| SYSTEM SHOCK by Justin Richards |
| Story ? Synopsis: Earth, 1998, and the Doctor and Sarah Jane are soon mixed up in a problem involving a stolen CD-ROM. Whilst Sarah goes undercover working for I^2, the Doctor reunites with Harry Sullivan, now a senior member of the intelligence network. It seems that I^2, led by Lionel Stabfield are the new big players in the information industry. They use a new chip which has earned Lionel a fortune in licensing fees. The CD-ROM contains a version of a super-computer creation called Voractyll. This is the creation of the Voracians, a hybrid lizard species who evolved from the Vorellans. Their society is computer-controlled, and they plan to take over Earth using Voractyll, which will spread through the Internet via the chips which I^2 have sold to everyone. The Doctor devises a way to counter Voractyll by creating his own, stronger version of the creature, which replaces the original. With the help of the military, the Doctor manages to remove the Voracians from the agenda. I^2 collapses, but Sarah keeps a memento, a pen. |
| Review:- This was Justin's 1st Missing Adventure, and introduced some new aliens, some exciting computer concepts, and allowed the return of a familiar old face. The Doctor and Sarah arrive in 1998, which when the book was published (1994) was still the near future, although today (2003) it is recent history. It is amusing that Lionel Stabfield is named as the 5th richest person in the world. When the Sunday Times Rich List for 1998 was published, I could finally put a figure on his wealth. It was, as I recall, c.$19billion. Pretty impressive. Computers are increasingly an everyday part of all our lives, so the stakes that are played for here become quite extraordinary, with I^2 seemingly the biggest threat in the world. This scenario sets up two sequels (Millenial Rites and Millennium Shock). Quite amazing. The Doctor shows off his all-round skills, whether commandeering the regulars in a pub, hacking into a computer system, strolling on roof-tops in the midst of a siege, or engaging in logical discussions with computer creatures. Always hard on the bad guys, he is still able to show tenderness to the humans he cares for. Sarah gets to play a traditional companion role, put upon and terrorised by the baddies. Her keeping of the pen at the denouement, when her 1998 self has dinner with Harry, seems like an innocuous piece of business, but it helps trigger the direct sequel. Harry seems as if he has never been away, except for having spent 20 years rising through the system, although quite why a doctor should get to where he does is odd. Maybe I should re-read the book, see if that's covered. Nah... The Vorellans, Voracians and Voractyll are all very clever, although VORACIA is reminiscent of the word voracious, which gives a clue as to their natures. The sequence where the Doctor uses logic to control Voractyll is beautiful, and exciting. Only 1 chance in 1,000? High odds where the Doctor is concerned, and a moving moment, showing that the tide is turning. This book also moved me to find Rockall on the map. So, educational, too! Well worth reading. |
| Disclaimer: I own a copy. |