Random Reads: Doctor Who- The Story of Martha by Dan Abnett ft. various writers

Doctor Who: The Story of Martha

by Dan Abnett

with David Roden, Steve Lockley, Paul Lewis, Robert Shearman, and Simon Jowett

"Let me tell you a story..."

Anyone who has ever met me knows that I love the series "Doctor Who". I am not normally a Sci-Fi geek, but this series while sci-fi has heart and is grounded in the real world often. This made me willing and ready to read one of the novels based on the series. The Story of Martha felt like a good first book based on it being the only book that I am aware of that is in continuity with the television series. This book examines one year in the life of Martha Jones. This year takes place during Series 3 of the Doctor Who reboot. If you have watched the series you will know where this year fits into that story, which makes it a very interesting book to read because it adds a layer to the show. 

This book is done in several parts. We have the chapters of "The Story of Martha" by Dan Abnett and then between every few chapters is another story featuring Martha and the Doctor written by another author. This makes for a wide arrangement of stories contained within the cover of the book. Each serves its own individual purpose but adds significantly to the overall theme of the book. The theme is that the Doctor does amazing things and helps people when they are in dire situations. The world is in chaos in this particular book, so it feels right that she is sharing these stories. In this world of chaos these people need someone they can believe in, so Martha Jones tells people about her adventures with him. This brings hope to the world. 

Overall this is a fun book to read because you feel like you are watching an actual episode. While I was reading I kept using the real voice of Freema Agyeman (Martha Jones). This made me able to imagine the things happening even when the situations where otherworldly. Often times in a book that has this element it is hard to imagine the various settings/conflicts/stories because they are so out of our understanding, but due to the connection of the series it helps you to see everything they are creating. 

The gripe I have about the book is that the first two side stories had a bit too many similarities in parts. Also having seen subsequent series of the show one of the stories felt like it had been ripped off in the show. I am assuming whomever wrote that episode was not aware of the story that was contained in this book, as it did come before the episode that I am thinking of. It contains clones, which happens in series 6 of the show. This took away from the book because I felt like I was just rehashing something I had seen on the show, which was done better in my opinion. This is the main reason for 4 points instead of 5. In a collected volume of stories two subsequent stories should not feel as similar as two of them in this volume, however everything else contained within really is fresh, interesting, and adds so much to a true fan of "Doctor Who".