Doctor Who: Just War
by Lance Parkin
Audio Adaptation
Just War
Adaptor: Jacqueline Rayner
Director: Gary Russell
Professor Bernice Summerfield: 26th Century achaeology professor, and tutor at St Oscar's University on the planet Dellah. Prone to getting involved in adventures, scrapes and general derrng-do armed only with her wits, cunning and a flask of brandy! Aged about 35ish, but frequently says she's younger. Odd that...
Jason Kane: 20th Century guy, kidnapped by aliens and taken to the future where he met and married Bernice. Then they got divorced. Spends most of his time these days in bars, getting involved with very dodgy deals, criminal low-lifes and other undesirables. Far more intelligent and resourceful than he gives himself credit for.
The Time-Rings: Given to Benny and Jason as wedding rings, they are two extraordinarily powerful devices which, used together can take them anywhere in time and space. Some people would go to any lengths to get hold of them...
The Occupation: At the height of their campaigning during World War II, the Nazi's successfully occupied Guernsey and held it for some time, despite the attempts by various resistance factions and the Allies to reclaim the island.
Characters / Cast
- UK
- Paperback
- Doctor Who Books
- January 1996
Back Cover Blurb
'Tomorrow belongs to us, not to you. If you were really from the future, Miss Summerfield, you would be a Nazi.'
March 1941: Britain's darkest hour. The Nazis occupy British soil and British citizens are being deported to European concentration camps. Six thousand people a month are dying in air raids on London. The United States shows no sign of entering the war.
According to the Doctor, this isn't a parallel universe, it isn't an alternate timeline, and everything is running according to schedule. But now something, somewhere, has gone wrong. The Nazis are building a secret weapon, one that will have a decisive effect on the outcome of the war. Chris thinks it's a UFO, while Roz believes that the Luftwaffe have developed the largest bomber ever built. Only Benny may have seen the mysterious craft — but she's disappeared off the face of the Earth.
'Tomorrow belongs to us, not to you. If you were really from the future, Miss Summerfield, you would be a Nazi.'
March 1941: Britain's darkest hour. The Nazis occupy British soil and British citizens are being deported to European concentration camps. Six thousand people a month are dying in air raids on London. The United States shows no sign of entering the war.
According to the Doctor, this isn't a parallel universe, it isn't an alternate timeline, and everything is running according to schedule. But now something, somewhere, has gone wrong. The Nazis are building a secret weapon, one that will have a decisive effect on the outcome of the war. Chris thinks it's a UFO, while Roz believes that the Luftwaffe have developed the largest bomber ever built. Only Benny may have seen the mysterious craft — but she's disappeared off the face of the Earth.
Regular Characters
Seventh Doctor / Bernice Summerfield / Roz Forrester / Chris Cwej
Seventh Doctor / Bernice Summerfield / Roz Forrester / Chris Cwej
Audio AdaptationJust War
Adaptor: Jacqueline Rayner
Director: Gary Russell
- UK
- Big Finish Productions
- 2 × CD
- 110 Minutes
- August 1999
- Audio Number: 5
Professor Bernice Summerfield: 26th Century achaeology professor, and tutor at St Oscar's University on the planet Dellah. Prone to getting involved in adventures, scrapes and general derrng-do armed only with her wits, cunning and a flask of brandy! Aged about 35ish, but frequently says she's younger. Odd that...
Jason Kane: 20th Century guy, kidnapped by aliens and taken to the future where he met and married Bernice. Then they got divorced. Spends most of his time these days in bars, getting involved with very dodgy deals, criminal low-lifes and other undesirables. Far more intelligent and resourceful than he gives himself credit for.
The Time-Rings: Given to Benny and Jason as wedding rings, they are two extraordinarily powerful devices which, used together can take them anywhere in time and space. Some people would go to any lengths to get hold of them...
The Occupation: At the height of their campaigning during World War II, the Nazi's successfully occupied Guernsey and held it for some time, despite the attempts by various resistance factions and the Allies to reclaim the island.
