But in answer to your question, with my editorial hat on and on the dubious premise that once upon a time I really was a children's book editor, I think the following things may apply:
1) Titan tend to do graphic novels, so this is appealing at their market. ie, Conor type geeks. (with apologies to graphic novel readers, I happen to like them, but that is their core readership, sorry...) It does allow them to go all grown up and aggressive. But usually it works the other way round, as in Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles which were not nearly so cuddly in the original
2)Sounds like a fairly typical book-from-tv. You say the writer sounds as if he would rather be writing something else. He probably does. I did lots and lots of tv-tieins and frankly they are soul destroying to work on. You know the real creativity and fun has gone into making a tv programme, producing a book from it just feels like second best. The ONLY tie in I can think of that stood up on its own merits was actually a novelisation of a film: My Girl. Can't remember the author. Have never seen the film, but the book made me cry (and not with horror as did so many dire tie ins I worked on).
3)They may have muddled their market and it might appeal to no one. My sprogs would likely read a Primeval comic (in fact, note to self, I think they might already have), but suspect they would be less interested in a book. We have Dr Who annuals and a couple of books, but they are less interested in them for the reasons mentioned above.

Tie ins are a funny old market. You're normally in and out to make a quick buck. It seems strange this should come out now, unless it's out to tie in to the release of the DVD. They'd have got much more mileage when it was on tv. But then it doesn't sound like this is going to appeal to the core audience, so maybe that doesn't matter to them.

I don't think that Titan are going for a quick buck here. The quality is too good and the price too low.

I actually liked the novelisation of the 80s Flash Gordon movie, because it was so mentally off its head. It had Ming telling his daughter, "Daughter, I feel we have not been so close of late. We should take off all our clothes and whip each other." I'm not sure that's the exact quote, but it's pretty close...

I should really try and think of something witty since I'll likely buy the book for my eldest (who loves Primeval) but there's just too much pressure...

Actually, if no one wants it, I'm going to charity shop it so that it can do some good, at least.

The only thing I'll pick up on is the Gurkha thing, which bugs me because that was cut between first and second draft and shouldn't have been in there because it's factually inaccurate. I guess there was a second reference that was missed. Bugger.

Anyway, least you didn't say it was crap :)

Don't worry, Steve, it's not crap - it's actually pretty good, much better than I was expecting, certainly.

And for a point you made elsewhere, I'm 35 now so a tad squeamish. At 14, I could have taken it and revelled in it a bit; at 10, I'd probably have had issues with it - that's the great circle of life for you.

And like I said elsewhere, I've got no issues with the review at all... even if I chuckled at the squeamish stuff. If I shared some of the secrets behind the writing, like the deadlines, as a writer yourself I'm pretty sure you'd feel doubly squeamish :)

I certainly agree with you, Titan have pulled no punches quality-wise - you're getting a good amount of bang for the buck, so to speak.

Anyway, the charity shop's a good idea - or if you are in a decent sized city, the old book crossing thing where you leave it on a seat with a note saaying you've released it into the wild ... and more seriously thanks for a serious review of the story instead of an 'oh it's a tie-in, it inevitably sucks'.

Tell you what, everyone, you can either try to amuse me or just make an impassioned plea as to why you should have the book.

I LOVE the 'purple prose'! I'm sorry, but my first thought in response to the quote you gave from Cutter was simply go fall into a slight faint at mentally hearing the delectable Scottish voice seriously uttering those lines!
"You are a good man, Connor Temple. You've got a good heart. But this, this goes beyond heart and courage into a world of injustice that even the biggest heart can't conquer"

Awh, come on! Doesn't it make your heart beat a little faster thinking of him saying that?

No?

Just me?

Shucks.
(flutters non-flirtatious eye-lashes in Rob's direction as he KNOWS I will give the book a good home - even as he will criticise me for not having bought it already. What can I say: it's been a rough year...)