Upon reading this, one wonders if writers pay attention to what’s been written before.
Bodysnatchers, by Mark Morris, is an older 8th Doctor and Sam adventure also featuring the Zygons but is set in Victorian England and features Professor Litefoot from The
Talons of Weng-Chiang. The whole time I was reading Sting of the Zygons, I kept wondering just where did it fit in with the events of the older book. I also had to wonder where did it place in relation to the televised story
Terror of the Zygons, and just where did
Day of the Doctor place in relation to the season 13 story as well. I started woolgathering on this and had to make myself stop and just try to enjoy what I was reading. And enjoy it, I did.
Stephen Cole very well captured the characters of the 10th (Tennant) Doctor and Martha. I’m huge on characters so this is important to me. The other characters were each separate and distinct. Cole’s characterization of the Zygons was spot on. And the situation was instantly very much in the spirit of a Doctor Who adventure. It was big but on a local scale. The threat wasn’t to the entire universe but only to Earth and even then only in forward speculation. The immediate threat was to the English towns in which the story is set.
The story is a clever one. There is something about the Zygon concept that is right under the reader’s nose that it should be obvious. And the revelation is a mix of “ah-ha” and “oh no he didn’t.” But it’s good! The staples of Doctor Who storytelling, chasing down corridors and separating the Doctor and the companion, are used well. The chasing down corridors is in what would be antique cars now. The separation of Doctor and Martha comes naturally and isn’t forced into the story.
Cole uses the 10th Doctor well in this story and that pulls the reader a bit toward feeling some empathy for the Zygons’ plight, though the Skarasen is almost a victim here. This story ends a bit somberly, as do many 10th Doctor stories.
Sting of the Zygons is an enjoyable read that features well used characters and a very Doctor Who-ish story. Highly recommended. Available New and Used on Amazon.com
Van Turner, aka The Edwardian Cricketer!