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kilodalton
kilodalton
22 July 2012 @ 06:18 pm
Review for the Doctor Who (audio)book "The Clockwise Man" (AKA "Girl in the Fireplace Lite")  
I know that I usually put this stuff under SOME kind of a cut, but this time ... I just can't. I just kind of need to shout this from the e-rooftop.

* Historical episode
* European royalty
* Clockwork killers
* Creepy harlequin masks
* Getting stuck (briefly) on the slow path
* Jokes about "winding you up" etc

The big differences being ... ya know ... the characters are kind of IN CHARACTER, and even the monsters get some rather awesome characterization.



Seriously.

Seriously.

Moffat, have you honestly ever had an original thought in your head?



There's really nothing more that I can say without some major keysmashing at Moffat, who had nothing to do with this interesting little book. I enjoyed it. Lots of characters. Lots of battles. A bit swervy, and a little bit slow at times, but it was an intriguing story with what I think was a pretty awesome and uplifting ending. I can easily envision this story taking place in early season 1, after Aliens of London/World War Three. The Doctor and Rose are in that chummy new place, where they enjoy each others company but where his raw need for her (see Dalek) isn't so evident yet. I think I would have enjoyed this as an episode, and I think it has enough plot to even have been a two-parter.

And it proves, yet again, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that Moffat is a (insert favorite descriptor here).
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( 31 comments — Leave a comment )
fogsbluefogsblue on July 22nd, 2012 10:48 pm (UTC)
Will read/listen to all these one day...

But just colour me soooo not surprised that Moffat's 'masterpiece' had more inspiration (read blatant plagiarism) from many places. It's how he gets away with I think.

Mind you, he wasn't even remotely subtle with either Christmas special was he?
kilodaltonkilodalton on July 22nd, 2012 10:59 pm (UTC)
Mind you, he wasn't even remotely subtle with either Christmas special was he?

Heh, not at all, but those were at least famous enough to be able to be filed under the "tribute" category. But this? There's just no way that this is coincidence. A year later GitF comes out? No way no way no way.

I just ... it boggles the mind.
fogsbluefogsblue on July 22nd, 2012 11:09 pm (UTC)
It's rather sad and horrifying. I mean this is the guy so many people constantly applaud for his orginal ideas...

I'm just amazed not one person at the BBC ever caught this. Or maybe they though GitF was so 'amazing!' that it didn't matter?

I think if I was Justin Richards I'd be a bit pissed.
kilodaltonkilodalton on July 23rd, 2012 12:41 am (UTC)
Completely @.@
Laialda: Dr. Who/Intrigue/Timelaialda on July 23rd, 2012 02:08 am (UTC)
I completely agree. Had the same thoughts after reading it, and also enjoyed it so much more than the S2 episode. ;)

The writing wasn't prefect but it was entertaining and while I agree about the pacing needing some help, it's been my favorite of the Nine era novels so far (though, mind you I've only read 2. I'm in the middle of Winner Takes All at the mo'). The time setting completely fits as well and I loved that they included the Doctor making a pun, and even the Bad Wolf reference (which just sorta slipping casually in and gave you a wink before moving right along ;) ).

The tie in novels have been surprisingly decent so far and I can't wait to read more or, in the case of the Tennant audiobooks, read the missing scenes. :D Do you plan on reading all the books? I see you've done a few of these reviews now, this was just the first on one I'd actually read, lol.
kilodaltonkilodalton on July 23rd, 2012 11:59 pm (UTC)
and also enjoyed it so much more than the S2 episode. ;)

... "does it need saying?" XD XD XD

Do you plan on reading all the books? I see you've done a few of these reviews now, this was just the first on one I'd actually read, lol.

Ha!! I have the Commute From Hell, so I plan on getting through as many as I can!! There are so many, that I don't think I can get through all of them, but I would like to make a dent!! My current one is Only Human - I'm about 45 min into the 5 hour audiobook =)
Laialda: Dr. Who/Intrigue/Timelaialda on July 24th, 2012 12:58 am (UTC)

... "does it need saying?" XD XD XD

LOL, not at this point :P and especially since we both seem to share an equal dislike for most of moffat's writing, yes/yes?

