DREAMS OF EMPIRE

By Justin Richards

The history books were clear; the once-proud Haddron Empire, fatally weakened by civil war, was finally brought ot its knees by a catastrophic explosion. But, then again, history books can lie...

Landing in what seems to be a medieval castle, the Doctor and his friends discover that the final act of a drama that has torn apart a stellar empire is being played out around them.
Who is the man behind the mask, and how are his chess games linked to life and death in his fortress prison? What is the secret of the suits of armour which line the banqueting hall? Who is on the battle cruiser that is getting closer all the time, and what will they want when they finally arrive?
The pieces are in place, and the TARDIS crew soon find themselves under siege. With both deadly robots and human traitors to defeat, it seems the future of the entire hangs in the balance...

Featuring the Second Doctor, Jamie and Victoria, this adventure is set between the TV stories THE ICE WARRIORS and THE ENEMY OF THE WORLD.

MY REVIEW.

Doctor Who: Dreams of Empire, by Justin Richards, BBC Books, ISBN: 0 563 40598 8

It was long known that the character of the Second Doctor (played by Patrick Troughton) was difficult to pin down in print, possibly because of the lack of surviving television material from his era. However the recent novels featuring the ‘cosmic hobo’ have been quite a success. “Dreams of Empire” is no exception; its portrayal of the Doctor is one of its best points. The sudden switches from a clumsy clown to a darker, graver figure are here, as is the sparkling rapport with his companions Jamie and Victoria, both also well written for.
The story itself is a fairly standard ‘base-under siege’ scenario, but even in this it is faithful to the Troughton era. The use of chess as an ongoing theme adds a little depth, and fits in nicely with later programme continuity. The large cast of characters is well described and welcome, and yes many of them get picked off as they run down various dark corridors –nostalgia trip! Those engaged in the pruning of the cast are the VETACS, yet another group of mechanised killers, relentless and without mercy. They are really nothing new, although the idea of them being linked up is rather good. The plot has its fair share of twists and turns and the tension built up in the first half is well used. I genuinely did not see the interrogation scene coming; it is definitely one of the best moments in the book, as is the conclusion. “Dreams of Empire” is a straightforward adventure, expertly written in the Troughton style. Highly recommended for any that enjoy a good read.

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