Customer Rating:  
Summary: Hugely over-rated.
Comment:
Read Robert McKee and you'll see what proper endings are and how RTD can't design them.
Watch BSG and B5
Customer Rating:
Summary: Superb
Comment: This is simply a stunningly good book. I felt amazed, impressed and moved by it. Having it to read almost makes up for the lack of a Doctor Who series in 2009. Or would if I'd saved it up and read it slowly, instead of finishing it in one go - but I defy anyone to put it down unfinished.
It's based on an extended email conversation between Russell T Davies, saviour and until recently Chief Writer, of the series, and journalist Benjamin Cook, lasting from February 2007 to March 2008 (ish). During this time, Davies was writing his own episodes of Series 4 (shown in 2008), polishing and tweaking episodes written by others and writing the 2007 and 2008 Christmas Specials. Davies and Cook discuss the development of some of these scripts in detail, with draft scripts provided (including of deleted and reworked scenes) as they are written - so it's almost like peering over the writer's shoulder (no, it's better, because Cook's questions draw out so much more than the mere scripts).
Two themes to which the very candid conversation continually reverts are Davies' agony in actually getting the stuff written - often in the small hours of the morning, and within a few days of absolute, final, date for its delivery - and his view of writing TV drama. Both aspects are revelatory.
As a long time "Doctor Who" fan I have been immensely grateful to Davies for bringing the series back, but - I now see - not nearly grateful enough. It's easy to criticise this or that aspect or episode, and to take things for granted, so it is very salutory to see some of the toil that he goes through to deliver, and keep delivering. Reading what he has to say about the pain and effort involved I can see why this couldn't go on for ever. (It wasn't just the writing itself - during the year the plans for the 2009 break, Davies' handing on of his role, and David Tennant's handing over the lead role were all leaked or speculated about, causing huge turbulence behind the scenes: I enjoyed Davies' comment on one of these leaks (to the "Daily Star"): 'At least "The Sun" has readers'.)
Davies' thoughts about TV scriptwriting are also interesting and for these alone, the book deserves to get read beyond the Doctor Who community. (I'll will watch out now for the use of triple adjectives and some other annoyances described here.)
Finally - Internet criticism is something Davies particularly rails against, pointing out how it can undermine the confidence writers, especially new ones and insisting that professionals do this better (I don't think he just means chatrooms and messageboards when he says this!). So it actually feels a bit cheeky to be commenting on this book at all, even to praise it, but it's a risk I'll have to run.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Compelling
Comment: A very compelling read that you will find very hard to put down. Partially due to interesting subject matter but also the easy to read 'e-mail' format and exchanges.
This is not a book for all Dr Who fans. The text can be very adult and Russell's 'constant' homo-erotic feelings about actors in the shows would not suit all, although I found it very funny.
The big strength of the book however is Russell's honesty. This is really honest stuff, with high angst, stress and doubt all the way through. Clearly Russell has too much 'on his plate' (he says on several occassions it is killing him) and this book explained to me why series 4 of Dr Who was so inconsistant in it's quality. You can see that the end of the series was really a reunion/say goodbye and much of it had the feeling of being 'cobbled' together and being pulled in.
You also get the idea that Russell has no one to bounce ideas off, and at times he regrets this. All the while dismissing any criticism and opinions he finds on the net, in the media etc. But what he says goes, and although he has sought this, he does at times seem to regret it.
If you wish to read the 'raw' thoughts of a writer through his year then this book should be top of you list. It is honest, amusing and thought provoking. Russell is a very interesting man who makes for a compelling read.
If you worship the series and all contributors then this is not really for you. It is not a slick 'are we not fine' book. But it all opens up in such a unique way that that most should love it...warts and all.
Customer Rating:
Summary: honesty and insight from the legendary Russell T Davies
Comment: How does a creative person actually write? I doubt whether the question has ever been answered with such honesty and detail as in this marvellous journal. Ben Cook's questions are probing and serious, and Russell's answers carefully considered and ruthlessly honest - and of course, leavened with unlikely humour. I could not imagine a better primer for any young aspiring screenwriter. Yes, there's a bit of sex in it - but that's life, isn't it?
Customer Rating:
Summary: "That was the best. The Best!!!"
Comment: Quite possibly the single best book ever about Doctor Who, or television, or writing in general. RTD and Ben deserve all sorts of literary awards for this massive and massively entertaining volume, perfect for both the dedicated Who fan or for anyone interested in writing. I cannot possibly recommend this book highly enough. Buy. NOW! (And when I refer to the book as "massive", I mean that quite literally. Due to the formatting, the listed 512 pages actually contain the equivalent of a thousand pages of content. Not to worry, as they flew by so fast I was actually surprised when I got to the end so quick... fantastic book.)
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