In the preface to John Peel’s Timewyrm: Genesys, series editor Peter Darvill-Evans lays out the mission statement of this upcoming run of Doctor Who adventures:
To continue the time and space peregrinations of the Doctor and Ace from the point at which we last saw them on television, at the end of the story ‘Survival’; to continue the Doctor Who traditions of exciting science fiction stories laced with humour, drama and terror; and to continue the trend of recent seasons of television stories towards complex, challenging plots with serious themes.
The story that follows is a clear example of what these basic outlines can produce. A classic vision of adventure, with swashbuckling swordplay, gods and monsters, and the Doctor and Ace lodged right in the middle. Surely a good foundation for Doctor Who, especially when it has to prove itself in a new medium. Though while Genesys undoubtedly follows the letter of these laws, it sadly fails to capture their spirit.
The Timewyrm quadrilogy, much like the later The Sirens of Time, is more a proof of concept than an actual story. As Doctor Who entered a period of grand uncertainty, it was both understandable and necessary to show just what could be done with its new format. Classic settings are presented and explored, as are a wide variety of plots. Familiar images, most notably cameos from the Third and Fourth Doctors, reassure fans that this is a true continuation of the series. There is drama. There is terror. Doctor Who is dead, long live Doctor Who!
But what of Genesys itself? For one thing, it is very clearly designed as a jumping-on point for newcomers. It’s almost a pastiche of An Unearthly Child, albeit one that carries nearly three decades of history, and produced in a completely different cultural climate. Just as that first episode introduces itself in stages, so too does Genesys. But instead of merely introducing characters, we are also introduced to concepts. Ace, waking up to discover her memories missing, goes on a similar, yet mirrored journey to Ian and Barbara. From the fact that the TARDIS is a spaceship with a surprisingly spacious interior, to its infuriating and mysterious pilot, and even her own position as companion. Right from the off, Genesys makes sure that even its newest readers can understand the basics of Doctor Who.
The story, too, can be traced back to those opening episodes. Taking the Doctor and Ace back to a primordial period of human history, with themes regarding the dangers of progress, and the cultural differences of time travellers. However, unlike the straightforward, thoughtful original, Genesys is distinctly a tale of its time. It revels in bloodshed and open sexuality. Most of its contemporary characters are either lecherous, leering men, or scantily-clad prostitutes. Ace even begins the novel by staring at her naked body in the mirror. While the themes of its predecessor are still present, they are buried under a thick, cloying layer of “maturity.”
The novel gleefully presents itself as Doctor Who for the nineties, even as it trips over its own feet in the process.
This supposed maturity unfortunately extends to its leads, too. The Doctor and Ace, while mercifully free of the libido that plagues everyone around them, are still frustratingly off for most of the novel. While there are a few brief moments of clarity, such as the memorable moment in which Ace maintains her disguise in a hostile city by putting herself in the spotlight and starting a singalong, they spend most of the novel being either miserable, needlessly mean, or working under a frustrating sense of superiority. Even the aforementioned singalong is marred by Ace suddenly remembering that all her friends are dead and that life is unfair.
The Doctor, too, is poorly handled, with his position in the narrative bearing only a superficial resemblance to how he tends to work. What makes this all the more baffling is the fact that the Third and Fourth Doctor, who both briefly appear, are handled so well, and are so enjoyable to read. It is perhaps no coincidence that despite Peel’s long list of Doctor Who credits, this is the only time he’s attempted to write the Seventh Doctor.
Sadly, this overall poor characterisation turns the potentially interesting themes into a woefully missed opportunity. The eponymous Timewyrm, known here as the goddess Ishtar, is almost a deranged mirror of the Doctor. An outcast from her advanced civilisation, she now finds herself alone, manipulating the lesser races with malfunctioning technology in a desperate bid to survive. Similarly, Ace has hardly stepped out of the TARDIS before the Doctor has established the pair of them as visiting deities. However, due to the novel’s unceasing, insecure attempts to be exciting and modern, it’s difficult to tell if the places these ideas go are sincere, or just an excuse to have more explosions.
However, despite all this, there is fun that can be had with Genesys. Despite its best efforts, there is definitely a good deal of pulpy, adventuring fun here. There are standard “adventure” scenarios ranging from invading a hostile city in disguise, hardy swordplay and, yes, explosions. The story’s climax is a perfect example of this. While it may not be a coming together of ideas and concepts explored throughout the novel, it is still a fearsome battle between the legendary figure of Gilgamesh, and a giant robot snake lady from outer space. Needless to say, your enjoyment of Genesys can most likely be predicted by your reaction to the previous sentence.
Timewyrm: Genesys may not be the strongest start to a new stage of life for Doctor Who. There are moments when the TARDIS feels further than ever from that London junkyard, and most of the time, the people we find within it are almost unrecognizable. And yet, buried underneath mountains of needless additions, and failed attempts to update the formula, the building blocks can still be found, organized into a familiar, almost workable shape. Perhaps with some added restraint, and under the control of someone more suited to this TARDIS line-up, we may have had a classic on our hands.
But, as it is, Genesys is little more than a poor attempt to update what really didn’t need updating.
Timewyrm: Genesys should be bought for around $18 in Very Good condition, and for no more than $25
Will Martin
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Really liked this review Will! Makes me curious to read it despite its faults. A real pleasure to read. Can’t wait to read more 🙂
I wonder how long this positivity will last in the face of Timewyrm, Will. Good luck.