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Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale
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Manufacturer: Random House UK
Author: Russell T. Davies, Benjamin Cook
Publisher: Random House UK
Average Customer Rating:
Our Price: $29.67
You Save: $ 15.28 ( 34% )
Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Random House UK
Author: Russell T. Davies, Benjamin Cook
Publisher: Random House UK
Average Customer Rating:
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Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale Description
Binding: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN: 9781846075711
ISBN: 1846075718
Label: Random House UK
Manufacturer: Random House UK
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 512
Publication Date: 2008-11-13
Publisher: Random House UK
Reading Level: Young Adult
Studio: Random House UK
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN: 9781846075711
ISBN: 1846075718
Label: Random House UK
Manufacturer: Random House UK
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 512
Publication Date: 2008-11-13
Publisher: Random House UK
Reading Level: Young Adult
Studio: Random House UK
Editorial Review of Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale
A fascinating look at the creative life of the hit BBC series, Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale is executive producer Russell T. Davies' personal tour of the Doctor's universe. A unique collection of correspondence between Russell and writer Benjamin Cook, the book explores in detail Russell's work on Doctor Who Series 4, revealing how he plans the series and works with the show's writers. Fully illustrated with script pages, personal notes, and never-before-seen photos and artwork, The Writer's Tale is a love letter to television, and a fitting tribute to one of the most popular family dramas of all time.
Customer Reviews of Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Almost as Good as Being There
Review: In a December 2007 letter to friends and family I went on record with a wish to meet Russell T. Davies. I count the wish as fulfilled -- not because I bothered the man, but because The Writers Tale is (possibly) the next best thing to sharing a pint at a pub. The book is composed as a year-long e-mail conversation between Benjamin Cook (of Dr. Who Confidential) and Russell Davies. Cook's questions are penetrating and carefully objective -- designed to elicit thoughtful and revealing responses from Davies. Davies doesn't disappoint! He writes candidly and with emotional honesty. Writing is exhilirating when it works and excrutiating when it doesn't - both seasons are here, along with original Davies' cartoons, set photos from Dr. Who and Torchwood, and several partial drafts and rewrites of Series 4 episodes. It's fascinating to watch a craftsman at work. Russell T. if you read this, the next pint is on me!
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Incredible insight into the creative process behind Dr Who Season 4
Review: This textbook-sized tome (512 page of 2 column printed in some relatively small font) contains correspondence (emails) between Russell and Benjamin (the author) as the development of season 4 begins.
These e-mails radiate personality and huge insights into where the seeds of ideas germinated into the final product and some seeds just withered (i.e. Season 4's companion called "Penny").
Though I shouldn't be, I am amazed by the volume of Russell's text and how he seems so fearless and, at the same time, racked with doubt. You do feel the power of his love for television medium and his completely driven nature.
The writing process is something that cannot be described with a few pages or even a book but this book feels like it pushes around the edges so completely, you feel like you getting a glimmer of the forces that defines the product of the writing process.
Now, I agree that you should really be versed with Doctor Who TV lore and the universe created within the last 4 years - and more than a passing understanding of English colloquialisms. Just like the TV show, you will feel more impact if you understand the body of work that leads up to the present.
It is just great fun to peek into Russell's mind to see how he created one of the most enjoyable shows on TV (for me at least).
Now, I _wish_ they had also done this with Joss Whedon while he was doing Buffy, Angel and/or Firefly.
*sigh* Meanwhile, I'll be sated with this one.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: A Master Class for Aspiring and Professional Writers
Review: As the author of a book on writing myself (The Musical Theatre Writer's Survival Guide), and as a fellow very hard on books about writing (I don't think they're worth much unless they're by people who actually do the kind of writing they're expounding on for a living), I promise you, this one is worthwhile. For anyone who tells or wants to tell stories in any print or performance medium.
Though the book collects the seemingly unedited, largely unexpurgated email dialogue between Russell T Davies and journalist Benjamin Cook -- and as such may instill the apprehension that it will be a long-winded ramble (the print is small and it is a BIG, THICK book, and a coffee-table edition at that) -- it turns out to be a breathless and often un-put-downable read, akin to any of the classical philosophical exchanges of literature between mentor and student. Davies, despite being a telly populist at heart, is among the brightest, most articulate dramatists in the English speaking world, with a staggering analytical perception I'd liken only to a very few (such as Sondheim and Stoppard) and his thoughts and observations are passionate, funny, touching, instructive and provocative throughout. He makes it clear that he doesn't mean for his process to be regarded as any kind of template for everybody's process, but as with any great writer, the acquaintance is still well worth making. And there are full scripts represented too. Not only that, but among the profuse illustrations are many by Davies himself, who seems to be as gifted a cartoonist as he is a wordsmith.
