Found this old O Brien paperback on a recent book haul. Was struck by the lightness of touch, simple joy of the intro, and the nice sketches within. There are so many versions of compilations of Oscar Wildes wit and wisdom, many just repeating what the others have already done. But you know what, so what? If you have a problem with that, away outside and count the Moon.
In a world saturated in Doctor Who merchandise its something of a poignant reminder of the scarcity of related material back in the day. The World Distributer annuals were such a treat. When they materialised on the shelves as a new title you knew Christmas was on the way. Just look at some of these covers. My chum Brian Mullholland found them in a charity store and he extended that sense of charity to an ageing Doctor Who fan. I remember when these annuals turned up on a shelf in Harry Halls Bookshop. With Mr Hall holding an armfull of them as he made his new annual displays.
The 1977 annual was a real head melter. It probably had more to do with a narcotic experience than a familiarity with our beloved show. It was the first thing I ever paid off on lay over, courtesy of our newsagent Vincy Mullholland. I used every penny I got to pay it off and it seemed to take forever.
All these years later and two Mullhollands continue to provide great Doctor Who stuff for me.
The Whoniverse in action.
My admiration for this strange and wondrous book will never diminish. Its extraordinary author and the life she lived may never cease to astound me. That the many variables , the building blocks of her era, that combined to produce Frankenstein, in a truly unique warning to history. All from the mind of this nineteen year old woman, a contruction built on dreams and a thousand unresolved details of her personal experience. Delicate yet possessed ofa titanic inner strength pushing against the traditions of her age, remarkable.
(From my sketch book.) Yes, its Whitby church, generally sitted atop the bay, overlooking Whitby harbour. I just grounded it slightly. Or lotly.You could plonk it anywhere and it would look good in its faux decay.
Felt like a bit of Le carre and so it was. His characters are so morally ambigous they must be real. What a sly world they inhabit. Broken people acting like sticking plasters on a blasted kingdom. I do not think I have read a story by him where I encountered people I would ever want to be in a room with. I try not to judge any of them too harshly (actually, that is not accurate, I hate some of the people he describes.) but there is something compelling in the unravelling of their situations. George Smiley was the closest I got to finding a character I actually liked but I think it had more to do with two interpretations of him by two masters of their craft; Alec Guinness and Gary Oldman.
Anyway, did like this this. Must have really liked it as I wanted to start another by the author soon. Settled for an interview with him I found on Youtube.
I am still attempting to mentally digest his personal revelations and the complexity of the relationship he had with his father.
Das and their sons, bloody hell. Are there no rule books or guides to navigate the unquiet waters of family?
Lovely little compilation of stories set in continuities we, as Doctor Who fans, might well be familiar with. Events occurring er, well...Before. The Doctor's life being one where he is constantly arriving and leaving other people's lives.
