Story: In one week’s time, Integrated Intelligence is bringing OFFNet online. All of the computer-controlled systems in the entire world will be linked together to work more efficiently as one.
But is this just a way of making life easier? Or is it part of a cunning plan by an alien race in their plot to take over the Earth?
It is 1998, and the Doctor, accompanied by Sarah Jane Smith, arrives in – of all places – London! Convinced that no interesting historic events had ever happened in that year, he decides to have a drink and move on. But when a strange man bursts through the door of the pub, followed closely by an even stranger woman, the Doctor becomes interested. His curiousity is piqued after the pursued man bumps into him, and runs out the door…slipping a CD-ROM and a note into the Doctor’s capacious pocket in the process.
As interested as the Doctor is, it is not until the very same man ends up murdered a few blocks away that the game is afoot. Something interesting might well be happening in 1998, and they’re going to find out what it was.
Review: These aliens in this book are quite amusing. They talk to each other in business jargon (“My people will contact your people, and we can do lunch to see if the idea is a go…”) and deal with their invasion plans in a purely professional way. It is the first time I’ve seen aliens go over graphs to discern what percentage of the takeover of the world will be a sucess.
The Fourth Doctor is written for adequately. There are a few too many times when he walks around whistling various tunes to himself. Sarah and Harry do their parts, even though most of their conversation comes down to a “But why, Doctor?” here and a “What does that mean, Doctor?” there. What I didn’t understand is: why was U.N.I.T never contacted? Aliens taking over the Earth, and Harry never calls up the Brigadier? I know in 1998 the Brig is living in happy retirement, but as if Harry doesn’t know his home phone number!
I give this one 8/10. The cover art is quite lame. Sarah Jane is holding a machine gun in a completely awkward way. It looks totally bizarre! Oh well, back to the old grindstone!
Year: 1995
Author: Justin Richards
Publisher: Virgin