Nick Briggs delivers a great entry for Doctor Who!

This novel brings so much more to the War Doctor than we we able to see in the 50th anniversary special. Even though he is considered his own regeneration, it's very easy to see him in this story as an older Eighth.

The companion was the best kind of all - completely human. No deep connection with the Doctor's past, no superpowers, just an ordinary person doing extraordinary things.

The narrator, Nicholas Briggs, has been voicing the Daleks (and several other DW villains) since the series' revival, and is also the producer for the Big Finish audio dramas. His absolute understanding of the characters in this universe lent itself well to his portrayal.

Well done to George Mann! I look forward to more of your work. Thank you for your story.

16 people found this helpful

It's like listening to an episode of Doctor Who!

I've only read a handful of Doctor Who novels, but I figured a novel that featured the War Doctor was a chance to reintroduce myself to the genre. I couldn't have been happier with the experience. It really was, like the headline suggests, as if I was listening to a transcript of a TV Doctor Who episode complete with familiar sound effects, voices, characters and situations. George Mann does a phenomenal job throwing in multiple references to canon Doctor Who episodes, both before and after the War Doctor. Key elements of his story refer back to my favorite classic Who episode, "The Five Doctors," which just made the story that much more meaningful to me. Nicholas Briggs is the voice of the Daleks on the television show, and he displays his incredible range of vocal skills in the narration. He does an excellent John Hurt impression, so his War Doctor dialogue is spot on. Having the same voice actor as the TV show just makes the Dalek dialogue that much more authentic. The novel introduces elements of the Time War and (no surprise) also ties directly into "The Day of the Doctor" TV episode. I, for one, would welcome more War Doctor stories, both before and after the events of this book, but I'll have to settle for before. There isn't much detail out there about the War Doctor, how he thought and behaved, and this novel is a fantastic start to filling in the gaps on that iteration of the Doctor. Definitely a worthwhile read for anyone who is a fan of the rebooted series and the War Doctor.

8 people found this helpful

Highly Recommend

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Highly recommend to Whovians especially those who would like to hear more from The War Doctor. This story takes place just prior to the events in the 50th Anniversary TV special.
Nicholas Briggs does an amazing job of narration. I could hear and see John Hurt throughout the story.

What did you like best about this story?

Nicholas Briggs narration.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Absolutely

Any additional comments?

I want to hear more stories from the War Doctor era.

8 people found this helpful

The Return of the War Doctor!

What did you love best about Doctor Who: Engines of War?

All of it!

Engines of War is an excellent book from start to finish. An epic Doctor Who adventure set during The Time War, full of action and very entertaining.

Have you listened to any of Nicholas Briggs’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Everyone knows that Nick Briggs can do Dalek voices, but his portrayal of the gruff and grumpy War Doctor was so convincing you could almost hear John Hurt.

Nick Briggs did an excellent job of the other characters too, especially the 'companion' Cinder.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Not an extreme reaction, but I loved every minute of it. We need more War Doctor audios!

Any additional comments?

George Mann has managed to write a really interesting Doctor Who story that gives us an insight in to the darkest of all of the Doctor's; a violent incarnation weary of the world around him and prepared to do whatever it takes. Doctor no more!

This was a fantastic audiobook to listen to, and is highly recommended to fans of Doctor Who both old and new.

4 people found this helpful

Great stuff.

This was my first experience with a Dr. Who novelization. I was really surprised at how good it turned out to be. Great production and sound quality, the narrator was top notch, and the story itself was quite enjoyable as well. Did a wonderful job of expanding on the characterization of the War Doctor. Overall it was a grim, but fun adventure.

1 person found this helpful

A Proper Doctor Who Story

Would you consider the audio edition of Doctor Who: Engines of War to be better than the print version?

Haven't read the book version.

What other book might you compare Doctor Who: Engines of War to and why?

Nothing. This is unique.

Which scene was your favorite?

Spoilers Sweetie

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me smile. This is Doctor Who at its finest.

Any additional comments?

The story is well written. Very visual and stunning. You feel as though you’re in the thick of the action. That’s just with the words alone. You factor in the excellent narration, music and sound effects, and you have a fantastic listen.

Nicholas Briggs did an excellent job with the narration. The voice he does for this books doctor (played by John Hurt in the 50th anniversary episode called ‘A Day of the Doctor’) is an excellent impersonation of John Hurt. You really think it’s him. Very well done.

Thanks to great writing from George Mann I got to experience a true Doctor Who story, not some quickly thrown together garbage sold as a Doctor Who story.

The music added beauty to the overall story.

The sound effects made the story relentless, unstoppable and thrilling. It brought to life the dark and gritty moments, and made the story feel real…yes real. The action sequences were just damn near jaw dropping.

As for the characters. I thought the Doctor was written really well. George Mann brought to life Hurt’s character as seen in ‘A Day of the Doctor.’ Cinder was a pleasant surprise as the companion. She played very well off the Doctor, and in my opinion was a total bad ass.

There were some very neat aspects technology wise that I won’t tell you about because… spoilers sweetie.

Get this book, listen to it. You will love it.

1 person found this helpful

amazing book

love the book great story narrator was great just loved the story must read for all Doctor Who fans

1 person found this helpful

Thought provoking

Love this story! Memorable companion and it really fills in the gaps about the war doctor's motivations and the moral decline of the time lords. Nicholas Briggs nails the performance as well!

1 person found this helpful

Highly recommended

This one of the best audio books I've heard. definitely a good listen. Hope you enjoy this as much as I have.

Good listen

The story was great, I wish they could have gotten the real war doctor to voice it but the presenter did a good job.