Who Reviews The Shadow of Weng-Chiang by DJ Forrest

 

 Djak is avoiding being filleted by Mr Sin

I don’t recall watching the Talons of Weng Chiang, so I have no knowledge of who Magnus Greel was nor his robotic sidekick Mr Sin. All I do have is the knowledge of it happening during the Fourth Doctor era. One of the interesting things being that, for a family show, I don’t suppose much of Mr Sin’s actions were covered in quite as gory technicolour as the books do. So, trekking through this novel was quite an eye opener and I had to remind myself that I was reading a Who novel, and not some sick and twisted horror novel for adults only. 

There have been many robotic characters throughout films where just by a simple tilt of the head, and the darkness behind the eyes, that can completely freak you out. Mr Sin is no different, and for someone who, as I stated earlier, has no prior knowledge of this homunculus creature, then I was about to get a real taster of what happens when a robot goes rogue. 

The story picks up on Earth, and Romana II and the Doctor (4^th) are in search of another segment of the Key to Time and pick up readings on their gizmo that puts them in Shanghai in the 1930s. It’s during the conflict between the Chinese and the Japanese and how much the latter wanted to expand its empire by sending its forces into China, so lots of spies working on both fronts, and double agents working on both and so much going on that you tend to lose what it is you’re searching for. 

Author David A. McIntee, certainly knows his history, and for the first part of the story, fills in the backstory of the Japanese advances into Manchuria, which fills out enough about Hsien-Ko, the lead character, who is building something in the mountains, using Dragon Path compasses, in order to fulfil a promise to her father. 

When the Doctor and Romana II arrive with K-9, they stumble into what looks to be an Arms deal on the docks. Their gizmo for detecting high levels of chronon energy spikes each time they come into contact with certain people, especially those with these little compasses around their necks, and Hsien-Ko. Curious about this woman, they investigate further, but Hsein-Ko is one step ahead of them, as she recognises the Doctor, and assumes that since their last meeting, that Romana is Leela. 

Naturally, I’m going to have to read or watch the Talons of Weng-Chiang to know what that story was. 

Mr Sin appears at Hsein-Ko’s side, and she’s somewhat connected to the robot – she can see where he is at any given time, and can send him to do her bidding. This little Chinese pygmy homunculus comes complete with a sharp knife that he doesn’t mind wielding, and because he has a pig’s brain, weirdly, when his circuits go a little haywire, he becomes a blood sniffing, butcher, for want of a better word, and goes in search of human flesh. It’s a little macabre after that, and I’m pretty certain that this would never become a Who episode – just from the actions of Mr Sin. 

There are interesting characters throughout and I did warm a little to Mr Woo, despite his actions in the club he owns, where he secretly listens in to conversations in each booth. He looks after Romana also, and together they team up with the Doctor and help save the day, eventually, after much toing and froing and avoiding Mr Sin. There are some chapters that keep you on the edge of your seat and there was many a night I’d be reading a couple of chapters before giving in to sleep. 

David McIntee is no stranger to sci fi, having written for Doctor Who, and Star Trek, writing books, comics, audios including for Big Finish. The Shadow of Weng-Chiang is one of the Virgin Missing Adventures stories, of which he has written three. New Adventures he’s written three from ’93 – ’95 and for Past Doctor Adventures covering ’98 – 2004 and an Eighth Doctor Adventure in 1999. I need to look out for more adventures by McIntee, they are extremely interesting, and made up for the novel I struggled with and gave up on. 

Anyone heard of Taint? 

If you get a chance to read this novel, have a squiz at the introduction to the story, as it’s extremely light hearted view of the author, and for this reason alone, I warmed to him straight away.