01 - Timewyrm: Genesys
“The One Where the Doctor Ignores Sexual Assault”

I had several people warn me about this book when I first decided to start the VNAs, and I can't say their warnings were unwarranted!  To put it lightly, this was not a great start to the series; having read the next two installments at the time of writing, I’m glad that it quickly recovers.

Let's start with the positives (because there are some!).  The Epic of Gilgamesh is an excellent setting for the first entry in a new chapter of the Doctor Who franchise - for the first official full-length novel, it’s only fitting that the Doctor and Ace should plunge into one of the oldest stories in the written record.  The character of Enkidu is particularly interesting - the “wild man” who becomes Gilgamesh’s friend in the original story is recontextualized as a wayward Neanderthal, who suffers from profound loneliness due to the knowledge that he is the last of his people.

However, for a story that should focus on new beginnings, Genesys seems to have an obsession with meaningless references to its parent show, as if to reassure the reader that yes, this is in fact Doctor Who, please stick around!  The call to adventure is given by a vision of the Fourth Doctor, and Ace lists off numerous references to her short catalog of stories (including Paradise Towers, which she wasn’t even present for!) within the first few dozen pages.  During the climax, the Doctor assumes the personality of Pertwee’s Third Doctor, and you really get the impression that John Peel did not particularly enjoy writing for McCoy’s more scheming incarnation.

And now for the elephant in the room.  This book, much like Torchwood S1, is obsessed with proving its willingness to stray into adult themes.  However, it goes much, much further, crossing a line in the very first chapter as it sexualizes the prepubescent priestesses of Ishtar in a way that makes me feel gross just reading it.  Gilgamesh, who should ideally be a heroic and prominent character in the narrative, seems to exist almost exclusively to sexually harass and grope every woman and girl in sight.  I’m not opposed to these topics being tackled in principle, and the Doctor has often wandered into societies with less-than-savory customs.  However, here the Doctor not only tolerates this behavior, but actively scolds Ace for daring to resist the advances of Gilgamesh, in a disgusting exchange that’s possibly the most out-of-character I’ve ever seen him behave.

Simply put, this story left me with a bad taste in my mouth within minutes, regardless of its redeeming qualities later on.  Completionists may get something out of it, but casual readers may want to avoid the gross parts and start with Exodus.