Caveats? One, and it may be a big one. I'm not sure how well the text of this book will translate to anyone who is not at least passing familiar with Davies' new millennium renovation of DOCTOR WHO in general, and his work on season four (the primary launching pad for this book's ruminations) in particular. Not that it isn't all quite comprehensible -- but I wonder if it will resonate as meaningfully to one who isn't already an aficionado. It's probably worth at least a trip to the public library to find out; whereupon if it passes muster, I would absolutely recommend shelling out the shekels to add it to yours.
Review Summary: Almost as Good as Being There
Review: In a December 2007 letter to friends and family I went on record with a wish to meet Russell T. Davies. I count the wish as fulfilled -- not because I bothered the man, but because The Writers Tale is (possibly) the next best thing to sharing a pint at a pub. The book is composed as a year-long e-mail conversation between Benjamin Cook (of Dr. Who Confidential) and Russell Davies. Cook's questions are penetrating and carefully objective -- designed to elicit thoughtful and revealing responses from Davies. Davies doesn't disappoint! He writes candidly and with emotional honesty. Writing is exhilirating when it works and excrutiating when it doesn't - both seasons are here, along with original Davies' cartoons, set photos from Dr. Who and Torchwood, and several partial drafts and rewrites of Series 4 episodes. It's fascinating to watch a craftsman at work. Russell T. if you read this, the next pint is on me!
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Incredible insight into the creative process behind Dr Who Season 4
Review: This textbook-sized tome (512 page of 2 column printed in some relatively small font) contains correspondence (emails) between Russell and Benjamin (the author) as the development of season 4 begins.
These e-mails radiate personality and huge insights into where the seeds of ideas germinated into the final product and some seeds just withered (i.e. Season 4's companion called "Penny").
Though I shouldn't be, I am amazed by the volume of Russell's text and how he seems so fearless and, at the same time, racked with doubt. You do feel the power of his love for television medium and his completely driven nature.
The writing process is something that cannot be described with a few pages or even a book but this book feels like it pushes around the edges so completely, you feel like you getting a glimmer of the forces that defines the product of the writing process.
Now, I agree that you should really be versed with Doctor Who TV lore and the universe created within the last 4 years - and more than a passing understanding of English colloquialisms. Just like the TV show, you will feel more impact if you understand the body of work that leads up to the present.
It is just great fun to peek into Russell's mind to see how he created one of the most enjoyable shows on TV (for me at least).
Now, I _wish_ they had also done this with Joss Whedon while he was doing Buffy, Angel and/or Firefly.
*sigh* Meanwhile, I'll be sated with this one.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: A Master Class for Aspiring and Professional Writers
Review: As the author of a book on writing myself (The Musical Theatre Writer's Survival Guide), and as a fellow very hard on books about writing (I don't think they're worth much unless they're by people who actually do the kind of writing they're expounding on for a living), I promise you, this one is worthwhile. For anyone who tells or wants to tell stories in any print or performance medium.
Though the book collects the seemingly unedited, largely unexpurgated email dialogue between Russell T Davies and journalist Benjamin Cook -- and as such may instill the apprehension that it will be a long-winded ramble (the print is small and it is a BIG, THICK book, and a coffee-table edition at that) -- it turns out to be a breathless and often un-put-downable read, akin to any of the classical philosophical exchanges of literature between mentor and student. Davies, despite being a telly populist at heart, is among the brightest, most articulate dramatists in the English speaking world, with a staggering analytical perception I'd liken only to a very few (such as Sondheim and Stoppard) and his thoughts and observations are passionate, funny, touching, instructive and provocative throughout. He makes it clear that he doesn't mean for his process to be regarded as any kind of template for everybody's process, but as with any great writer, the acquaintance is still well worth making. And there are full scripts represented too. Not only that, but among the profuse illustrations are many by Davies himself, who seems to be as gifted a cartoonist as he is a wordsmith.
Caveats? One, and it may be a big one. I'm not sure how well the text of this book will translate to anyone who is not at least passing familiar with Davies' new millennium renovation of DOCTOR WHO in general, and his work on season four (the primary launching pad for this book's ruminations) in particular. Not that it isn't all quite comprehensible -- but I wonder if it will resonate as meaningfully to one who isn't already an aficionado. It's probably worth at least a trip to the public library to find out; whereupon if it passes muster, I would absolutely recommend shelling out the shekels to add it to yours.