Customer Reviews:
100% Faithful to the classic series!.......2007-09-22
It's hard to write a review for a book like this, because talking about the synopsis is too easy to spoil the reader. Don't worry the original 8 Doctors are involved. In my opinion there are only 8 Doctors -- Paul is the last one. Chronologically, this appears to be set not too long after the 1996 movie. Without giving away too much, the 8th Doctor (Paul McGann) needs to familiarize himself again like in the 1996 movie. The only difference being 8 Doctors are involved this time and it isn't because of his recent regeneration. As Doctor Who fans know some Doctors take longer to get use to their new regeneration than others. It's like as if it's another new beginning for the 8 Doctor. A chance to re-regenerate! The Doctor has been given another chance to live! The first time in the movie and now he has a new chance at things.
Terrance Dicks is a great writer, who doesn't have waffle when he writes this book and gets to the point! Great detail, beautifully written. I truly believe Terrance should have won an award for this book -- it's so adventurous, full of detail but yet easy to understand with an added bonus of being so faithful to the original Doctor Who series... If this was how Paul McGann's era was going to be, this would have opened up a new classic era for Doctor Who instead of the new series with David Tennant -- that tragic, politically correct, contemporary one that bears little resemblance to the original...
An uneven start.......2007-03-27
It's funny how the book that I read before this took me two months, while this one took like three hours. Not that it has any bearing on the review, but good to see I didn't really lose my speed. That's comforting. As the 1996 Fox movie of Doctor Who was supposed to come out, featuring the all-new regenerated Eighth Doctor, the BBC took a look at Virgin, who was publishing their New Adventures and said, "Hey, we can do this." Thus, they yanked the license back and decided to start their own line of original adventures featuring the Eighth Doctor (a task made easier by the fact that the movie got so-so ratings in America and thus was not picked up for a regular show . . . I've heard the movie wasn't that good so that may be a blessing, since it allowed the series to come back in 2005). This book is the first in that series and for the new fan, frankly, it will probably be an utter nightmare. The plot, as it stands, is the Doctor is hit by a left-behind trap from the Master, which causes him to lose his memory. The only way to get his memory back is to visit each of his seven earlier incarnation and, um, do stuff. And that's pretty much it. After nearly five years of the New Adventures giving us some degree of depth and sophistication, this feels like a step backwards, a very thin TV episode put to paper, where the story becomes just a series of things happening, almost like a checklist. Granted, Dicks was one of the "old guard", penning many of the Target novelizations that were based on the TV stories and working on the show itself back in the day . . . but he's also written New Adventures as well so this almost feels like a deliberate throwback, a calculated move away from the often dark and gritty New Adventures. Unfortunately, it doesn't exactly work and what we get reads honestly more like fan fiction than anything else. The awesome Eighth Doctor visits each of his incarnations at a certain point in their lives and basically gives them advice, simply because he happens to be awesome. The bits are also random lengths though, lasting only a few pages (the first Doctor) and other times going on for chapters at a time (the Sixth Doctor) without really any rhyme or reason. The Eighth Doctor at this point had only been seen in the movie and by some scant few maybe in the last Virgin novel, so this book really needed to give him a personality . . . but it doesn't happen, he's just there. Dicks gets all the personalities down but there's no magic to the prose or depth to the plotting, it's laid out like a newspaper, interesting in itself but with nothing to really bring you back. There's barely any suspense, by the time you get to the third or fourth Doctor you pretty much know the pattern by then and it's just a matter of flipping pages until you get to the end. Dicks does seem to go out of his way to contradict established continuity, which isn't so terrible since the show itself was often contradictory (as you'd expect with time travellers), but it sure does seem odd that he has both the narration and other characters comment on the Sixth Doctor's (and by extension Colin Baker's) weight . . . I don't remember him being that heavy but it keeps getting pointed out, which just seems petty. The only real saving grace to this is the beginning sequence in nineties London, as the Doctor gets stuck holding a bag of cocaine, and would have been an interesting angle for the whole novel to attempt . . . except he bails soon after to go on his multi-Doctor adventure and we only wrap that plot up at the end, basically just in time for new companion Samantha Jones to literally leap on board. Ms Jones does absolutely nothing to distinguish herself in the first few pages, with some really cringe inducing dialogue, and by some reports she does not get more interesting until much later. It's unfortunate that the BBC stumbled right out of the starting gate on this one, longtime fans will probably be bored as the story breaks no new ground whatsoever, functioning as a nostalgia piece only. And new fans will be utterly confused by the constant references to the show and the multiple Doctors. Not so much a mess as a misfire, I've heard that the BBC range did improve in quality. Whether it was to the high benchmark set by the best of the New Adventures, alas, only time will tell.
