Annual-us horribilis

"Doctor Who The Official Annual 2007" isn't worth wasting your time on...unless you're eight years old.

Let me explain.

Originally, these books contained prose and comic strips of varying quality, and a smattering of science fact. For all their faults (including many ghastly illos and layouts), they allowed us, over the course of several sittings, to join our favourite hero on non-televised adventures.

I believe they began in 1964 and continued until 1986.

Thanks to the success of the new series, the tradition was revived late last year with a tome titled "Doctor Who Annual 2006". It had plenty of fiction - and surprising hints at future possibilities.

"Doctor Who The Official Annual 2007" doesn't.

Apart from two crappy comics and some unenlightening character summaries, it's composed of generic puzzles and children's party games.

At eight, I would have thought this awesome - solving all the brain teasers (cheating where necessary), undertaking every activity and re-reading until the corners were worn through to the grey cardboard beneath.

As an adult, it provided only a 20-minute skim before being consigned to one of the storage boxes under my bed.

I'm all for nurturing new fans, but it seems almost cruel to have had "Doctor Who" annuals as I knew them brought back briefly...then reduced to this.