Well, that didn't go quite as planned...

[beagleinspace]

So I had the brilliant idea of saving The Nemonite Invasion for after The End of Time so I'd have one last Ten and Donna adventure to look forward to that wasn't going to end with the two being forever separated by regeneration and whatever fate befell Donna

Comments

[hibernate]

In one sentence the author makes the Doctor sound like an overgrown Keebler elf and in the next he has Donna thinking that the Doctor is the second most handsome man in the universe.

I am intrigued! I got all the Donna audios awhile back and The Doctor Trap was among them. Was it a book first? Anyway, I suppose I'll start with that one when I can find the time.

I was a little disappointed with The Nemonite Invasion too. I agree it was depressing and while I have nothing against pairing Donna off, it didn't really work for me here. I did love Catherine Tate's reading of it, though!

[beagleinspace]

Yep, it was a book first. Do you happen to have the CDs? I snagged a copy of the audio version and it sounds like it's missing the prologue and the first chapter which makes (what most people feel) is a confusing story even more confusing! I was wondering if it's a ripping error that never seemed to be corrected or if it's just a really badly abridged CD.

Same! I'm not sure if it's something about the way it was written or if it would've worked better on screen with Catherine playing off someone else. (And I sort of wanted to see that whole plot play out on TV simply to see the Doctor's reaction. I'm sure Tennant would've pulled out some fabulous WTF?! or 'Oh, Donna!' faces on screen, but sadly The Doctor simply vanishes into the background in the audio.)

[hibernate]

I, er, don't have the CDs, no

[beagleinspace]

While I loved the prologue/epilogue from Beautiful Chaos, I don't think it's that essential to the story itself. The missing bits from The Doctor Trap I think do hurt it a bit. The prologue describes the history and myth surrounding Planet 1 and Sebastiene. Chapter one establishes why the Doctor and Donna are in Antarctica and tells us there's a Doctor impostor afoot who is breaking into the TARDIS.

I only got a few chapters into the audio, but I think it's easier to keep track of the Doctor and Baris in the books, especially once it's revealed that the switch has taken place.

Hee! I'm glad they didn't cut that bit! I remember the first time I read it, I was all, "Whoa, back up a bit. Is that implying what I think it's implying?"

[beagleinspace]

Oh, if you haven't you *have* to listen to The Forever Trap! It's an audio-only adventure that's fabulous. I love how Ten and Donna are written in it and Catherine does a dead-on Tennant!Doc voice. Book-wise Shining Darkness is the way to go. (I personally like The Doctor Trap a bit more, but that seems to be the book everyone else hates!)

I might be able to help you out audio-wise if you need it

[beagleinspace]

*psst* check your PMs

Oh, I definitely prefer actual books to audios but it's quite fun to listen to others try to take on the Doctor and Donna's voice. I only started to listen to audio books because the DW and TW audios are much easier to get a hold of (and less punishing on my wallet) than the actual books. Apparently you can get a hold of the audio via the NYPL's online services, but they don't have the actual books. Go figure. The best of the lot (well, to me), The Forever Trap, sadly is just an audio-only adventure. I'd have loved for it to be an actual hardcover.

[loves_glamour]

LOL The Forever Trap is my fave audiobook too <3 The Nemonite Invasion...was...I don't even know! And bloody Fosbrook i think his name was ruined my OTP lol I did enjoy CT's reading it though because 1) her voice is soothing and nice to listen too and 2) it helps me with my faux-British accent XD

I hated the Doctor Trap but then again I've only heard the audio and was confused cos didn't enjoy it properly. And Beautiful Chaos I heard was sad but the audio obviously cut that bit out and I wasn't too thrilled. So for those two I'm gonna have to find the books and read em lol

[beagleinspace]

The Forever Trap >>> the second half of Series 4 + specials! I would've gladly traded all that in for Catherine to just rerecord it with David à la an actual radio play!

Hee, I have to be careful not to pick up anything British after marathoning lots of things Tennant, Tate and other assorted DW actor related. My brother frowns upon it, and sadly even though he's my younger brother, he can easily pick me up and toss me around!

Does your Doctor Trap audio begin with the theme and read by credits? The version I have seems to be missing the prologue/first chapter, which makes things even more confusing. I thought the book was pretty clear on what was happening (even with all the identity switching).

What did Beautiful Chaos cut out in the audio? (I went to listen to it after The Nemonite Invasion and discovered I never got around to uploading it to my MP3 player!) I thought the book was okay, but I'm hoping Bernard Cribbins reading it can make me believe Donna's slightly out of character behavior.

[loves_glamour]

haha you're right! And brilliant idea for those two to act it out on radio..or even better on tv! lol

Oh my own younger sisters are taller than me and beat me up all the time lol Does your brother not like British accents? hehe

TDT does start with the theme right away..no prologue or anything. It's sooo confusing that the identity swapping just had me lost and confused and upset! I must find that book to remedy this if you say it's enjoyable :P

I believe BC cut out the beginning and end whic are supposed to be Post-JE. There was none of that and I didn't notice any OOC behaviour from Donna because I may have been half asleep listening to it (Bernard had such a nice Grampa voice that lulls me to sleep too lol)...yea i gotta find that book too! Someone was buying it for me but then someone else bought it :/

[beagleinspace]

I don't think he has anything against British accents, he just has something against me picking up on accents I have no right to be picking up on! I got so much abuse when, for reasons unknown even to me, I started saying certain words with a southern twang.

I think the audio does confuse things by leaving out the beginning and not giving you an idea of who Sebastiene and Planet 1 are and leaving out the revelation there's a Doctor impostor hanging around. I have to warn you, I think I'm the only person on the plant who actually enjoyed the book. Everyone else seems to hate it!

I don't think Donna's too terribly OOC, but I just couldn't believe she would willingly take a nap after seeing the Doctor zapped unconscious. And, if I'm remembering it correctly, I think she also changes into her pajamas like she's going to get a good 8 hours in before going back to rescue the Doctor, who may or may not be dead.

Yes, get the book! The prologue/epilogue is really lovely.

[poshlil]

I much prefer TFT to the Nemonites too. It's just so... perfect. I don't know if it's better characterisation (or at least, closer to my head characterisation) or just the style, but it's my favourite of all the novel/audio adventures.

I do have a confession. *whispers* I actually hated the Doctor Trap. I kept waiting for it to get better and then reached the end and went "... oh." Beautiful Chaos, on the other hand, made me cry with Donna's note at the end. A lot. :(

[beagleinspace]

I think it's a combination of characterization, style (it's just so much fun) and Catherine's reading of it that makes me love it so.

:D You're not the only one who hated the book. I think I'm the only person who liked it! It probably also helped that I read it immediately after Ghosts of India and I think that even the worst OOC fic is better than that book.

Oh, that letter. I loved it! That, and Sylvia's characterization, is enough to make me forgive (though I'll still bitch and moan about it) any other problems I might have with the book.