| MANAGRA by Stephen Marley |
| Story ? Synopsis: Earth, 3268. Europe has been remodelled into Europa, and is host to famous figures, as well as supernatural forces. The TARDIS lands in the Vatican by mistake, and the Doctor and Sarah are soon being hunted. They run into Lord Byron, who is also being hunted, in connection with the murder of Pope Lucian. They are caught, but Byron saves them. Fleeing, they are pursued. But they escape. They hide in a Black Forest, where Byron fills them in on the way of the world. He is a member of the Dominoes, a faction opposed to the Vatican Enclave. They travel to meet another Byron, but whilst stopped in a Black Forest, Sarah is kidnapped. The Doctor and Byron have to press on. The Doctor reveals that their big enemy is travelling actor, Dr Sperano - really a 17th century dramatist, Francis Pearson, working with an ancient power that has reshaped Europe into its current state. His attack will come when he stages his new play, Thirteenth Night, in Venice. Sarah is rescued, and all sides converge on Venice, whilst the Doctor tries to get through to the source of Pearson's power. During Sperano's big performance, the Globe Theatre appears, with the Doctor using it to spirit Pearson away. He tells Pearson that his crude usage of Gallifreyan technology will collapse in the time vortex. Though Pearson tries to control the Doctor, he is immune. The TARDIS arrives at the last moment, allowing the Doctor to escape. Pearson and his mad ideas are lost forever. |
| Review:- One of the most literary of adventures, and possibly the name-dropping record, too. It's a strange mixture of science and history, as power struggles in the 33rd century provide a backdrop to a power play. What seems to be an unsubtle excuse to mix loads of famous faces into one story is soon developed into a thrilling tale of deception and plotting, as the Vatican rumbles with the Dominions, the Dominoes try to unseat both sides, and nobody cares about the Theatre of Transmogrification, because surely they couldn't be the most dangerous, could they..? The Doctor and Sarah Jane are thrown into danger pretty quickly. Taking the TARDIS away from them is hardly new, but in such a bizarre locale, and with the TARDIS falling into the wrong hands means that they're invested in the troubles of Europa straight away. Our first hero is Byron, who amusingly turns out to exist in triplicate. Casanova is every bit the bold romantic we expect, and Miles Dashing is an amusing but brave new character, whose later narrative with his servant Crocker provide frequent levity. The intrigues of the Vatican prove rich for those who like that sort of thing. Richelieu seems the likely suspect, but with Borgia framed and others murdered, it becomes clear that Agostini is playing a deadly game - although without knowing he is Sperano's pawn. The pace is odd, with Sarah's kidnap coming well into the 3rd quarter of the book, as if purely for padding, and her later rescue is almost too easy, really. For a long book, there is plenty of action, with plays and chases helping the story along to the all-important 13th night. The revelation that a failed playwright is behind everything in conjunction with a powerful entity that borrowed Gallifreyan ideas is rather odd, and feels slightly too cheesy. The rapture over Shakespeare in these books is quite OTT. Adding Gallifreyan gimmickry on top is a bit too much. Still, it is a readable and engrossing story, and well worth checking out. |
| Disclaimer: I own a copy. |