Gave me pretty much what I wanted, plus a bunch of extra continuity teases. ( )

Set in the midst of the Time War, this story gives us an insider's view of just how off the deep end Rassilon has gone (though it really wasn't that hard for him to go over). The Doctor is racing against time as he discovers the Daleks have found a way that would wipe Gallifrey out of history. With the help of Cinder, a young fighter from the planet Moldox, he sets out not only to put a crimp in Rassilon's machinations, but stop the Daleks from creating worse devastation than already in process.

I would like more stories like this, framed by the TV series, but not restrained by it either, recalling a really great, creative era of the series (the so called Wilderness Era). I am glad to see that BBC is reissuing books from the earlier book lines. More people should be reading them. ( )

I am glad to have this book to fill in the gap of the time war. Not great but a lot better than I thought it would be. I will be reading more of not only this series but author as well. I guess The Doctor changed. Yet after the 50th. Nope the doctor didn't. All the post traumatic stress from 9 and 10 was basically untrue. That is a criticism of the 50th not this book. ( )

George Mann’s Doctor Who: Engines of War was the first and to-date only Doctor Who novel to primarily feature the War Doctor, as portrayed by John Hurt. The book appeared eight months after The Day of the Doctor and over a year after The Name of the Doctor introduced the War Doctor. Besides the novelization of The Day of the Doctor, the War Doctor has appeared in a few short stories and several comic books from Titan Books, so this novel remains significant for those wanting to know more about the War Doctor and the Last Great Time War, especially as it introduced the War Doctor’s companion, Cinder.

In the course of the story, the War Doctor and Cinder discover that the Daleks and their Degradations have created a weapon that can not only destroy, but eradicate the target from all of time. They plan to use it against Gallifrey in order to eliminate the Time Lords and win the war. The War Doctor must try to spur the Time Lords to action, not just to save themselves but also to protect the rest of the universe from the Daleks. Mann helps to explain how Rassilon was restored as his last appearance prior to “The End of Time” was in “The Five Doctors” (pg. 152). The Time Lords’ resurrection of Rassilon represents their continuing corruption from the Time War and willingness to compromise on their self-described values as they creep toward authoritarianism (pg. 204). The War Doctor demonstrates that, while he’s disgusted with the Time Lords’ decisions, he has not yet reached the level of bitterness where he would use the Moment against both Daleks and Time Lords (pg. 214). He still feels he made the right choice during the events of “Genesis of the Daleks” even as his bitterness builds (pg. 289).

As the only novel set entirely during the Last Great Time War and featuring the War Doctor, Mann’s Engines of War helps to add more depth to the character and shows how he changed between his appearances in “The Night of the Doctor” and “Day of the Doctor,” no longer being just a warrior but now willing to use the Moment. ( )

Set during the time war, this story is told from the point of view of Cinder, a human living on a planet that has been taken over by the Daleks, and tells of her experience when she meets the War Doctor. I enjoyed the story; apart from being well-written, it was nice to get into the character of the War Doctor more, since he doesn't make much of an appearance in the tv series. It was also nice to have a Doctor Who book to read during a time when the tv series hasn't put out new episodes in a long time (with the exception of the Christmas episode)! Coincidentally, I was already part way through this book when John Hurt passed away - he did so much, but he was wonderful as the War Doctor and he is definitely who I was picturing as I read the story.