by James Cooray Smith

Obverse Books, out now

Obverse Books’ ongoing series of monographs focusing on a Doctor Who serial or story hits 2013’s 50th anniversary mini-episode The Night of the Doctor.

Author James Cooray Smith certainly set himself a challenge in creating a book about The Night of the Doctor (all seven minutes of it) but still manages to find something to say in his 76 pages. Other media releases typically include this story as an appendix to The Day of the Doctor, but here it exists as the main feature.

What an unexpected treat it was to see the Paul McGann’s Eighth Doctor again after 17 years, with the story also chronicling his regeneration into War Doctor John Hurt. In an age of spoilers, somehow this managed to keep under the radar.

Cooray Smith asks the question whether this is ‘real’ Doctor Who, and if so, why isn’t Jim’ll Fix It sketch A Fix with Sontarans or Children in Need caper Dimensions in Time regarded as the real McCoy… or Baker? What makes them canon, and who decides this? There’s even a fun aside looking at the origins of canon.

It’s widely known that the War Doctor replaced the role of the Ninth Doctor when Eccleston declined to take part in the 50th anniversary special, thus opening up a whole new stream of mythology and untold adventures. The question is raised as to whether a fictional character still exists when they don’t have an audience? The answer must surely ultimately rest with the viewer, who will determine what they do or don’t accept as legitimate.

Verdict: While there’s not a huge amount to say on this ‘minisode’, how gratifying that The Night of the Doctor has earned its own slot on the bookcase. 7/10

Nick Joy

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