Christopher Bulis is an author whose work in Doctor Who novels often elicits disappointment and occasionally derision from fandom. Books such as The Ultimate Treasure and Twilight of the Gods (the 2nd Doctor Web Planet sequel rather than the Bernice Summerfield New Adventure) aren’t likely to trouble the top spots in the novel range. That said, I have often enjoyed his books. His first one for the New Adventures, Shadowmind, was an engaging straightforward adventure which, in a range that often tried to hard early on to seem ‘grown up’, was just happy to be Doctor Who. For all its weird Kamelion stuff, I quite liked The Ultimate Treasure, although I will admit that Twilight of the Gods bored me to tears. He’s also the author of the excellent The Sorcerer’s Apprentice and The Device of Death, another novel that wasn’t that well received but I remember really enjoying.

City at World’s End is, for me, another strong contribution from Bulis. The 1st Doctor, Susan, Ian and Barbara arrive on a planet on the verge of a cataclysmic extinction event. The remaining population are trying to escape with their hopes pinned on a huge rocket ship. Materialsing atop an abandoned building, the building then collapses burying Barbara and seriously injuring Susan. The rest of the novel deals with the attempts to rescue Barbara, the adventure she has trying to escape herself and the Doctor and Ian becoming inveigled in local politics.

The countdown to destruction gives this novel a tension not always present in Doctor Who novels. Susan’s injury puts her out of action for the initial part of the story until a very intriguing twist partway through has her accompanying Barbara whilst still, apparently being in the hospital. Barbara discovers the sort-of villains of the piece, hiding below ground although their plans ultimately amount to very little. The Doctor and Ian manage to gain the trust of those in power which helps them get the resources they need to find Barbara.

The regulars are written well and the various twists throughout are well-paced. The conflict between religion and politics is nicely portrayed and the desperation of the people is successfully conveyed. A few aspects were a little confusing at time to time, although I partly put this down to my current habit of falling asleep whilst reading late at night.

It could be argued there are slightly too many guest characters and that there were times when I became a little lost at who was who and how they were related, but actually, by the end of the book I had a pretty good handle on each character as they are well written. There is a particularly moving scene where the Mayor destroys the rocket ship with most of the population unconscious aboard it. What initially seems like a callous act of elitism actually transpires to be an act of mercy as the rocket ship is actually a false hope as it will not be able to complete its mission. One of the first things the Doctor realises when examining the ship is the faults in its design but he chooses to maintain the secrecy as he can see the motivation behind it.

This is a doomladen book and its a little disappointing that the final act drags in a rogue AI and android duplicates as it shifts the disaster movie vibe of the story to something a little more straightforwardly Doctor Who. But the twist involving Susan’s ability to be in two places at once is key to this section and leads to a satisying climax.

This book is highly recommended. It feels true to the era it is set in – one which I have been rewatching with my son – and yet also manages to expand on it believably. The mystery builds well and the various strands tie together well at the end. A number of good twists maintain interest and an engaging troupe of guest characters (who accept the Doctor and friends for who they are quickly enough that the usual suspicion and frustrating obstinence of some guest casts is dispensed with before it outstays its welcome) provide good support and conflict. A winner.