Review of a "Fantastic!: A Celebration of Fans Discovering Doctor Who" by Nicholas Seidler

Score: 95/100 (9.5 out of 10)

This is such a warm, nerdy hug of a book!

Fantastic!: A Celebration of Fans Discovering Doctor Who by Nicholas Seidler is a heartfelt anthology centered around the iconic British TV show Doctor Who, which has become a decades-long international sensation!

This anthology includes over 100 Whovians (Doctor Who fans) and their personal experiences with the show.

The single most remarkable aspect of this book is how it highlights how fandoms like Doctor Who can bridge gaps between people across nations, continents, languages, cultures, and whole generations!

Some of our favorite stories from this book include parents and grandparents who were somewhat familiar with the show in the past, then heard the familiar theme song or saw a familiar Who-thing (like the TARDIS, Screwdriver, or checkered scarf) emerging from their child's television screen, phone, or laptop. It's like a blast from the past leaking into the present and the future!

That really shows how this show crossed, survived, and transcended whole eras and generations since its debut on November 23, 1963.

According to this book: "Doctor Who began as a black and white TV show, and by 1970 it made the jump to color. … The series eventually added stereo sound, broadcasted some episodes in 3-D, transitioned to widescreen format, welcomed high definition, added surround sound, and transitioned to ultra-high definition 4K."

Essentially, this series survived the transition(s) from black & white all the way to 4K, enduring virtually every single change in digital media since the 60s!

And it's not just eras and generations that this show has crossed, it has also bridged cultures and languages. You could even throw religious differences in there as well.

One of the most fascinating examples of this global reach comes from contributor Umut Cevik, who shares a sweeping sixteen year journey of nurturing Doctor Who fandom in Turkey. His story charts the evolution of a community that began with scattered fans and unofficial translations, eventually growing into organized viewing parties, magazine features, university events, and the creation of Doctor Who Merkezi, Turkey’s dedicated fan hub. Umut’s passion didn’t just unite Turkish Whovians. It opened doors to collaborations with broadcasters, brought international guests to local events, and even changed the course of his own life. Through his work on TARDIS.wiki translation projects, he met the person who would later become his spouse!

Today, he continues expanding the fandom and is even writing a book on the history of Doctor Who in Turkey. His contribution beautifully illustrates how one person’s dedication can ignite a regional fandom and how the Doctor’s adventures truly resonate across borders, languages, and entire cultures. You don't have to be British, white, Christian, secular, Muslim, or anything in particular to enjoy and appreciate Doctor Who. It is a show that can speak to everyone and anyone.

Another touching story in this book is from a contributor who describes how Doctor Who became a shared ritual with their children, something that stitched their family closer together over the years. What began as casual viewing soon became a treasured tradition. They talked about episodes together, laughed at the same moments, swapped theories, and found that the show created a space where everyone felt connected. Those memories weren’t just about watching television; they were about building a little universe of their own, one where time travel, adventure, and imagination brought parent and children into the same emotional orbit.

There are also some parts of this book that made us chuckle. Contributor Christopher Cebula described how he discovered Doctor Who while channel surfing with his mother. When they landed on a Tom Baker scene, his mom turned to him and said:

“Chris this is stupid; I think you’ll like it!”

Another thing we found interesting was how everyone had their own favorite Doctor, their own favorite season/era, and their own favorite episode (or best episode for newcomers to start with).

We were surprised that Matt Smith and Tom Baker didn't completely dominate the favorite Doctor debates.

Instead, the favorites were spread across nearly every incarnation, from the crisp charm of Peter Davison to the fierce intensity of Christopher Eccleston, the brooding brilliance of Peter Capaldi (a personal favorite of ours), and even the audio-driven legacy of Paul McGann. Heck, there were even contributors who loved Jodie Whittaker, the controversial Thirteenth Doctor. In fact, one of coolest parts of the book was hearing contributor Simorgh Jourabchi talk about how when she was growing up, she couldn't play the Doctor in roleplay games because "the Doctor always had to be a boy" and the companions were usually played by girls. So, seeing the Doctor finally be the same gender as her was very liberating.

Something funny we remember was how one contributor talked about how they "Never forgave [Jon Pertwee (Third Doctor)] for regenerating into Tom Baker." That's hilarious, especially considering that Tom Baker is the quintessential Doctor in the minds of many. Shockingly, not everyone loved him!

We didn’t particularly think Christopher Eccleston was that popular, but one contributor talked about being devastated when he regenerated. She had no idea what regeneration even was at the time, so she believed they had killed off her favorite character forever. When David Tennant appeared, her first reaction was pure outrage: “Who the hell is that? Where’s the Doctor? No! Bring the Doctor back!” It captures just how personal these transitions can feel.

And that spoke to us. It can speak to many people. Change is hard
Transitions are hard.

Some of our favorite sports teams are losing beloved coaches and players and having to embrace new ones. Practically all of us have had breakups and losses in the past. Giving up a previously beloved and/or familiar Doctor is analogous to that.

But, so is life. So is time. Time is always going, always moving. And we're always moving with it.

And that brings up one final point which goes along with everything we've been talking about: the universality of Doctor Who, timeless nature, and the endless possibilities.

When you have a time machine that can go anywhere at any time, the possibilities are endless!

Check it out on Amazon!