Instruments of Darkness
is the final book in Gary Russell’s trilogy of Doctor Who novels dealing
with the Pale Man and the Irish Twins.
While not the most connected trilogy, there are ideas in all three
novels of using alien technology to improve oneself and build power which are
interesting but sadly, Instruments of Darkness is the weakest. This was a novel that was delayed when
Russell suffered from writer’s block and was initially replaced in the Past
Doctor Adventures schedule with The Shadow in the Glass at the last
minute and honestly while the extra time allowed for the novel’s completion it
didn’t entirely work with what Russell had done so well before. The Scales of Injustice and Business
Unusual are classics and both I’d highly recommend to fans of their
respective eras and Doctor Who in general. Instruments of Darkness, on the other
hand, doesn’t quite come together, though that isn’t to say it isn’t at least
worth one read though with tempered expectations. When the novel shines, it really does shine,
but it’s more the connective tissue that doesn’t hold together as well as it
really should. This is the first novel
to really acknowledge Big Finish Productions, bringing in the character of
Evelyn Smythe to meet the Doctor and Mel long after she’s finished traveling and
that’s where one of the big issues of the novel occurs. The idea that the Sixth Doctor would abandon Evelyn
over a decade before they initially met honestly feels wrong. Okay, at this point Big Finish had only
released up to Bloodtide (though Russell would have had access to the
upcoming audios) and there wasn’t a clear ending to her story in mind until at least
2004, but it feels wrong for the companion immediately after Peri whom the
Doctor couldn’t save and Grant Markham who gets a mention here, would just be
put into live isolated for a decade.
The characterization of the Sixth Doctor in the first
third or so of the novel also feels off.
Oddly enough it feels like the way Terrance Dicks mismanaged the
character in The Eight Doctors, having him obsess over food and feel
really annoyed at his companions existence which feels more flanderized than
anything the television show did with the character at his worst. Luckily by the time things settle in Russell
builds this great dynamic between the Doctor, Evelyn, and Mel and you’re able
to really enjoy their time together (with the novel ending with the three of
them travelling together which is sadly not really followed up on). Mel in particular is continually well
characterized as she was in Business Unusual from the word go and her
active role in the plot really shows how Russell understands the possibilities
her character could have. The plot
itself is a bit odd: there’s a being trapped that is being released back into
the world by a mysterious John Doe on the orders of the Magnate, a shadow
Government that seems to be connected with C19.
This is a simplified version of the plot as Russell adds and removes elements
and subplots on his own whims which is a shame as simplicity would have helped
make the book flow. The identity of John
Doe is also interesting, due to some of the implications of the character being
an obscure companion given a genuinely horrific fate, though thankfully that is
implications and not confirmed. The
exploration of the Irish Twins, Ciara and Cellian, here is perhaps where the
novel is at its best, allowing both of them to break away from their previous
deeds and attempt a redemption. Sadly
this is lost in the sheer number of characters and the fact that you really
need context from The Scales of Injustice and Business Unusual
for it to work.
Overall, Instruments of Darkness is a book that
probably needed an editor if it was to reach the heights of the previous two in
the trilogy, but in a lot of aspects managed to work while in many others it
fell flat. The characterization of the
regulars starts rocky but eventually comes together really nicely and deals
with the ideas of the entire trilogy but there’s still that sense of things
being held back to make the final experience just fine. 5/10.
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