Customer Reviews:
 The Many Hands make light reading November 26, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Dale Smith's latest novel for the BBC Books range of original Doctor Who adventures is a fast-paced tale set in Eighteenth Century Edinburgh and featuring the Tenth Doctor and his companion Martha Jones.
The Gothic tone - mad scientist, disembodied organs, ghostly graveyard and grisly anatomical experiments - put me in mind of the 2006 TV story 'Tooth and Claw' as well as stirring memories of the show's celebrated mid-70s Gothic period and such classics as 'The Horror of Fang Rock' and 'The Talons of Weng=Chiang'.
The depiction of the Tenth Doctor immediately reflects David Tennant's uber-excitable action man, and the book's opening scene is as cooly memorable as anything from a latter-day James Bond movie.
Overall, Smith has delivered a story that one could definitely imagine as a televised adventure, and which has to be one of the series' finest original novels to date.
One of the better ones!! May 5, 2008
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
I've read a few doctor who books now and have tended to be dissapointed with the ending or the 'monster', however, this one is fabulous. it keeps you gripped throughout the whole book. you also have two stories running along side each other as the doctor and martha are seperated and martha gets into serious trouble and you actually feel relief when the doctor inadvertanly finds her and their two stories join.
the descriptions are so good and the 'hands' are very creepy, especially as it describes marthas thoughts as shes trapped in pitch black knowing they are somewhere in the room.
all in all a much better one than some of the others, and the doctor and marthas characters are very well written from the actors in series 3, in the way they speak and their relationship - even making reference to Rose at one point when the doctor makes a life altering decision!!
fast paced and keeps you glued!! ****
The Many Hands April 29, 2008
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
Despite being a big fan of the TV series, this was the first Doctor Who book that I had tried. The format is a little smaller than most books, which made it really nice to hold and read.. especially in the bath! It also allows for the story to be fast paced, so that it feels like a TV episode.
This one was based on the 10th Doctor and Martha - The Doctor's character is well written, which makes it very easy to picture him whilst reading (always a pleasure!), but I did feel that Martha wasn't captured quite as well.
The actual storyline was actually like many of the TV episodes.. it could have been quite silly, and yet somehow, it works. I don't know which age groups this book is aimed at, but younger readers may find this one a little frightening.
All in all, if this one is anything to go by, these books are great for fans, offering yet more time with The Doctor. I've already spotted some more I'd like to pick up!
 Great Book April 29, 2008
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
This book is great if you have brought and not read it then do so now. The setting is great if you like Edinburgh you must read it even if you are not a Dr Who fan.
You need hands April 21, 2008
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
NB; THIS IS AN ACTUAL REVIEW OF THIS BOOK AND NOT A RELATED PRODUCT
Another novel adventure for the tenth doctor who and his companion martha. as usual with this range it runs for 244 pages of quite large print and is suitable for all ages to read. and the main characters are spot on in their characterisation.
Does anything make this one stand out?
yes.
A very well realised setting, edinburgh of the 18th century, that will teach you an awful lot of history about the place.
Some good supporting characters who are very believable.
Interesting monsters who could be absurd but are actually quite a clever idea.
And some excellent and exciting set pieces. Although a few chases mean it takes about sixty pages to really get going.
A throughly enjoyable read and an above average entry in the range
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