In the mid 1980s you would be hard pressed to find a well written tome about the history of Doctor Who. Many were written but they simply didn't have the archival access that our modern world offers us today. Instead what existed were fanzines and some episode guides offering summaries of individual stories.
That has all changed now. After burgeoning into a global phenomenon Doctor Who is a big deal. Thus you now can choose from literally hundred of books on the program, written by academics fans and those associated with the show.
These titles cover everything from narrative histories of the show to religious themes in the program and even concise studies of its fandom.
For the most part I shy away from all this mumbo jumbo because there is simply too much out there. Recently on the word of a friend I discovered a really nice and readable book on the show that didn't bog me down with semantics, theories or deep physics
WHO’S 50: The 50 Doctor Who Stories To See Before You Die-By Graeme Burk and Robert Smith
The premise is simple, the two authors have selected 50 Doctor Who stories that simply must be seen before you die.
Each episode selected is broken down to the big idea of the story, the roots of the story and then buffered by a synopsis of what is going on. There also is a companions guide as well as a look at The Doctor's many adventures.
In essence Burk and Smith have peeled away all of the convoluted plot twists, weird back stories and heavy knowledge for the readers, allowing them to have a concise idea of what makes each selectted story so enjoyable or worth a second look.
The duo sets it all up in wonderful fashion with a guide to the origins of Doctor Who and the program’s formative years. As the duo moves through time and space from decade to decade they check in on the pulse of the show at that time, helping the reader understand what was happening onscreen, in the offices and behind the couches.
Burk and Smith make some bold selections in recommended episodes as well. By including The Leisure Hive and Survival amongst such must see heavy hitters as The Talons of Weng Chiang and the Caves of Androzani they bring a balanced perspective of the show that delves deeply into the mythos of the program.
The best thing about this book is it will make your revisit some classic episodes in a fresh way. Burk and Smith’s analysis makes you want to put the book down and spring to the tv.
The result of their passion is a read that is arguably the most intelligent and broad in scope survey of the series written to date.
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