Book Review: Doctor Who: Shada

Doctor Who: Shada
Author: Gareth Roberts (Based on original script by Douglas Adams)
Publisher: Ace Publishing (Penguin Group)
Page Count: 400 pages

Summary

From the unique mind of Douglas Adams, legendary author of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, comes  Shada, a Doctor Who story scripted for the television series Doctor Who, but never produced--and now, transformed into an original novel...

The Doctor's old friend and fellow Time Lord Professor Chronotis has retired to Cambridge University, where among the other doddering old professors nobody will notice if he lives for centuries. He took with him a few little souvenirs--harmless things really. But among them, carelessly, he took The Worshipful and Ancient Law of Gallifrey. Even more carelessly, he has loaned this immensely powerful book to clueless graduate student Chris Parsons, who intends to use it to impress girls. The Worshipful and Ancient Law is among the most dangerous artifacts in the universe; it cannot be allowed to fall into the wrong hands. - back of book
Shada: Origins

Gareth Roberts, author of several Doctor Who novels and episodes tackles the lost story of Shada.  Originally written by Douglas Adams intended to be a six-part serial for Doctor Who in 1980, Shada was planned to be the grand finale of Doctor Who’s 17th season. Strikes at the BBC halted filming halfway through, and the story was left unfinished. In 1992 the episode was released on VHS with additional audio of Tom Baker narrating in efforts to "complete" the episode.  This was not well received by Douglas Adams who was highly disappointed by this version released.

The Eighth Doctor, Paul McGann, appeared in an audio adventure adaptation of the story, in a Big Finish Production release, also featuring Lalla Ward reprising her role as Romana. Also some scenes of the episode were reused in the production of The Five Doctors (1983), with Tom Baker noticeably absent.

The character of Professor Chronotis also appears in Douglas Adam's Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency which borrows some of the plot elements from Shada including the professor's time machine disguised as his apartment.  While not referred to as a TARDIS specifically for copyright reasons it does share the "bigger on the inside" quality that fans are used to.

Review


Gareth takes the screenplay and expands it to fill 400 pages with plenty of action for the Fourth Doctor and Romana.  I enjoyed the interplay between the characters and with no less than three Time Lords in the story (Doctor, Romana, Chronotis,) the story presented plenty of Douglas Adam's style wit and intellectual banter.

The story features plenty of other interesting characters: Chris Parsons, the young student that takes the book; his girlfriend Clare; even the villain Skagra's sentient spaceship. The novel is full of the whimsical magic that is Doctor Who. Robot dogs, long coloured scarfs, and tea time with the Time Lords.

The novel takes classic Doctor Who and presents him in all his regular silliness and unearthly wisdom.  At one point, Roberts describes him as a cross between Winnie the Pooh and Father Xmas.  The story is made all the more interesting with the human companions Chris and Clare whose own love story runs parallel to the Time Lord shenanigans going on.

Read This!

If you're looking for great Doctor Who action, adventure and humour wrapped up in timey-wimey stuff!  Overall I think the author does a great job of paying homage to the great Douglas Adam's work. It's a great way for new fans to gain an appreciation of classic Doctor Who while we wait for the next season of Doctor Who.