by Dan Abnett
TV Tie-In
The scary early warning dodad is flashing. There's one of the most deadly killing machines in the universe living on a Cardiff allotment. A man called Mr Dine is watching the principle. And Gwen and James are moving in together. But something's not right and James may be the key -- does he really belong in Torchwood? Does he really belong on Earth at all?
Border Princes is a fairly standard sci-fi/action adventure but told with Abnett's customary pace and skill. The fact that you know James isn't supposed to be there undermines any impact the story might have had (if only it were Owen!) but it isn't really a suspense novel anyway.
I listened to the abridged audiobook, read by Eve Myles (Gwen in the TV show). Her pacing was a little off early on but her lovely Welsh accent is easy to listen to and her delivery did improve later in the reading. I'm not a fan of abridgements but it didn't seem too harsh; the story seemed to work without too many glaring gaps.
All-in-all, a fun, if inconsequential listen.