My current one is Only Human - I'm about 45 min into the 5 hour audiobook =)

That one has Jack in it, yes? I'm looking forward to reading those to see if non-fanfic writers also share the same love for the lovely Capt. Harkness that fandom seems to. ;)

Your post motivated me to finish the one I was on today btw, and I also enjoyed this one. Course it was written by the lady who did 'Stone Rose' so ya know, to be expected I suppose ;) They're certainly a good way to pass a long drive though (I listened to Stone Rose and Resurrection Casket on my drive across country), but if you'd ever like to read the non-audiobooks just let me know. My friend that got me into Doctor Who gave me a copy of his collection of ALL the Doctor Who novels to date at Christmas when I got my Nook (and I mean all. It's classic!who and nu!who, so over 100 books) and I'd happy to share them with you love. :D
kilodaltonkilodalton on July 25th, 2012 02:59 am (UTC)
Yes, it has Jack in it!! So far it is HYSTERICAL!!! I love it - about 3 hours into it now =D

Aww thank you re the books!! I'll definitely let you know - I don't have a lot of time to read but I do have a crazy commute thus the audiobooks >.< ...
Eli-chan: 9Rose - invincible togethersilverlunarstar on July 23rd, 2012 02:09 am (UTC)
One I've actually read!
This is one of my favorites! Lol, well, considering I've only read 3 novels so far... XD

Yeah, as soon as I read this I was all...

Photobucket
kilodaltonkilodalton on July 23rd, 2012 11:59 pm (UTC)
Re: One I've actually read!
I KNOW!!!!!!

He is just such a ... @.@
✦ 여섯 ✦: ★ 104six on July 23rd, 2012 04:41 am (UTC)
I wonder how Justin Richards feels about it, and if he got a cut from Moffat. That's just... wow... I can't even find the right words to say right now.

Is there a Reinette in this story?
kilodaltonkilodalton on July 24th, 2012 12:02 am (UTC)
If I were him, I'd be on the phone with a lawyer. Just sayin'.

Is there a Reinette in this story?

Sort-of-but-not-really. There's a mysterious woman who appears with the clockwork robots, and who is a bit flirty with Nine and who gets a bit huffy about Rose's presence, but it's all very short-lived and one-sided. She's one of the main characters, but there is SO MUCH MORE to her character than the blink-and-you-miss-it flirtation that it barely bears mention.
✦ 여섯 ✦: ★ 228six on July 24th, 2012 06:50 am (UTC)
Oh thanks, good to know! I only have the Stone Rose audiobook narrated by David Tennant but I haven't gotten very far with it yet. oTL

Holy crap, Moffat. Didn't GitF get nominated for a bunch of awards and even won some? To think that it could've been Justin Richards instead...
Annissaannissag on July 23rd, 2012 12:08 pm (UTC)
I got twinges of "this feels awfully familiar," while I was listening to the audiobook.

This wasn't one of my favorite books and I felt the characterization was off through the first half. This is what I wrote in my audible.com review:
It was early days for the new series when this book was published and Rose's character doesn't feel as solid as it should be. Her thoughts and actions in the first half of the book could have been done by any teenager. She isn't quite the Rose we know and love in the TV show. Her characterization solidifies in the second half of the story.
kilodaltonkilodalton on July 24th, 2012 12:05 am (UTC)
This definitely won't go down as one of my favorites, but considering that Moffat clearly scooped up so much of the plot devices from here for use in GitF, I think I'm inclined to like it more than it deserves based simply on principle.

Agreed re the characterization, but again ... in comparison with its canonical twin, any comparison re "realistic" with the characterization in the episode would automatically come out heavily in favor of the audiobook @.@
keep_counting: doctorandrosekeep_counting on July 23rd, 2012 01:45 pm (UTC)
What's the worst thing about this, is that he completely gets away with it. I've never seen anyone bring this up before. It's become just forgotten, in the face of the tv-show and the grandness of Moffat. I mean, there is absolutely nothing wrong with finding inspiration from other sources, even similar sources to the work you do: hell, if writers and artists didn't do that, we would be at a complete standstill. But taking something from the exact same franchise and tweaking it just a little? And then get away with it because you're famous and good at making flashy stuff.

And not even when he's borrowing from other things is he being subtle; the whole Narnia-world was an okay done idea imo (I had other complaints about the episode) but it was very smack in the face, as opposed to the subtle influence from Phillip Pullman's 'His Dark Materials' that RTD did in Army of Ghosts/Doomsday. That was done in a classy, tribute-y kind of way, instead of showing it down our throats like I feel Moffat does.
kilodaltonkilodalton on July 24th, 2012 12:08 am (UTC)
What's the worst thing about this, is that he completely gets away with it.

