Introduction - Doctor Who Book Guide - Crossing the Wilderness

[@meatrace]

"Chris Chibnall, who will be replacing Moffatt in 2018, will be the first New Who showrunner to have not contributed anything to the wilderness years. It'll be interesting to see if that makes a difference." Chilling, prescient words.

[@bobbyshaddoe3004]

dude, do you ever intend on continuing this series? I know the Nick Knacks thing has pretty much become the content your channel is known for now, and its absolutely fantastic, very well researched and informative. but everything you do on your channel, including Crossing the Wilderness, is well researched and informative. i only ask cuz as a Dr. Who Fan, i'm very interested in learning more about the books that represented those aspect of the Wilderness Era.

[@spluff5]

This will be my third time watching this series. Hope its continued one day

[@ZidaneWarner]

Holy crap. This was a fantastic start to a very promising series. I wish to you the very best of luck on tackling the new adventure series.

[@Medraut00]

Target also novelised the 6th Doctor's first radio show Slipback

[@CDoss-bc7tv]

I love rewatching this, one of my favorite shows on KZbin!

[@magnusgreel275]

I'm a bit late to your video series, but I grew up with the New Adventures--and before that, the Target novelisations. And that first line from Dalek Invasion of Earth? That was the kind that really got me into science fiction, and I still remember it to this day. Just perfect.

[@soundacious]

Wow, you are digging in DEEP here! I love your style, and I will definitely keep watching.

[@rayvenkman2087]

I'm looking forward to seeing how this will end. Perhaps with either the finales of Lungbarrow or The Dying Days, you could do something amazing that'll make us cry and weep like the ending of Star Trek TNG where the ship flies off into the region of space. The last time we get to see the crew of the Enterprise but their adventure continues. Or maybe it'll be revealed at the end that everything that happened in this series of videos was all a fictional story written by Marc Platt who was subconsciously creating a person that was analysing the VNAs and their meanings as pieces of literature. He stops with a solom look on his face to think about what has he been currently writing about before his lips morphed into a smile and proceed to close up the book titled "Poparena: The Doctor Who Virgin New Adventures Guide." before going off to make a cup of tea along with having a few biscuits, thinking of what story to write next. Meaning this comment is fictional as well.

[@ajctrading]

20:57 That aged well . Chris Chibnell still hasn't contributed anything constructive to the whoniverse.

[@jwhofilms8752]

Terrific video, I opened up your review of the first Timewyrm novel as soon as I finished this!

[@asia246222]

I'm only midly interested in Doctor Who, but I loved your Animorphs Book Guide and man you really sell this new series with aplomb! I think my favorite thing about you is how in depth you dig for these reviews, tracking down ghost writers, talking with directors, considering all the sources and angles. Looking forward to seeing more from you!

[@augustmarkvard]

This series looks really good! Looking forward to seeing what's in store.

[@PCveteran117]

There's also the eight doctor adventures that lasted until 2005.

[@electricmastro]

It seems that while Michael Grade usually gets the credit for the cancellation of classic Doctor Who, I've heard that he wasn't actually the one who cancelled it, but instead it was either Peter Cregeen, Head of Serials, or Jonathan Powell, the Controller of BBC One from 1987 to 1992, but like you said, it's not easy to pin down. Anyways, this is a great intro! I look forward to more. :)

[@Rmlohner]

+electricmastro But none of them are quite as hateable.

[@nickbrough8335]

Back then Doctor Who was rubbish children's TV show (although it had or always had been a family show). The bosses hated it (it had no critical awards, was relatively expensive to make, got lurched at in the media because of cardboard and shaky sets - which of course it mostly didn't have - and silly costumes). At the time, we all thought they scheduled it against Coronation Street to kill it off and were just looking for an excuse. No sci-fi show on BBC TV had eve lasted more than a couple of seasons or if it did the budgets were gutted and it soon started to look like rubbish. The BBC did produce a lot though.

[@nickbrough8335]

I first across Target books in Summer 1975 (I was either just before or after my 10th birthday) at a seaside kiosk selling books and comics, which included the Target novels. I bought (well my mum and dad did at 35 pence if I recall correctly) and read several that holiday (the most recent was the was the second doctor Cybermen story). When the TV series and the Target (by then virgin) novelisations had mostly caught up it was natural to continue buying the Seventh Doctor series in summer 91 when I was 26 year old doing my PhD. I guess I was the target audience. A long term fan, but never a hard core joiner. I was soon hooked and then carried on buying the Missing Adventures and eventually the Bernie stories. To b honest I was pissed when the BBC took back control and didn't buy the 8th Doctor books. Whilst i didn't think that the McGann TV show was a complete stinker I guess i lacked any personal bond to that character. Most of these stories I read once on publication; a few of the ones I really liked I've read several times, some reasonably recently on kindle releases. Its been fascinating to watch these time distant reviews and although as I write this it seems this review series is on a hiatus of its own - I looked forward to seeing it finish eventually, just as I've enjoyed revisiting each story with my distant hazy recollection from over 20 years ago. These were not and shouldn't have been Children's books. I thought that then just as much as I do now. That the later ones moved backwards a safer environment (and the 8th doctor BBC ones which I've read much much later ripped the core out of this book series for me).

