Review: OK story, but not the best characterisation
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 03 27, 2013
"A Big Hand for the Doctor", the first in the Doctor Who 50th anniversary short stories series, was one I looked forward to - I've enjoyed some of Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl books and I was intrigued by what his take on the very first incarnation of the Doctor would be.Unfortunately the story turned out something of a disappointment for me. While the plot was not bad, if nothing spectacular (I'm inclined to forgive the lack of in-depth, complex plots in these books, seeing as they are after all just short stories, and aimed at a young audience at that), the characterisation of the First Doctor seemed completely off to me - enough so that if I hadn't known this was a One story (because the book said so and because of Susan and the Doctor's physical description), I wouldn't have had any idea which incarnation it was supposed to be, neither from his actions, speech patterns, general behaviour nor thoughts.I understand that a certain amount of "reimagination" of the black-and-white era Doctors in particular may be in order to appeal to the younger readers, but overall, I had hoped to read about the Doctor I was familiar with from his TV appearances.