Doctor Who: The Silent Stars Go By

By: Dan Abnett

Narrated by: Michael Maloney

Length: 5 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

Michael Maloney reads this original adventure by Dan Abnett, featuring the 11th Doctor, Amy, and Rory. For centuries, the Maintainers have worked. With no help from other worlds, they subsist on the food they can grow and that’s little enough. But their purpose, their whole life, is to maintain the machines that will one day make their world as habitable as old Earth. Life used to be hard. Now as crops fail, livestock sicken, and the temperature drops, it’s becoming impossible. This year’s Winter Season Feast won’t be the usual celebration. It’s no time for optimism or hope - or to welcome unexpected guests.

The Doctor, Amy, and Rory find a society breaking apart - and then the Doctor’s old enemies the Ice Warriors make their move. With the cold-hearted threat of invasion, the real battle for survival begins. Or does it? The Doctor suspects that behind everything lies a deadlier, even more chilling danger....

A thrilling adventure featuring the Doctor, Amy, and Rory, as played by Matt Smith, Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill in the spectacular hit series from BBC Television.

©2011 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2011 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Plot & Character Driven EXCELLENT Doctor Who Audio

Geromino! I bought this purely on the basis of the author - and was not disappointed. Excellent Eleventh Doctor novel, with Amy and Rory Ponds/Williams. The Doctor is aiming to get the Ponds back to Leadworth for Christmas - but ends up on the wrong planet at the wrong time. Rory is quickly separated from the others. Abnett really clearly brings out the personalities of the Ponds, especially Rory, and the narrator particularly nails that personality. This books was as good as some of the recent TV episodes - actually better really as the length allows ideas and suspense to develop. Expect cliffhangers at the end of chapters. And cool monsters. And some nice classic Who references. Well worth the download. Suitable for adults, and older young readers.

Way better than expected.....but

The problem with 11th Doctor books so far is that not one of them (except those read by Matt Smith) have even remotely captured the essence of this Doctor.

In fact some of them have sounded like they were leftovers from the 10th Doctors reign and I have been highly disappointed so far. I would go as far as to say that they have been extremely boring and I began to wonder whether to listen to anymore.


That having been said I downloaded this book expecting very little and was very pleasantly surprised. Not that this book does any more to capture the personality of the 11th Doctor but gradually the story and performance of the narrator reel the listener in.

The story has been detailed by other reviewers on this page so I wont bother to repeat them here but it was good to hear the reprisal of one of the Doctors old enemies with their identity hidden until roughly a third of the way through the book. I did hear one swear word which I thought was a little strong for a Doctor Who book but I was unsure if this is a sign of the times or decline in the standards.

Of all of the 11th Doctor books I have listened to so far (and I think I have heard all of them) this is the only one I would recommend.

This Star Was Not So Silent

If you could sum up Doctor Who: The Silent Stars Go By in three words, what would they be?

As the Doctor himself would say, "Brilliant!", "Clever" and "Exciting".

A lot of TV series have books/audio books on the market (ie Torchwood, Star Trek, and Doctor Who). Most are watered down episodes of our favorite episodes. This book brings an alien species not seen in the WHO universe since 1972. This audio had a good story that was not predictable. It had an ending that made me say, I didn't see that coming.

What did you like best about this story?

This story was of the same quality or better than most of the shows episodes.

What does Michael Maloney bring to the story that you wouldn???t experience if you just read the book?

The characters that he is reading for are well established. It never ceases to amaze me when the reader makes me forget am listening to a reader and not the actor am used to from the show.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

I am not as clever or brilliant as the Doctor, so I would borrow the Doctor's line of An ICE Time Was Had By All

Any additional comments?

If you are a fan of Doctor Who, especially the eleventh incarnation of the Doctor, then this is a must have audiobook!

A very good supplement to the show

I love watching Doctor Who, but I haven't enjoyed the Eleventh Doctor as much as I had hoped I would. I think part of the problem is the show isn't quite as character-driven as it once was. But I think that's why I enjoyed this book so much. It fills in a lot of the gaps I feel the show has left, character-wise. The Doctor and Amy banter with each other and you finally get the sense that they really are best friends. You can see their relationship grow within the book and I really enjoyed that.

The story is also a very good one. Little revelations are had throughout so you're never quite sure exactly what's happening until the very end. I also really enjoyed how the language shifts depending on the point of view the story is being told from. The language is old-fashioned when told from the Morphans' point of view and more casual when told from Amy's or Rory's. I especially enjoyed listening to Amy's inner monologue and counting the number of times the word "stupid" came up.

Michael Maloney's narration was also very good, although the voice he uses for the Doctor seems off to me and ended up sounding unintentionally silly.

One of my favorite DW Novels

Read this years ago and recently bought a hard cover. Forgot how much I loved this story!

Excellent Story

I really enjoy the Dr. Who Universe. This is an excellent addition to the series. This is enjoyable creature in the dark story.

Good story and performance.