Characters / Cast
| Professor Bernice Summerfield | Lisa Bowerman |
| Jason Kane | Stephen Fewell |
| Oberst Oskar Steinman | Michael Wade |
| Standardtenfuhrer Joachim Wolff | Mark Gatiss |
| Ma Doras | Maggie Stables |
| Nurse Rosa Kitzel | Nicky Golding |
| Private Franz Hutter | Anthony Keetch |
| Private Gerhard Flur | Simon Moore |
Notes
- Just War was Lance Parkin's very first Doctor Who novel. He would go to write some of the most noteworthy (and hard to find) inclusions in the various ranges, including the multi-Doctor book Cold Fusion, The Dying Days — the final Doctor Who novel from Virgin and the only one to feature the Eighth Doctor, Father Time in which the Doctor gained a daughter and the series-ending Eighth Doctor Adventure The Gallifrey Chronicles.
- Just War was the second of two Doctor Who novels to be adapted into full-length audio dramas by Big Finish Productions as part of their Bernice Summerfield range of audio dramas — the other being Birthright. All references to Doctor Who were removed from the production.
Just War was Part Three in the Time Ring trilogy of audio plays which began with Walking to Babylon and continued with an adaptation of Birthright.
Doctor Who: Warchild
by Andrew Cartmel
- UK
- Paperback
- Doctor Who Books
- February 1996
Back Cover Blurb
Adolescence is a difficult time. Especially when you have the power to rule the world.
Creed is just an ordinary guy — as ordinary as you can be when you're a secret agent working for the government. But his family is another matter. His youngest child seems able to read his mind. His oldest boy, Ricky, may possess a stranger and far more frightening power. And others seem interested in his 'gifted' children — sinister forces who see them as a resource to be exploited.
Around the world, the Doctor's companions have been put in place, ready to act when the time is right. Old friends and enemies are gathering for a final confrontation that will shape the future of the globe — and the evolution of mankind.
Warchild is the shattering conclusion to the dark trilogy which began with Warhead and continued in Warlock.
Adolescence is a difficult time. Especially when you have the power to rule the world.
Creed is just an ordinary guy — as ordinary as you can be when you're a secret agent working for the government. But his family is another matter. His youngest child seems able to read his mind. His oldest boy, Ricky, may possess a stranger and far more frightening power. And others seem interested in his 'gifted' children — sinister forces who see them as a resource to be exploited.
Around the world, the Doctor's companions have been put in place, ready to act when the time is right. Old friends and enemies are gathering for a final confrontation that will shape the future of the globe — and the evolution of mankind.
Warchild is the shattering conclusion to the dark trilogy which began with Warhead and continued in Warlock.
Regular Characters
Seventh Doctor / Bernice Summerfield / Roz Forrester / Chris Cwej
Seventh Doctor / Bernice Summerfield / Roz Forrester / Chris Cwej
Notes
- Warchild was Andrew Cartmel's third and final Doctor Who novel for the New Adventures, although he would later go on to write the Second Doctor novella Foreign Devils for Telos, and also Atom Bomb Bomb Blues, the final Previous Doctor Adventure from BBC Books.
- Warchild was the final part in a trilogy which had begun in 1992 with Cat's Cradle: Warhead and continued in 1995's Warlock. The book was also the first entry in the loosely-linked "Psi-Powers" series.
Doctor Who: Sleepy
by Kate Orman
- UK
- Paperback
- Doctor Who Books
- March 1996
Back Cover Blurb
'Stay the hell out of my mind,' hissed Forrester. 'Just stay away from me.' She turned and stalked out of the room.
Chris put his head in his hands.
The Earth colony of Yemaya 4 is a very ordinary place. The colonists spend their time farming, building homes, raising families.
But when the Doctor and his companions arrive they find a virus sweeping through the population, unleashing the colonists' latent psychic powers. The Doctor and Chris fall prey to the infection, and discover telepathy is not the only symptom. Chris is unable to resist the call of an ancient place of sacrifice, while Roz and Benny travel back in time to the origin of the virus, and uncover a desperate bid for immortality.
