[Copy of review written June 2024]

It seems a bit hard to write a review for Time’s Crucible. The novel is certainly surrealistic, and I find it difficult to hate the novel entirely, in part due to its ambition. In a world where it seems that too many Doctor Who stories rely on recurring villains or tired sci-fi concepts, Marc Platt says “NO!” However, I can’t shake the feeling that a greater novel is hiding behind the Time’s Crucible that we have. Perhaps in a parallel timeline, it is better? It seems to fall into the trap of confusing avant garde with being an avant garde take on confusing. I did enjoy the fact that there were scenes set on ancient Gallifrey, and I also enjoyed the brief exploration of telepathy. I think that one of the things that I appreciate about the VNAs from reputation and my sample size of one is that I like the alien take on the Doctor. The fact of the matter is, going with a strange man in a box is somewhat terrifying, and I think that tapping into the alien nature of the Doctor paradoxically makes stories more realistic. Although this novel focuses more on shaping the society that shaped the Doctor, I think that exploring what it means to be a Gallifreyan is a plus to the story.

At the same time as I was reading Time’s Crucible, I also read Cloud Atlas by David Michell. Interestingly enough, it also covers similar concepts to Time’s Crucible, such as utilizing non-linear storytelling, reincarnation, and the corrupting influence of power. Ultimately, I think that Cloud Atlas is a better novel than Time’s Crucible, and I would recommend that anyone who enjoyed Time’s Crucible, did not enjoy Time’s Crucible, or could not bring themselves to finish Time’s Crucible, to read Cloud Atlas to have a better experience. *

*WARNING: Cloud Atlas does not contain The Doctor, any of The Doctor’s companions, the Daleks, or obscure Doctor Who side characters that have not been seen on TV since the 1970s. It is a novel intended for GENERAL AUDIENCES. It may contain some sci-fi concepts, though.