2006-06-10
The City of the Dead
Author: Lloyd Rose
EDA-49 w/Eigth Doctor, Fitz, Anji
Some books require you to concentrate. When you mix magic and time travel you're likely to get one of those books. It's unfortunate that I wasn't in the mood for such a thing, because that's just what you get in The City of the Dead.
For some reason I've never liked any art set in New Orleans. It just seems to attract authors that don't want to play by any rules. Whether it's voodoo, vampires, or simpler pagan magic, science fiction or fantasy, a story set in New Orleans always seems to mean the author didn't think out the rules for the extraordinary occurences. To write speculative fiction you have to make up the rules for your world and follow them. Revealing them is optional, but the reader has to be able to deduce them as needed for the story to work. This author tries to reconcile blood magic and elemental spirits with artron energy and the rest of the vast Dr. Who canon. The result is disappointing.
On the plus side, Anji's minor scenes are well done. Lloyd Rose is a woman's pen name, and Anji feels like a woman again. It's too bad there weren't any other significant female characters. Fitz has one scene key to the plot but doesn't do much otherwise.
This story may have significance in the EDA's amnesia arc. I won't know until later. Some things happened that could mean more of the Doctor's memory is starting to come back. On the other hand, there was so much wierd stuff happening that I don't know if it means anything. This is a book to read studiously or skip. A light reading will only be frustrating.
EDA-49 w/Eigth Doctor, Fitz, Anji
Some books require you to concentrate. When you mix magic and time travel you're likely to get one of those books. It's unfortunate that I wasn't in the mood for such a thing, because that's just what you get in The City of the Dead.
For some reason I've never liked any art set in New Orleans. It just seems to attract authors that don't want to play by any rules. Whether it's voodoo, vampires, or simpler pagan magic, science fiction or fantasy, a story set in New Orleans always seems to mean the author didn't think out the rules for the extraordinary occurences. To write speculative fiction you have to make up the rules for your world and follow them. Revealing them is optional, but the reader has to be able to deduce them as needed for the story to work. This author tries to reconcile blood magic and elemental spirits with artron energy and the rest of the vast Dr. Who canon. The result is disappointing.
On the plus side, Anji's minor scenes are well done. Lloyd Rose is a woman's pen name, and Anji feels like a woman again. It's too bad there weren't any other significant female characters. Fitz has one scene key to the plot but doesn't do much otherwise.
This story may have significance in the EDA's amnesia arc. I won't know until later. Some things happened that could mean more of the Doctor's memory is starting to come back. On the other hand, there was so much wierd stuff happening that I don't know if it means anything. This is a book to read studiously or skip. A light reading will only be frustrating.
