Doctor Who: The Drosten's Curse by A.L. Kennedy Published by Broadway Books on July 14th 2015
Genres: Science Fiction
Pages: 368
Source: Edelweiss
Goodreads
From award-winning author A.L. Kennedy, an original Doctor Who novel featuring the beloved Fourth Doctor, as played by Tom Baker.
“I shall make you the jewel at the heart of the universe.”
Something distinctly odd is going on in Arbroath. It could be to do with golfers being dragged down into the bunkers at the Fetch Brothers’ Golf Spa Hotel, never to be seen again. It might be related to the strange twin grandchildren of the equally strange Mrs Fetch--owner of the hotel and fascinated with octopuses. It could be the fact that people in the surrounding area suddenly know what others are thinking, without anyone saying a word.
The Drosten’s Curse is an enjoyable romp with the Fourth Doctor as played by Tom Baker. It is written very much in the style of Douglas Adams, who actually wrote a few serials for Tom Baker’s era. It’s delightfully silly, and captures the Fourth Doctor’s lanky, grinning, egocentric self in glorious form.
The story might feature the Fourth Doctor but he shares the spotlight with some other very endearing characters. Bryony Mailer is a plucky young Junior Receptionist at the Fetch Golf Resort and Spa, sick of her job and her boss and her life, until the Doctor steps in to take her away from it (as he does). Putta Pattershaun 5 is a Yakt, visiting from the planet Yinzill, hates golf but is madly in love with Bryony. Together, they must discover why people keep disappearing into bunkers, why everyone constantly has headaches and can suddenly hear what people around them are thinking. What exactly is the monster lurking beneath the golf course?
The story is split up into short, suspenseful chapters, which is great for momentum but occasionally make it difficult to keep track of the different threads of the story. The one thing that really annoyed me about the way this book was written is that the point of view often shifts between characters, even to the Doctor, in the middle of a scene. The Doctor’s brain is not a place one likes to be dumped inside of (especially his fourth incarnation) but it bothered me less as the story went on.
If you’re not a fan of the Doctor’s more eccentric adventures, this book may not be for you. If, on the other hand, you love the seventies, the Fourth Doctor and/or Douglas Adams, you’ll enjoy The Drosten’s Curse!
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Anni
Anni lives in Brisbane, Australia with her young family. She loves everything fantasy and science fiction and believes sleep is really very underrated.
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