I know it’s slightly off-topic here, but I thought I’d talk
about some upcoming novels that are being released later this year. Last year
this was done for the 50th anniversary, with one novel featuring
each Doctor, with the books drawn from the BBC’s Past Doctor Adventures line
for Doctors 1 to 6, a Target novelisation for the Seventh Doctor, a BBC Eight
Doctor Adventure (it’s hard finding a title from there not continuity linked in
some way!) and the BBC New Series Adventures for Doctors 9-11.
This new batch of books has TV monsters in prose form, in
all new stories, with the new covers showing that monster. The original texts
are also taken from a wider range of ranges, including the Virgin novels! If I
have read that title, I may give my verdict on it.
Corpse Marker by Chris Boucher (Fourth Doctor and Leela, Voc
Robots)
Past Doctor Adventures #27, released November 1999
The Doctor and Leela arrive on the planet Kaldor, where they
find a society dependent on benign and obedient robots. But they have faced
these robots before, on a huge Sandminer in the Kaldor desert, and know they
are not always harmless servants. The only other people who know the truth are
the three survivors from that Sandminer - and now they are being picked off one
by one. The twisted genius behind that massacre is dead, but someone is
developing a new, deadlier breed of robots. This time, unless the Doctor and
Leela can stop them, they really will destroy the world. It is an adventure
featuring the Fourth Doctor, as played by Tom Baker, and his companion Leela.
My verdict: Not as good as Robots Of Death, but then it
takes someone as amazing a Nick Briggs to pen that amazing a sequel. Some intriguing
developments, so worth a read
Shakedown by Terrance Dicks (Seventh Doctor, Benny, Chris and
Roz, Sontarans)
Virgin New Adventures #45, released December 1995
For thousands of years the Sontarans and the Rutans have
fought a brutal war across the galaxy. Now the Sontarans have a secret plan to
destroy the Rutan race - a secret plan the Doctor is racing against time to
uncover. Only one Rutan spy knows the Sontarans' plan. As he is chased through
the galaxy in a desperate bid for his life, he reaches the planet Sentarion -
where Professor Bernice Summerfield's research into the history of the
Sontaran-Rutan war is turning into an explosive reality. It is an adventure
featuring the Seventh Doctor, as played by Sylvester McCoy.
Fun fact: Part of this novel is based on the spin-off video
Shakedown: Return Of The Sontarans, the second (and so far last) time the Sontarans
and the Rutans appeared on screen together
Illegal Alien by Mike Tucker and Robert Perry (Seventh Doctor
and Ace, Cybermen)
Past Doctor Adventure #5, released October 1997
The Blitz is at its height. As the Luftwaffe bomb London,
Cody McBride, ex-pat American private eye, sees a sinister silver sphere
crash-land. He glimpses something emerging from within. The military dismiss
his account of events - the sphere must be a new German secret weapon that has
malfunctioned in some way. What else could it be? Arriving amid the chaos, the
Doctor and Ace embark on a trail that brings them face to face with hidden Nazi
agents, and encounter some very old enemies. It is an adventure featuring the
Seventh Doctor, as played by Sylvester McCoy, and his companion Ace.
My verdict: Get this one. It is a good read, and if you
choose to pick up later releases that link into this one, rewarding.
Fun fact 1: This was going to be a TV story before the 89’
cancellation. Mike Tucker mentions this in the documentary on the Survival DVD
Fun fact 2: This is the first book in a cycle of Seventh
Doctor and Ace stories. After Illegal Alien, there’s #16 Matrix, #23 Storm
Harvest (first appearance of the Krill, who are also in the Big Finish Dust
Breeding with a certain Mr Seta..), #33 Prime Time, #57 Heritage and #60 Loving
The Alien (wraps up threads from these books)
Touched By An Angel by Jonathan Morris (Eleventh Doctor, Amy
and Rory, Weeping Angels)
New Series Adventure #46, released June 2011
'The past is like a foreign country. Nice to visit, but you
really wouldn't want to live there.' In 2003, Rebecca Whitaker died in a road
accident. Her husband Mark is still grieving. He receives a battered envelope,
posted eight years earlier, containing a set of instructions with a simple
message: 'You can save her.' As Mark is given the chance to save Rebecca, it's
up to the Doctor, Amy and Rory to save the whole world. Because this time the
Weeping Angels are using history itself as a weapon. It is an adventure
featuring the Eleventh Doctor, as played by Matt Smith, and his companions Amy
and Rory.