I chock it up to fanboys living in their mother's basements. GitF was exactly what they WANTED to see - damn characterization, and damn the fact it's a dual rip-off of this and The Time Traveller's Wife.

(Seriously, what did he do? Rip up copies of The Clockwise Man and the Time Traveller's Wife, and pick up the pages at random up off the floor to see how he could best marry them?)

as opposed to the subtle influence from Phillip Pullman's 'His Dark Materials' that RTD did in Army of Ghosts/Doomsday

I'm currently writing (have been for a year now ... lol it's slow-going) a meta on the similarities between Doomsday and the main romance in Final Fantasy X - which preceded both Doomsday as well as His Dark Materials. The similarities are frankly a bit scary and make me wonder if RTD was a closet video game addict XD
keep_counting: gwenkeep_counting on July 24th, 2012 10:31 am (UTC)
Wasn't almost the entire River-storyline a rip-off of TTW as well? (I've never actually read the book). There are just moments when it becomes too much.

Ohgod, that would be so much fun though :D hope you get around to posting that one day!
carrylovescurrycarry18 on July 23rd, 2012 01:55 pm (UTC)
I can't believe it!
I can't wait to read this! Thanks for the review!
kilodaltonkilodalton on July 24th, 2012 12:09 am (UTC)
You're welcome - it was pretty shocking to me, and Moffat rarely shocks me anymore =P
zazie11: I Haz a Doctor - Minezazie11 on July 23rd, 2012 07:32 pm (UTC)
If I remember correctly, Moffatt supposedly "wrote" his episode with Eccleston in mind - does anyone know more about that? That would bring the parallels even closer.

*shakes head*
kilodaltonkilodalton on July 24th, 2012 12:11 am (UTC)
I've heard that too, but haven't been able to source it. It makes complete sense though.

**shakes head along with you**
Annissaannissag on July 24th, 2012 06:56 pm (UTC)
I've heard this too, though I can't imagine Nine in GITF. It takes OOC to a whole new level.
zazie11: I Haz a Doctor - Minezazie11 on July 24th, 2012 07:32 pm (UTC)
... I can't imagine Nine in GITF. It takes OOC to a whole new level.

Yeah, my thoughts, exactly. Nine would not - I repeat, WOULD NOT - leave Rose behind, knowing the likelihood he couldn't return. If anything, Rose would've gone with him ... leading to all manner of Nine/Rose saddle-sharing UST, lol. Reinette, who?

Rose was ready to go down fighting with him against the Gelth. I can't believe he'd ditch her (or Mickey).

Edited at 2012-07-24 07:33 pm (UTC)
Annissaannissag on July 24th, 2012 07:40 pm (UTC)
Also, while I could totally see Nine taking credit for the banana daiquiri, I don't think for a second, he'd come stumbling in, pretending to be drunk, with a tie 'round his head. Try picturing that! It's just undignified. ;)
develish1develish1 on July 24th, 2012 12:03 am (UTC)
hmm, I don't have this one, guess I'd better acquire a copy
kilodaltonkilodalton on July 24th, 2012 12:10 am (UTC)
It wasn't a bad little story!! Made all the better by my not-so-sneaking-suspicion that Moffat completely ripped it off less than a year later.
icecreamlova ¯\(ºдಠ)/¯: bobby's idjitsrosaxx50 on July 24th, 2012 04:37 am (UTC)
My only thought about this is lol @ Moffat. Rly?
kilodaltonkilodalton on July 25th, 2012 03:00 am (UTC)
... basically XD
previously known as irelandsavage: relevant to my interestsgallifrey_eire on July 24th, 2012 06:14 am (UTC)
I actually have been buying the New Adventure novels one at a time, and finished reading all of Nine's about month ago...they are fantastic.

I had the same *headdesk* moment when I realized Moffat totally ripped this off. At first I was like "wait a second...did this author steal this idea...?" Nope. No this author is completely wonderful and SM is a prick. Somehow it took me a minute to realize the book happened first.

Thoroughly enjoying the DW audiobooks read by David Tennant, though. Everytime I start feeling the anti-Moffat rage, I just put in my headphones and enjoy some quality Tenth Doctor time :P
kilodaltonkilodalton on July 25th, 2012 03:01 am (UTC)
... now that is an EXCELLENT idea XD

I'm just listening to the random assortment of audiobooks I've collected. They are from various eras, I'm just focused on Nu Who now XD
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