Back to the Vortex: The Unofficial and Unauthorised Guide to Doctor Who 2005
 RRP £12.99 Lowest New Price £8.33 
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Telos Publishing Ltd Number of pages: 423 Language: English (Original Language) Language: English (Unknown) Language: English (Published) |
RRP: £12.99
Dreary
Review date: 2005-12-13 Rating: 2 out of 10
This is a rather dull and dry tome, unlikely to be of interest to the casual buyer. It has no creative spark to make the listing of dates and facts that form the first part of the book come to life, whilst the second half is a sludge of repetitive, poorly constructed reviews. There are a lot of words in this book, but unfortunately few of them are interesting. The presentation of the book is also poor, especially the cover. There are much better official books on the market and this one is best avoided.
Reviews
Never mind the cover, feel the quality...
Review date: 2005-10-24 Rating: 8 out of 10
Telos have previously published two books - the Companion and the Handbook - which provide an in-depth guide to the making and reception of Dr Who 1963-1996. This book performs both tasks for the 2005 season, and includes much more critical analysis than in the previous books. To be honest, the plot synopses will not help you much if you haven't seen the series, but the critical depth of analysis by Lyons is impressive. Getting perspectives from different reviewers is also a nice touch, though there is some consensus about the season (for the record: Russell Davis does jokes and characters, but not plots; Billie Piper was great; Eccles was good but under-used; the Slitheen were awful and the guest writers provided the best stories). Despite the cover - which is awful - this isn't a thrown-together fan-publication. Nor is it a lavish pictures and little-depth BBC publication. Taking this into account, it is seriously recommended for all those who have been sucked into the world of Who...
Water Tight!
Review date: 2005-10-11 Rating: 10 out of 10
I can't stress just how much I enjoyed reading this book. It was completely satisfying in every way - my only concern was that it was a little heavy and I spent such a long time in the bath reading it, I nearly dropped it in a couple of times. But minor quibbles about the weight of paper aside (sic) - it was brilliant evocation of the joy and expectation we all felt in the lead up and broadcast of the new series. It will stand as a perfect document of a particular time that was important to us all. It solidified everything I felt. The reviews were passionate and informed in just the right measure and the authors prose style was light and easy to read.
I can't recommend this highly enough to anyone who has even a passing interest in the new series.
It is without a shadow of a doubt responsible for some of the best baths I have ever had and could only be improved by being light weight and water proof!
the definitive guide to the new series
Review date: 2005-10-09 Rating: 10 out of 10
Back to the vortex is the nearest you'll ever get to an ultimate guide to the 2005 series of Doctor Who. True, it isn't as lavishly illustrated as the official books, but it tells the full story in a highly entertaining way.
The first section is an account of the journey that led to the TV series being made. This section is the better of the two, taking you on an exciting ride through the production and, particularly, the reaction from the public, the press, and the fans from before the series was announced right through to the end of the show. And, though I had a few minor niggles, I doubt anybody could have written it better.
The second section is the most complete episode guide you'll ever see to the series. Each episode has been analysed from every conceivable angle. You won't find any guide in another book or online that even comes close to this in terms of detail or rigour.
If you only buy one book about the new series, make it this one.
Nothing new
Review date: 2005-09-15 Rating: 4 out of 10
Most of the information (photos ,reviews, breakdowns of the episodes) in this book is available for free on the writer's web site and by viewing the Doctor Who Confidential series.
Also, the binding seems a little weak. I barely had it for a week when it began to disintegrate. Hopefully, they'll use better glue in the next printing.
Suitable as a gift for a child who doesn't have internet access, I guess, if they fix the binding problems. Bit pricey, though.
Product Details/Specifications
Creators:
J Shaun Lyon (Foreword)
Recording label: Telos Publishing Ltd
Manufacturer: Telos Publishing Ltd
EAN: 9781903889787
Binding: Paperback
Dewey decimal number: 791.4572
ISBN: 1903889782
Number of items: 1
Number of pages: 423
Publication date: 2005-10-20
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: English (Unknown)
Language: English (Published)
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