The new SFX is out, with a stunning holographic cover of the new Doctor Who. There's also a two-page feature on me (actually one page, plus big scary photo) and - elsewhere - a review of the new book. Honestly, it's worth having just for that fantastic cover.
On the subject of Who, I've been bingeing on (mainly) Pertwee era adventures of late, courtesy of a rash of reissues from the BBC vaults. Aside from old favorites like The Green Death and The Sea Devils, I've enjoyed rewatching (and comparing against my very dim memories) Frontier in Space, Planet of the Daleks, The Silurians (actually, I didn't remember this one at all - I have no recollection of any of the Liz Shaw adventures) and am now doing the "Peladon chronicles" boxset. Loved Monster of Peladon when I was eight. I'm fond of Tom Baker, too, but Pertwee was the Doctor for me: the one I watched when my critical faculties were still undeveloped, and hiding behind the settee was an entirely reasonable viewing option. Davison was good as well (and the others, of course) but by then my relationship with Doctor Who was as much one of frustration as pure, unbridled enjoyment.
I'm more the Tom Baker era myself.
ReplyDeleteI'm watching "The Green Death" on Netflix instant viewing right now. I ration it out to one episode every few days.
ReplyDeleteThe Green Death and The Sea Devils are two I remember well. I also recall (or think I recall) one where there were creatures that looked like bushes surrounding a house - the bushes kept moving.
ReplyDeleteHmmm, SFX or Sci-Fi now, decisions decisions....
ReplyDeleteThe last issue of SFX was a duff, maybe this time....
"The Sea Devils, Episode 6: the Sea Devils capture the navy base." I was so upset reading this in the Radio Times that I showed it to my mother to confirm it meant what I thought it did. This was the first time, I think, that I realised good guys can have setbacks that leads to interesting fiction.
ReplyDelete"Monster of Peladon" is 2 episodes too long.
I'm with Ian-modern 'Who' just doesnt have the same appeal!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I saw that holographic cover. I stood there with a puzzled frown, poking it with my finger. Sad but true.
ReplyDeleteTJ: sounds like The Seeds of Death to me; classic (and fairly disturbing) Baker adventure of the kind that would never be screened now.
ReplyDeleteBen: Haven't got to Monster of Peladon yet but was tremendously impressed with ep 1 of Curse; some very good stuff in there - great Jo/Doctor role reversal and - need I say more - Ice Warriors. However many of these adventures now seem over-long; the sheer amount of running around/escaping from things/being caught again does get wearying. I was skeptical of the single-episode format of New Who but I think this is one thing that they've definitely got right, with of course the option to do the occasional two parter.
I've put a few calls out to some local bookstores to hold me a copy of SFX, hopefully one of them follows through. If not, it's off to e-Bay to secure myself one.
ReplyDeleteI did order my copy of Terminal World this past weekend, hopefully it'll be here by Friday. I also ordered a copy of Deep Navigation. I'll put the order in for Shine today. Now I just need to remember to pace myself and not tear through it all in a few days.
To be honest Matthew,apart from the Al Reynolds piece, unless you like Doctor Who I wouldnt bother! SFX has lost a lot of appeal-theres far more SF in Sci-Fi Now. and of course I so miss Deathray(which is where I first read an Al Reynolds story!)
ReplyDeleteAt my age (42) I think I am supposed to be a Baker fan, and I am, but I always loved Davidsons better. He had a charm that was lacking right up until Tennent IMO.
ReplyDeleteAll that being said I did instantly adore Ecclestons Doctor, partly due to his consummate skill and partly because he is now defined as a god just for helping to bring it back :p
Pertwee was always too old for me with his stupid car and antique suit. Odd really as the doctors before him, though older to me were always younger than him...
Yes, I liked Eccleston's Doctor as well.
ReplyDeleteI think you have to see Pertwee's Doctor in context: the suit wasn't as wildly anachronistic then as it appears now, because this was the era of Jason King, Randall and Hopkirk and so on. A man in a frock coat wasn't hugely out of place. OK, the Whomobile was a bit silly, but I'd love it if the new Doctor found Bessie parked in a UNIT garage somewhere(although with a different number plate).
Quite a perceptive remark in the new SFX: to an eight year old, even Matt Smith will look like an old man. I think there's a fair bit of truth in that. Me, I'd loved it if they had gone with Patterson Joseph but give the new lad a chance.
Hmm ok, when explained in that context I can see Pertwee being more fitting of the times than I remember him, yet not actually "old", if that makes any kind of sense?. Oh and just for the record, Randall and Hopkirk was seriously brilliant TV.
ReplyDeleteI can see Bessie making a comeback, she has done so for a couple of newer doctors if I remember correctly.
Minor correction: I meant - or should rather have said - The Seeds of Doom above. The Seeds of Death (confusingly enough, given the context) is an Ice Warriors story.
ReplyDeleteSpendid stuff, The Curse of Peladon - absolutely tremendous on all counts, even down to the Ice Warrior who sounds like Zippy from Rainbow and the one who seems to have come from Mars by way of Yeovil. Not to mock; I did genuinely love it.
Onward to Monster of Peladon next. Let the Pertwee boxset goodness continue!
I wonder if anyone has ever made up a matrix of SF writers and which doctor they prefer.
ReplyDeleteI remember Sean Williams mentioning he's a Pertwee fan.
I first saw Baker, but I like Pertwee and Troughton too.
My favorite Pertwees are "Frontiers in Space" (even if it doesn't really end without including the thuddingly bad "Planet of the Daleks"), "The Time Warrior" (the new opening sequence was great!), and "The Curse of Peladon". Honorable Mention: "The Three Doctors".
ReplyDeleteBessie was awesome -- the rest of his gizmos, not so much. I liked the Pertwee stories much more whenever he was allowed off the planet. The rest of them after a while feel like more or less variations on "Invaders from OUTER SPACE!". (Or "Invaders from UNDER WATER!" or "Invaders from an ALTERNATE DIMENSION!" or "Invaders from an ACCIDENTALLY DELETED EPISODE BECAUSE WE THOUGHT IT WAS A PATRICK TROUGHTON EPISODE AND BOY HOWDY DO WE HAVE IT IN FOR HIM!")
"The Seeds of Doom" was the Tom Baker six-parter where the first two episodes were a direct homage to / rip-off of "The Thing", right?
ReplyDelete