The Scales of Injustice (Doctor Who)

Rating:
Summary: The Silurians are back
Review: Gary Russell sets himself some unenviable tasks with this novel: to clear up some continuity problems from the fifth Doctor story 'Warriors of the Deep'; to depict Liz Shaw's departure from UNIT, and to detail the breakdown of Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart's first marriage. All this and to pit the Doctor against the Silurians once more.

The disappearance of a young boy ties in with a policewoman making cave paintings - a sign that an encounter with the Silurians have raised deeply-buried racial memories. The Doctor finds his closest allies distracted by personal matters, and must investigate largely on his own.

Mr. Russell tries to fit too much into the one book. While much of it is fairly well handled, it results in a disjointed read. The continuity holes in 'Warriors of the Deep' aren't that important that a book such as this needed to be written to fix them.

Probably Liz Shaw and her reasons for leaving UNIT are the best part of the book.

Rating:
Summary: A magnificent book. Fans of Liz Shaw will love it!
Review: I've always considered Dr. Liz Shaw an excellent character, extremely underused on TV and subsequently in books and short stories. I was extremely pleased to hear she was the companion for Scales Of Injustice.

Gary Russell has created an excellent feel for the early Pertwee era. As I read the book, I could almost hear the Doctor and Liz saying the words. The characterisation was spot on. All the televised Liz stories were set on Earth and had a 'grounded' feel to them - both feet in reality instead of the usual one foot in reality (for stories set in the future or on other planets). Scales Of Injustice had exactly the same feel to it - as if the events described in the book could have happened, or even that they were happening now, behind the scenes somewhere.

The book flows smoothly, the prose is easy to read and the plot enjoyable. The Doctor investigates strange occurrences near the coast while Liz teams up with a reporter in London, investigating missing persons. Both trails, however, eventually lead to the Silurians. The Brigadier, meanwhile, has his hands full trying to cope with his disintegrating marriage and a review into UNIT by C19 (the people who clean-up after alien incursions). Ever wondered exactly what happens to the bits of Cybermen, Daleks and the odd Auton arm or two after UNIT are through with them?

This story takes place after The Silurians but before The Sea Devils. Gary manages to hold true to televised continuity by making sure the Doctor never meets a Sea Devil. Most of the Earth Reptiles in this novel are either Sea Devil/Silurian hybrids or Silurians.

Since Liz has her own seemingly unrelated subplot, she effectively leaves UNIT at the start of the book. She does, however, get her well earned, and well handled farewell to the Doctor at the end of the novel. A few other continuity touches are integrated into the novel. Yates gets promoted from Sergeant to Captain ahead of Benton and we discover how the Doctor first met Ichthar (who the Doctor recognises in Warriors Of The Deep).

A magnificent book. Fans of Liz Shaw, the 3rd Doctor or the early UNIT years will love it. For that matter, fans of Doctor Who in general should love it.