Doctor Who - Engines of War Review

In Doctor Who's 50th Anniversary special "The Day of the Doctor", the show introduced a hitherto unknown incarnation of the Doctor who had fought in the oft-mentioned Last Great Time War. Lying between the eras of Paul McGann's Eighth Doctor and Christopher Eccleston's Ninth Doctor, stage and screen legend John Hurt brought a whole new incarnation of the character to life, and, in the process, blew open the doors to a whole new, unexplored era of the show. In 75 minutes, he created a character that was begging to be explored beyond "Day of the Doctor", and helped revitalise the concept of the Time War, which, by that time, was feeling a little bit dull and well-trodden. And, while it would be up to Big Finish and Titan Comics to do a lot of the heavy-lifting for this Doctor, BBC Books did actually make the first move on fleshing out this version of the character with the novel "Engines of War". Penned by Doctor Who alumni George Mann, this is a novel that gives us a fantastic insight into an era of the show that many thought would never be explored, while showing what led this Doctor towards how he planned to end the Time War at the beginning of "Day of the Doctor".

The plot starts with the character of Cinder, a rebel outlaw on her world of Moldox, evading Dalek patrols and coming across the War Doctor as he crash-lands on her world. From there, the two must learn to overcome their fears and prejudices if they are to thwart the Daleks' plans: not just for Moldox, but Gallifrey and the wider universe... All the while, trying to stop the Time Lords from committing a genocide so great that it would be impossible to tell them apart from the Daleks. Now, this book does require some familiarity with Doctor Who lore: not just "The Day of the Doctor", "The End of Time" and the Time War arc that runs through the first seven series of the millennium show, but also a large amount of Time Lord mythology from the original show. Stories like "Genesis of the Daleks", "The Deadly Assassin" and "The Five Doctors" are essential to really 'getting' this story, and a working knowledge of the Gallifrey audio spin-off may help as well. But, even if you're not 'in deep' with the classic series, you'll still find this one of the strongest modern Doctor Who novels, with a gripping plot that pushes the envelope of what the show can be, and what can be accepted in this time of the Time War. This, at points, plays out more like a movie than a novel, with sweeping battles, huge epic stakes and a scope rarely seen in Doctor Who, both in print and on screen. But that just helps to make this one of the most exciting books about the show you could pick up, as there is so much going on, so much crammed in that you're launched from set piece to set piece without much time to breath. But that isn't a criticism: quite the contrary. The book moves at a furious pace, and, as such, you get the chance to go on a real journey with both the Doctor and Cinder.

As I mentioned above, we are introduced to the War Doctor through his temporary companion Cinder, and it is through her that we view the story. She is the perfect figure to act as a point of audience identification, as we can easily understand her point of view, and her reasons for making the choices that she has. Although she is a hardened resistance fighter, we are allowed to see beyond the wall that she puts up to others, and to realise that Cinder is actually concealing a very different side - one closer to some of the Doctor's old companions, perhaps. She is a wonderful addition to the story, and makes a great companion for the grizzled War Doctor. Speaking of whom, George Mann has perfectly captured John Hurt's portrayal of the Time Lord here, and even takes him in directions one single 75 minute movie couldn't hope to take him. He leaps off the page and into our imagination easily, and you immediately want to go on more adventures with the character. It would have been quite easy for the War Doctor to simply come across as a one trick pony, but Mann brings so many different layers to the character, and set the stage for all the material that came later, especially Big Finish's War Doctor series.

As the story goes on, a greater scope unfolds, and we start to see that the events of this story will have a greater resonance than we initially expect. Mann ties in a lot of things we know about the end of the Time War into this story, and we get some exploration of what exactly was motivating the Doctor on the last day of the Time War. The final third of this book is absolutely gripping, with twists and turns that you, as the reader, will not see coming. There's a definite sense of finality, and, as the novel barrels towards its conclusion, it is clear that the Doctor and Cinder will be forced apart in the most tragic way. While I love the first two sections of the book (Dalek occupied planets and Gallifrey political intrigue are two sure-fired genres of Doctor Who for me), the final third launches this book into the territory of really outstanding storytelling. While some may argue that the ending is a little bit of a deux-ex-machina, I see it more as a springboard for what Mann wants to say about the Time War. It is very much a pairable on the futility of war, and on how those who want to use war to further their own agenda simply won't be dissuaded from greater and more long-lasting conflict. Many have made comparisons between the Time War and the First World War, and I think that's a comparison that, not only holds water, but is also at its most potent here. The Time War is a mass slaughter that no one can actually win, and this is the story where the Doctor realises that there can be no victory. As such, the ending is incredibly powerful, and sets the stage for "The Day of the Doctor" with a down-beat and solemn ending.

Overall, then, "Engines of War" is probably one of the finest Doctor Who novels I have ever read. Packed full of ideas, images and compelling characters, this is a book that rips up what stodgy ideas we had about Doctor Who novels, and provides a great template for future Time War stories into the bargain. In many ways, I'm not all that bothered about not getting any follow up novels: few would have been able to match the standard of this superlative entry. Together with "All Flesh is Grass" from the Time Lord Victorious line, this is a book that, if you're a Doctor Who fan, you owe it to yourself to read this. Especially if you're a fan of the Time War, you'll find so much in here to enjoy. But even if you aren't, you'll still love this novel for its daring approach to Doctor Who, and its ground-breaking presentation of the Doctor himself. This is wonder stuff, make no mistake.

You can purchase "Engines of War" in paperback from Waterstones, as well as other online retailers and in all good bookshops. All pictures copyright to the BBC. Thank you for reading.