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Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale: The Final Chapter |  | Authors: Russell T. Davies, Benjamin Cook
Publisher: BBC Books
Category: Book
List Price: £16.99
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Rating:  37 reviews
Sales Rank: 15926
Media: Paperback
Pages: 704
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.9
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6 x 1.8
ISBN: 184607861X
Dewey Decimal Number: 791.4572
EAN: 9781846078613
ASIN: 184607861X
Publication Date: January 14, 2010
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Product Description
Discussing the events from the five years since the 'Doctor Who' show's return in 2005, this title presents an account of the show.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 37
 A fascinating look at how British TV is made August 25, 2010
M. Board (UK)
As both a fan of the recent revival of "Doctor Who" and as a writer keen to learn more about the craft, I found "The Writer's Tale: The Final Chapter" to be an informative, entertaining, unusually candid and gloriously in-depth look at the process Russell T. Davies and his collaborators went through to make the show happen.
The book consists of an extended, two-year correspondence (mostly by e-mail, occasionally by text message) between Davies and an experienced journalist for "Doctor Who Magazine", Benjamin Cook. The authors claim that the correspondence has been left largely unedited, to be as candid as possible.
The conversational style between the two is very relaxed and immersive. As a journalist, Cook displays an ability to dip in with incisive, open-ended questions and then sit back to let Davies answer at length, which Davies seems eager to do.
There are many informative titbits throughout the book. On writing, Davies go into great detail about how he chooses stories and characters and how he lets a script evolve before sitting down to write it; his observations on how to make character come across, how to write entertaining and effective dialogue and where the heart of a story lies are all very useful. On top of that, there are several sections where first drafts and final drafts of scenes are compared, so we can see how a script is refined.
We are also told how the production issues of a TV show (such as casting, budgetary limitations, press coverage) can affect its writing, and how Davies dealt with the problems of trying to run several TV shows at once.
The book even has narrative suspense! Especially in the new 'final chapter', Davies relates how he is struggling to make a story fit together as production deadlines loom ever closer. We even see ideas strike him as he is talking them through with Cook, capturing the moments of inspiration as they happen. Even if you know what shape the episodes eventually take, it's intriguing to see how Davies arrived there.
Incidentally, for those people who aren't too familiar with "Doctor Who", "Torchwood" and "The Sarah Jane Adventures", there's an extensive glossary of all the cast and crew involved and constant footnotes to enlighten people about episode details, so no reader is left out.
In short, I would highly recommend this book to anyone with a passing interest in "Doctor Who", Russell T. Davies or writing in general (and for television in particular). At over 650 pages there is no paucity of material and you will be richly rewarded. If you already own the original "Writer's Tale", I personally think the extra 250 or so pages in 'The Final Chapter' are definitely worth it but maybe check the book out at your local library first if you're not sure.
One final thought: go to the "Writer's Tale" website (Google it!) to download several .pdf files of Davies's "Doctor Who" scripts for free!
A Great Insight and Fun August 13, 2010
ccjayneb (England)
I really like this book, easy to read and gives you a great insight into the process of writing in general and for Doctor Who, and you appreciate more the hard work that goes into any television programme. Also, it's fun and I love the drawings by Russell T Davies, defintely worth buying!
One of the most enjoyable books I have read July 4, 2010
Mick L (Leicester UK)
Russel Davies' book on the writng of Dr Who from series 4 to The End of Time is amazing. As a heterosexual man I can probably never understand the meaning for Russell in what he has done personally with Dr Who but I genuinely believe his era with Crhistopher Ecclestone and David Tennant is the greatest we have seen (started watching the show with the Pertwee story Frontier in Space if you were wondering.)
I avoided this for ages but I have to say if you like him at all when you see him in interview you should read this as his charm and enthuisiam for Who come through clearly.
Watched End of Time 2 again today and the skill of his writing is tremendous - my wife said "none of the others got a reward" and my answer was none of the other writers either thought of it or would have got away with it. It gets me angry to see rubbish like the Dr Who Episode Guide within which Time & The Rani and Curse of Fenric get the same score and End of Time is considered poor because the master's plan is ludicrous (so what) and it takes ages for Tennant to regenerate. As time passes we will come to appreciate the qualities of Davies to celebrate all that we cherish in our heroes and why we love this progranme.
GRAFT AND CRAFT June 17, 2010
Mr. D. L. Rees (DORSET)
In emails galore Russell T. Davies describes to friend Benjamin Cook the agony and the ecstasy of a momentous fourteen months.
"There's no such thing as a typical day." Masterminding the fourth series of the revitalized "Doctor Who" is daunting enough -attempting to surpass the previous seasons' quality and excitements. There are episodes to write, including an ambitious Christmas Special, plus the overseeing of spin-offs "Torchwood" and "The Sarah Jane Adventures". Problems abound. Scripts forever need cutting down to size, budgets heeded, deadlines met - not to mention coping with devastating press leaks, a heavy cold, chicken pox and innumerable other crises. No wonder Russell T. Davies so often writes well into the night and sometimes through it. THE wonder is that he still finds time to email (sometimes at great length) his thoughts and frustrations - not to mention the elation when everything clicks neatly into place. These emails are chatty and truly fascinate, we amongst other things following the evolution of episodes we later watched and enjoyed so much.
Here is a book not just for "Doctor Who" fans but for all interested in the writer's craft. (Note Russell's pet hates - examples of the lazy writing so much in evidence each day on our screens.)
Awesome, exhilarating, provoking much food for thought. There is lavish praise for colleagues (especially Catherine Tate - a Doctor's companion in a class of her own) and genuine delight Steven Moffat should agree to take over the baton. In passing, Russell pays tribute to a young actor's skills shown in one episode - this was Colin Morgan, destined to become a magical Merlin. Elsewhere there is sadness at the terminal illness of Howard Attfield who played Donna's dad. Rewriting led to the creation of a grandfather - he portrayed so memorably by Bernard Cribbins.
Lavishly illustrated, Russell's own cartoons included. Prepare to be overwhelmed by the talent, enthusiasm and stamina. If only the emails WE receive could be a fraction as entertaining!
I didn't want to finish the book! May 6, 2010
Rosie
I also had the first book and loved it for all the reasons others have said. I bought The Final Chapter as I had seen such good reviews. I could not put the book down, and in the end had to ration my reading sessions so that I could enjoy it for even longer. As the man himself says: Wonderful, Marvellous!
Showing reviews 1-5 of 37
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