Posts
Between Episodes
I've only just finished wading through all the very kind reviews of 'Human Nature' online. And writing many thank you letters in response to personal messages. It's been particularly good to hear from my fellow Who authors, writers I admire in other fields, and to hear about small children pretending to be scarecrows. And sniffing. Which is bad. I'm just rather overwhelmed about the response, really. So thank you all very much.
In the midst of all that, I have two things to do today. Firstly, specialist SF and comics shop Forbidden Planet have been kind enough to offer another special deal to readers of this blog. Before it's released in August, you can use the above link to order the collected edition trade paperback of my Marvel mini-series Wisdom for £9.99 plus p&p. That's a saving of £4.51 on the standard retail price. I'm really pleased to have formed such a fun relationship with the people who actually sell these things.
Secondly, those of you who are attending this year's World Fantasy Convention, or who have voting rights in the World Fantasy Awards, please check out my new blog in support of the nomination of copyeditor Deanna Hoak for such an award:
http://hoakworldfantasyawards.blogspot.com
Those of you who don't, assistance in spreading the word to every SF forum or mailing list you can think of, particularly American ones, would be much appreciated.
Anyhow, I now have to stop wallowing in nice reviews and get back to work. Despite the beer festival where the Magpies are performing this afternoon... Until the next episode is on, Cheerio.
In the midst of all that, I have two things to do today. Firstly, specialist SF and comics shop Forbidden Planet have been kind enough to offer another special deal to readers of this blog. Before it's released in August, you can use the above link to order the collected edition trade paperback of my Marvel mini-series Wisdom for £9.99 plus p&p. That's a saving of £4.51 on the standard retail price. I'm really pleased to have formed such a fun relationship with the people who actually sell these things.
Secondly, those of you who are attending this year's World Fantasy Convention, or who have voting rights in the World Fantasy Awards, please check out my new blog in support of the nomination of copyeditor Deanna Hoak for such an award:
http://hoakworldfantasyawards.blogspot.com
Those of you who don't, assistance in spreading the word to every SF forum or mailing list you can think of, particularly American ones, would be much appreciated.
Anyhow, I now have to stop wallowing in nice reviews and get back to work. Despite the beer festival where the Magpies are performing this afternoon... Until the next episode is on, Cheerio.
Labels:
Deanna Hoak,
Doctor Who,
SF,
Wisdom
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Well for me it took two and a half series but Doctor Who is back!
I was particularly impressed by the way you got a Pertwee cameo as Worzel Gummidge ;-)
Best episode since Androzani and I sincerely hope you're asked to take a bigger role in new Who in future.
Excellent episode - real "old stle" feel to it - proper story with suspense ending and an "oh my gods we have to wait a week to see the next bit - want it *now*!" feeling. Helped also by good casting/acting and lovely direction. It's really nice to have *proper* Dr Who back :-)
Hope you've checked out the thread at the SFX forum - it's been universally adored :-)
I've even had people who don't like latterday Who saying how much they liked Human Nature. I thought the review in The Stage online was particularly positive.
Best episode of Who. Ever. And I've been watching since 1975. Looks like I'm not the only one who thinks so either
http://www.thestage.co.uk/tvtoday/2007/05/doctor_who_38_human_nature.php
Many congrats!
Really top notch, bre'er Paul. You should be proud. I must say that Wisdom is particularly good too. You do this genre thingy justice. Even better than Tompkinson's Schooldays.
That kid from Nanny McPhee is an awfully good actor, huh?
I was terribly let down by Doctor Who "season 2" - and this season has been so-so....but dude, Human Nature was phenomenal. I am totally looking forward to next week. Thank you! Thank you! THANK YOU!
Human Nature was rubbish!
I had too stop reading my new comics for something =P
nah it was brilliant much better than the boring to average first half of the season.
well done you!
i'm glad 'human nature' is being well recieved. Although its very worrying how many online people dislike series 3 =s, which is odd considering how much my friends and family loved 'Gridlock', the shakespeare one, and the Lazarus experiment. =(
And there's some good news for you, Paul, with the return of Blakes 7! Or rather, something very similar:
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article1848240.ece
i hope your grinning just as much as i am at the news! Place your bets now as to whether Paul will end up writing for it ;)
Looking forward to The Family of Blood,
all the best,
jack.
