious at times, and the reviewers were correct - Jack wasn't quite right. All of those are minor flaws, though, in what is otherwise a brilliant book.

Mark Lomas
An excellent Ninth Doctor book, one of the best in the series. Quiet adult in places, and it would make an excellent episode.

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