Doctor Who: The Space Museum

Rating:
Summary: Starts well then falls very flat
Review: Based on (arguably) the blandest Doctor Who serial ever made, this novelisation starts off with a huge hurdle to leap before it can even hope to be worth reading.

Like the serial it is based on, it starts off interestingly enough: the TARDIS arrives on the planet Xeros, which appears to be lifeless. The most notable feature is the huge museum (from which the story derives its name). A significant chunk of the book is taken up by the exploration of the museum, culminating in the discovery that they have "jumped a time track" and are seeing their future, which includes themselves on display as exhibits in the museum. Then time rectifies itself, and they find themselves truly on Xeros before they are made exhibits...

While the remainder of the book, as the Doctor, Ian, Barbara and Vicki try to avoid their fate of ending up on display, has some interesting elements, not the least of which is speculation about whether various possible actions will ensure or prevent heir supposed fate, it takes place in a fairly dull environment. The native Xerons are rising up against their conquerors, the Moroks, who have built the museum to display their triumphs in war (including the Daleks! A most unlikely claim - I'm sure they were included on the cover to make the book sell better).

The novelisation is by Glyn Jones, who wrote the original script, but it fails to make the story much more interesting. It has some good ideas that are swamped by the blandness of the rest. Forgettable.

Rating:
Summary: Well done, Mr. Jones
Review: Ok, first, we must ignore the cover art...

Originally an "adaquate" episode on TV (although you do get to see Boba Fett before the mask ). Mr. Jones adds creative characterization that is missing in the original. I compliment his taking of minor situations and characters and improving upon them. He even adds scenes that lighten the story.
This is one of the Dr. Who novelizations that is far better than the original film.

Rating:
Summary: Well done, Mr. Jones
Review: Ok, first, we must ignore the cover art...

Originally an "adaquate" episode on TV (although you do get to see Boba Fett before the mask <Jeremy Bulloch>). Mr. Jones adds creative characterization that is missing in the original. I compliment his taking of minor situations and characters and improving upon them. He even adds scenes that lighten the story.
This is one of the Dr. Who novelizations that is far better than the original film.