Unnatural History

'''Unnatural History''' is a Doctor Who novel featuring the Eighth Doctor and a complex narrative involving alternate realities. The story centers around Sam Jones, who exists in two different versions of herself - one blonde and adventurous, the other dark-haired and struggling with addiction in London. The plot takes place in 2002 London and San Francisco, where a dimensional scar threatens both the TARDIS and reality itself. The Doctor must navigate this crisis while dealing with strange creatures, including a potentially destructive Kraken and members of the mysterious Faction Paradox. The novel incorporates multiple plot threads including biodata manipulation, dimensional rifts, and time paradoxes. Key characters include the Doctor, both versions of Sam Jones, Fitz, and various figures who may be allies or threats. The book explores themes of identity, destiny, and the malleability of reality through its science fiction framework. It raises questions about how personal choices and external forces shape who people become.

Readers highlight Unnatural History as one of the better Doctor Who novels, praising its handling of character relationships and philosophical themes around identity. Multiple reviews note the strong dynamics between the Doctor and Fitz. The time travel elements and San Francisco setting receive positive mentions. Likes: - Complex exploration of memory and personality - Satisfying resolution to ongoing story arcs - Rich descriptive imagery - Well-integrated references to other Doctor Who stories Dislikes: - Plot complexity makes it challenging for new readers - Some find the abstract concepts hard to follow - A few readers note it drags in the middle sections Ratings: Goodreads: 3.84/5 (88 ratings) LibraryThing: 3.75/5 (22 ratings) "Dense but rewarding" appears in multiple reader reviews. One Goodreads reviewer noted it "requires concentration but pays off." No Amazon ratings available as the book is out of print.

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🌟 Written during the "wilderness years" between the classic and new Doctor Who TV series, this book was part of the BBC's Eighth Doctor Adventures line that kept the franchise alive. 🌟 Kate Orman was the first female author to write for the Doctor Who New Adventures series and went on to write multiple acclaimed entries in the franchise. 🌟 The concept of Faction Paradox introduced in this book became so popular it spawned its own spin-off series of books and audio dramas. 🌟 The novel's exploration of alternate realities predated the mainstream popularity of the multiverse concept in science fiction by several years. 🌟 The book's San Francisco setting was chosen to connect with the 1996 Doctor Who TV movie, which also took place in that city and featured the Eighth Doctor's only on-screen appearance at that time.