Let’s be honest, this is one of the trippier stories in the 8th Doctor Adventures range of novels. The Book of the Still is the 56th novel in the series, and is the author’s (Paul Ebb’s) only contribution to the range. His primary Doctor Who work has been with BBV.
The titular book is a mysterious artifact in which stranded time travelers can write their name and location and be assured of rescue. It’s a neat idea, and certainly worth exploration, but the majority of the book deals with the story of people trying to steal it. The “deadly chase” mentioned in the description on the back cover, disappointingly, begins halfway through the book, making the action on Lebenswelt feel overly drawn out as the reader anticipates the flight into space.
We are treated to two intriguing characters – Carmodi, who’s addicted to artron energy and pays to have Fitz fall in love with her for a while so she can get high on him, and Rhian, a researcher in time travel who’s portrayed as (or at least viewed by Anji as) Velma from Scooby Doo. Thankfully, their motives and personalities are more interesting and complex than initially suggested, which makes up for the fact that Anji feels a bit sidelined at times and Fitz is not himself for most of the novel. But the star of the book’s attention is The Unnoticed, a truly grotesque alien race with inside-out stomachs and a paradox-ridden history. Their link to the Book of the Still was explained so briefly that I don’t remember what it was anymore, but the sheer alien-ness of their physique and their extreme commitment to being unnoticed by time-sensitives and the surprise twist reveal of their true origins makes for a worthy foe for the Doctor and friends.
If I’d had a chance to read more of this book in a shorter amount of time perhaps I’d have had an easier time following it, but I’m sorry to say this was one of the more confusing ones that’s difficult to follow unless you keep careful track of things. It’s trippy with its mind games and the pace of events can be quite fast in parts.
Ripples in my Tea 