The Roots of Evil

"Sometimes he was like a child, sometimes a god. Often he seemed to be both at once."

Writer: Philip Reeve

Format: Novella

Released: November 2014

Series: 12 Doctors, 12 Stories: 04

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Leela

Synopsis 

The Fourth Doctor and his companion Leela arrive on a massive free space station, known as the Heligan Structure. Little do they know that the tree has been asleep for centuries, dreaming of vengeance against a man in a blue box...

Verdict 

The Roots of Evil was a wonderful little read! Now, I know these novellas are pretty short but I must say that the standard of the first four adventures from the 12 Doctors, 12 Stories set that I was given have all been tremendous! A Big Hand for the Doctor kicked things off with the First Doctor seeing a premonition of his future self in the Eleventh Doctor, but here we have that same incarnation in the form of a statue! I think this story highlights just how wonderful novels can be and that still, over 30 years since Tom Baker left his role, we're still creating incredible adventures for the Fourth Doctor. And here we was, suffering the consequences of an Eleventh Doctor adventure! I am intrigued to know if the Doctor's later visit to the Heligan Structure will be depicted but it's probably best that it isn't. Once the Doctor arrived and first reference was made to his appearance not matching the statue, and the Doctor not recognising the name Golrandonvar, I did get the assumption that the statue would be a future version of the Doctor. I wasn't expecting it to be the Eleventh Doctor though! The Doctor didn't seem too pleased with the idea of wearing a bow tie but as the story went on he admitted that he might be able to see himself wearing one at some point in the future. It also seemed that Leela took quite the shining to the future Doctor! Bow ties are cool and it appears that the Eleventh Doctor is very handsome. You know what you've got to do now - make the Eleventh Doctor and Leela meet! What a team that would be. The theme of trees in this story was excellent and after reading I think the title is superb. Everything seemed to link to a tree somehow, whether it was bark or branches or what have you. The threat of the Spores was good and I liked the truth about them and how they should be going out into space and creating more tree space stations. Tree space stations - now isn't that incredible. Only in Doctor Who is that going to happen! I really liked Ven's character and his reaction to seeing the TARDIS and the Doctor was very good. I also liked Aggie and I thought the things their names were short for was hilarious! The Doctor really wasn't welcome. The characterisation of Leela in this story was absolutely perfect and I also liked the inclusion of some of the typical Fourth Doctor traits. The references to The Face of Evil and The Sun Makers were excellently placed though I was hoping that if K9 was going to be in the story it would be more than a cameo. The Justiciar and Chairman's bickering over who was truly in charge was pretty good and I really liked what Leela thought about that. Director Sprawn was a good enemy but I think he could have appeared a bit earlier! Overall though, a great climax to a fabulous little read. I really am enjoying the format this collectors' set has been presented with each story getting its own separate mini book. I think it gives a feeling of separation unlike where they were first printed just appearing one after another. Of course, with this set I've got the added bonus of a Twelfth Doctor adventure and fabulous postcards of the attire that each Doctor wears, as appears on the front cover of each print. This really is a whacky set, and this was a wonderful adventure from it. 

Rating: 9/10