And all the while the Doctor is playing a dangerous game with troopers of the Dione-Kisumu company, who have come either to reclaim their stolen biotechnology — or to sterilize the planet.
'Stay the hell out of my mind,' hissed Forrester. 'Just stay away from me.' She turned and stalked out of the room.
Chris put his head in his hands.
The Earth colony of Yemaya 4 is a very ordinary place. The colonists spend their time farming, building homes, raising families.
But when the Doctor and his companions arrive they find a virus sweeping through the population, unleashing the colonists' latent psychic powers. The Doctor and Chris fall prey to the infection, and discover telepathy is not the only symptom. Chris is unable to resist the call of an ancient place of sacrifice, while Roz and Benny travel back in time to the origin of the virus, and uncover a desperate bid for immortality.
And all the while the Doctor is playing a dangerous game with troopers of the Dione-Kisumu company, who have come either to reclaim their stolen biotechnology — or to sterilize the planet.
Regular Characters
Seventh Doctor / Bernice Summerfield / Roz Forrester / Chris Cwej
Seventh Doctor / Bernice Summerfield / Roz Forrester / Chris Cwej
Notes
- Sleepy was Kate Orman's third book for the series and continued the "Psi-Powers" theme.
Doctor Who: Death and Diplomacy
by Dave Stone
- UK
- Paperback
- Doctor Who Books
- April 1996
Back Cover Blurb
Three mighty empires poised for war!
In the far-off Magellan Cluster, the savage Dakhaari, the militaristic Czhans and the evil backstabbing Saloi are at each other's respective throats all over the tiny planet of Moriel. The Hollow Gods have decreed that a satellite be built in which they must settle their differences or else. But just who has the tact and diplomacy to arbitrate these talks?
Meanwhile Roz, and Chris are with the Czhanist army, knocking seven bells out of the native poulace. Why have they launched this sneak attack? Will it wreck the talks completely? Are they participating in the Hollow Gods' hidden agenda — a plan that will result in the death of billions.
And while the others are otherwise occupied, Benny is stranded, lost and alone, facing the most terrifying challenge of her life — someone who will haunt her for the rest of her days. He's called Jason.
Three mighty empires poised for war!
In the far-off Magellan Cluster, the savage Dakhaari, the militaristic Czhans and the evil backstabbing Saloi are at each other's respective throats all over the tiny planet of Moriel. The Hollow Gods have decreed that a satellite be built in which they must settle their differences or else. But just who has the tact and diplomacy to arbitrate these talks?
Meanwhile Roz, and Chris are with the Czhanist army, knocking seven bells out of the native poulace. Why have they launched this sneak attack? Will it wreck the talks completely? Are they participating in the Hollow Gods' hidden agenda — a plan that will result in the death of billions.
And while the others are otherwise occupied, Benny is stranded, lost and alone, facing the most terrifying challenge of her life — someone who will haunt her for the rest of her days. He's called Jason.
Regular Characters
Seventh Doctor / Bernice Summerfield / Roz Forrester / Chris Cwej
Seventh Doctor / Bernice Summerfield / Roz Forrester / Chris Cwej
Notes
- Death and Diplomacy was Dave Stone's second and final Doctor Who book for the New Adventures series, and is probably most notable for the introduction of Jason Kane — Benny's future husband.
Doctor Who: Happy Endings
by Paul Cornell
- UK
- Paperback
- Doctor Who Books
- May 1996
Back Cover Blurb
'Doctor, this is my fiance. Please don't kill him.'
You are cordially invited to the wedding of Mr Jason Kane and Professor Bernice S. Summerfield, to be held in the village of Cheldon Bonniface in the year 2010.
If everything works out, that is. Between rows, fights and pre-emptive divorce proceedings, there may not be a wedding at all. Especially if there really is someone who wants to prevent it happening.
