Doctor Who: Planet Of The Ood by Keith Temple (book review)
This story is remembered as returning to the alien Ood, first seen as rogue red-eyed murderer in ‘The Impossible Planet’. Later, they are the ones who reveal to the Tenth Doctor that his time is short. In between, we are treated to a thrilling episode that also throws in some timely information about slavery and coercion.
When the Tenth and Donna arrive on the Ood–Sphere they are woefully ignorant of the shameful business of selling the Ood as domestic slaves. As soon as they land, the Doctor starts to hear their heart-breaking song of slavery and they find a dying Ood in the snow. Later, he has to has to join minds with Donna so she can experience it and she begs him to take it ways as it is so painfully sad. As they realise the horror of this trade, it rapidly becomes apparent that the docile creatures are succumbing to the red-eye which is spread by their telepathic minds. A mass breakout and slaughter ensues.
It’s a clever and nuanced plot and subtly puts the point that things are not always what they seem and just because something has always been done doesn’t make it right. Donna is as ever our emotional thermometer here. She’s recently seen the Doctor being fairly cold and logical about the fall of Pompeii but her influence is making him address his sometime dispassionate response. He is also influenced by the song of slavery sung by the Ood, unlike Donna he cannot unhear it.
As the company tries to cover its traces, the Doctor and Donna find out just how the Ood are converted. The ending is particularly effective as the conversion is stopped and visited upon the head of the company and revenge takes us full circle. This is completely enjoyable as a novel incorporating character development of the Doctor and Donna and neatly bringing in an early warning about the ending of his own song.
Sue Davies
July 2023
(pub: Target Books/BBC Books, 2023. 176 page paperback. Price: £ 9.99 (UK). ISBN: 978-1-78594-826-8)
check out website: www.penguin.co.uk/authors/236532/bbc