Desperately Seeking Susan Foreman (2013)
"Desperately Seeking Susan Foreman is a very different Doctor Who book. Richard Kirby’s personal look back at fifty years of time travel is built around his quest to obtain a signed photograph from every living female companion—from Carole Ann Ford’s character, who inspired the book’s title, right through to the present day and the Doctor’s current sidekick, Clara Oswald (Jenna-Louise Coleman)."
Reviews
There are 26 female companions in Richard’s list, from Carole Ann Ford through to Jenna-Louise Coleman, and each autograph is proudly displayed alongside some opinions and recollections of the show throughout the years. You can easily see which eras the author has more enthusiasm for, spending quite some time discussing Sarah Jane Smith, for instance, but his ability to easily pull in modern references and provide brief details of his autograph quests makes Desperately Seeking Susan Foreman one of the most unusual, readable and personal accounts of Doctor Who‘s 50 years.
Christian Cawley |
Desperately Seeking Susan Foreman is a charming piece of work, that manages to both appeal to us sad old fans, as well as introducing beginners to the mad world of Doctor Who. It's a funny book, which branches off into anecdotes, connections and jokes with pleasing regularity. And the idea of using autographs as a framing device works beautifully in its favour. If you're after something that will entertain, educate, and inspire you to re-watch certain episodes of your favourite television show, look no further than this. A splendid read that does even more than it says on the blurb!
Cory Eadson |