With the release of the first new Target novelisations in decades, it seemed a good opportunity to follow up my old Who Novel Quest with a new run through the novelisations - one for each Doctor (excluding the War Doctor). For no particular reason, I'll run through them in reverse. Why not? Timey-wimey, or something.
The final release of the Target line –
for now – is the most up-to-date it could be, with Paul Cornell
novelising the 2017 Christmas special, right up to the first, and so
far only, appearance of the thirteenth Doctor. Unlike Rose or
The Day of the Doctor,
Twice Upon a Time
isn't covered by the scriptwriter, but by one of the most celebrated
authors of the novel line. Cornell shot to Who stardom
with the early New Adventure Timewyrm: Revelation
back in 1991, being one of the first writers who really looked into
what made the Doctor tick. It makes sense then that Cornell takes on
this introspective regeneration story.
Twice Upon a Time doesn't
spend as much time in the Doctor's head as The Day of the
Doctor, but it does look at the
Doctor's perspective on his upcoming regeneration - both of them. I'm
absolutely convinced that the twelfth Doctor's reluctance to
regenerate is completely within character, but the novelisation goes
into more depth, adding an element I hadn't considered. The Doctor
has now lived what he considers a normal, human life: years spent
with his wife, followed by a long retirement as lecturer at a
university. Decades longer than a human life, of course, and
interspersed with trips through time and space, but still, the
closest thing to normality he has ever really experienced. Added to
which is the Doctor's defence that he is, after thousands (arguably
billions) of years, just tired. This is a man who is ready to let go.
From the first Doctor's perspective, the fear of the unknown is more
apparent as his reason, having held onto his original body for too
long and in dire need of a regeneration (although I'm pleased to see
Cornell note that it isn't simply old age, but the energy drain of
the Cybermen that finally does him in). A nice touch is that the
first Doctor almost accepts the need to regenerate, until seeing his
future as “the Doctor of War” puts him off.
It's
quite right that the cover of the novelisation depicts David Bradley
as the first Doctor, given his wonderful guest role in the special.
However, reading the story in prose form provides the opportunity to
imagine the adventure featuring the Doctor as portrayed by William
Hartnell. The twelfth Doctor is even more bemused by his first
incarnation's behaviour in the book, rightly noting that he is
behaving rather out of character. He even wonders if he is showing
off in front of the Captain, which would be quite in character for
the first Doctor. Still, being able to imagine the story as featuring
the original Doctor does add a little something, even if it does
cause it to slip into black and white in my head from time to time. The one significant element missing from the TV version was Susan, so I'm pleased that the first Doctor comments on how much he misses her. There's even a nice allusion to their reunion in The Five Doctors, something that is normally skated over.
Bill's
story is much expanded, which adds an extra dimension to a story that
otherwise focuses heavily on the Doctor. We learn a great deal more
about her life with Heather, one that saw them settle on Earth
surprisingly quickly, in what might be seen as a parallel to the
Doctor's longing for an ordinary life. More of the story is told from
her perspective, and from the Captain's, than we might expect given
the focus on the Doctor on TV. We also get some welcome expansion on
the fates of certain characters, from Nardole to Rusty the Dalek,
although Clara's ultimate fate remains mysterious.
Most
of all, the twelfth Doctor's acceptance of his regeneration is more
fluid here, coming over less as a story obligation than in the
broadcast version. While Twice Upon a Time doesn't
play with the story like The Day of the Doctor,
or explore the Doctor in the same depth as Cornell's best works, it
does exactly what a novelisation should do, which is to bring depth
to a story that leaves it stronger and more satisfying than it had a
chance to be on the screen.
Data:
First published by BBC Books (Target imprint) in 2018
Based on "Twice Upon a Time," first broadcast in 2017
Audiobook read by Mark Gatiss
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