Everybody's coming from Ice Warriors to UNIT veterans, a flirtatious Ace to a suspicious Hamlet Macbeth — and a very confused trio of Isley Brothers. The Doctor has to organize a buffet, Roz has a mystery to solve, and Chris has a girlfriend who used to be the Timewyrm.
'Doctor, this is my fiance. Please don't kill him.'
You are cordially invited to the wedding of Mr Jason Kane and Professor Bernice S. Summerfield, to be held in the village of Cheldon Bonniface in the year 2010.
If everything works out, that is. Between rows, fights and pre-emptive divorce proceedings, there may not be a wedding at all. Especially if there really is someone who wants to prevent it happening.
Everybody's coming from Ice Warriors to UNIT veterans, a flirtatious Ace to a suspicious Hamlet Macbeth — and a very confused trio of Isley Brothers. The Doctor has to organize a buffet, Roz has a mystery to solve, and Chris has a girlfriend who used to be the Timewyrm.
Regular Characters
Seventh Doctor / Bernice Summerfield / Roz Forrester / Chris Cwej
Familiar Faces / Returning Characters
Ace / Kadiatu Lethbridge-Stewart
Seventh Doctor / Bernice Summerfield / Roz Forrester / Chris Cwej
Familiar Faces / Returning Characters
Ace / Kadiatu Lethbridge-Stewart
Notes
- Happy Endings was Paul Cornell's fifth and final book for the New Adventures and, at the time, supposedly his final Doctor Who book ever.
- As should be obvious from the back cover blurb, Happy Endings sees the marriage of Bernice Surprise Summerfield and Jason Kane — effectively writing out everyone's favourite archaeologist from the New Adventures, although she would return for three more adventures in Return of the Living Dad, Eternity Weeps and The Dying Days.
- As well as featuring the departure of Benny, Happy Endings is also notable for being the 50th novel in the New Adventures series, something which was marked by a re-design of the covers, gold lettering proclaimimg "FIFTIETH NEW ADVENTURE" on the front and the production of a poster featuring Paul Campbell's cover art.
Given that Happy Endings saw such notable changes for the New Adventures, it was somewhat appropriate that May 1997 also saw the television series evolving, with the broadcast of the Doctor Who TV movie starring Paul McGann as the Eighth Doctor.
It was the first new television adventure since Survival in 1989 and, although no one was to know it at the time, the release of a novelisation and script book based on the story from BBC Books was to have far reaching consequences for the two ranges of Doctor Who books from Virgin Publishing.
Just a month later it was announced that Virgin's Doctor Who licence would not be renewed when it expired in May 1997, with the publishing rights going to BBC Books.
The countdown to the end of the New Adventures had begun...
Doctor Who: GodEngine
by Craig Hinton
- UK
- Paperback
- Doctor Who Books
- June 1996
Back Cover Blurb
'We're on Mars, we're surrounded by Ice Warriors, and the TARDIS has been destroyed. Business as usual I suppose.'
Stranded on Mars, the Doctor and Roz team up with a group of colonists on a journey to find much-needed supplies at the North Pole. But when their expedition is joined by a party of Ice Warrior pilgrims, tensions are stretched to breaking point. Meanwhile, Chris find himself on Pluto's moon, trapped with a group of desperate scientists in a desperate race against time.
The year is 2517: the Earth has been invaded, and forces are at work on Mars to ensure that the mysterious invaders are successful. Unless the Doctor can solve the riddle of the GodEngine, the entire course of human history will be changed.
'We're on Mars, we're surrounded by Ice Warriors, and the TARDIS has been destroyed. Business as usual I suppose.'
Stranded on Mars, the Doctor and Roz team up with a group of colonists on a journey to find much-needed supplies at the North Pole. But when their expedition is joined by a party of Ice Warrior pilgrims, tensions are stretched to breaking point. Meanwhile, Chris find himself on Pluto's moon, trapped with a group of desperate scientists in a desperate race against time.
