Book Review: At Childhood’s End

Sue Cook

At Childhood’s End is a mixture of all that makes Doctor Who exciting. The book begins by introducing the reader to the adult Ace, Dorothy McShane. Dorothy is a successful businessperson and the CEO of a charity called A Charitable Earth.

Dorothy McShane is a force to be reckoned with. She is rich and able to assist those she cares about with ease. Couple Dorothy’s wealth with the fearlessness of Ace, toss in the 13th Doctor, and the adventure is outstanding. 

I am a proud Whovian. Classic Who or New Who, I love it all. All of the Doctors are amazing, however the 7th Doctor era is very near and dear to my heart. I identify with Ace. She was not afraid to take on the baddies, armed with whatever she had at hand. Ace was also not afraid to stand up to the 7th Doctor who was mysterious and walked the line between light and dark. 

When I heard that Sophie Aldred (the actress who played Ace in the 7th Doctor’s era) was writing a Doctor Who novel dealing with the continuation of Ace’s story, I was thrilled. I was also apprehensive. Would it live up to my expectations? What would happen with Ace? How would Sophie reconcile Ace with the 13th doctor? 

I was not disappointed by the outcome. It was absolutely delightful. It felt like coming home, if home happens to be the TARDIS filled with friends old and new. 

This book moves quickly. It also explores the relationship between the Doctor and Dorothy, albeit in a different form than when Dorothy last interacted with the Doctor as a teenaged girl. It moves past “…the tea getting cold,” the 7th Doctor’s last speech to Ace, and into the present. Will they be able to function as they once did? Has time severed trust? The cliffhangers are so compelling that they keep you reading well into the night. 

Yes, Sophie, I was extremely sleep deprived on several occasions and I loved every minute of it!

If you enjoy adventure, science fiction, Dr. Who (though not a requirement), or all of the above, this book should be on your reading list. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. 

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For more great reads, please check out these reviews.

Slaver’s Bane – fantasy 

Go Hex Yourself – fantasy/fiction

A Touch Of Light-The Ashes Of Avarin:Book One – fantasy

Sue Cook

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Sue Cook lives in Freeport, Illinois with her husband Randy and two dogs. Her passions include assistance dogs, rescue dogs, music, acting, theater, poetry, and Doctor Who. She’s been in both film and theater and is a regular cast member of the podcast Doctor Who’s Line is it….Anyway? Sue is an advocate for the use of Service Dogs to assist their disabled handlers to maintain their independence. Quigley’s Quest, her first children’s book, addresses how a dog becomes a Service Dog.

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