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Average Customer Rating:

Reflecting on an enjoyable read

Customer Rating:

Justin Richards has again produced a stylish and entertaining novel featuring The Tenth Doctor and his companion Martha, a young student doctor. This time the setting is The Castle Extremis where attempted peace-talks between the humanoid Anthiums and the reptilian Zerugians are being sabotaged by persons (or reptiles) unknown. In true Doctor Who form The Doctor has promised Martha a holiday; this time at the best theme park in the galaxy. However, as usual things don't go according to the Timelord's plan and the pair are drawn into becoming mediators between the two warring factions. Although Richards seems to attempt to cram too much into a relatively short space, the book keeps a good pace and never becomes too convoluted. The eponymous mirror is classic Doctor Who, bringing to mind the 1981 TV story `Warrior's Gate'. You can tell that the author is a definite Doctor Who fan and his love for the series comes through time and again. All-in-all this is a highly enjoyable and satisfying addition to the range and is certainly one of the best original Doctor Who stories to date.

Flawed in too many places to make for a truly enjoyable read

Customer Rating:

Barcode: 9781846074202 Martha In The Mirror is in interesting thing. With its setting in an imposing castle in the middle of space and with the story focusing around a mirror which contains a hidden 'alternate' world within it, this story represents an interesting blend of sci-fi and fantasy. But this is not where the problems lie, where this book unfortunately falls down is in its overcomplicated nature. For starters, the New Series Adventures are primarily designed for relatively young readers so the prospect of a book which spends great parts of itself delving into intergalactic politics and peace treaties baffles. This is then counterposed against additional plots of not only a mysterious little girl, but also a murder in the castle. The various strands intertwine throughout but sadly, more of ten than not, it is miss rather than hit with this story. The author catches the nature of the Doctor and Martha well but their voices often become lost in an overly wordy story which also features a large cast of supporting characters. To be fair, there are good moments here too and when this book does work, it does so very well indeed. The idea of the mirror itself is a fascinating concept as are the 'glass people' it creates (although the title of this book 'Martha in the Mirror' is misleading, Martha's involvement with the mirror is actually quite minimal within the storyline). Robots Bill and Bott do an admirable job of filling the classic Doctor Who comedy duo role and the book slowly builds to a triumphant conclusion which is suitably epic. It is here we finally recieve the pay-off for sticking with the tangled mysteries of the castle and its inhabitants. So, in conclusion, if you are a regular reader of the New Series Adventures, this book presents an interesting scenario, but ultimately, there are far better novels in the series than this.

Upon Reflection...

Customer Rating:

"Martha In The Mirror", as a short novel/book (Only 244 pages) makes for a quick read. Which isn't that bad. Justin Richard's depiction of the Doctor and Martha are spot on and move the plot along at a suitable pace. He really seems to capture the essence of their relationship together and shows this through the comedic banter between them. Clearly utilizing the fact that the reader knows who the Doctor and Martha are and have experienced their adventures before. The at times 'Bouncy' story plays on some simple themes; The need and fear of War & Peace, the differences in cultures and the struggle of the young coming to turns with loss. But perhaps bogging down one over the other, as i felt the plight of the young girl Jana was more memorable because of the mystery surrounding her and her heartwarming resolution. The use of the mirror as a dramatic device, often over-utilized in Sci-fi/Horror genres, seems to take a back seat to the actions of the supporting characters. Who in themselves seem under-described and lacking detail compared to other works in the Doctor Who series. But the mixture of description and narrative seems just right to let the imagination of the reader fill in the blanks. A lot of the important back story is covered when the Doctor finds and reads a diary written by another character, allowing the reader to form a fuller mental picture. The few moments where the story takes on more confusing twists, is where Richards tries to describe the 'Mirror World". Having to re-read several sections myself, like this, to be sure as to who and whose reflection is doing what, was slightly distracting but really didn't detract from the page turner it turned into. All in All, 'Martha In The Mirror' was a wonderful way to spend a long weekend, in-between cups of tea and other distractions. In my opinion, as I was expecting a story of doppelgangers and ,the albeit cliche, 'Evil twins' (Another Sci-fi classic), This was a pleasant surprise to be pleasantly surprised. If this was 100 pages longer, by adding more descriptive detail and extending the basic plot of the peace conference, this might not have been such an enjoyable read.