Planet Skaro > Reviews > Doctor Who: The Legacy > The Collector - Chapter Four
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Chapter Four Review by Elizabeth Medeiros

This chapter of "The Collector" brings to a conclusion this unusual story of what is happening in the Space Zoo. Adam uses a disclaimer for each Chapter and this one states that he rushes to complete this tale with his sanity intact. No worries about the author's sanity, but there are times in this chapter where it's obvious he is rushing things just a little.

The next scenes with Alf and Nick illustrate this. Noan is slowly and effectively healing Nick of the wounds Alf inflicted. But I think this part is lacking something, there's a casualness to the main characters that detracts from the story. It's as if the characters are disconnected from their emotions somehow. Adam's description of Nick growing back his arm and muscles is very good, but it's not as dramatic as it could be.

Noan himself, is a mystery as well. All that is stated is that he's an Omnischi and his race has an interest in keeping the zoo functioning and saving all the exhibits. But if the Collector is the most powerful telepath known to the Doctor, why is it that Noan has the vital role of helping the Doctor, Nick and Alf escape the Creature? The Collector does appear in this Chapter, but he's suddenly unable to provide as much help as Noan does. No wonder the zoo isn't safe.

But there are some great descriptive sequences in this chapter. The section where the Creature tells exactly who it is ..'Once long ago, in ancient times, I had a name. It was whispered, through the endless tunnels of darkness at the heart of eternity.' evokes an effective otherworldly creepy quality. The Doctor's plan to trick the Creature is also nicely inventive but a bit hard to follow. And the scene where Alf and Nick feel each other's pain comes across well.

Though the final sentences of "The Collector" might hold the most tension of all. As they're ready to leave the zoo by way of the amulets, Nick asks the Doctor what the hitchhiker saw within his mind. The Doctor doesn't answer, his face merely grows dark. It's hinted more than once in this tale that something is up with the Doctor, and the answer might be in the next Novella, "Ruins of Self, part one."

Chapter Four Review by Paul Clement

Chapter Four begins with the same pace of action as Chapter three did, but with the added bonus of an excellent cliffhanger to set off from.

This chapter seems to confirm that Adam's prose style is perfectly suited to the rigours of an action packed scenario, and in this the final chapter all three of the main characters seem to have something positive to add to the story.

The Doctor has perhaps the most positive and fascinating part to play in this final episode as we get a glimpse of a version of the Doctor that Alf seems to recall from her vague feelings of her time as Ace with another Doctor. The role of the Doctor as the great manipulator, always a step ahead of the rest has been seen many times before, most notably in the NA's, and although it is nice to see it in the story, and it has been written well, it is perhaps something that shouldn't weight down the stories of a 3A season. This is after all a Doctor based around Brian Blessed and not Sylvester McCoy. At times I almost pictured McCoy portraying the Doctor in this the last episode.

Alf and Nick seem to have regained the closeness between them, though whether this will last or not remains to be seen. Alf particularly seems to have grown throughout this and the last episode. There is also a great scene when Nick, who was struggling to hold the Doctors mind in his head, learns that what he was struggling with was only a fraction of it.

The final few scenes although well written do seem to be a little rushed, almost anti-climatic in their execution. Perhaps Adam was a little to keen to get to the after adventure round up that seems prevalent in most stories.

All told, this is another solid chapter that builds upon the success of the previous one and makes the story as a whole a fairly enjoyable one. If only the first two chapters had been a bit less heavy going, this could have been a truly great story.