Doctor Who: Synthespians [Paperback]

Doctor Who - Synthespians, by Craig Hinton. BBC Books, 2004.
Paperback, 276 pages.
If you like books or movies with pop culture references (Shrek 2 comes
to mind), or if you're a child of the '80's, you'll like this book.
This adventure features the Sixth Doctor (Colin Baker) and Peri
(Nicola Bryant).
From the book:
"We've been colonizing other planets for a thousand million years,"
she said, turning to the camera and giving her trademark smile. "All
right, Mr. Matheson - I'm ready for my close-up."
In the 101st century, nostalgia is everything. Television from the
20th century is the new obsession, and Reef Station One is receiving
broadcasts from a distant Earth of the past, transmitting them to a
waiting audience.
When the Doctor and Peri arrive on Reef Station One, they find a
fractured society, totally dependant on film and television. They also
discover that the Republic's greatest entrepreneur is in league with
one of the Doctor's oldest enemies.
As the alien influence spreads in tentacles throughout the Republic,
the Doctor and Peri must unravel the link between Walter J. Matheson's
business empire and the invaders. Because, if they don't, they'll end
up in the deadliest soap opera of all time.

Synthespians is one of the best books I've read in a long time. It's
not just good Doctor Who, it's good sci-fi. Very-well thought-out.
Excellent execution of the plot, very credible characters, wonderful
use of the typical tongue-in-cheek humor associated with the Sixth
Doctor. This would have made a brilliant episode on television. Maybe
a tad expensive, but worth it.
An excellent read, even to the acknowledgements and dedications.

If you want to find out for youself, stop here. The are spoilers ahead.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - SPOILERS - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - -

Walte J Matheson enters a deal with Nestene Conscienceness to rescue
it from destruction by, of all people, the Time Lords. The Nestene
agree to have itself "downloaded" to a single Auton host, in the form
of Dominique Delacroix, soap opera mega-star. Matheson is playing two
sides, though. He is sickened at how mankind has allowed itself to
become the mindless sheep they have, enslaved to the entertainment
media - movies and television. Matheson has successfully taken over
several major ventures on Reef Station One to secure his future and
the Nestene invasion. He ownes the mobile phone industry, the 3DTV
industry, and the small appliance industry (toasters, vacuum cleaners,
tootbrushes, etc). He has also created a new non-surgical plastic
surgery technique called Skin Deep. (You can even hear the TM). Then
there are the Synthespians, synthetic thespians created to take the
more dangerous roles that some actors wouldn't be willing to take. But
Synthespians have also made themselves part of everyday life in roles
such as taxi drivers, consierges, cooks in private homes, etc.
Once downloaded, the Nestene would colonise the Republic. Matheson
would make a plea to the Union to come their aide and, once the
Nestene were destroyed, become a hero. The slaughter of millions would
be collateral damage.
The Doctor and Peri, with the help of Claudia Brubakker, whose father
owned the mobile phone industry prior to Matheson's hostile takeover,
and Marcus Brooks, washed up soap opera actor, must stop Matheson and
the Nestene without themselves getting killed in the process.
The Doctor goes through his own personal demons in trying to stop the
insidious plan.
This book is the perfect set up for the events of the Trial of a Time
Lord, but is both better Doctor Who and better science fiction. A
must-read for all Doctor Who fans.

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