Doctor Who: Witch Hunters

The historical tales probably suited the First Doctor the best of all, at least on television, as back then the series wasn't really as "science-fiction" so much about a bunch of people that travelled in time and got dumped in random places, with wacky adventures ensuing. As the series became more defined as SF, the historicals dropped away, only returning when they could be coupled with some SF concept, aliens or whatnot. And whether that's true or not, it can be said that the better historical stories have come by using Hartnell's Doctor as the lead. Virgin's "The Plotters" was an entertaining romp, but this one is something else entirely, a sometimes unsettling descent into is just as alien as the one with the big-headed telepathic people, and maybe even more so. The original TARDIS crew (Ian, Barbara, and Susan) wind up in Salem and decide to spend a bit of time there while the Doctor repairs the ship yet again. However, as soon as they realize that people are preparing the hanging trees, they high-tail it out. This doesn't set well with Susan, who has made some friends and doesn't want to see the witch-trial horrors come down. So she activates the Fast-Return Switch, drags them back. And all heck breaks loose. What makes this novel work is how eveything just keeps spiralling out of control and all anybody does is just makes things worse. Susan's latent psychic powers are causing everyone's underlying paranoia to feedback and grow, Ian and Barbara have no idea how to act in a world where witches are considered real and everywhere, and the Doctor just wants to not break history. Lyons does an excellent job detailing Puritan life and giving us a sense that while the people were superstitious and a tad narrow-minded, it wasn't all their fault and that once the finger-pointing started, it got a momentum of its own. You went along because you didn't want to look out of place, because people who were out of place were clearly witches. The crew gets puts through the emotional wringer and even the Doctor doesn't escape unscathed, although he does well for himself (the scene where he scatters the mob gathering at the inn is pure Hartnell). Even Susan, who is most episodes was a whimpering child, becomes the emotional focal point and does carry the day. Even if she does fall and bust her ankle, for old time's sake. One of the more intense Who novels, and brutal for it, capturing the horror of the witch-trials without shying away from the fact that while it wasn't the fault of one person, it was the fault of everyone and it needed everyone to agree to stop it. And that didn't happen.

I was interested in some new 1st Doctor material, and in honor of Halloween, I started to read "The Witch Hunters." This is a wonderful book! The 1st Doctor, Barbara, Ian, and Susan land in Salem just before the witch trials, and of course, the four travellers get involved -- circumstantially as well as emotionally. In fact, the travelers involvement extend much more than just a casual participation in history. The high emotion of Salem village reaches the TARDIS crew in one form or another. But, to say anymore would be too much. Suffice it to say, this book pushes the time travelers emotions and skills at getting out of perilous situations to its full limit. We see all four characters, including the Doctor, with more raw, deeper, and exposed emotion. The fact that the weight of history is against them, makes this adventure all the more frightening, wondering if the travelers will escape. My only complaint about the book is the convenient use of the TARDIS Fast Return Switch. (...)The ending alone is worth it.

A pox on those reviewers who reveal the best bits in this, a forum discussing buyability of product! Suffice to say, this is the best written, best plotted, best characterised, best smelling and cleanest Doctor Who novel yet. Bar none.

I didn't manage to get my hands on a copy of The Witch Hunters until well after it had come out. While I had tried very much to avoid spoilers, I did start hearing that it was an excellent read. On the other hand, Steve Lyons was new to me, I had never read any of his previous Who outings. The Witch Hunters is set between Reign of Terror and Planet of the Giants. No stretch there, a nice gap in which to set MA's. Season 1 has always been one of my favorites, and one which is not often visited in the MA's. One of the main points of The Witch Hunters is the Doctor's belief that you must, "not change history. Not one line." as seen in The Aztechs. Only this time it is Susan who questions the idea, and after a brief visit to Salem in the 1690's, uses the Fast Return Switch (seen in The Edge of Destruction) to return to Salem to try to change the tragedy from occurring. Of course this just ends up getting the whole crew involved in the troubles and has Ian accused of being a Warlock. A classic early Who setup, but the novel form allows everything to have a darker twist. It is set after the bloodiest Who setting to date (The Reign of Terror), the crew thinks they have seen the worst, only to get hit with something nastier. Susan and Ian are torn from the Doctor, and the Doctor and Barbara are forced to leave in the TARDIS. Ian is imprisoned and Susan is taken in by a Priest. Susan is setup for one of the first times since An Unearthly Child as being truly alien. Her mental powers are emerging and they amplify the troubles for her. Ian comes across once again as the heroic protector of the group and his portrayal is right on par with the rest of the first season. (As an intersting side note, this is one of 2 adventures Ian refers to in the newly released Crusade linking material). His caring for Barbara also comes across very well. Barbara also is right on. It is interesting as she is in a different position than she was in The Aztechs arguing for change. She still thinks they should change history a bit, but is careful to consult the history books after the adventure picks up pace. The Doctor truly shines through. The charecterization is good, but more than that, his hidden thoughts are partially revealed, piercing the hard exterior. The book leaves us in some doubt if perhaps the Doctor did change history, but just one line. The afterward with Rebecca Nurse is absolutely priceless. Bottom Line: Amazing stuff. I may have read better in the BBC line, but not much. Certainly the best of the PDA's.

I really enjoyed this book, I thought the characters (the Salem residents) were portrayed probably pretty realistically, considering the hysteria which gripped the town at that time. I also liked the way the Doctor and his companions handled the situation, except that I was disappointed with Susan's insistence to return to Salem and continue trying to solve an unresolvable situation--you'd think a supposedly more intelligent life form would shrug it off as one of those matters that couldn't be meddled with--but of course, if she hadn't, there would have been no story! Otherwise, I thought it was a great story and enjoyed it very much.