The year is 2517: the Earth has been invaded, and forces are at work on Mars to ensure that the mysterious invaders are successful. Unless the Doctor can solve the riddle of the GodEngine, the entire course of human history will be changed.
Regular Characters
Seventh Doctor / Roz Forrester / Chris Cwej
Familiar Faces / Returning Characters
The Ice Warriors
Seventh Doctor / Roz Forrester / Chris Cwej
Familiar Faces / Returning Characters
The Ice Warriors
Notes
- GodEngine was Craig Hinton's only novel for the New Adventures, although he would write four titles for various other Doctor Who ranges.
- As should be obvious from the back cover blurb, GodEngine features the return of the Martian Ice Warriors (see also Legacy), although it is the shadow of the Doctor's most famous adversaries that makes the book most memorable.
Although the Daleks never actually appeared in any of Virgin's New Adventures — not even in GodEngine — the book is set during the time of their invasion of Earth in 2157, which was eventually dealt with by the First Doctor in the 1964 story The Dalek Invasion of Earth.
Doctor Who: Christmas on a Rational Planet
by Lawrence Miles
- UK
- Paperback
- Doctor Who Books
- July 1996
Back Cover Blurb
'An end to history. An end to certainty. Is that too much to ask?'
December, 1799. Europe is recovering from the Age of Reason, the Vatican is learning to live with Napoleon, and America is celebrating a new era of independence. But in New York State, something is spreading its own brand of madness through the streets. Secret societies are crawling from the woodwork, and there's a Satanic conspiracy around every corner.
Roz Forrester is stranded in a town where festive cheer and random violence go hand-in-hand. Chris Cwej is trapped on board the TARDIS with someone who has been trained to kill him. And when Reason itself breaks down, even the Doctor can't be sure who or what he's fighting for.
Christmas is coming to town, and the end of civilisation is following close behind.
'An end to history. An end to certainty. Is that too much to ask?'
December, 1799. Europe is recovering from the Age of Reason, the Vatican is learning to live with Napoleon, and America is celebrating a new era of independence. But in New York State, something is spreading its own brand of madness through the streets. Secret societies are crawling from the woodwork, and there's a Satanic conspiracy around every corner.
Roz Forrester is stranded in a town where festive cheer and random violence go hand-in-hand. Chris Cwej is trapped on board the TARDIS with someone who has been trained to kill him. And when Reason itself breaks down, even the Doctor can't be sure who or what he's fighting for.
Christmas is coming to town, and the end of civilisation is following close behind.
Regular Characters
Seventh Doctor / Roz Forrester / Chris Cwej
Seventh Doctor / Roz Forrester / Chris Cwej
Notes
- Christmas on a Rational Planet was the first Doctor Who novel by Lawrence Miles, and one which would ultimately have an influence on the Doctor Who books right up until the final Eighth Doctor Adventure from BBC Books in 2005.
Although nothing of importance happens in this book, it is the first to mention a character by the name of Grandfather Paradox...
Further developments of this plot strand would eventually occur in Alien Bodies, Miles' first novel for the Eighth Doctor Adventures range from BBC Books. - Christmas on a Rational Planet saw the resumption of the "Psi-Powers" arc after a theree-month gap.
Doctor Who: Return of the Living Dad
by Kate Orman
- UK
- Paperback
- Doctor Who Books
- August 1996
Back Cover Blurb
'It's me Daddy. It's Bernice.'
Bernice Summerfield was seven years old when her father disappeared. They said he turned and ran from the Daleks in battle. They said he was a coward.
They were wrong.
For years Benny has searched for her father. Now a clue snatches her from her honeymoon, back to the TARDIS, and on to England in the year 1983. There at last she discovers Admiral Isaac Summerfield, leading a motley crew of aliens, psychics and fanboys. Their mission: to save extra-terrestrials stranded on Earth.
But what is Benny's father doing five hundred years in his own past? And why has he been waiting for the Doctor to arrive? Can Benny really trust the man she's been looking for all her life?