[@Rmlohner]

Unlike Animorphs, I'm completely unfamiliar with these books and I very much look forward to getting to know them, especially after their companions were canonized in that Paul McGann short.

[@poparena]

+Ryan Lohner Actually, the companions mentioned in that short were from the Big Finish Eighth Doctor Adventures. The book companions are still largely forgotten, with the exception of Bernice Summerfield.

[@electricmastro]

+Forty Five In the case you're interesting, tardis.wikia has made theoretical timelines for the Doctor's incarnations, including the seventh's and eighth's: tardis.wikia.com/wiki/Theory:Timeline_-_Seventh_Doctor tardis.wikia.com/wiki/Theory:Timeline_-_Eighth_Doctor

[@paulflint6254]

Have all these books including the bernice lead books. Can't recommend enough. Fantastic videos

[@mythme01]

Excellent. Well-presented. You hit every point and even taught me a thing or two (not an easy task when it comes to DW)

[@The_Lauren_Fox_Catalogue]

Hey, awesome job with this, I'm glad to be rewatching this (this time for a purpose, for a Doctor Who campaign webcomic I'm going to write). But there's something that has been nagging me, especially since the Sixth Doctor is a favourite of mine even in the TV stories. The Sixth Doctor didn't push anyone in, someone in the acid pulled the other guy in. Admittedly, it wasn't shown very well, but I'm kinda tired of people thinking the Sixth Doctor is much more ruthless than the Seventh Doctor when it has been shown that the Seventh Doctor is the most ruthless of all of them. (Plus there is more to Vengeance on Varos' social commentary than just 'TV bad')

[@tds4a]

great vid, pumped as hell for this series. going from Animorphs to the New Adventures is basically you continuing to supply me with drugs. shame we gotta start with John Peel, but oh well also I like particularly the way you talk about how the Doctor is used in the Cartmel era as opposed to previously (although hey, don't knock Snakedance! ...nah, the cage is a legit pacing issue). in something like Fenric he seems to flit between scenes and subplots completely at random, almost teleporting. he's like a character haunting the narrative... and in the NAs, Cartmel's own Warhead is like, the ultimate version of this

[@edwardreed67]

I think the best kind of Doctor you can get is a mixture of the somewhat lost and confused amateur renegade Timelord, and a mysterious, imposing, grand, manipulative type figure, just in the background.

[@alexperry2586]

Not a huge fan of Doctor Who. I've watched I think three episodes total. If I may apply some wisdom from that last book series you reviewed to this new one, though: [morphing animals was the hook; it grabbed people and kept them interested. After a while, though, you could have completely removed morphing, and most of the fan base would have stuck around. The characters were THAT good.] => [Animorphs was YOUR hook. It got my attention, because I loved that series, and kept me interested. That review may be over, but I'm here to stay. Your reviews/medial commentary are THAT good.] Cheers, Greg, here's to doing what you love!

[@elijahfordsidioticvarietys8770]

Whenever I hear “Target Books” I just think of Target. Like, the retail store. Good God, even the logo looks similar. Are you sure it has nothing to do with Target?

[@spi2derman]

I assumed that when I heard of the company of Target Books.

[@Blartyboy]

We don't have target in the UK. So no, they have nothing to do with each other.

[@elijahfordsidioticvarietys8770]

@@Blartyboy they don’t have Target in the UK? Weird. What do you have in the UK that America doesn’t have? I bet it must be weird that we don’t have that.

[@ggreg2145]

@@elijahfordsidioticvarietys8770 uk has tesco and morrisons instead of walmart and target

[@Snakie747]

Yeah, I'm going to struggle to follow this and be engaged in it, since I really don't know and haven't actually had much interest in Doctor Who. I'm open minded of course, but I dunno. I'm definitely going to start this series with you because I enjoy your review style so much, and am sure that if anyone can get me interested in this topic its you. Will still support the channel no matter what, though. Hoping to see Everworld in the not-too-distant future, and am looking forward to more Breaking Spines too. Plus, I feel I owe you a debt for the Animorphs series.

[@poparena]

+Snakie It's cool. Thanks for watching anyway, and thanks for the kind words. :)

[@richardd9938]

Great video, but I just checked again to be sure Steven Moffat didn't contribute anything to the Virgin New or Missing Adventures, did he?

[@ericehrler8571]

I think his only contribution to Virgin was a single short story he wrote for one of their anthologies. Technically a Virgin writer, but just barely.

[@CaptainRufus]

This is a hella good video. Glad I watched it when mentioned in the Something Awful thread!

[@Vadalez080]

Awesome video! Im on board.

[@LianMisaki]

i look forward to the new series though i was curious if you wre going to include the virgin past doctor adventures?

[@poparena]

+australiana media I'm going to talk about them in general, and I'll do reviews of some of the more interesting ones, but I'm more interested in the books that look forward instead of the ones that look back.

[@electricmastro]

+poparena You're the first one that I know of on KZbin who has attempted to examine the Virgin Doctor Who books in-depth, so I'm thankful that you're doing this at all. :)

[@charlesmento5968]

PLEASE review BAD THERAPY. I love that book.

