Aurora, by David Koepp (HQ Books, 2022)

After solar flares take out the world’s electricity, trouble strikes a woman estranged from her billionaire brother. Ungainly mix of post-apocalypse SF and assholes-after-bag-of-money thriller. The former is very much dialled down to give focus, but the genre mashup doesn’t really work: the plot doesn’t need its context. That said, it’s pacy and kinda works, even though the book feels like a movie script in waiting rather than a novel.

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My own books are here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England.

Doctor Who: The Eaters of Light, by Rona Munro (BBC Books, 2022)

The Twelfth Doctor, Bill, and Nardole find themselves north of Hadrian’s Wall, where Picts and Romans are in conflict. A very solid novelization, with the space to breathe that its TV progenitor didn’t quite have. Author (and original screenwriter) Munro’s affiliation with the subject – and inspirations such as Sutcliff’s The Eagle of the Ninth – shines through.

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My own books are here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England.

Doctor Who: The Fires of Pompeii, by James Moran (BBC Books, 2022)

The Tenth Doctor and Donna Noble find themselves in a Roman city overlooked by a volcano. Zippy novelisation of Moran’s own television script from 2008. Effectively translates the TV episode to short novel length without resorting to padding. Some good jokes along the way too. Fun for fans, and accessible as an entry point.

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My own books are here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England.