I bought Longest Day about three weeks ago, and it
took me that long to finish it.

I bought Alien Bodies yesterday.

^_^

SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!























There are times when a book comes out and most people
can write my review for me.  I wouldn't say I'm totally
predictable, but there is a certain type of book that
it's safe to say I'll *really* like.

Alien Bodies was, from all that I had heard, one of 
these books.  I was prepared to be blown away by what
people were calling the best Who book of 1997.

I was right.

PLOT:  Actually, the plot is rather simple, on the face 
of it.  Big auction, lots of different factions, Doctor
tries to stop it, hijinx ensue.  The beauty of this book
is watching Lawrence Miles take these ideas and twist 
them in such a way that we're totally bowled over by
them.  Not even the smallest cliche is safe from this
book.  Anything can happen.

THE DOCTOR:  Boy howdy, was he cool.  I mean, we got the
total 8th Doctor experience here, even when the Shift 
was making his mind do other things.  He's vibrant, he's
bouncy, he's mildly manipulative (chuckle), and he's
faced with something that is, let's face it, totally
unexpected.

SAM:  Um.  What to say, what to say...actually, she was
perhaps the least developed character in the book.  
However, this does seem deliberate for once, as we're 
led to realise that Sam is not entirely what she seems...
heck, the other characters are constantly remarking on
her genericness.  The Companion.  His Pet.  Geez...^_^

VILLAIN:  Hmm...The Celesti, I guess.  Actually rather
creepy in concept, especially with their twisted 'honor'.
However, in terms of actual Who-style villainy, the 
Shift probably comes closest.

OTHERS:  I want to see so many of these people in future
books!  I want to see Marie (and Homonculette, I suppose,
though he's a git), I want to see what happens to Justine,
I want to see more of Quixotl, etcetcetc.  If ever a
book cried out for sequels...

STYLE:  Remember what I said about Longest Day's pace?
The exact opposite for Alien Bodies.  It was the longest
BBC NA I've read to date, but it just FLEW by.  I didn't
want it to end.  Oh, and this book is also funny.  Very
funny.  As in 'THE KROTONS?!?!  BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!' funny.

OVERALL:  Brilliant.  It's hard to find things to say
about this book, because I'm still taking it all in.  I
really, really hope some of this background is picked up
in future books.  This was worth waiting for American 
bookstores to get.

10/10.

Next:  Dunno.

--SG