MATRIX

The Doctor is on the run from a faceless enemy that knows his every thought and move. He flees to his past, planning to leave Ace in safe hands in order to fight on alone. But his enemy has other plans, and the Doctor's history no longer exists.

The TARDIS is finally drawn to London in the winter of 1888, where the Doctor and Ace discover a dark secret from Gallifey's past, and the name of their unseen opponent.

It is Jack the Ripper.

Featuring the Seventh Doctor and Ace, this adventure takes place after the BBC novel ILLEGAL ALIEN.

MY REVIEW.

Doctor Who: Matrix, by Robert Perry & Mike Tucker.

BBC Books, ISBN:0 563 40596 1

It would seem that Robert Perry and Mike Tucker love to write for the characters of the Seventh Doctor and Ace, with one novel, two short stories and another book due out next year. It would be interesting to see how they write for other Doctors, as their characterisation in this novel is spot on. As in their previous book “Illegal Alien” the authors choose London as their main staging ground, this time during the period of the Whitechapel murders, committed by Jack the Ripper. This central idea, although already covered in the Virgin New Adventure “The Pit” is a good choice, Victorian London is a location previously used in several successful television stories and novels. The book is an improvement on the author’s previous work, managing to sustain the plot over the novel’s full length. The early scene shifting is effective, as the Doctor frantically attempts to discover his enemy, especially in the dark alternative of 1963.

The Doctor is characterised well by both his dark brooding and his frantic activity. Ace is also well written for, taking central stage in the middle of the book. She is forced to survive in Victorian London, hampered by her isolation and a previously unexplored side effect of a previous adventure. The other characters are realistic, they are neither innocent nor completely evil, providing a strong supporting cast. The inclusion of Joseph Liebermann, the wandering Jew who appears in the short asides throughout the novel is one of the best, especially in his scenes with the Doctor. The characters, pace and plot strands are reminiscent of the New Adventures which featured the Seventh Doctor, as well as McCoy’s last television season. This makes the novel hugely enjoyable and wonderfully dramatic. The use of an old enemy continues the trend by BBC books, and although welcome was a little predictable, causing the conclusion to be a little disjointed. Other than this quibble “Matrix” is well written and exciting, making it one of the best Who books of the year.

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