Doctor Who: The Shadows of Avalon

Rating:
Summary: Very good Who adventure
Review: This is a very good adventure with the 8th Doctor. The Brigadier is a wonderful addition to this story. Cornell is a great writer and thank goodness he is a writer on the new 2005 TV series. There is also a great pair of mastermind villains behind the whole thing. Cornell writes a quick-paced story with lots of emotion and energy. There were only a couple parts where things got a little slow, and my interest waned.

The one "problem" I had with the book was the references to so many things that typical fans wouldn't know about. Cornell refers to things such as the Faction Paradox and politics on Gallifrey with President Romana. Average TV fans like me have no clue about these things. Only the most dedicated and involved Whovians would understand Cornell's numerous, repeated references to spin-offs, web-casts, BBC audio stories on CD, other novels, etc. I found these quite distracting and distancing. It was frustrating because I didn't feel like I was getting the most out of the book.

Overall, great book. Thanks, Paul!

Rating:
Summary: Paul Cornell ROCKS!!!!
Review: Wow!! This has to be one of the best 8th Doctor books i've read yet. This is one of the 'must read' books if you're enjoying the whole 'End Of Gallifrey' arc. One good thing about the book, is that Paul Cornell has decided to retain continuity that was set in the Virgin 'Happy Endings' book where the Brigadier has de-aged to mid-30's. Every character in the book is well presented - the best, of course, being the Brigadier. The ending is a corker as well - one of the best. WELL RECOMMENDED!!!!