“This is the President of the Righteous Fist of Rassilon,” he barked. And then he gave the order that he had prayed he would never have to issue. “Break open the Slaughterhouse.”
Excerpt from The Quantum Archangel

I wish I could summarize this book properly, but it seems to be many stories unfolding in one. There are even stories within stories that are nothing less than vivid and unnerving. The Doctor goes to investigate temporal disturbances going on in modern-day Earth only to find The Master trying to exact revenge upon the Chronovores as well as become a God by taking control of the same power that sustains those same Chronovores. The plan goes to hell and a new creature is born: The Quantum Archangel. Que the epic end-of-everything multi-verse-cluster-fuck that is the second half of this book.

To be honest, I thought that the book was going to be over when there were still about 150 pages left. I honestly couldn’t see how they could drag it out any further then it had already been dragged. Mr. Hinton did a damned fine job of throwing me through a loop and creating a story so epic, that to render it on TV would require technology not currently in production, and a budget to match. The alternate realities provided throughout portions of the book really help to complete the mind-blowing that starts at that 150 page mark. It’s one of the few Doctor Who books that provide a view of the Doctor as totally at the mercy of something far greater than himself.

The writing is sold from start to finish, and Craig Hinton does a superb job of nailing the Doctors third and sixth incarnations, as well as The Masters. The supporting characters are strong, three-dimensional people who (in some cases) are good recreations of their former corporeal selves. There’s a strong sense of wit and direction in regards to the back and forth between the differing characters and I found myself smirking more than once

This book is the reason that I read and love Doctor Who. The ridiculous epicness that the Doctor generates is worth it all. The depth of character that is displayed in these books is what the new series lacks, and which is why time and time again I am brought back to the older series. To hell with the youth that they are trying to capture with the new series; give me the depth I crave!

Worth reading, especially if you like epic stories and even more so if you’ve seen The Time Monster and enjoyed it.

8/10

I finished the book with the same feeling that I’ve felt after reading every other new adventure story so far (Winner Takes All, The Clockwise Man, The Stone Rose, The Art of Destruction, and The Nightmare of Black Island): Typical. The Clockwise is a possible exception, but not by much. All these stories, though good, seem like they were rejects for the show for simply not exhibiting enough strength. They’re not bad by any means and I enjoyed each of them in differing ways. What I am saying is that I have yet to read a new adventures that can compare to the old series.

Maybe it’s unfair to compare these novels to the likes of “The Shadows of Avalon,” “Blue Angel” and the “Interference” duet. The problem is that it’s generally hard when you’ve read so many of them. I figure that they are toning these first ones down to help appeal to the younger audience, and I can respect that. What I would like is just something with a bit more soul. I’ve read books that have permanently changed the way I view the Doctor. None of the new ones have come close to that. They all seem like we’re watching the surface façade of his character. The Price of Paradise is no exception to the rule, which disappointed me somewhat.

It is a well-written story, and I would totally suggest it for teaching literary practice, for a class to read, or to introduce Doctor Who novels to someone. That’s about it though. There is no foreshadowing, no deep secrets brought to light that we didn’t already know about.

6/10.