Normally when I read I take notes of what I'm thinking or how I'm feeling during a particular chapter so I can write an informative review. I find myself winging this one because I was so caught up in the story, I completely forgot to even open Notepad, nevermind write what I was thinking. This was such a brilliant series, I'm so glad that I found it. I should be asleep now (it's four in the morning), but I needed to finish...to find out how it all ended. My heart nearly stopped and tears were on the verge of falling when Jack died. I love how you didn't involve an explanation of how the Doctor fixed it. There was a half a second of confusion until I realised what had happened. Amazingly done. After a bit of sleep, I'll have to read your other work. ::smiles::
Author's Response: Thank you so much! I\'m sorry that it\'s taken me so long to come back in and respond to this review, but please believe that I really, really appreciate your very kind words. To hear that the series moved you so much - especially the part where Jack died - means a lot to me. Thank you so much again :)
just wanted to say i loved your series 'what was lost', it has kept company in my insomnia these past nights!
you really captured the characters - particularly the complex Doctor - and i think you got a beautiful subtlety with the relationship between him and Rose. the way you drew it out and resisted the urge to get them straight in the sack made for a realistic, intriguing and addictive read (which culminated beautifully).
i liked finding out more about jack and seeing more dimension to him - the relationship between him, the doctor and rose was equally handled with great elegance.
i also thought the plot was incredibly well thought out and executed - it fits seamlessly with and definitely enhances the story as seen on tv. it has certainly joined the mythology of dr. who in my mind.
i'm new to this site but i'm looking forward to reading everything else you've written, which i'm happy to see is lots!
xx
Author's Response: I\'m embarrassed that it\'s taken me so long to respond to this! But thank you so very much for your lovely review of the series. I really love exploring the dynamics of the relationship between these three characters; so much was left unsaid in S1 in that gap between TDD and Boom Town, when it\'s obvious that a lot changed in their relationship. Thank you again so much!
How much do I love your stories in general and this series in particular? I created an account here just so I could log in and tell you that you're fantastic, that's how much. One thing I'm slightly confused about: "Commander." The way the rank is used in the story, it seems like it ought to be higher than Captain. First, when the Doctor notes "So he really was a commander. Now, that was interesting. The Time Agency had wiped the memory of one of its own very senior officers?" While a commander is certainly a senior officer rank, it's not really "very senior." More explicitly, the doctor muses "So Jack was a Commander. Not a Captain. Which meant he had to be pretty senior within the Time Agency." That seems to rather strongly suggest that Commander is a higher rank than Captain. And the whole logic of Jack not remembering reaching the rank of Commander, and thus calling himself a Captain, would also imply that Commander was something he was promoted to from Captain. But if that's the case, Time Agency ranks are totally different from current military ranks. Which is fine, if you like it that way. Who knows, maybe they are. But I couldn't help but wonder if perhaps you meant to say he was really a Commodore in the Time Agency? A Commodore is the next rank up from a Captain (in the Navy, that is, which is the only service that uses the rank of Commander anyway), just below the various ranks of Admiralty. It's a flag rank, and thus he would count as a very senior officer; it would also be very impressive for someone near Jack's apparent age to have reached that rank. A Commander, on the other hand, is the rank just below Captain, not a flag rank, and not quite as impressive. Or was Commander supposed to be understood in the fic as being lower than Captain, and I'm just misinterpreting things? I know all this is total military nit-picking, and it doesn't detract from the quality of the stories (please see declaration of love above), but I just felt I ought to point it out.
Author's Response: You know, that\'s really weird, because I always thought that Commander was a higher rank than Captain. Certainly sounds like it should be! But you\'re right: I\'ve looked up military ranks and it\'s clearly not. Oh, well, dammit anyway. ;) It\'s too late to change now, so let\'s just pretend that Time Agency ranks are different - well, it is three thousand years in the future, after all! - and that Commander is a step up from Captain.
Thank you for your review and for taking the time to explain this.
How much do I love your stories in general and this series in particular? I created an account here just so I could log in and tell you that you're fantastic, that's how much. One thing I'm slightly confused about: "Commander." The way the rank is used in the story, it seems like it ought to be higher than Captain. First, when the Doctor notes "So he really was a commander. Now, that was interesting. The Time Agency had wiped the memory of one of its own very senior officers?" While a commander is certainly a senior officer rank, it's not really "very senior." More explicitly, the doctor muses "So Jack was a Commander. Not a Captain. Which meant he had to be pretty senior within the Time Agency." That seems to rather strongly suggest that Commander is a higher rank than Captain. And the whole logic of Jack not remembering reaching the rank of Commander, and thus calling himself a Captain, would also imply that Commander was something he was promoted to from Captain. But if that's the case, Time Agency ranks are totally different from current military ranks. Which is fine, if you like it that way. Who knows, maybe they are. But I couldn't help but wonder if perhaps you meant to say he was really a Commodore in the Time Agency? A Commodore is the next rank up from a Captain (in the Navy, that is, which is the only service that uses the rank of Commander anyway), just below the various ranks of Admiralty. It's a flag rank, and thus he would count as a very senior officer; it would also be very impressive for someone near Jack's apparent age to have reached that rank. A Commander, on the other hand, is the rank just below Captain, not a flag rank, and not quite as impressive. Or was Commander supposed to be understood in the fic as being lower than Captain, and I'm just misinterpreting things? I know all this is total military nit-picking, and it doesn't detract from the quality of the stories (please see declaration of love above), but I just felt I ought to point it out.
This is one of the best series I have ever read!!!! You do a great job and have a natural talent for writing. Keep it up!!
Author's Response: Thank you very much!