Publisher: Harper
Release Date: January 2018
Price: $19.99
Creators: Simon Guerrier
Format: 144 pgs., 7" x 9-1/4", Full-Color, Trade Paperback
ISBN: 978-0-0626-8115-7
Age Rating: N/A
ICv2 Rating: 4.5 Stars out of 5
This is a book intended for established Doctor Who fans, rather than for newcomers, with a mixture of trivia book and “World Records”-style information. The only minor quibble with this is that it makes looking up any individual piece of information complicated at times, because there are often multiple references to a person, place or thing. The index itself is good, though, and you can eventually find things by using it.
The real fun of the book is to simply read sections of it, by subject. Some of the subjects have to do with the techniques used to create Doctor Who stories, others with things happening in those stories. Thus, you have headings like "The Biggest Explosion of All Time" or "The Biggest Spaceship in the Universe," which refer to specific things in specific episodes. You also have "The Most Expensive Special Effect," which is quite informative on how one of the classic episodes was shot. Then there are the sillier pieces of information, such as "The Most Important Lesson in Cybernetics," which is a trivia question from a classic episode, since the answer is not a helpful one in the real world.
The photos which illustrate the book are outstanding. The companions in particular, as well as the alien creatures of the series, are included in great visual detail.
This will be a treat for adult and teen fans of the show, in its various incarnations. Those only familiar with the modern version, however, may need to study a bit on the older shows.
--Nick Smith: Library Technician, Community Services, for the Pasadena Public Library in California.