'It's me Daddy. It's Bernice.'
Bernice Summerfield was seven years old when her father disappeared. They said he turned and ran from the Daleks in battle. They said he was a coward.
They were wrong.
For years Benny has searched for her father. Now a clue snatches her from her honeymoon, back to the TARDIS, and on to England in the year 1983. There at last she discovers Admiral Isaac Summerfield, leading a motley crew of aliens, psychics and fanboys. Their mission: to save extra-terrestrials stranded on Earth.
But what is Benny's father doing five hundred years in his own past? And why has he been waiting for the Doctor to arrive? Can Benny really trust the man she's been looking for all her life?
Regular Characters
Seventh Doctor / Roz Forrester / Chris Cwej
Familiar Faces / Returning Characters
Bernice Summerfield / Jason Kane
Seventh Doctor / Roz Forrester / Chris Cwej
Familiar Faces / Returning Characters
Bernice Summerfield / Jason Kane
Notes
- Return of the Living Dad was Kate Orman's fourth book for the New Adventures, and was the first book to feature Bernice Summerfield and her husband Jason since the events of Happy Endings.
Doctor Who: The Death of Art
by Simon Bucher-Jones
- UK
- Paperback
- Doctor Who Books
- September 1996
Back Cover Blurb
He did not know if his powers could save him until the horses' hooves has crushed his ribs and his heart had stopped beating. After that, it was obvious.
1800's France: the corrupt world of the Third Republic. A clandestine brotherhood is engaged in a desperate internal power struggle; a race of beings seeks to free itself from permanent oppression; and a rip in time threatens an entire city. The future of Europe is at stake, in a war fought with minds and bodies altered to the limits of human evolution.
Chris find himself working undercover with a suspicious French gendarme; Roz follows a psychic artist whose talents are attracting the attention of mysterious forces; and the Doctor befriends a shape-shifting member of a terrifying family. And at the heart of it all, a dark and disturbing injustice is being perpetrated. Only an end to the secret war, and the salvation of an entire race, can prevent Paris from being utterly destroyed.
He did not know if his powers could save him until the horses' hooves has crushed his ribs and his heart had stopped beating. After that, it was obvious.
1800's France: the corrupt world of the Third Republic. A clandestine brotherhood is engaged in a desperate internal power struggle; a race of beings seeks to free itself from permanent oppression; and a rip in time threatens an entire city. The future of Europe is at stake, in a war fought with minds and bodies altered to the limits of human evolution.
Chris find himself working undercover with a suspicious French gendarme; Roz follows a psychic artist whose talents are attracting the attention of mysterious forces; and the Doctor befriends a shape-shifting member of a terrifying family. And at the heart of it all, a dark and disturbing injustice is being perpetrated. Only an end to the secret war, and the salvation of an entire race, can prevent Paris from being utterly destroyed.
Regular Characters
Seventh Doctor / Roz Forrester / Chris Cwej
Seventh Doctor / Roz Forrester / Chris Cwej
Notes
The Death of Art continues the "Psi-Powers" series of books.
- The Death of Art was the only Doctor Who novel in the New Adventures range novel to be written by Simon Bucher-Jones, although he would later go on to co-write The Taking of Planet 5 and Grimm Reality for BBC Books' range of Eighth Doctor Adventures.
Doctor Who: Damaged Goods
by Russell T Davies
- UK
- Paperback
- Doctor Who Books
- October 1996
Back Cover Blurb
'Wherever this cocaine has travelled, it hasn't gone alone. Death has been its attendant. Death in a remarkably violent and inelegant way.'
The Doctor, Chris and Roz arrive at the Quadrant, a troubled council block in Thatcher's Britain. There's a new drug on the streets, a drug that's killing to a plan. Somehow the very ordinary people of the Quadrant are involved. And so, amidst the growing chaos, a bizarre trio moves into number 43.
