The Reference Guide Review The Reference Guide ReviewWhen I was last a practicing Doctor Who fan, back in the mid-80's, I was a nut for Doctor Who trivia. I regularly fed on Peter Haining's various hard cover books, the first edition of Jean-Marc Lofficier's program guides, the Early Years, and even the Unfolding Text. So, when I found myself coming out of remission a few weeks back, my interest continued and I picked up the various handbooks, and then yesterday Steve Traylen lent me his copy of The Discontinuity Guide, which I then preceded to happily go through [and will undoubtably purchase for myself at some point.]
The Handbooks, as you might expect, are quite a serious affair. It's surprising that the Sixth Doctor handbook is just as long as the Fourth. However, they give much longer descriptions and reviews in the Sixth Doctor's book.
The best of the three books is the Hartnell one, with it's fascinating production diary of the show's development from the very beginning to Hartnell's departure. The production diary alone makes this book well worth the $6 for a fan interested in the development of the series, and it's interesting to see names like Malcome Hulke and Robert Holmes make tiny appearances even this early. Unfortunately, the reviews here are a little bit iffy, as for missing episodes they are based on 30 year old memories, audio tapes, or scripts. Without detailing how they reviewed these, I'm left to scratch my head if they aren't just operating on nostalgia. It's clear that this is some of the author's favorite stuff.
On the other hand, the Discontinuity Guide is the Anti-Handbook. When I went to sleep this morning and put the DG on top of the Handbooks, I half-expected them to react, obliterating both from existance, and perhaps taking my updated versions of the Lofficier books with them. I related with the Discontinuity Guide a bit more, as it's a product of my generation of Doctor Who fans. Cornell, Day, and Topping show a much more irreverent feel to the program, even teasing Howe-Stammers-Walkers calling the first story 100,000 BC instead of An Unearthly Child as "a sign of elitism". Heh.
There are also some delightful points, for example putting Dimensions In Time at the end of season 17. [I'm only aware of Dimensions by reputation, but it's a better location here than Howe-Stammers-Walker putting it in The First Doctor's Handbook.] Of course, the reviews could make you wonder at times [I never thought very highly of Survival or the Happiness Patrol].
The book contains some interesting continuity theories, specifically that the Doctor did change history in Genesis of the Daleks, and their theory of a series of post-War Games second Doctor adventures to allow for the Five Doctors and the Two Doctors. Also, many of the continuity listings would be useful if you were writing NA's, MA's, or perhaps even new television episodes.
The "fashion disasters" section is pretty much a running gag of kinky outfits and flares.
Are these books necessary? No. But sometimes they can be a whole lot of fun.