I have to say I do love Paul McGann's Doctor.......2006-08-01
Just recently, with seeing the new 9th Doctor episodes, I've begun to reread the 8th Doctor's books, starting with this one. That is because this is the logical choice because it is the second and also the first BBC 8th Doctor adventure. I say second and first because there is also a novel of the Paul McGann movie, which is a novel I am thankful to own. I've always enjoyed the Doctor, getting in and out of the "interest" as time wore on, and I have to say I really loved the Paul McGann movie (and I am now a big fan of the Big Finish 8th Doc. CD dramas). This Doctor, the 8th, has his own personality, yes, but you can also see the shadows of his former selves. The 8th Doctor is a man of action, much like the 3rd, the 8th Doctor is a man of mystery, much like the 7th. If you really want a book that creates a connection between the movie and what went on next in the 8th Doctor's life, this is really where you start...yes it has a bit about Sam, but the main interest was a "review" a reexamination at what makes the 8th Doctor unique while at the same time bridging the past for new fans who came to the Doctor after the movie.
The only problems I have are problems on my part. For one, I wish that this book had a better connection between it and the last two Virgin Doctor Who novels (Lungbarrow and the Dying Days), that's just me, so I wont bring the book down a star because of this. It would have been nice to have a clear "from there to here" feel for this first novel in the BBC's lineup of the 8th Doctor novels. Secondly, I really really wish they would bring the movie to this side of the world, instead of it only being in Reg. 2 DVD. I really wish that I could have the DVD in my Doc. Who DVD collection. Smaller problems are also just my opinion, some of the books have cursing the Lord's name and some of the books seem to have a humanistic "preaching" about them. I would also be interested in the idea that Big Finish would connect their stories in some kind of "time frame" that bonds the audio series with this first book in the 8th Doctor series. Again, these problems are on my part, they're just how I feel and think.
To straighten out the .......2006-04-25
This book definately needed to be written to correct that horrible piece of [...] that aired on Fox network. Blame Matthew Jacobs, Peter V. Ware, Philip David Segal, Alex Beaton, and Jo Wright (for the BBC)on this, thank god Terrance Dicks straighten all out! Hell this would of made a better movie than what Fox did! But hey! There's a new Doctor Who and things are getting better with time...lords!
If you buy one who book.......2002-01-18
If you saw the 1996 Telemovie with Paul McGann and wanted more, this book is for you. I don't want to spoil it for you, but the 8th Doctor is taken to all his other 7 selves to discover who he is after loosing his memory. It was a walk down memory lane, the book itself played out like an old Doctor Who episode. All Eight Doctors in one book, could life get any better for a Whovian? I don't think so.
Book Description
This volume is produced from digital images from the Cornell University Library Samuel J. May Anti-Slavery Collection
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Pediatric News, published by International Medical News Group on May 1, 2004. The length of the article is 810 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: Clinical judgment still key to appendicitis DX: eight variables.(Clinical Rounds)
Author: Timothy F. Kirn
Publication:
Pediatric News (Magazine/Journal)
Date: May 1, 2004
Publisher: International Medical News Group
Volume: 38
Issue: 5
Page: 36(1)
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Winnipeg Free Press, published by Thomson Gale on July 3, 2007. The length of the article is 560 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: Doctors among suspects in botched car bombings; Eight people held as U.K. probe spreads overseas.(World Wire)
Author: Gale Reference Team
Publication:
Winnipeg Free Press (Magazine/Journal)
Date: July 3, 2007
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Page: a1
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Internal Medicine News, published by International Medical News Group on March 15, 2004. The length of the article is 717 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: Elderly patients being prescribed inappropriate medications.(Eight Percent of Office Visits)
Author: Diana Mahoney
Publication:
Internal Medicine News (Magazine/Journal)
Date: March 15, 2004
Publisher: International Medical News Group
Volume: 37
Issue: 6
Page: 82(1)
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Book Description
An abridged, less technical version of Erickson's Christian Theology covering the same topics, but at a level appropriate for the undergraduate reader.
