BBC Books Apollo 23

Author	Justin Richards
ISBN	1 846 07200 0
Published	2010

Synopsis: An astronaut in full spacesuit appears out of thin air in a busy shopping centre. Maybe it's a publicity stunt. A photo shows an immaculately-dressed woman in her best shoes lying dead at the edge of a crater on the dark side of the moon – beside her beloved dog 'Poochie'. Maybe it's a hoax. But as the Doctor and Amy find out, these are just minor events in a sinister plan to take over every human being on earth.

• From what I've read so far by Nathan Mullins

From what I've read so far by Nathan Mullins 30/12/11

On the 25th April 2010, I knew what had to be done, and where I had to go. I instinctively knew I had to go out and get three books, for the purpose of not only being a collector, but an avid reader of the Doctor Who new series original novels. I bought the lot of them, Apollo 23, Night of the Humans, and The Forgotten Army. So, I raced back home from Forbidden Planet, with my three brilliant new purchases.

The first book I picked up, in all truthfulness was Night of the Humans, but something that sort of thwarted me at first was the technobable you first come across when first opening the book, leading into chapter one. So, and though that shouldn't really put me off, it crossed my mind that this book in particular would take me a while to get through.

So, I have instead gone for the usual format granted by Justin Richards, whom I find is a fantastic writer, and always somehow manages to capture the imagination, when having written any book, be it an old series 'classic' adventure or anything to do with the new series range. His Apollo 23 his so in tune with 'series one' of the new series, or as I prefer to call it, Series fnarg!

I love the prologue, the imagery that becomes something solid in your head, of the atmosphere slowly building up to the innocent man's death right at the very beginning of the novel. I love the Doctor and Amy's involvement, and how they seem to feel exactly the same as how they are on the actual show.

Justin Richards is an excellent writer, because the lines given to the two main stars are so in touch with their television personalities. I think The Eleventh Hour, may have helped, because it did seem like a while since Amy had been waiting for her raggedy Doctor to turn up again, and for her to recognise him after so many years.

I love the other characters also, each have some role to play; that and this story does indeed remind me of a television episode because it is so realistic; well, in the Doctor Who realm in any case.

But am not going to go into too much detail regarding the mysterious plot, and the adventure within, but what I am going to say is that the more I read, I become so very hooked on what lies in store. From what I've read already, I'd give this a solid thumbs up, and say it was worthy a purchase alongside the other two novels. I imagine this is probably my favourite, but we'll see.

Also, might I add that I love the new look artwork and front covers of each novel! They stand aside from the others belonging to Chris and David's eras. They actually look so good among the new series logo, and with the Doctor and Amy taking the lead in the new range novels from now on.

I look forward to getting further involved in Apollo 23, so for now... I'm going to find a quiet spot in my house somewhere, and settle into a relaxing read!