Title: Superb space opera
Product review: This is everything a Doctor Who novel should be. Gareth Roberts is a magician: he follows the formula for '70s-era Doctor Who so perfectly that one can immediately picture the actors from the series saying his dialogue. However, the steel-trap plot remains unpredictable to the very end, and the villains--even while giggling maniacally or declaiming on their nefarious plans with mustache-twirling abandon--are colorful and multi-dimensional. In particular, the supreme murderess Xais is given a genuinely wrenching "origin" story which provides real motivation for her actions.If you are a fan of the TV episodes written by Robert Holmes (Caves of Androzani, The Talons of Weng Chiang, etc.), _The Romance of Crime_ is the perfect entry point for the novel range. And like Mr. Holmes before him, Mr. Roberts is now penning scripts for the TV series itself--a well-deserved career promotion. Snatch this little treasure up while it is still affordable.
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