By Lewis Baston

Obverse Books, out now

Obverse Books’ ongoing series of monographs focusing on a Doctor Who serial or story hits 19777’s Season 15 story, The Sun Makers. 

Author Lewis Baston makes the point in his study of Robert Holmes’ four-parter that Target had initially shied away from a book adaptation of this story for fear it might go over the heads of most readers. I would guess that publisher Obverse Books had a similar view before commissioning this study, which comes in at number 60 of the run – The Sun Makers is not the sort of story that leaps out at needing a deep dive.

The problem with an analysis of The Sun Makers is that its themes and influences are not that well-hidden. Maybe it was not apparent to me on first viewing as a ten-year-old, but the story is a thinly-veiled satire on taxation as well taking jabs at colonialism. What Baston gives us in his study is an overview of the political, institutional and economic setting during which the story was made, detail of crippling taxation rates and a history of relevant oppressive colonial taxation (The East India Company).

Unless you’ve studied economics or have a keen understanding of late 1970s British economics, there’s likely to be detail that’s new to you. But unlike many Black Archives, I struggled here to find a big new idea or perspective that prompted me to visit the story anew with a fresh set of eyes.

Verdict: The research and enthusiasm cannot be faulted, but the ideas and opinions are too familiar to be thought provoking. 6/10

Nick Joy

Click here to order from Obverse Books