Customer Reviews:
Introducing Christian Doctrine - Millard J. Erickson.......2007-10-02
As an abridged version of a longer, more detailed theology text, I anticipated that this shorter volume from Erickson would neglect some key areas in systematics. I was wrong. Introducing Christian Doctrine is jam-packed without being overstuffed. It has sacrificed nothing essential as far as I can tell. There are times that I wish the theological discussions would continue on a little more but there are more copious volumes out there that treat most of these subjects with greater depth. My only complaint is that Erickson doesn't provide a list of titles for further study on each of the theological topics he discusses. Most chapters end with a huge chunk of white space available on the page and it's possible that a list of recommendations to explore each topic further would've been helpful. But that is a minor defect in a surprisingly rich book.
Erickson follows the standard model of "description, examination, evaluation, and final conclusion" in presenting his topics. This helps the reader get a good grasp of what the doctrine in question is all about, how it has been supported by its proponents, how it stands to biblical scrutiny, and finally whether or not it is tenable. Especially helpful is the "implications" section in some of the chapters. After reviewing the biblical data, he concludes and suggests what the implications of the particular theological viewpoint would be if held correctly.
Erickson provides a brief roadmap and study guide to each chapter which is usually only a page long. Included here are the chapter objectives, the chapter summary, a list of study questions, and a chapter outline. However tempted I always am to skip right to the meat of the text, I force myself to read this preparatory section because Erickson always does a good job of priming the reader for the chapter ahead. It's like seeing the big picture at the begging and then focusing on the details afterwards. With an eye on the whole map you can learn the smaller areas with greater ease.
As far as the content goes, I disagree with Erickson on a relatively small number of things. Most notably his conclusion on the issue of eschatology (pp. 393-400) as well as his theodicy (pp. 147-149). Nonetheless, even when we disagree I appreciate the fact that he refrains from "strawmanning" and caricaturing the positions he tends to disagree with. With a coolness that most of us don't operate with he simply refutes the views he disagrees with by using a palette of Scriptural documentation. Whatever my disagreements with him are, I respect the way he frames the opposing views and rejects them without sensationalistic dismissals. I even appreciated that he had a section on Postmodernity and Theology.
For a thoughtful, biblical, and eminently readable text on theology, I'd readily recommend this shortened version of his longer work on systematics. Introducing Christian Doctrine is a lot like John Frame's Salvation Belongs to the Lord, and while it's a tad more technical, it's by no means unapproachable by the average layman. Introducing Christian Doctrine is a solid, readable work whose staying power has been confirmed by its widespread usage in the academic world.
Nicely done abridgement.......2007-09-17
I have been quite happy with this abridged version of Erickson's 1300-word Christian Theology. While I find the full verison to be one of the more excellent references out there and think it is well-suited for a more advanced theological course, it boggles the mind of many students in an introductory course. This condensed version of Erickson's work by his former grad student Arnold Hustad is perfect for an undergraduate introduction to Christian theology.
Informative and easy to understand.......2004-05-29
I am not a school student anymore, but when I wanted clarification of certain Biblical doctrines, a friend of mine pointed me to this book. This book was written by Dr. Millard J. Erickson, a widely respected Evangelical professor of theology, and is widely used as a textbook throughout the United States. The book is divided into twelve parts: 1) The Doing of Theology (studying and contemporizing theology), 2) God's Revelation, 3) The Nature of God, 4) The Work of God, 5) Humanity , 6) Sin, 7) The Person of Christ, 8) The Work of Christ, 9) The Holy Spirit, 10) Salvation, 11) The Church (nature, government and ordinances), and 12) The Last Things (eschatology).
