The Brilliant Book of Doctor Who 2012

[Admiral_Young]

It is that time of year again for those interested in coffee table books...I posted last year about the 2011 book which I really was a big fan of and we're getting another one this year. These do appear to be different from the traditional annuals. This one is again packed full of fun stuff from behind the scenes stuff, episode synopsis, original fiction, and we're supposed to get some kind of information about the Silence's history in this book:

http://www.amazon.ca/Brilliant-Book...=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1318241026&sr=1-1

The new edition of the Encyclopaedia is coming out as well. They both are released according to Amazon UK next week. We're also getting the 100 Scariest Doctor Who Monsters later next month.

 

[23skidoo]

When the first Brilliant Book came out I did order it, but I knew nothing about it. I assumed it was going to be another Annual or Storybook - minor stories, with some goodies by the production team tossed in, and probably a Doctor Who Adventures-style comic strip (I always get a kick out of these). I didn't expect them to have an unheralded short story by SF icon Brian Aldiss! (For me that was a bigger deal in 2010 than Michael Moorcock doing the novel.)

I don't expect a similar surprise this year, though we know Gaiman is contributing something to the book, but it sounds like this year's edition is more of a Series 6 Companion, which should be cool.

Alex

 

[Admiral_Young]

I think my favourite thing about last year was the Dream Lord's "predictions" for this series (I wonder if they will do the same again in this book?) and the map of Leadworth.

 

[23skidoo]

I think my favourite thing about last year was the Dream Lord's "predictions" for this series (I wonder if they will do the same again in this book?) and the map of Leadworth.

They seem to like doing the prediction thing - remember RTD's final "Letter to the Doctor" that gave hints about the regeneration?

What I find cool about the latest iteration of the annuals/storybooks/Brilliant Book is how closely involved the production team is. You'd never have seen the showrunner pen stuff for the Doctor Who Annual 1978. Now, these books are truly extensions of the series, which is why it's too bad they're often ignored by fans who think they're just kid book spinoffs. I say ignore these at your "peril" - I remember one story from either the Eccleston annual or storybook (I forget which) which Moffat later revamped as Blink.

Alex

 

[captcalhoun]

it was the annual. before DWA co-opted the name and they started calling them the 'storybook'. said book also laid a big fat clue that The Master would return.

 

[Admiral_Young]

I ordered both books from Amazon UK and they've shipped already. They are projected to be here tomorrow...which I will be pleasantly surprised by if that is so.

 

[Starkers]

I think my favourite thing about last year was the Dream Lord's "predictions" for this series (I wonder if they will do the same again in this book?) and the map of Leadworth.

They seem to like doing the prediction thing - remember RTD's final "Letter to the Doctor" that gave hints about the regeneration?

What I find cool about the latest iteration of the annuals/storybooks/Brilliant Book is how closely involved the production team is. You'd never have seen the showrunner pen stuff for the Doctor Who Annual 1978. Now, these books are truly extensions of the series, which is why it's too bad they're often ignored by fans who think they're just kid book spinoffs. I say ignore these at your "peril" - I remember one story from either the Eccleston annual or storybook (I forget which) which Moffat later revamped as Blink.

Alex

I need to look at that list again, can't recall of the top of my head anything that now makes sense!

 

[Admiral_Young]

I had a thread that discussed all of the "predictions". If we can find that thread we can maybe add to it now that the series is finished.

 

[dauntless]

I've just bought my copy in the Liverpool BBC shop, but the Encyclopedia is presently too expensive for my tastes...

 

[Admiral_Young]

Both books arrived this afternoon and I was stunned because both of them are double the size of their predecessors. The Brilliant Book has been redesigned, in so much as it is much smaller and more compact than the 2011 edition. It contains a whole bunch of behind the scenes production stuff as well as a comic book version of the original intended opening to "The Doctor's Wife" written by Neil Gaiman along with a page on the Corsair. There is no predictions page for next series sadly but a ton of fun stuff. The back of the front cover (or the insert?) contains the envelops for all of the Doctor's guests at the start of the Impossible Astronaut. There is also a two page spread detailing what happened in between the opening two parter. There are post cards and messages from Rory and Amy on their honeymoon as well. Along with the interviews with the cast and Moffat. I'd highly recommend this.

The Encyclopaedia is a beast. Like I said it's double the size of the first edition and feels heavy. It will take me a while to get through it.