It's a Hardback Life

British writers who want to use “Americanisms” really should do their research. That being said, it was really my only problem with the book, and it was a very minor annoyance. Apollo 23 is a straightforward, fun sci-fi adventure with the Doctor and Amy.

The story starts out strong, with an intriguing mystery and simple but effective imagery. An unnamed man suffocates to death in the middle of a park, while not far away, an American astronaut inexplicably pops into a British food court. Granted, I could have done without the “Houston, we have a problem” cliché, but since that is the only glaring use of truly bad dialogue, it can be forgiven. The Doctor and Amy, after a run-in with parking garage authorities and a traumatic vandalism of psychic paper, head for the moon on the strength of the conclusions drawn by the Doctor from a (rather conveniently placed and trusting) forensic pathologist. Needless to say, alien plots are afoot. On the moon!

The big trope- the quantum displacement system- is interesting, especially as it is treated as a complicated but perfectly viable bit of 20th century technology, despite how glaringly obvious it is to the reader that it is way out in sci-fi dreamland. As the Doctor attempts to repair the systems that caused several deaths and the displacement of the aforementioned astronaut, other dark forces are at work. The concept of a Clockwork Orange -like mind experiment occurring in space is terrifying in its implications for the cast: who can you trust? This is undermined somewhat, however, by the actual aliens that turn up in the end.

A few technical aspects of the plot were both inventive and predictable at the same time. If information is stored in water, how long before someone figures out to drink it? I have to say, I was really intrigued by the description of the quantum displacement system allowing people to walk across a scorching desert in Texas and end up on the cold wasteland of the moon; it was a truly imaginative bit of imagery.

This one was written in the early days of Matt Smith’s tenancy as the Doctor, so his characterization is limited, but successful nonetheless. Amy is likewise simple but effective. The supporting characters are typical of Doctor Who adventures; two-dimensional but well rendered for the limited amount of space they are allotted.

This adventure was very successful as an audiobook, though I must reiterate that “Americanisms” were tricky, from both a text and audio point of view. Also, some of the American accents (New Yorkers especially) were very overdone.

Overall: Highly recommended to both hardcore and casual Who fans (anyone who likes Sci-Fi can enjoy)
*Good plot, though not extremely intricate
*Characters well portrayed
*Creative use of technology
*Aliens present interesting threat, but are physically disappointing


(Tiny irritation: Americans don't say "loan" when they mean "borrow," I don't know where the author got that idea)