Book Review: Chicks Dig Time Lords: A Celebration of Doctor Who by the Women Who Love It

Buy this book.

Seriously.

Do.

I’m not being paid to say that, and while – inevitably – I know some of the fine women who have contributed to the book, until Gallifrey One this year I had never met any of the editors or publishers. I have no vested interest in seeing it succeed. There’s no promises of me getting my name in print via my sycophancy about this book. At a latish stage last year when I was doing some work for some other Mad Norwegian Press books, Robert Smith? did ask if I would be interested in contributing something to it (if I was, he’d put in a good word to the editors), but while I was interested I didn’t have the time. Given comments at the brilliant panel at Gallifrey One this year, there’s not likely to be a sequel any time soon by the editors because of their time. Busy women, they are. I’m not surprised.

My recommendations for you to go hunt this book down on 15 March 2010 when it’s officially published is based on the pure and simple reason that it’s a bloody good read. It’s varied in tone, content and style, even presentation. There’s 28 items: interviews, essays, reminiscences and a cartoon. They’re by actors, writers, costumers, film-makers, editors, convention organisers, academics and fans. They’re American, Australian, British, and I’ll say "other places" because I don’t want to offend anyone by omission. They came to Doctor Who in different ways: some grew up with it in England and ended up working on it (either the BBC series or Big Finish), others watched it through various means in the USA either as kids or as adults because their partners liked it. Some discovered it through the books, some via Torchwood, and some via fan fiction of the slashy kink … I mean, kind. Most are active online (who isn’t?), but not in the same places and in the same way.

All of them have had a different experience of fandom and all of them engage with Doctor Who in different ways.

I think that was the point of the book. It’s certainly the point I’ve taken away from it. The fact is, Doctor Who is nearly 50 years of material. A lot of it made for telly in several decades of different styles, with a substantial oeuvre of fan-made audio/visual. A lot more of it expressed in the printed word: novelisations, novels, short stories, comics, drabbles, poetry and fan fiction. Doctor Who is also one of the most expansive concepts in fiction. I’ve banged on about this before, but there’s plenty for people to like… and not like. Contrary to those who like to pick fights, no one is right or wrong to like or not like what they do.

Some of the essays in this book are eerily like my own experiences and thoughts during the decades I’ve been a Doctor Who fan. Some describe experiences more alien than any outer space critter ever met by the Doctor. What unites all the pieces in the book is a natural celebratory tone. It’s a feeling that despite the ups and downs, stupid fights that split friends up, and varying fortunes of the TV show itself, being a Doctor Who fan is a pretty good thing to be.

And I’ve not even mentioned the gender thing… until now.

Yes. It’s a book about women, by women (with contribution to one essay by one man). Many – all? – are feminists of one kind or another. Some talk about their experiences as a woman or girl in what is usually regarded as a male-dominated fandom. I get the sense they are candid discussions, too, but none of it is whinging or ranting. I get more of a sense of surprise at the reception they get at conventions and online. But then it turns into a rolling-up-the-sleeves type attitude of let’s just get on and enjoy what we enjoy.

So, er, regardless of who you are – go buy this book. Read it, too. Be inspired to be yourself. In the infinite space that is Doctor Who and its fandom, there is plenty of room for everyone. What I love most about this book as a whole is the way that it reminds me of that fact.