Review: The Doctor and Rose

The ever-increasing number of spin-offs from the revived Doctor Who grows once again with the addition Doctor Who Files series. With each book acting as a guide to a particular chunk of the Whoniverse, the range kicks off with two volumes on the series' main characters: companion Rose Tyler, and the Doctor himself.

In terms of content, these books are obviously limited somewhat by running for just 48 pages each, but they still manage to cover a decent variety of information. Each of them begins with a brief introduction to the respective character, including a factfile and annotated photo, before brancing out into defined sections like "Time Lords" and "Companions" for the Doctor, and "Friends and Family" and "Enemies and Rivals" for Rose. Both books are then rounded off by a short story focusing on the relevant character.

The information included by author Jacqueline Rayner is fun and interesting, with fold-out "Test Your Knowledge" sections at the end of each chapter adding some cute interactivity for children. However, the inclusion of a section on tea (on the basis of its importance in The Christmas Invasion) and the "Anatomy" pages (Rose has a "handy pocket" and "chin that sticks out", and the Doctor's "respiratory bypass system" appears to be just above his left hip) are somewhat bizarre.

But perhaps more interesting than what's in the books is what's been left out. For example, across almost fifty pages, The Doctor only makes reference to the Time Lord's past incarnations very briefly (when discussing Sarah Jane, for example), which seems silly given that other publications aimed at a younger market (the Annual and Doctor Who Adventures magazine) have covered this in depth. It's fair enough if space is at a premium, but there do seem to be a few missed opportunities here.

One area which is consistently brilliant in both books is the short stories. In The Doctor we have The Hero Factor by Stephen Cole, which is a ridiculous tale of the Doctor being duped by an alien TV presenter, and the story from Rose is Rayner's unintentionally-hilarious Stamp of Approval. These are light, throwaway tales that would make perfect bedtime stories and round off each of the volumes nicely.

The books are beautifully presented, with smooth hardcover binding and colourful glossy pages packed with photos. Visually, they're exciting and vibrant, and they'll form a nice comprehensive library on the shelf.

Anyone wanting a detailed summary of Rose and the Doctor's complete histories is looking in the wrong place, and would be better off with books like the Encyclopedia and The Inside Story. For younger fans, though, this series is great stuff.