The year is 1987: a dead drug dealer has risen from the grave, and an ancient weapon is concealed beneath human tragedy. But the Doctor soon discovers that the things people do for their children can be every bit as deadly as any alien menace — as he uncovers the link between a special child, an obsessive woman, and a desperate bargain made one dark Christmas Eve.
'Wherever this cocaine has travelled, it hasn't gone alone. Death has been its attendant. Death in a remarkably violent and inelegant way.'
The Doctor, Chris and Roz arrive at the Quadrant, a troubled council block in Thatcher's Britain. There's a new drug on the streets, a drug that's killing to a plan. Somehow the very ordinary people of the Quadrant are involved. And so, amidst the growing chaos, a bizarre trio moves into number 43.
The year is 1987: a dead drug dealer has risen from the grave, and an ancient weapon is concealed beneath human tragedy. But the Doctor soon discovers that the things people do for their children can be every bit as deadly as any alien menace — as he uncovers the link between a special child, an obsessive woman, and a desperate bargain made one dark Christmas Eve.
Regular Characters
Seventh Doctor / Roz Forrester / Chris Cwej
Seventh Doctor / Roz Forrester / Chris Cwej
Notes
- Damaged Goods was the only Doctor Who novel to be written by Russell T Davies. Although no one knew it at the time, it was to be the first direct connection to Doctor Who by the future architect of the series' television revival in 2005.
At the time of Damaged Goods' publication, Davies was best known to sci-fi fans as the writer behind the highly acclaimed childrens' dramas Dark Season and Century Falls, both of which were written for BBC1 in the early 1990s.
The latter part of the decade saw him writing Queer as Folk for Channel 4 — which sparked tabloid headlines from one end of the country to the other — as well as contributing to ITV1's The Grand.
The first few years of the 21st century saw Davies' star very much in the ascendant, with Bob and Rose and the controversial two-part drama The Second Coming both being scripted for ITV. The latter, in February 2003, saw Davies return to a rather more fantastical type of story as it told the tale of Steve Baxter, a man who, as it turned out, genuinely was the Son of God. And cast in the lead role was Mancunian actor Christopher Eccleston.
And then, on 26th September, 2005, the unbelievable happened...
With Doctor Who just two months short of its 40th birthday — and seven years on from the production and broadcast of the Doctor Who TV movie starring Paul McGann — it was announced that BBC One would be producing a new series of Doctor Who, with Russell T Davies as the lead script writer and show-runner. Christopher Eccleston was subsequently announced as the Ninth Doctor the following March, with transmission set for early 2005.
To date the series has enjoyed four hugely successful seasons (plus three Christmas Specials), with Davies having written no less than twenty-five of the fifty-five episodes. - Damaged Goods is the penultimate book in the "Psi-Powers" series.
So Vile a Sin
by Ben Aaronovitch and Kate Orman
- UK
- Paperback
- Doctor Who Books
- April 1997
Back Cover Blurb
'If you step into history,' said the Doctor, 'I won't be able to protect you.'
'This isn't history,' said Roz. 'This is family.'
The Earth Empire — the Imperium Humanum, upon which a thousand suns never sets — is dying.
The Great Houses of the Empire manoeuvre and scheme for advantage; alliances are made; and knives flash in the shadows. Out among the moons of Jupiter, another battle is just beginning, as an ancient brotherhood seeks limitless power and long-overdue revenge.
The Doctor returns to the thirtieth century, searching for the source of a terrifying weapon. He fears a nightmare from his own past may be about to destroy the future. Nothing must be allowed to get in his way.
But the Doctor has reckoned without the power of history — which has its own plans for the wayward daughter of the House of Forrester.
'If you step into history,' said the Doctor, 'I won't be able to protect you.'
'This isn't history,' said Roz. 'This is family.'
The Earth Empire — the Imperium Humanum, upon which a thousand suns never sets — is dying.
The Great Houses of the Empire manoeuvre and scheme for advantage; alliances are made; and knives flash in the shadows. Out among the moons of Jupiter, another battle is just beginning, as an ancient brotherhood seeks limitless power and long-overdue revenge.
