The Roundheads (Dr. Who Series)

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining historic novel featuring the Second Doctor
Review: Author Mark Gatiss does an excellent job of portraying the Second Doctor and his companions during the English civil wars. Fine details of the period are well presented however some knowledge of this part of history might be beneficial. Between Ben joining a pirate ship and the twisting plot, the book was a joy to read!

Rating:
Summary: Timeline
Review: December, 1648. Although victorious over the Cavaliersin the Civil Wars, the Roundheads are struggling to retain power. Plans are afoot to spirit King Charles from his prison, and 2nd the Doctor and his companions become embroiled in the intrigue... Ben finds himself press-ganged and on board a mysterious ship to Amsterdam. Polly is an unwitting accomplice in the plot to rescue the King, and the 2st Doctor and Jamie find themselves arrested and imprisoned in the Tower of London under suspicion of conspiracy. Can the Doctor and Jamie escape, manage to find Ben and Polly and still ensure that history remains on its proper course?

Rating:
Summary: Doctor Who rules, Mark Gatiss rules...period!
Review: Doctor Who always appealed to me the most as a sci-fi/ horror hybrid, I never cared that much for the so-called 'history' adventures, of which there were a lot, especially in the early years.
Gatiss' ROUNDHEADS is a welcome exception. Here in Europe this writer is known foremost for his British tv comedyseries, I read somewhere he is also a big Doctor Who fan. This novel, for me, proves that.
There's a big passion evident in Gatiss' writing. He makes the world of Doctor Who (and history!) come to live, and he just draws you in it.

ROUNDHEADS is very conservative in it's set-up (and it's execution) but come and think of it, that's why I like it so much. It's about the Doctor (in his second incarnation) and his companions who wind up in England at the time of Cromwell and the roundheads. They get mixed up in a plot to help the captured king escape and also, when a history book from the future is misplaced and falls into the wrong hands, they'll have to set history back on it's proper course.
I won't spoil anymore for you, but rest assured, there's plenty of adventures en even some bloody, gruesome stuff, which I, as a horror buff just love! THIS IS GREAT STUFF! ...
GO GET IT!

I since have bought all of Mark Gatiss other Who books. Can't wait to read those also!

Rating:
Summary: Fun historical for all the TARDIS crew
Review: In England in 1648, the four members of the TARDIS crew split up to explore whatever takes their fancy. Inevitably they find themselves drawn into events around a plan to rescue King Charles from prison.

In this book, Mark Gatiss takes the opportunity to explore the characters, especially Ben and Polly. Ben was established as a sailor in his first appearance, but this book is his first real opportunity to demonstrate his nautical skills after he is pressganged into serving on a ship. Polly gets romantically entangled with a Royalist conspirator, although she doesn't learn this at first. And the Doctor and Jamie are imprisoned in the Tower of London (being Scottish, Jamie's supposed allegiances make him an enemy of the Lord Protector).

Mark Gatiss is a good writer. He paces things well, and understands foreshadowing. He is also fairly humorous (as one would hope, based on 'The League of Gentlemen' TV series which he is one of the writer/actors in) but not overbearingly so.

Even if you are not a fan of the Doctor's historical adventures, you may still enjoy this one.

Rating:
Summary: Fun historical for all the TARDIS crew
Review: In England in 1648, the four members of the TARDIS crew split up to explore whatever takes their fancy. Inevitably they find themselves drawn into events around a plan to rescue King Charles from prison.

In this book, Mark Gatiss takes the opportunity to explore the characters, especially Ben and Polly. Ben was established as a sailor in his first appearance, but this book is his first real opportunity to demonstrate his nautical skills after he is pressganged into serving on a ship. Polly gets romantically entangled with a Royalist conspirator, although she doesn't learn this at first. And the Doctor and Jamie are imprisoned in the Tower of London (being Scottish, Jamie's supposed allegiances make him an enemy of the Lord Protector).

Mark Gatiss is a good writer. He paces things well, and understands foreshadowing. He is also fairly humorous (as one would hope, based on 'The League of Gentlemen' TV series which he is one of the writer/actors in) but not overbearingly so.

Even if you are not a fan of the Doctor's historical adventures, you may still enjoy this one.

Rating:
Summary: Pass on this one.
Review: This is a standard historical adventure in British history. Unfortunately, it is not very exciting. The history is interesting, and the travails of Ben and Polly are okay. However, there are no plot twists. And the Doctor has very little "screen time." Most of the adventure is with Ben and Polly, who are plain, wood-cut characters. Gatiss also seemed to include lots of filler to get the necessary 280 pages for BBC Books publishing requirements. The Doctor tries to get out of a guarded room for several pages, only to re-enter the room and be ushered away by an antagonist. I don't recommend this one--don't waste your time.