Colin Brake

Colin Brake is a British television writer and author known for his work on various BBC series and Doctor Who novels. His television writing credits include episodes of EastEnders, Bugs, and Byker Grove. In the Doctor Who franchise, Brake wrote two original novels featuring the Eighth Doctor - "Escape Velocity" (2001) and "The Colony of Lies" (2003). He also authored the book "Doctor Who: The Television Companion" which provided detailed episode guides and background information about the classic series. Beyond science fiction, Brake has written books aimed at helping aspiring screenwriters develop their craft. His technical writing background includes script editing and story consultation work for television productions. The author's work spans multiple genres and formats, from children's television to adult science fiction novels and non-fiction reference guides. His career demonstrates particular focus on British television properties and franchise tie-in works.

Readers found Colin Brake's Doctor Who novels readable but unremarkable compared to other authors in the franchise. His straightforward writing style earned praise for accessibility but criticism for lacking depth. Liked: - Clear, fast-paced plotting in "Escape Velocity" - Detailed research in "The Television Companion" - Easy to follow storytelling style Disliked: - Characters described as "bland" and "underdeveloped" in online reviews - Plot resolutions called "predictable" by multiple Goodreads reviewers - Writing style described as "basic" and "serviceable but uninspired" Ratings: Goodreads: - "Escape Velocity": 3.2/5 (87 ratings) - "The Colony of Lies": 3.0/5 (92 ratings) - "The Television Companion": 3.8/5 (156 ratings) Amazon: - Average 3.5/5 across titles - Most reviews note the books as "decent" but "not memorable" His non-fiction work on television writing received more positive reviews than his fiction, with readers citing practical advice and thorough research.

Escape Velocity (2001) An Eighth Doctor Adventure novel where the Doctor becomes entangled in events aboard a space station as humanity makes its first steps into interstellar travel.

The Colony of Lies (2003) A Second Doctor novel set on a remote colony world where the inhabitants discover their entire society may be built on carefully constructed falsehoods.

The Price of Paradise (2006) A Tenth Doctor novel featuring the Doctor and Rose Tyler investigating mysterious disappearances on an apparently perfect holiday planet.

Doctor Who: The Television Companion (1998) A comprehensive episode guide covering the classic series of Doctor Who, providing production details and background information for each story.

Justin Richards has written over 50 Doctor Who novels and served as creative consultant for BBC Books' Doctor Who range. His work combines similar elements of science fiction adventure and television tie-in experience as Brake's contributions.

Gary Russell worked as a script editor on Doctor Who and has authored numerous Who novels and reference guides. His background bridges television production and franchise fiction writing like Brake's career path.

Paul Cornell writes for television including Doctor Who episodes while also penning tie-in novels and original science fiction works. His career parallels Brake's dual focus on screen and prose narratives within British media franchises.

Keith Topping specializes in television reference guides and companion books covering British series. His non-fiction work analyzes shows and provides behind-the-scenes context similar to Brake's television guidebooks.

David Bishop has written television scripts and tie-in novels for properties like Doctor Who and Judge Dredd. His work demonstrates comparable experience writing both original and franchise content across multiple formats.