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Synopsis:
Set during the key to time escapade, the Doctor and Romana (but not K9 - he's left in the TARDIS for the whole book) have to save existance from a strange Cthulhuesque creature - Valdemar - imprisoned on a planet with an acid atmosphere, and now being freed by the head of a strange cult.
Review:
I don't feel qualified to judge the characteristion - I've never seen any Romana episodes, I've hardly seen any seen any Tom Baker, and as far as K9 is concerned, I once saw the opening credits for K9 and Company. Not that it really makes a difference, seeing as how he only gets two lines.
Anyway, I quite liked this book. The structure was reasonably original with occasional self-conscious references to the entire process of storytelling, which reminded me a little of Robert Rankin. There was a large cast of original characters, but they were all different enough not to be confusing (although I did get a little mixed up between the two main bad guys at one point. I wasn't paying much attention at the time, though).
As stated above, it is apparently part of the Key to Time series (about which I know nothing), but the story itself has very little to do with the Key to Time, and would have worked just as well as a stand-alone story. So no previous knowledge necessary. Which was good, as I had none.
There were some quite blatant Lovecraft references. At least, they were blatant if you know your Lovecraft. Fairly unnoticeable if you don't, although personally I didn't feel Valdemar was wierd enough to be a Lovecraft monster.
I got the impression that Mr Messingham didn't just dislike K9, but wasn't that fond of Romana, either. While the Doctor and Mary-Sue (no, wait, sorry, she was called Miranda. I'm seeing Mary-Sues everywhere, lately) were off saving reality as we know it, Romana was left pussy-footing around some wierd, psychic, mutant teenager. And being rather annoyed about it.
Oh, and it had a very pretty cover, as well.
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