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regndoftSo I did go into town on friday to buy music (Sofia Jannok's Áhpi, as planned, and Electra Heart by Marina and the Diamonds because it was on sale), both are excellent, and yesterday I got mail informing me that Amazon has dispatched my Mind of Evil DVD. :)
Technically I should be feeling pretty happy, but I have a whole bunch of belated posts/articles/fics I haven't been able to work on in ages, so. Without further ado, I thought I'd get around to writing that post on The Dark Path, before it's been so long I forget all I wanted to say.
For those who don't know, The Dark Path by David A. McIntee, is a Virgin Missing Adventure first published in 1997 featuring the second Doctor, Jamie and Victoria. It is perhaps most remembered for being the first official (well, more or less) attempt at giving the Master an origin story-- and a name.
The first thing that struck me once I was past the first couple of chapters was that this book has a lot of characters in it, all interacting with the main cast; depending on personal preference, this is either a strength or a weakness. Personally I didn't mind, and I think McIntee did a good job of giving us multiple individual characters despite the limited amount of pages.
However, that doesn't mean that some of them couldn't have been cut. Likewise, the plot is complicated (although not convoluted); while most of what happens serves some kind of purpose, the Veltrochni subplot in particular could just as easily have been cut with minor compensation.
The actual setting of the story is very fascinating to me; a colony so far away they are 300 years out of touch with earth, and what happens when a Federation ship approaches to update them on the fact that the Empire they remain faithful to hasn't existed for more than a century. I'd love to see a story which plays this premise straight without the help of a Plot Device. Which is not to say that the novel's Plot Device is bad; it actually has a pretty interesting temporal twist to the "the fate of the entire universe is at stake!" schtick. I just love political drama.
As mentioned above, the plot is somewhat complicated, but it still works without becoming too heavy. It did lag a bit for me about two-thirds through, when we get to the action sequences, but I'm honestly not sure whether that's the writing or the fact that I was really sleep-deprived when reading those bits.
When it comes to characterisation I become a bit torn. The main cast are all well-written, so that's not an issue, but I think this is the point where the complicated plot and abundance of side characters really make themselves felt. There can't be enough focus on the main cast, including Koschei (neé the Master). Considering that the emotional centre of the novel comes from Koschei's fall from grace, this is a pretty major structural flaw.
Additionally, the Doctor and Koschei only interact in two scenes, one of which is the climax and the point where Koschei discards his old name in favour of a title. While I can definitely see why the author went with this route, as it requires a concrete idea of their relationship before and therefore becomes limiting, it's still something of a let-down. Combined with the fact that we don't get deeply into Koschei's head (though there are definitely several scene from his PoV) we sort of lack a frame of reference for his change in character.
Likewise, Koschei's companion Ailla plays a key part in Koschei's development despite being massively underwritten, which makes that aspect of the narrative quite unconvincing.
On the other hand, the character who really gets to shine as well as become the eye of the audience, so to speak, is Victoria. And this is played to full effect; her attachment to Koschei feels very true to her character arc, and of course only leads to tragedy in the end. It is by far the most compelling relationship in the novel; at some point I realised I didn't care much for the other characters at all in comparison, including the Doctor and Jamie. "I guess the Doctor and Jamie were off doing... things? Saving people? Being in spaaace? But VICTORIAAAAA".
(For the record, I have seen very little of Victoria before reading this novel. But now I really want to see more-- though I'm watching the Troughton era chronologically so it might take a while yet).
Koschei's characterisation is also very well-handled; this is definitely Delgado!Master in all his hypnotising, disguise-donning and scheming glory, but in a decidedly more, well, moral package.
In conclusion: it's not without faults, but I found it an enjoyable book that's worth checking out.
Also the Doctor calls Koschei a fusspot. It is officially the most accurate description of the Master the Doctor has made in canon (wtf is up with "the very personification of evil", Three?). Going with book canon there's also ample room for Two, Jamie and Zoe meeting Delgado!Master shenanigans-- in fact, it practically demands it, based on Three's reaction to hearing that the Master's turned up in Terror of the Autons. THIS NOVEL IS UNTAPPED FIC GOLD, YOU GUYS.
(Do I covet an AU where Koschei and Victoria travel togetherand inevitably run into Three who tries to seduce a dematerialisation circuit out of Koschei? Yes. Yes I do.)