Considering how high I know my expectations are for this story -- I'm glad that it looks like it's been so well received.
Well I haven't seen it yet, as I was away on a big national event on Saturday and have promised my wife we'll watch it together.
Thank you all. Still having to address you all as a great mass, sorry! I've checked out The Stage and SFX and am very flattered. And yes, Thomas is really something. And I loved Simon checking in just to say he hasn't seen it! Cheers.
Do you need another congratulation? Well here's one, it was great. Made me wish I'd kept on reading the New Adventures.
Even the OG forum like it!
Hi Paul.
"HUMAN NATURE" was one of my favorite novels so I sat down yesterday and watched the first episode.....fab!
In fact this whole season kicks DALEK buttox!
I was hoping to go to ENGLAND this summer but with air fair and gass(that's petrol to you)prices as they are it was undoable. Going to San Francisco instead.
Oh,I accidentally deleated your new email..I'm always doing this! Can I use your old one still?
Anyway Paul. Wonderfull episode!
Congrats.
Best.
Matt Webb.
Belated congratulations - really enjoyed the new take on the story. Think having Martha as the companion helped sharpen the culture shock. Looking forward to The Family of Blood, even though - obviously having read the book - I know how it'll end... or do I?
I hate suck-ups which is why I haven't trawled through the 100 replies to your last post, or why I haven't commented on your work before.
I have to say though Human Nature was bloody good. I'm looking forward to the concluding part.
Damn and buggery, I have become what I detest. Now I'll have to go and have a hot bleach shower. I feel dirty!
Hi Paul,
To dovetail Mr. Cockburn, and expand a little, I've been waiting for a black companion since I've started watching in the 70's. After 7 episodes, I'm glad to note that you're the one who finally shown me what I expected, which is simply this--you take a black person into Earth's past and you will find that humans are not all that great after all.
Not that I'm a masochist, or a Cyberman, but as a black person, I really wanted to see my place in the Whovian universe represented correctly. After the two-part "Daleks In Manhattan" I thought I'd have to just get a lobotomy in order to watch the rest of the series.
Thank you, Paul! Now, if only we can get future writers to keep the acknowledgment and possibly The Doctor can address it, and give the viewers one more in a series of very necessary lessons. I mean, didn't the show start out with the idea of being educational?
That was absolutely FANTASTIC !! 11 out of 10 !!
I loved the music when Martha's back in the TARDIS the first time when she goes to watch his "video" again... The flashbacks were brilliant.
Lovely to see young Thomas Sangster playing Latimer - I think he's got great potential...
I loved the line about "a girl in every fireplace" - and the Doctor's journal looks so awesome - I really, really want my own copy !!
Poor Martha - "That wasn't on the list" (about him falling in love with Joan)...
I'm not impressed that he agreed to Latimer being beaten though, when he had his vision of WW1 - that made me cross. I know it's in context and everything, it just annoyed me...
Loved Joan's line about John Smith "It's like he's left the kettle on - like he knows he has something to get back to, but can't remember what" - very astute of her...
YAY to you Paul for writing another awesome episode - can't wait to see "Family of Blood" next week !
I'm disappointed that David didn't get to use his sexy Scottish accent as Mr Smith - though maybe it's as well - I'd have been drooling even more than usual !
Hey Paul
I don't usually post commemts but Human Nature was just terrific. Thanks so much! Can't wait til Saturday and I'm going out so I've got to record it. Bugger!
So... http://www.comicbookresources.com/columns/index.cgi?column=litg&article=2791
Any comment Mr Cornell?
Thank you, all. (Still addressing a crowd, sorry!) Matt: don't use the old address, drop me a private note on MySpace or OG. Alan: I'm very pleased to hear that. I think it's indeed important to do that at least once, to acknowledge it, but maybe every time would leave the children in the audience it applied to feeling picked on? You're obviously able to call this better than I can, but I think the feeling of 'it could be okay if I travelled in time' might be valuable too. I mean, I think a bookish geek like me might actually be an early victim of the Daleks, and not the one who defeats them, but one of the many things Who is is a fantasy of empowerment, if you see what I mean. But yes, glad we did it.