The narrator was actually quite good but had a few troubles with keeping the voices straight when there were many people talking. It was a good story with an ending that I really did not expect. I would recommend this title, especially those that miss the years of Amy and Rory as the companions of the Doctor.

Doctor Who as it should be!

Would you listen to Doctor Who: The Silent Stars Go By again? Why?

Yes, I have already listened to this book twice now as I found 'The Silent Stars Go By' an entertaining and enjoyable Doctor Who story.

What other book might you compare Doctor Who: The Silent Stars Go By to and why?

This book is a lot longer than most of the other BBC Eleventh Doctor novels, being the second of the Doctor Who Eleventh Doctor 'special releases' written by known authors and aimed at an older audience. However, it is a lot more traditional than Michael Moorcock's Eleventh Doctor novel that preceded it, and this book is definitely more like classic Doctor Who.

What three words best describe Michael Maloney’s performance?

Good, but not great.

I didn't think Michael Maloney captured the liveliness of the Eleventh Doctor. Other than that his narration was good enough to bring life to the characters and immerse me in to the story.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

As a fan of classic era Doctor Who the appearance of those (not-so) jolly green giants was a nice moment when it arrived. Although as two of the Martians are featured on the cover, it wasn't actually a surprise!

Any additional comments?

This is a well written Doctor Who novel from Dan Abnett, who captures the essence of the Eleventh Doctor and his companions Rory & Amy, and tells a great story with lots of atmosphere. For me this was a better Doctor Who adventure than a lot of the Eleventh Doctor's TV outings. It's not the most original Doctor Who story ever, but it is very entertaining.

Highly recommended for fans of The Doctor. This book will not disappoint.

Does not capture the doctor

What made the experience of listening to Doctor Who: The Silent Stars Go By the most enjoyable?

I liked the way the narrator portrayed Amy's Scottish accent.

How could the performance have been better?

Michael Maloney really does a terrible job at voicing the Doctor. It is no where close to the 11th Doctor.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I really enjoyed this story. This is the first story I've encountered with the Ice Warriors besides the recent Dr. Who episode "Cold War."

Any additional comments?

I got a good deal on this audiobook because I purchased the Kindle book. I feel like I got a good deal even though the "Doctor" is not captured in the least. It is also hard to tell the Doctor and Rory apart in the narration. Otherwise it is a very good narration. Once again I like the story.

new doctor,old enemy

If you could sum up Doctor Who: The Silent Stars Go By in three words, what would they be?

Fun, nalstalgic, clever

What does Michael Maloney bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Character. He brings to life the Doctor, Amy, the Ice Warriors and all the new people unique to this story.

Above Thy Deep And Dreamless Sleep

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this book to a friend or other Doctor Who fans - especially those missing the Troughton style base under siege adventures. Don't be put off by the fact that it has a new series Doctor and Companions I could easily Imagine this being rewritten with Troughton & Jamie & Zoe.

I found the colonist's manner of speaking mildly annoying at first but you get used to it over time and even enjoy it. The book is tensely written and will keep you guessing. Even when you think you have it all figured out it will surprise you.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Doctor Who: The Silent Stars Go By?

The whole sequence near the end of the book with Amy and two of the Morphens being chased by the Warriors through the inside of one of the firmers was very well written and an action-packed sequence which reminded me of many powerful scenes in The Seeds Of Death. Dan Abneft knows how to write Doctor Who for sure.

What about Michael Maloney’s performance did you like?

Maloney's performance was very appropriate for the old fashioned English country village vibe the writing gave the Morphens.

He was especially good as Nurse Elect Bill Groan as he conveyed the desire to following the teachings of the Guide as well as later on the wish to protect the settlers by listening to the Doctor.

He was also excellent at displaying the authority of the Ice Lord in the story by changing the voice he used to make him clearly more commanding.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

On one hand I would say yes because the story was well narrated and well written but on the other hand the use of different running jokes through the book did begin to grate as did the refusal of certain characters to accept the blindingly obvious - Old Winona being the worst offender - which meant I couldn't have listened to this book in one go.

However all of my issues with the book relate to my own personal taste and are what I would consider to be minor nitpicks towards an otherwhise excellent audiobook adventure which I highly recommend.

Good reader but....

The reader is good, he has a nice emotional style and reads action well. Although he cant have watched a Doctor Who episode ever. He reads the Doctor as an old slow thoughtful character, completely opposite to Mat Smiths mad hyperactive Doctor.
The story is rather nice some cool sci-fi ideas and nice action.

Classic new who

Great performance by the narrator and great who story. felt like classic who story told in the new era.

Awful

I suspect the story could be good but I could not get to even the halfway mark because of the narrator. There is no performance or change in the tone.

🌟 Stars go by..

Good enjoyable experience with only one personal niggle... I don't think Michael Masonry quite got the character nuance right, I got some of the flavour of Amy and Rory but none of the Dr came through but he did a good try.. again only my observation.

Having said that I really liked this story and the little twist added in was good "red eyes, but I thought you meant" don't want to give anything away.

The plot was sound and paced just right, leading to a nail biter towards the end... phew that was close!