TM6HB_PRINTBy Finn Clark

Obverse Books, out now

A look at the Colin Baker era – as well as the output of BBV and the Australian K9 show.

There are plenty of overview books on Doctor Who available and to make a new one stand out, it needs to have something different about it, otherwise, as happens all too often, the same tired clichés are trotted out, and no new real perspective is given. Invidious to name names on this, but we’ve all come across them, and for the most part, I’ve stopped even considering them for review.

Time’s Mosaic has that necessary different edge. Finn Clark has gone back and re-experienced the stories (watched, listened to, read as appropriate) and assesses them fresh, starting with Colin Baker’s stories as broadcast, then the novels, novelisations, comic strips and other items. Quite deliberately he doesn’t include Big Finish’s output – so Evelyn gets a mention via the Real Time webcast, but there’s no mention of any of the other BF-only companions – which makes sense in terms of the time involved (and space in the book) but, in the case of Baker, does rather miss out on one of the major adjustments to the character that came via their stories.

Setting that aside, there’s some fascinating comments on the stories, prompting me to go back to books I’ve not read in years, and look with fresh eyes at The Mark of the Rani – Clark makes some strong arguments regarding how this is almost an anti-Saward tale in its outlook and presentation.

The Baker, C. era being curtailed on TV, Clark fills the book with a look at the “Wilderness Years” semi-professional fans films from BBV – well, some of them – that’s understanding of their limitations but also critical where necessary. That also applies to his take on every episode of the Australian K9 series – I recall giving 1/10 for this back in the days of Total Sci-Fi and being told that that was inappropriate! – which I am very much treating as ‘Finn Clark has watched these so I don’t have to’.

Verdict: An unashamedly subjective look at an era that – like its stablemates, the Black Archives – may make you look at the component parts with fresh eyes. 8/10

Paul Simpson

Click here to order from Obverse Books