Book review
Written by Stephen James Walker
Telos paperback
Release date Out now

A guide to the Doctor Who specials of 2009 and the surrounding spin-offs...

Despite the huge popularity of Doctor Who, the final five specials that saw David Tennant bow out of the role are hardly the best of what the show has to offer. Veering from silly (Planet of the Dead) to terribly grim (The Waters of Mars) to utterly uneven in tone (The End of Time), it wasn’t the greatest farewell.

Stephen James Walker often struggles to be enthusiastic about the specials in his meticulously researched book, as he points out problems with the writing that plagued the run. For example, Walker’s questioning of the Doctor’s rant when he finds out he must save Wilf is completely correct. It goes against all the character stands for and feels like a cheap dramatic moment.

Walker does offer some praise though: the Star Wars inspired battle midway through The End of Time Part Two is acknowledged as a fantastic sequence and The Next Doctor makes the grade as “the best Christmas special to date”.

As well as detailed analysis of the specials, including production notes and errors, the guide also puts the programme into context with various promotional events and book and audio adventures also listed. Jonathan Wilkins

VERDICT: 8/10
A refreshingly honest guide to Doctor Who 2009.