Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale by Russell T. Davies, Benjamin Cook
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Book Reviews of Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale
Book Review: Show not Tell - a great book for writers!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have just finished reading A WRITER'S TALE by Russell T. Davies & Benjamin Cooke and I want to strongly recommend it to everyone who aspires to being a good writer.
Davies is the man who brought the new award-winning BBC series DR.WHO back to the screen as Head Writer and Executive Producer. He also created TORCHWOOD, THE SARAH JANE CHRONICLES, CASANOVA and QUEER AS FOLK among many other brilliant and sometimes controversial TV series.
Cooke is a journalist who writes for Dr. Who Monthly and Radio Times and is the author of a book about the audio adventures of Dr.Who.
This weighty tome - and it is surprisingly heavy due to the high quality paper and hundreds of colour pictures - is a unique insight into the creative process of a writer who has to not only generate many of the high quality scripts in the series but oversee many of the practical aspects of running the show.
It takes the form of emails back and forth between Davies and Cooke over a year and a complete series and are the totally uncensored thoughts of a writer at the top of his game.
It's also completely up to date as it brings us to the last episode shown which was the Xmas Special shown on Xmas Day 2008.
There are several scripts exactly as he writes them each day and it's fascinating as you see how he shapes the stories due to not just rewriting but the constraints of practical TV production, from budgets to the death of an actor!
There are nuggets of gold in here as his insights are original and powerful emparted with Davies' well-known humour and directness.
You don't need to know the series - though if you don't, shame on you - to enjoy and learn from this book and the fact it's a British writer and TV series are irrelevant because Davies grapples with all the same problems that face writers everywhere in the world. His description of his crippling procrastination in the face of deadlines is worth the price of the book alone!
As you can tell, I loved this book and I want everyone to share in the excitement of that discovery.
John
Book Review: Incredible insight into the creative process behind Dr Who Season 4
Summary: 5 Stars
This textbook-sized tome (512 page of 2 column printed in some relatively small font) contains correspondence (emails) between Russell and Benjamin (the author) as the development of season 4 begins.
These e-mails radiate personality and huge insights into where the seeds of ideas germinated into the final product and some seeds just withered (i.e. Season 4's companion called "Penny").
Though I shouldn't be, I am amazed by the volume of Russell's text and how he seems so fearless and, at the same time, racked with doubt. You do feel the power of his love for television medium and his completely driven nature.
The writing process is something that cannot be described with a few pages or even a book but this book feels like it pushes around the edges so completely, you feel like you getting a glimmer of the forces that defines the product of the writing process.
Now, I agree that you should really be versed with Doctor Who TV lore and the universe created within the last 4 years - and more than a passing understanding of English colloquialisms. Just like the TV show, you will feel more impact if you understand the body of work that leads up to the present.
It is just great fun to peek into Russell's mind to see how he created one of the most enjoyable shows on TV (for me at least).
Now, I _wish_ they had also done this with Joss Whedon while he was doing Buffy, Angel and/or Firefly.
*sigh* Meanwhile, I'll be sated with this one.
Book Review: Absolutely Brilliant
Summary: 5 Stars
If you think the description of what this book is about lets you know what you're getting into, you're wrong. Well, half wrong. You do get to understand what a head writer/show runner has to deal with day to day. You even get to read a few of Russell T. Davies' first drafts of the episodes for series 4 of Doctor Who. All Through Emails.
But - You also get to hear his inner most thoughts of procrastination, stress, the absolute passion he has for his characters, (every one of them that he has created) and the passion he has for writing. He talks of writing as if his head never turns off, and he even admits he would be writing whether or not he had a job on a tv show. He brings you into his passion and his excitement when he decides to kill off a character, or when he discusses why it all is for the good of the story.
The other half of the emails are by Benjamin Cook. He asks all the right questions at all the right times. I was almost surprised that when I asked something in my head, he would be right there asking the question and sometimes even asking a better one.
Russell doesn't want it to be a "how you should write" book, but he does teach you that the way you write is just wonderful and the love you have for writing and creating is the most important thing. There was so much advice in this book that I'm sure Russell didn't think he was giving but I'm glad he gave.
Book Review: Almost as Good as Being There
Summary: 5 Stars
In a December 2007 letter to friends and family I went on record with a wish to meet Russell T. Davies. I count the wish as fulfilled -- not because I bothered the man, but because The Writers Tale is (possibly) the next best thing to sharing a pint at a pub. The book is composed as a year-long e-mail conversation between Benjamin Cook (of Dr. Who Confidential) and Russell Davies. Cook's questions are penetrating and carefully objective -- designed to elicit thoughtful and revealing responses from Davies. Davies doesn't disappoint! He writes candidly and with emotional honesty. Writing is exhilirating when it works and excrutiating when it doesn't - both seasons are here, along with original Davies' cartoons, set photos from Dr. Who and Torchwood, and several partial drafts and rewrites of Series 4 episodes. It's fascinating to watch a craftsman at work. Russell T. if you read this, the next pint is on me!Book Review: Buy paperback version only!
Summary: 5 Stars
Please note that the below review applied only to the hardcover version. The paperback version is fantastic, and if you don't buy it you're a bloody fool.
Old review below:
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Don't get me wrong - The Writer's Tale is absolutely fantastic. First rate, worth every cent, I loved the book. You should absolutely read it.
BUT. The fact of the matter is, at $30, it is not a cheap book. And there's a new edition coming out in January with 300 added pages of material. And you'd probably be foolish to drop $30 on this right now when you could wait and spend probably the same amount of money on a 300 page longer book.
So my one star review should not be taken as a knock against the book - just a knock against this edition.
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