Thumbs up for Doctor Who: The Clockwise Man by Justin Richards. Science fiction.
I found a stack of these DW novels in an Oxfam in London and snagged them faster than you could say “TARDIS.” To be honest, my expectations as to their quality were lower than dirt. But I was pleasantly surprised. The writing was tolerable, there were some interesting dashes of history, likable supporting characters, and (saving grace) I could actually imagine the Ninth Doctor and Rose saying their lines. Oh, and I can only cheer for a book that has a denouement ripped straight out of The Great Mouse Detective (except without the bat-powered dirigible. Dang). Good vacation book.
‘Now,’ the Doctor went on, ‘the colonel here could be the rightful Tsar of all the Russias. But he’s more of a military man. Loyal soldier, yes? Succession doesn’t include women for all sorts of ill-informed medieval reasons. So, I suggest the Tsar is… Count Koznyshev, though he didn’t fancy the pie.’ He sat back like a conjuror awaiting applause. There was only silence. ‘In the ballroom?’ he added hopefully. ‘With the Fabergé egg?’
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