Unlike what you might expect from a textbook, I found this book to be very readable, with the issues being spelled out in easy to read language, with the different views of the doctrines being explained, with the author then focusing in on his view and how and why it differs from the other views. Overall, this book answered my questions quite nicely, giving me a much better understanding. So, even if you are a simple layperson like me, you will benefit from having this book. I highly recommend it.
Succinct, well-stated theology.......2002-01-04
My seminary diploma from Bethel has Erickson's signature on it (when he was there back in the 1980's), so I am familiar with this man's work. I studied theology using his Christian Theology text (it was 3 volumes at the time). I love what he has done in this second edition volume of Introducing Christian Doctrine, as he was able to condense his material to fit into 400 pages. He admits in his preface that it was his editor who is reponsible for being able to chop down his work in such a radical way, and I fully understand that the hardest task for a writer to do is to edit down his own work. Anyway, it worked.
We are using this text for the first time in our private Christian high school's junior and senior Bible classes. Some students appear to be a little lost, but many are welcoming the challenge to clearer thinking. The book is not "Theology Light," as another reviewer seemed to suggest, so please don't approach it as "easy." Good systematic theology takes lots of work, plenty of wrestling with scripture, and many restless nights. But I like the fact that this text is a softer approach (without a complete "dumbing down" of the material) for first-time theology students. (I'd be happy to let anyone know the results by the end of 2002 when we will complete this text.) Also, I like about Erickson's attitude is that, while he certainly has presuppositions, he attempts to fairly lay out the possibilities on issues that certainly divide Christians into separate camps. He gives his opinion, but he doesn't treat it as if anyone who disagrees is a heretic. All in all, Erickson's work gets a thumbs up for those who want an overview on the basic teachings of Christianity.
Theology Light........2001-12-22
Erickson's students have called his CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY "the jolly green giant" partly because of it's content's depth, but mostly because of it's binding's girth. Other students have called this condensed version "theology light" because it contains the same meat as Erickson's tome without all of that filling. Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of evangelical Christian theology and the information necessary to effectively articulate traditional conservative evangelical Christain doctrine. As a theology textbook it is best suited for the undergraduate classroom (where I was introduced to it). It could also be utilized in a graduate setting, but it really isn't a sufficient treatment for studies at that level.
Highly recommended.
Book Description
There comes a time in the life of every Christian when he or she desires to go deeper in his or her walk with God. For many, this task can seem daunting. Enter St. Thomas Aquinas. He wrote his great Summa theologiae, or summary of theology, to fill the need for a thorough survey of Christian teaching. Unfortunately, the Summa theologiae is thousands of pages and can be intimidating to the beginner. Now Frederick Bauerschmidt has come to the rescue. Holy Teaching presents key parts of the Summa theologiae, which are explained by Bauerschmidt. These selections will encourage students, pastors, and interested laypeople to spend quality time in the company of a great Christian teacher.
Customer Reviews:
Good footnotes, GREAT theology!.......2006-05-05
This splendid book takes a slightly different angle than most modern compendiums. While the Summa is most often treated as a philosophical work, St. Thomas Aquinas' title itself, The Summa Theologiae (the summary of theology) shows it to be first and foremost a theological book. With this in mind, Bauerschmidt concentrates on the theological passages of the Summa, with special attention given to Aquinas' Christological understandings.
The footnotes are extremely helpful, allowing even a beginner to slowly make his/her way through this book. With the help of Bauerschmidt, even a beginner can come to understand one of the most profound thinkers in the history of mankind.
Recommended with this book is Peter Kreeft's Summa of the Summa, which deals the philosophical passages of the Summa.
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- Falling in Love for All the Right Reasons : How to Find Your Soul Mate
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- Fergus and the Night-Demon
- Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions (Dover Thrift Editions)
- For the Love of Old: Living with Chipped, Frayed, Tarnished, Faded, Tattered, Worn and Weathered Things that Bring Comfort, Character and Joy to the Places We Call Home
- From the Files of the Time Rangers
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