Written by Gary Russell
There are four good reasons why it’s worth ploughing through the otherwise headache-inducing Spiral Scratch:
(1) The opening chapter is a brilliant piece of pseudo-Narnia-ish fantasy/history. It’s creepy and wonderful, and makes you wish the rest of the story was about what happened next. Unfortunately, it isn’t…
(2) The meeting between Mel and the scarred, black-cloak-wearing alternate Sixth Doctor was surprisingly touching and moving. It was a moment of beautiful insight into a character usually described as 100% cardboard; Garry Russell certainly has Melanie Bush down pat, and far removed from her screeching caricature on-screen.
(3) The cool glimpses into other realities…especially the Earth where Rome never fell…and the one-eyed Doctor…and Silurian Mel…and slave girl Mel…and a host of other goodies we barely touch upon…
(4) The regeneration. A proper regeneration at last…and a decent explanation to tie into the beginning of Time and the Rani and the start of the 7th Doctor’s reign. Who would have guessed it was possible!
Otherwise, Spiral Scratch is a bewildering, eye-glazing, migraine-nurturing ride through overbuilt prose, confusing scenarios, and dull characters. The villain was rather pedestrian, the ancillary characters were boring, and I couldn’t keep track of half the things going on in this book.
Too much swimming through muck to find the diamonds. I hate that.
Ahh, for the days when he wrote novels such as Invasion of the Cat-People, or Legacy…