I also have a lot more spoilery thoughts about Koschei's character development, especially when compared to the Master's origin story in TV- and audio canon, but that will have to wait for yet another while. :'3
Technically I should be feeling pretty happy, but I have a whole bunch of belated posts/articles/fics I haven't been able to work on in ages, so. Without further ado, I thought I'd get around to writing that post on The Dark Path, before it's been so long I forget all I wanted to say.
For those who don't know, The Dark Path by David A. McIntee, is a Virgin Missing Adventure first published in 1997 featuring the second Doctor, Jamie and Victoria. It is perhaps most remembered for being the first official (well, more or less) attempt at giving the Master an origin story-- and a name.
The first thing that struck me once I was past the first couple of chapters was that this book has a lot of characters in it, all interacting with the main cast; depending on personal preference, this is either a strength or a weakness. Personally I didn't mind, and I think McIntee did a good job of giving us multiple individual characters despite the limited amount of pages.
However, that doesn't mean that some of them couldn't have been cut. Likewise, the plot is complicated (although not convoluted); while most of what happens serves some kind of purpose, the Veltrochni subplot in particular could just as easily have been cut with minor compensation.
The actual setting of the story is very fascinating to me; a colony so far away they are 300 years out of touch with earth, and what happens when a Federation ship approaches to update them on the fact that the Empire they remain faithful to hasn't existed for more than a century. I'd love to see a story which plays this premise straight without the help of a Plot Device. Which is not to say that the novel's Plot Device is bad; it actually has a pretty interesting temporal twist to the "the fate of the entire universe is at stake!" schtick. I just love political drama.
As mentioned above, the plot is somewhat complicated, but it still works without becoming too heavy. It did lag a bit for me about two-thirds through, when we get to the action sequences, but I'm honestly not sure whether that's the writing or the fact that I was really sleep-deprived when reading those bits.
When it comes to characterisation I become a bit torn. The main cast are all well-written, so that's not an issue, but I think this is the point where the complicated plot and abundance of side characters really make themselves felt. There can't be enough focus on the main cast, including Koschei (neé the Master). Considering that the emotional centre of the novel comes from Koschei's fall from grace, this is a pretty major structural flaw.
Additionally, the Doctor and Koschei only interact in two scenes, one of which is the climax and the point where Koschei discards his old name in favour of a title. While I can definitely see why the author went with this route, as it requires a concrete idea of their relationship before and therefore becomes limiting, it's still something of a let-down. Combined with the fact that we don't get deeply into Koschei's head (though there are definitely several scene from his PoV) we sort of lack a frame of reference for his change in character.
Likewise, Koschei's companion Ailla plays a key part in Koschei's development despite being massively underwritten, which makes that aspect of the narrative quite unconvincing.
On the other hand, the character who really gets to shine as well as become the eye of the audience, so to speak, is Victoria. And this is played to full effect; her attachment to Koschei feels very true to her character arc, and of course only leads to tragedy in the end. It is by far the most compelling relationship in the novel; at some point I realised I didn't care much for the other characters at all in comparison, including the Doctor and Jamie. "I guess the Doctor and Jamie were off doing... things? Saving people? Being in spaaace? But VICTORIAAAAA".
(For the record, I have seen very little of Victoria before reading this novel. But now I really want to see more-- though I'm watching the Troughton era chronologically so it might take a while yet).
Koschei's characterisation is also very well-handled; this is definitely Delgado!Master in all his hypnotising, disguise-donning and scheming glory, but in a decidedly more, well, moral package.
In conclusion: it's not without faults, but I found it an enjoyable book that's worth checking out.
Also the Doctor calls Koschei a fusspot. It is officially the most accurate description of the Master the Doctor has made in canon (wtf is up with "the very personification of evil", Three?). Going with book canon there's also ample room for Two, Jamie and Zoe meeting Delgado!Master shenanigans-- in fact, it practically demands it, based on Three's reaction to hearing that the Master's turned up in Terror of the Autons. THIS NOVEL IS UNTAPPED FIC GOLD, YOU GUYS.
(Do I covet an AU where Koschei and Victoria travel together
I also have a lot more spoilery thoughts about Koschei's character development, especially when compared to the Master's origin story in TV- and audio canon, but that will have to wait for yet another while. :'3