Paul,
The last time I mentioned my concerns (during the "Daleks/Manhattan" romp), I was made aware of the overall tone of Doctor Who, and how off-putting it would be to make an issue out of race every episode. And I had to agree. Educational, yes, but I wouldn't want to turn my Who into a documentary on equal rights.
The way I see it, if the 10th Doctor had a chance to do as the first eight did and journeyed beyond the stars, then the myriad of aliens wouldn't care what color Martha (and through the vicarious life, myself) was.
Then on the occasions that The Doctor did take Martha back to Earth, it could still be present-day or the future, where again her race wouldn't have to be an issue.
But if you take a black girl to 1930's America, you will most definitely not have a white young man, so fresh from his home state of Tennessee that he has his accent, flirting with her. Just as an example. So in short, use the full scope of The Doctor's Universe and the race issue needn't be brought up more than once every three seasons or so! :)
I suppose my energy isn't directed for my own sake, or the sake of the children like myself, but for the sake of everyone else, especially when they are young. It's kind of important to me to give them a definite sense of what's wrong, so they do not perpetrate the crime.
But I say all that to say thank you for your reply and your talent. I was around when there was nothing else BUT the New Adventures, and I particularly enjoyed "Human Nature" back then as I enjoyed this incarnation of it now.
Cheers!
Paul, seemed a shame to just praise 'Human Nature' on my own blog without thanking you personally. So, thank you, personally. Great Stuff.
Not quite rhian. Amazing I'm neither into Dr. Who or "family tv" if this is either.
Paul, if I may ask...
Did you write the terrifically sad and poignant entries in John Smith's journal? Every time I read what fans have 'translated' from screencaps of that amazing prop, I am moved.
Also, how fantastic is it that they took the time to do pages and pages of it?
Just wanted to wriyte to tell you how much I liked Human Nature, epecially since it essentially creates another character within the show with John Smith. It would be interesting if useing some plot device he could reappear from time to time.
Congrats on the Excalibur gig! I might actually be buying a canon X-book again!
Just wanted to pop in and join the fray to say oooohhh what a fab ep. Congratulations!
Sorry, but I had to join the great mass. I thought it was wonderful, and blessed with a cracking cast, too. Great stuff.
Human Nature was excellent. Will the ebook at the BBC website become available again or am I too late to get it now?
Alan: I'm very glad I got to do that, and I take your points. And thanks! Yes, Baked, I wrote the journal entries. Many, many pages of them! I think the way it's turned out is absolutely lovely, what great artwork. And thanks again, everyone. New blog post today, I hope!
Stijn: it'll be back very shortly, with some new extras. And ta!
re Wisdom - you have the skrull John Lennon saying the lyrics "the love you make etc" but shouldn't that be the Beatle Paul as he wrote the lyrics?
Or am I missing the point of the skrulls in some way. (And can it be fixed in time for the GN?)
Loved your work on DW by the way. congratulations on how well it has been received.
But why couldn't John say that? No need to fix that, surely? And thank you!
Hi Paul.
Enjoying you blog as always! Bernice and I (Elizabeth) would love to have you contribute a little something to the October issue of our journal (Irish Journal of Gothic and Horror Studies) Perhaps a short piece in our Lost Soul section?! Maybe you'd like to plug a underrated or neglected comic book writer/artist or anime creator?! If you're interested please do drop us a line at irish_gothic_journal@yahoo.ie
Keep up the good work!
Elizabeth
Back in 2007 when the episodes came out, I blogged a few thoughts around it. I really felt that you gave the Doctor a The Doctor a Gethsemane moment in this story... the whole idea of him having to choose to sacrifice everything he could be for the greater good. Is that what you were going for?
If you are willing, you can read my brief summary here: http://www.nickssanctuary.com/2007/06/latest-thoughts-on-doctor-who.html
Keep up the good writing!
Blessings
Nick :-)
Indeed, that was the sort of thing I was after. Cheers.