The Quantum Archangel (January 2001)
February 11, 2008
“This is the President of the Righteous Fist of Rassilon,” he barked. And then he gave the order that he had prayed he would never have to issue. “Break open the Slaughterhouse.”
Excerpt from The Quantum Archangel
I wish I could summarize this book properly, but it seems to be many stories unfolding in one. There are even stories within stories that are nothing less than vivid and unnerving. The Doctor goes to investigate temporal disturbances going on in modern-day Earth only to find The Master trying to exact revenge upon the Chronovores as well as become a God by taking control of the same power that sustains those same Chronovores. The plan goes to hell and a new creature is born: The Quantum Archangel. Que the epic end-of-everything multi-verse-cluster-fuck that is the second half of this book.
To be honest, I thought that the book was going to be over when there were still about 150 pages left. I honestly couldn’t see how they could drag it out any further then it had already been dragged. Mr. Hinton did a damned fine job of throwing me through a loop and creating a story so epic, that to render it on TV would require technology not currently in production, and a budget to match. The alternate realities provided throughout portions of the book really help to complete the mind-blowing that starts at that 150 page mark. It’s one of the few Doctor Who books that provide a view of the Doctor as totally at the mercy of something far greater than himself.
The writing is sold from start to finish, and Craig Hinton does a superb job of nailing the Doctors third and sixth incarnations, as well as The Masters. The supporting characters are strong, three-dimensional people who (in some cases) are good recreations of their former corporeal selves. There’s a strong sense of wit and direction in regards to the back and forth between the differing characters and I found myself smirking more than once
This book is the reason that I read and love Doctor Who. The ridiculous epicness that the Doctor generates is worth it all. The depth of character that is displayed in these books is what the new series lacks, and which is why time and time again I am brought back to the older series. To hell with the youth that they are trying to capture with the new series; give me the depth I crave!
Worth reading, especially if you like epic stories and even more so if you’ve seen The Time Monster and enjoyed it.
8/10
Categories: Book Reviews
Tagged under: 8/10, book, Book Reviews, Craig Hinton, Doctor, Doctor Who, The Quantum Archangel, Who