DW Review: Sting of the Zygons

The first of the first round of BBC Books starring the Doctor and Martha: Sting of the Zygons by Stephen Cole.

Stephen Cole has decided to forgo actual plot so that he can have a big run around (and aside from a few pages when the characters do get to rest, they are otherwise on the move) with lots of Zygons killing people. About every other chapter seems to be the Zygons attacking, so if you like Zygons, this is the books for you. (Yes, I am writing 'Zygons' a lot, but there are a lot of them!)

This could easily be a prequel to Terror of the Zygons, although nothing is explicity referenced. Certainly the Doctor remembers having met the Zygons before. There is so reference I could spot to The Bodysnatchers, but then I haven't read that book for a long time.

But, yes, little to no plot. Stephen desperately tries to insert some storyline about the King coming (which is very lately introduced into the book, despite being mentioned in the blurb), but by then people are running around full tilt, so it's just an excuse for more running. Still, Stephen does get some nice moments in there, and the part about the Zygons learning to play cards won't soon be forgotten.

Character-wise, the Doctor and Martha are well written, and Marsha gets to do some doctor- nurse-like duties. The rest of the characters... ye gods, too many! I quickly lost track of who was supposed to be the important poo-bah of where, and really they just became names, not people, to track. The only distinctions are Victor, as he's the first character we meet, Renald, as he's French, and Ian, who seems to start off as an 8-year-old boy and by the end of the book/the next day he's about 18.

There have certainly been a lot worse from this man. This book is a quick and enjoyable read. Not highly recommended, but if you are in the area...

ORDER: After Evolution of the Daleks is all I can currently say.