With no one safe from the planet's tireless predators, Leela's warrior instincts are tested to the full. The Doctor, meanwhile, begins to suspect there is a scientific purpose to the planet - one married to a sinister intelligence.
Whatever the data being collated from the planet, the Doctor soon realises its usage may have far-reaching consequences for all humanity...
Chris Boucher’s previous contributions to Doctor Who have been three highly rated television stories, all of which featured the Fourth Doctor (Tom Baker) and Leela, the savage warrior woman as his companion, a character that Boucher himself created. It is perhaps not surprising then that the writer has decided to return to that era in his novel. The scenario is a familiar one for the period of Who it represents, a deadly jungle environment and later a sterile, hi-tech corridors and control areas. Alongside the two leads are a group of humans, uncertain of the deadly environment, and who begin to die in various horrible ways.
The story begins well, with several narratives describing the setting, and discovering the mysteries of the alien world. The varied horrors that inhabit it are also imaginative and described in all their loathsome detail; I especially liked the deadly squad snakes. However, after several such encounters, the novelty begins to wear off and the story must progress. When eventually it does, the denouement is rather a letdown, and although several plot twists enliven the conclusion, they are not enough.
The characterisation of the Doctor is handled well. His early capering gives way to some excellent confrontational scenes. Leela is also given a lot to do, as she is in her element, slaying monsters and rescuing the Doctor, among others. Her faith in her the Doctor and his scientific ways are particularly memorable, as are the scenes where she engages in her highly effective hunting activities. The remaining characters are a mixed bunch, and it is often difficult to keep track of them all. Particularly of note are Pe Pertanor and Ri Riandor, the investigators who first meet the time travellers. The idea of two classes based on a human colony’s first and second founding families has already been seen in Boucher’s ‘The Robots of Death’, but its inclusion here within the group of investigators helps to flesh out their characters.
The general idea of the novel is sound, although the story does not follow up on the initial dramatic scenes, which are tense and exciting. The resolution is also unsatisfactory, and one is left wondering how so little has occurred over 250 pages. Not a bad story, but a poor reflection of Boucher’s television scripts.
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