Lungbarrow FTW!

[fannishliss]

I've been googling Lungbarrow repeatedly for the past several weeks, trying to find a copy that didn't cost ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS.

Apparently it was part of a series of Doctor Who novels published by Virgin called the New Adventures, and they were woefully underprinted. You can't buy them for less than $30. Plus they're not available in American libraries because they were never sold in the US.   I bid on one on Ebay the other day that sold for $66!!   I wouldn't pay $100 for it, but I'm very glad I didn't give up googling and eventually found it on Scribd.  It was up as a free download on the BBC website until they took it down in December 2010. 

Anyways, Lungbarrow is the last or next to last of these novels, and it involves the Doctor's childhood home on Gallifrey.  Naturally a must for the canon fiend -- though there are several reviews and synopses here and there that pretty much explain it.

It talks all about the Looms, the Houses and Chapters, Romana's presidency, and features Chris Cwej, Dorothee McShane on her time bike,  Leela,  two K9 units, the Hand of Omega, and Susan!   :D

It is a bit of a mixed up kooky murder mystery, mixed with a sideplot of political intrigue.  The overall feel of the Doctor's childhood is Nasty, Impoverished, and Stupid, with a large dose of psychotropic Alice in Wonderland for Color.  The House of Lungbarrow, if you are wondering, is not in any way a nice one to be from.  His Kithriarch got a prophecy from the Matrix that the Doctor was destined for greatness, and so ruined the Doctor's upbringing with petty ambition -- leading to the stricken name, the stolen Tardis, and perhaps the entire foundation of Time Lord culture.

The book is a mess, but it's endearing.... and extremely allusive.  I would be satisfied for it to be the Bible of all things Gallifreyan.  I read in one review that it feels too long -- but I would argue that it feels too short.  I wanted it to be denser, richer --- but it does leave the mind full of intriguing ideas to flesh out one's Doctor Who fic journey.  :)

Comments

[othermewriter.livejournal.com]

I very much enjoyed this book as well. I lucked out in finding it when the BBC had it up. I actually snagged all the e-books that they had up on the site at that time quite the boon for me.

[fannishliss.livejournal.com]

Weren't you shocked at how awful his cousins were? I was a Whovian back in the 80s and always thought of the Doctor as an eccentric aristo. But it makes plenty of sense that his family were actually rude schemers -- and explains why he did so poorly in school and ran away.

Do you have any recommendations amongst the other books? I found a cheap copy of Cat's Cradle Time's Crucible, which should be arriving by mail sometime soon, since it's about Karn and is also by Platt. :)

[othermewriter.livejournal.com]

Have you by any chance read the original human nature which was a 7/Ace story?

[fannishliss.livejournal.com]

I don't know Ace and Seven very well... but that would be an interesting read. The father/daughter vibe they have going would be a very different spin on Human Nature.