A Time Traveller's Almanac and Torchwood Archives?

[Admiral_Young]

So we know some of us have got A Writer's Tale (which I'm probably going to order myself at Christmas time) but what about the other two coffee table books that came out last month? The Torchwood Archives which looks like a companion guide and the Time Traveller's Almanac. Both of which I'm planning on ordering as well. Does anyone have these and what is your review of them?

 

[Admiral_Young]

No one's bought these? I got my mom to order me the Time Traveller's Almanac which I have read described as being a timeline or chronology for the first four series of the new Who. The Torchwood Archives are a compliation of case files from the first two series of Torchwood with tons of notes and archival pictures with various commentary by Ianto. Has anyone else got these yet? If so what did you think?

 

[Stevil2001]

I haven't, though I'm thinking of picking up the Almanac to satiate my timelining urge. Maybe if it goes on sale post-Xmas.

They both got fairly middling reviews in DWM #402.

 

[Admiral_Young]

Yeah I've seen mild to average reviews on the Almanac...one of whom suggested Ahistory...and I'm planning to get the most recent update from last year eventually. Read the 2006 update from my library and thought it was great. The Torchwood book I'll be picking up in the new year...my comic book shop was carrying two copies which surprised me so hopefully they'll still have them in.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

I have Torchwood Archives. If you have Torchwood magazine, it's probably not worth it. Actually, it's probably not worth it even if you don't.

 

[davejames]

Just saw that Writer's Tale one in the bookstore. WOW, that's a big book!

Normally I love that kind of behind the scenes stuff, but it looks like it mostly just covers the making of the Titanic episode, which wasn't one of my favorites.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

There's a lot more to The Writer's Tale than Voyage of the Damned. It covers all of season four.

 

[Stevil2001]

And provides more than a decent amount of insight into the rest of the series as well, not to mention his creative process in Bob & Rose, The Second Coming, Queer as Folk, and so on.

 

[Emissary of the Prophets]

The Writer's Tale is an awesome book. Not only covering episodes, scenes and characters we saw, but those that never were. The 'Book People' came to our office and I picked up the Almanac for £5. Bargain.

 

[wamdue]

I just got "A Time Traveller's Almanac" for christmas, its a shame it only lists the Doctor Who events, it would be a better book if it listed Torchwood & SJA as well, but ive only flicked though it so far, so ive not got alot to say.

 

[Admiral_Young]

I got my copy of The Time Traveller's Almanac for Christmas thanks to my mom and it is pretty awesome! In fact, I like it better than the Encyclopedia...and it would've been nice if they included Torchwood and Sarah Jane Adventure stuff as well.

 

[wamdue]

the problem with these types of books, is that they go out of date very quickly, yes I have a shiny new one, but yes its also missing out an episode.

 

[Admiral_Young]

^ Yeah I was just thinking that while re-watching The Next Doctor, same with the soundtrack but I noticed a lot of reused score in the Next Doctor anyways.

 

[Starkers]

I got the almanac for Christmas too. Nice to see a few nods to the classic series within it.

 

[wamdue]

I got the almanac for Christmas too. Nice to see a few nods to the classic series within it.

yes I notice the two pages which feature the feature the 3rd Doctor alot. Even a picture if I recall.

 

[Admiral_Young]

Yes that was attached to an article dealing with UNIT...very nice, and it was the Third Doctor.

 

[Starkers]

There's an old pic of Sarah Jane from Pyramids of Mars as well I believe.

 

[Admiral_Young]

There is a first Doctor picture with him posing with the Ood as well that is cool.

 

[davejames]

Finally saw the Almanac in the stores. I was disappointed to see it only really covers the new series though.

I'd LOVE to get my hands on a really good "History of Doctor Who" book, but I doubt there's been anything like that for a while. I guess I'm just gonna have to stick to whatever I can find online.

 

[Stevil2001]

Try Lance Parkin's Ahistory from Mad Norwegian Press. It covers the new show (up through "Last of the Time Lords"), the old show, the novels, the comics, and the audio dramas in exacting, precise, supported detail.