Hi everyone! I hope you’re all well. Today is Friday, and it’s time for another review. Today, I’m reviewing Sophie Aldred’s novel Doctor Who: At Childhood’s End.

Doctor Who: At Childhood’s End was published in 2020 by BBC Books and is 304 pages long.

Plot
Decades after her travels with the Doctor have ended, Ace, now using her real name, Dorothy McShane, heads a global foundation known as A Charitable Earth.

With reports of sinister creatures lurking in the shadows of London, young runaways begin to disappear from the streets. And on top of that, there’s an alien satellite in a secret orbit around the moon. Ace investigates.

Characters
Ace
In A Charitable Earth, we’re reintroduced to Ace, now going by her actual name, Dorothy McShane. She’s grown up and has become an Elon Musk type who uses her money and influence to benefit the world. She’s older and wiser here and feels, upon reflection on her time with the Doctor, that the Doctor manipulated her. When they bump into each other while investigating an alien satellite that has appeared near the moon, their relationship is a little frosty.

The Doctor
The Doctor, with her companions Yaz, Ryan, and Graham, investigates the mysterious satellite when they unexpectedly encounter Ace. Although their reunion is initially tense, the Doctor is genuinely happy to see Ace again, clearly proud of the strong woman she has become. As they collaborate to unravel the satellite’s mysteries, the Doctor and Ace gradually rebuild their trust, reconnecting and appreciating each other’s growth.

Yaz
Yaz is a companion and one of the Thirteenth Doctor’s closest friends. Due to their strong bond, Yaz feels protective and slightly jealous when she discovers the Doctor shares a significant history with Ace. Initially, Yaz is territorial and standoffish toward Ace but gradually warms up as they get to know each other. This encounter also leads Yaz to a deeper understanding: she realizes the Doctor has lived many lives and formed countless connections, which unsettles her and challenges her perception of their own friendship.

Will Buckland
Will is the Director of the British Space Defence Centre and Ace’s friend and ex-boyfriend. He helps Ace by allowing her to use Virgil, the UK’s most sophisticated spacecraft, to investigate the satellite.

Ryan and Graham
Ryan and Graham are true to their TV counterparts, giving us a bit of light relief—and while present throughout the book, there isn’t much for them to do.

Chantel (Squeak)
We first met Squeak as a child in the TV story Survival, where she, like Ace, came from the Perivale Estate. Now 37 years old, Squeak has become a model grappling with the pressures of maintaining her youth. Finding herself on an adventure with Ace and the Doctor, she has the chance to grow, allowing her to embrace maturity and self-acceptance.

Kim Fortune
Kim is a TV presenter and podcaster who investigates conspiracy theories. He is a little bit irritating at first, although, as with Chantel, we see him evolve a little due to his adventure in the book.

The Aliens
The aliens in the story are part horse/human creatures who hold a grudge against the Doctor due to their actions during their 7th incarnation.

Writing Style
The book is structured into three distinct parts, reminiscent of the three-part stories frequent during the Seventh Doctor’s era.

Aldred successfully maintains intrigue throughout the narrative, delivering a story that feels like an extended Doctor Who episode. Although their reunion occurs later in the book than I’d prefer, the characterization of an older Ace reconnecting with the Doctor after many years is especially enjoyable.

At times, the book feels slightly overcrowded with characters, which occasionally affects the pacing, and, on the subject of pacing, the introduction of the main antagonist comes somewhat late in the storyline for me. Lots of things seem to be happening at once towards the end. However, that being said, the eventual payoff regarding the story’s big bad is satisfying, especially for Ace and Seventh Doctor fans.

Overall, Aldred crafts an engaging story, perfectly capturing Ace’s spirit and offering plenty of Easter eggs and nostalgic callbacks to reward dedicated Doctor Who fans.

Final Thoughts
I got such a hit of nostalgia reading this book. While it’s a little slower than I would have preferred, I still enjoyed it. I love reading about the lives of those the Doctor has left behind and the things they’ve done since their time aboard the Tardis.

If you’re a Doctor Who fan, At Childhood’s End is worth a look!

I am giving the book a 5/10.

Have you read At Childhood’s End?  What are your thoughts on Sophie Aldred’s first Doctor Who novel?

Thank you, as ever, for reading my review. I really appreciate it.

Until next time,

George

© 2025 GLT

Categories: Book Reviews, Reading

Tags: Ace, BBC, book review, Doctor Who, review, Seventh Doctor, Sophie Aldred, Thirteenth Doctor