[@who1709]

20:42 That's Gareth!

[@meravl7615]

just wanted to say (partly because i know it was a slight concern of yours with animorphs, but not just) - i don't like dr. who. don't really know much about it, to be honest. but i do intend to watch this series because of you. your reviews are always extremely thorough and in depth and i enjoy your style and presentation and... well... basicaly everything about them. and who knows? maybe this will even get me to change my mind or at least give the books a chance?

[@vilmundurgunnarsson3904]

What novels from the wilderness era do you guys recommend?

[@LPTV84]

A question I have is, does the show recognize these as cannon. As far as I know, a majority of people say no and that it's up to you whereas a majority say yes in regards to big finish. I've seen some of your videos and I am starting to understand why the people I have asked this question say no. The Doctor is written at times with a darker and unlikeable character than I am accustomed to. Sure I am all for the 7th Doctor being this manipulative player who is the force driving the story, but I love how he kept that hidden with this clownish or simply excited demeanor. I mean, there are instances where he is in great danger and you fear for him, which entails that even the manipulating dark doctor can put himself in danger and has to have hope for the best for his plans that is consistent in each character.

[@LPTV84]

Each iteration of the character.

[@blueeyeswhitedragon9569]

It kinda is cuz doctor who's got some DC sbit going on with its multiverse

[@thewewguy8t88]

i am really excited about this :)

[@wacmack]

good stuff

[@starwarsnerd100]

Whenever I hear people talk about the Sonic Screwdriver and how they wrote it out of the show, its usually about how it was a tool for lazy writers to get the Doctor out of any jam, and that it could do anything the plot required. This is the first time I've heard it talked about as a means to get the story to move along. Come to think of it, the Psychic Paper has that function too.

[@poparena]

+starwarsnerd100 Yeah, a lot of people project how overpowered the current Sonic Screwdriver is onto the old one. The Psychic Paper comparison is spot-on.

[@cbfall]

Way Cool!!!

[@sarasamaletdin4574]

Is there anywhere I can watch the Legend of Korra review? The link does not work.

[@poparena]

+Sara Samaletdin I'm having trouble finding a new home for all the old Blip videos, including Legend of Korra. As soon as I find a solution, I'll post a new video linking to it. :)

[@sarasamaletdin4574]

poparena That would be great, thank you for answering :)

[@Isthecakereallyalie]

The music in the background was weirdly horror-esque. Was that intentional?

[@whocrusader5179]

14:25

[@sebastianfitzptraick7395]

Doctor Who in the 80s had its huge highs, usually it was in spite of John Nathan Turner. His style really derailed the show. If JNT had left after Colin Baker and Cartnel took over, the show would've lasted longer in my opinion.

[@jacktaylor3001]

Cartmenll said it was "bring down the government" and not over-throw.

[@poparena]

+jacktaylor3001 This is kind of splitting hairs, but all the interviews with Cartmel I've read where it's bring up phrases it "overthrow the governement." Example: drwhointerviews.wordpress.com/category/andrew-cartmel/

[@animationfanatic2133]

The virgin new adventures vs the Chad....... No that's silly

[@xedalpha1]

Huh so virgin books started how streaming services start today.

[@deathcrist2000]

I'm not sure if you're aware of the existence of TARDIS Eruditorum, but here's a link: www.eruditorumpress.com/blog/author/phil/tardis-eruditorum/

[@poparena]

+deathcrist2000 I actually mentioned Phil Sandifer in my Animorphs finale. :)

[@deathcrist2000]

Ah, didn't get a chance to watch the whole thing yet. Will do so now.

[@elijahfordsidioticvarietys8770]

Wow! An american talking about Doctor Who? That’s a rare sight.

[@LuckyRoy2015]

Doctor William Hartnell DW

[@aperson22222]

Ah, _Doctor Who._ My favorite show as of 2013, but dear God I've never seen a shark jumped half so hard. I stuck around through S8, but it was an evermore joyless experience. The last episode I ever watched was "Death in Heaven," and I'm given to understand I haven't missed much since. When I first stopped watching I thought I might tune back in once Moffat was gone, but by the time I heard that he'd be hanging it up after S10, I just didn't give a shit anymore. I'll give this series a try, though, for the creator's sake rather than the subject matter's. I've actually become quite a fan of Greg's over the years.

[@mayotango1317]

Relax, the Witch (Clara Oswald) is dead. Being honest "Husbands of River Song" is the only funny story of Capaldi, he and River have an excellent chemistry that would have been great to see them together in a season instead of the witch.

[@aperson22222]

@102176521288541114704 I did hear that they'd finally killed off the harpie. She was a huge part of the reason it got unwatchable. How can someone so boring hog the limelight so aggressively? Capaldi seemed to be an inspired choice, but he never had a chance opposite that prima donna bitch.

[@archive9796]

They didn't kill Clara She died but like most deaths in New who she came back and became immortal and got her own TARDIS

[@mayotango1317]

You like Series 11?

[@mayotango1317]

Oh boy, wait for the Chibnall era and the Timeless Children for the dead of the show.