As usual another excellent Doctor Who book by Una McCormack! Her portrayal of Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor who was bang on! Her quick whit and humour.

While reading could picture it all in my head from the rock people living in the Diamond ( )

You guys, are you watching the Thirteenth Doctor? So good. I like it so much that my husband got me the new Thirteenth Doctor comics, BUT it’s the stupid serial format with cliffhangers and weeks between them, which is not at all how I like to read comics. I think I’m going to wait for the trade, instead. Bingereading, y’all.

Molten Heart is a new Doctor Who spinoff novel. It reads like a longer ep, with more internal monologue, especially from Yaz. There’s more space for character growth, too. Or, in certain cases, some spot-on character stagnancy, like when Ryan just switches to past tense for Ash’s missing dad, because he’s Ryan and he has gigantic father issues. The characters are so good that I hear their dialogue in the actors’ voices — also can we talk about how this doctor’s companions are actually very good at taking direction and not needing rescue every 10 minutes? So good.

Molten Heart has the same optimism, risk, friendships and danger that I love in the TV season (and that sucked me into the Ninth Doctor, too). I’m really enjoying the complete lack of Daleks, Cybermen or the Master this season. Classic Who is fine, but I feel like all of those classic enemies has been taken just about as far as those storylines can go. I don’t want to find just one more final Dalek, again. Molten Heart has a new enemy, which can be read as an allegory for climate change denial, but also works as another beautiful, dangerous planet, in need of the Doctor and friends. So good, you guys. ( )

Another very Alien world. A quick enjoyable read. I love how the companions worked things out and was able to help these aliens broaden their horizons. ( )

https://nwhyte.livejournal.com/3184665.html

First (I think) of the new novels featuring the Thirteenth Doctor and the new Team Tardis. This is a well-paced and well-written book that captures the regular characters very well. I was a bit less convinced by the setting - a society of silicon-based creatures living on the inner surface of a cavity inside a planet, which itself is threatened by environmental catastrophe; I think there would be logistical difficulties with some elements of this. But the social and political non-human world is well portrayed, and it is one of those stories that you can imagine would have worked well on screen; as it is, it's a fun read. ( )

Una McCormack’s Doctor Who: Molten Heart focuses on the Thirteenth Doctor, Yasmin, Ryan, and Graham arrive at a world that’s largely unremarkable on the surface, but contains a subsurface society of sentient gems and rocks. They quickly learn that all is not right underground, as cracks are forming in the dome of the subsurface, allowing water to spill down and destroy parts of the molten world. The society’s leader, Emerald, doubts the scientist Basalt’s claims that their world is in peril. In this, the story works as an allegory for climate change and the politicians who refuse to act on it. In fact, McCormack writes dialogue at one point explicitly making this point:
“‘I don’t think we can hold back climate change, Yaz love,’ Graham said, doubtfully.
“‘Somebody has to!’ said Yaz” (pg. 49).

The story is everything Doctor Who fans expect, with strange aliens, new technologies, and fantastic worlds. The inclusion of stones named Sapphire and Ruby (pg. 31) and Lapis Lazuli (pg. 92) recalls Steven Universe, which may be deliberate on McCormack’s part as Easter Eggs for those looking for them. The gem society in Molten Heart is distinct enough to stand on its own while still recalling the Cartoon Network series. Furthermore, McCormack includes references to the Lord of the Rings and Star Wars films, helping to add a touch of verisimilitude to the Doctor’s companions, as most science fiction avoids referencing other pop culture.

Doctor Who: Molten Heart will entertain fans of the current Doctor as well as long-time fans of the franchise. A must read. ( )