This is one of the trio of tie-in novels released for the first season of Torchwood, and is set early in that season, after Gwen's settled in but before Cyberwoman. Tie-in novels can disappoint, but this is a solid story that's well-written and that fits the Torchwood universe well; a dark tale about the things that come through the Rift and their misuse by the locals. It's actually better than the first couple of tv episodes, because the sex and violence is used to good effect in the story, rather than feeling as if it's tossed in just to see how far the show can go in a post-watershed slot.[return][return]There are two interweaving plots here. The main plot concerns an outbreak of killings involving cannibalism, and their link to a very dubious weight-loss clinic. The team's hunt for the solution is given added urgency when Gwen realises that Rhys has taken one of the clinic's pills. The minor plot concerns Tosh's research into a series of alien devices.[return][return]There's good exposition and world-building, and I think this book will work for someone who hasn't yet seen the show. The characterisation's not that deep, but it's not bad for an early tie-in where even an author who's a fan or involved with the show's production wouldn't have had much to go on, and it's accurate. With one exception there's not much reference to specific events in the tv series, and even the exception is blended in nicely as something that will be simply a character quirk to people who haven't seen the relevant episode. [return][return]The book focuses strongly on the relationship between Gwen and Rhys (and does so very nicely), but generally doesn't neglect the rest of the team. There are some decent bits for particular characters: Tosh gets a decent word count, even if she spends it being girl geek as usual; there's a good storyline for Owen where circumstances force him to interact with an attractive woman as a person, rather than just a shag. On the other hand, Ianto's barely mentioned; but when you do see him he's spending a lot of time lurking in the remote archives and discouraging other team members from wandering into them, which is appropriate for this point in his storyline, and he gets some good interaction with Tosh.[return][return]Physically, it's a hardcover with a perfect-bound book block, which is what you'd expect at this price point for a hardback. It's solidly constructed with no loose pages, and there's a good cover design which links in with the other two books in the set. Designer Lee Binding's done a nice job with stock art here.[return][return]Slow Decay is a good read for both the plot and the characterisation, and I expect I'll be re-reading it soon. Well worth the money.
I have to say this Torchwood book was just too slow and personal issue orientated for me. Yes there were some interesting parts to the plot, but I never felt it really got going.Torchwood Border Princes/Slow Decay/Another Life General:I've now read three of the Torchwood books. I was most interested in how three different writers dealt with the same charater and scene confinements and also what it means to have pre-defined characters who can be watched on screen so much so that even the actors mannorisms are already determined. Would the fact that characters didn't have to be drawn in depth within the narrative effect the way books were written? To my mind yes, to a certain extent, it should. Rather than drawing a particular character, the narratives can take this as read and then concentrate on the plot. However two of the three books tended to replace charater drawing with personal issues and lengthy reflections, which made the narrative slow - they ended up being more like an episode of Casualty (or other soap) than a gripping sci-fi/detective fiction.
Do You like book Slow Decay (2007)?
I've re-read this book and I would give it 3.5 stars because I felt it took too long to get to the main part of the story, which was human beings going to a clinic, getting ravenous hunger so much so that they ate anything in sight and then the alien creature came along. Other than that, I enjoyed the storyline of the book.I loved the way that Andy Lane included each member of the Torchwood's team point of view throughout the book ( including Rhys), which followed what they were doing, and it felt as if you were watching the TV show, in a way. Also I liked the way this book touches on something as ordinary as a weight loss clinic could be sinister. Jack says this in the end chapter: 'You know those diet pills weren't the answer. They just address the symptom, not the cause. Changing your body isn't the point. You have to change the behaviour that's changing your body.' I found this quote personally to be inspiring because everyone in this day and age has had or is going through a self-esteem issue. But people always get through it. However, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone that is really squeamish and doesn't like gore because this book has its fair share of it.Although, I would recommend this to anyone who watches and likes Torchwood because it is an interesting book to read.
—Cora
Getting better but - why are there two scenes, one of them quite important, that are told about but not shown? I mean - the final fate of the the main antagonist is told in one sentence. Why not show it?
—Matthew Vandrew
Scads better than the previous one. Diet pills, reminded me of Adipose, except the Adipose were cute little fat marshmallows and there was not cannibalism involved. Also takes place before the Cyberwoman episode as there are allusions to things down in the bowels of Torchwood. Was Ianto really that boring in the beginning? Dude. I may have to go back and rewatch the early Torchwood and pay attention to Ianto. Made me want to eat food. And then it was gross and I did not want to eat food anymore. Despite the questionable description on the back of the book, it wasn't dreadful. I rather enjoyed it. A fast read. I really shouldn't have finished it as soon as I did, but I had trouble convincing myself to put it down. It gives me hope that the Torchwood books might turn out alright after all.
—Rea K