My verdict: Jonathan Morris weaves his magic with the Weeping
Angels, who are just as intense on print as they are on screen. Why can’t
Johnny Morris write a TV script? I’d recommend all his Big Finish stuff, and
also his many other novels. His debut, Festival Of Death (re-released last
year) is a masterpiece)
The Scales Of Injustice by Gary Russell (Third Doctor, Liz
and UNIT, Silurians and Sea-Devils)
Virgin Missing Adventure #24, released July 1996
When a boy goes missing and a policewoman starts drawing
cave paintings, the Doctor suspects the Silurians are back. With the Brigadier
distracted by questions about UNIT funding and problems at home, the Doctor
swears his assistant Liz Shaw to secrecy and investigates alone. But Liz has
enquiries of her own, teaming up with a journalist to track down people who
don't exist. What is the mysterious Glasshouse, and why is it so secret? As the
Silurians wake from their ancient slumber, the Doctor, Liz and the Brigadier
are caught up in a conspiracy to exploit UNIT's achievements - a conspiracy
that reaches deep into the heart of the British Government. It is an adventure
featuring the Third Doctor, as played by Jon Pertwee, his companion Liz Shaw
and UNIT.
Popular opinion: Often said to be a very popular book, I
hope this gives me the chance to read for myself
Fun fact: Some characters reappear in the Past Doctor
Adventures novels Business Unusual and Instruments Of Darkness, both by Gary
Russell
Prisoner Of The Daleks by Trevor Baxendale (Tenth Doctor,
Daleks)
New Series Adventure #33, released April 2009
The Daleks are advancing, their empire constantly expanding.
The battles rage on across countless solar systems - and the Doctor finds
himself stranded on board a starship near the frontline with a group of
ruthless bounty hunters. Earth Command will pay these hunters for every Dalek
they kill, every eyestalk they bring back as proof. With the Doctor's help, the
bounty hunters achieve the ultimate prize: a Dalek prisoner - intact,
powerless, and ready for interrogation. But with the Daleks, nothing is what it
seems, and no one is safe. Before long the tables will be turned, and how will
the Doctor survive when he becomes a prisoner of the Daleks? It is an adventure
featuring the Tenth Doctor, as played by David Tennant.
My verdict: By getting past the Dalek continuity from the
new series, Trevor Baxendale brings us hoards of Daleks and a plot that will
impact the whole universe. The characters are memorable as well. Get it
Sting Of The Zygons by Stephen Cole (Tenth Doctor and Martha,
Zygons)
New Series Adventure #13, released April 2007
The TARDIS lands the Doctor and Martha in the Lake District
in 1909, where a small village has been terrorised by a giant, scaly monster.
The search is on for the elusive 'Beast of Westmorland', and explorers,
naturalists and hunters from across the country are descending on the fells.
King Edward VII himself is on his way to join the search, with a knighthood for
whoever finds the Beast. But there is a more sinister presence at work in the
Lakes than a mere monster on the rampage, and the Doctor is soon embroiled in
the plans of an old and terrifying enemy. And as the hunters become the hunted,
a desperate battle of wits begins - with the future of the entire world at
stake. It includes an adventure featuring the Tenth Doctor, as played by David
Tennant, and his companion Martha.
My verdict: not the best, yet an interesting story none the
less, and the “who (or what…) is a zygon” thing is fun. I would rather the BBC
brought out the early Eighth Doctor Adventure The Body Snatchers by Mark Morris,
which featured Sam and Litefoot (the book is also referenced the Eighth Doctor
Big Finish audio The Zygon Who Came To Earth), and is less widely available
than this title
The Sands Of Time by Justin Richards (Fifth Doctor, Nyssa and
Tegan, Osirians and Mummy Robots)
Virgin Missing Adventure #22, released May 1996
The Doctor is in Victorian London with Nyssa and Tegan - a
city shrouded in mystery. When Nyssa is kidnapped in the British Museum, the
Doctor and Tegan have to unlock the answers to a series of ancient questions.
Their quest leads them across continents and time as an ancient Egyptian
prophecy threatens future England. To save Nyssa, the Doctor must foil the
plans of the mysterious Sadan Rassul. But as mummies stalk the night, an
ancient terror stirs in its tomb. It is an adventure featuring the Fifth
Doctor, as played by Peter Davison, and his companions Nyssa and Tegan.
My verdict: An original idea, with plenty of time-hopping
and good, but not overdone use of timey-wimey. I say yes, and you're also unlikely to find it anywhere else.
These titles are available from March this year. Some are
from the hard to find Virgin years (which can only be found on eBay or second
hand bookshops) and hopefully include forwards by the authors like last year’s
batch did. A good introduction to prose Doctor Who if you target likes the
monsters
Comment below, or tweet me at @jbmastawa. What books or
authors would you like to see re-issued? Have you read these titles and which
ones do you recommend? What ones would you like to read or re-read?
