Torchwood: Something in the Water...

[fajrdrako]

Today I read the novel Torchwood: Something in the Water by Trevor Baxendale. Unlike most of the other Torchwood novels, there is only one plot, a fairly stratightforward one: Cardiff is menaced by a Water Hag, spearhead of a watery alien invasion. It's quite creepy, nicely written in a smart and simple style.

The characterization of the Torchwood team is good - with the possible exception of Jack, who is fairly grim most of the time here. But there's nothing personal. Though it seems to be set in the timeframe of the first part of series 2, there's no hint that Jack and Ianto are lovers. Gwen mentions Rhys once, maybe twice. Basically, it's a Water Hag story.

Unlike with Another Life, I didn't keep feeling the urge to quote things. Two exceptions, the first from p. 34, a description of Jack from a man who used to know him:

He was a glory-hunting maniac and the kindest man I ever knew. Saved my life twice in '73, and then left me for a chorus girl from Boston.'

The other passage is from page 178, at a point where Jack is trying to kill an alien who won't stay dead:

'Here we go again,' said Jack. '...Y'know, I kind of prefer it when the dead stay dead.'

'Pot. Kettle. Black,' Owen said.

'Yeah,' agreed Jack with a shrug. 'The difference is, I do it with style.'

Comments

[kittykat2305.livejournal.com]

I just recently listened to Hidden read by Naoko Mori and it was pretty good, I haven't had a chance to read the books yet, I'm getting them as a birthday present so I was forbidden to buy them for myself. I also have Everyone Says Hello read by Burn Gorman, but haven't had a chance to listen yet and then the third one isn't out yet.

Hidden was pretty good, But I have to say I never was a huge fan of audio books, I would much rather have them in print.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Generally speaking, I prefer to read things in print form - the only thing I do that I like listening to readings while doing, is walk - and I prefer walking without sound. Still. It's fun sometimes to listen to things, and I occasionally put on an audio-tape while doing housework.

I would like to hear the Torchwood audio-books. I don't know if I like Burn Gorman's voice much - will have to see what it sounds like. Looking forward to the Naoko Mori one.

I listened to a good part of Another Life as audio-book after I'd read the print version, and though listening to Barrowman's voice was a treat, I was disappointing by the way it was so drastically abridged: they took out many of my favourite parts.