The Doctor returns to the thirtieth century, searching for the source of a terrifying weapon. He fears a nightmare from his own past may be about to destroy the future. Nothing must be allowed to get in his way.
But the Doctor has reckoned without the power of history — which has its own plans for the wayward daughter of the House of Forrester.
Regular Characters
Seventh Doctor / Roz Forrester / Chris Cwej
Seventh Doctor / Roz Forrester / Chris Cwej
Notes
- So Vile a Sin was the third and final original Doctor Who novel to be commissioned from Ben Aaronovitch after Transit and The Also People, although as it transpired much of it was to actually be written by Kate Orman...
As the final book in the "Psi-Powers" arc (and also being the one which would see Roz Forrester being killed off) So Vile a Sin was a major book in the New Adventures range, and was scheduled to be released in November 1996, just five months before Virgin's Doctor Who licence was to expire.
Rather unfortunately, as publication approached, it became apparent that there wasn't a complete manuscript available — Aaronovitch was to blame a hard-drive failure — and Kate Orman was drafted in to to swiftly complete the story.
So Vile a Sin was therefore delayed until April 1997, when it became the final Doctor Who novel to be released by Virgin. As such, the book is devoid of any reference to Doctor Who on the spine or front cover as the company had by then re-branded the New Adventures in preperation for the release of Oh No It Isn't!, the first title to feature Bernice Summerfield as the lead character. - A major part of So Vile a Sin is its focus on the Forrester family. Virgin's Decalog 4 — Re: Generations anthology in May 1997 would go one step further by concentrating exclusively on various members of the family.
- Depite being killed in this book, Roz would return to the New Adventures in Dave Stone's Ship of Fools in August 1997, which was part of the Bernice Summerfield series.
Doctor Who: Bad Therapy
by Matthew Jones
- UK
- Paperback
- Doctor Who Books
- December 1996
Back Cover Blurb
'We're not like you — we can't be whole on our own.'
Seeking respite after the traumatic events of the thirtieth century, the Doctor and Chris travel to 1950's London. But all is not well in bohemian Soho: racist attacks shatter the peace; gangs struggle for territory; and a bloodthirsty driverless cab stalks the night.
While Chris enjoys himself in the mysterious Tropics club, the Doctor investigates a series of ritualistic murders with an uncommon link — the victims all have no past. Meanwhile a West End gangster is planning to clean up the town, apparently with the help of the Devil himself. And, in the corridors of an abandoned mental hospital, an enigmatic psychiatrist is conducting some very bad therapy indeed.
As the stakes are raised, healing turns to killing, old friends appear in the strangest places — and even toys can have a sinister purpose.
'We're not like you — we can't be whole on our own.'
Seeking respite after the traumatic events of the thirtieth century, the Doctor and Chris travel to 1950's London. But all is not well in bohemian Soho: racist attacks shatter the peace; gangs struggle for territory; and a bloodthirsty driverless cab stalks the night.
While Chris enjoys himself in the mysterious Tropics club, the Doctor investigates a series of ritualistic murders with an uncommon link — the victims all have no past. Meanwhile a West End gangster is planning to clean up the town, apparently with the help of the Devil himself. And, in the corridors of an abandoned mental hospital, an enigmatic psychiatrist is conducting some very bad therapy indeed.
As the stakes are raised, healing turns to killing, old friends appear in the strangest places — and even toys can have a sinister purpose.
Regular Characters
Seventh Doctor / Chris Cwej
Seventh Doctor / Chris Cwej
Notes
- Bad Therapy was the only Doctor Who novel to be written by Matthew Jones, although he would write Beyond the Sun for the Bernice Summerfield series of New Adventures.
In 2005 he scripted the two-part The Impossible Planet / The Satan Pit for the Doctor Who television series. - Rather surprisingly, the book featured the return of Peri Brown, the Sixth Doctor's travelling companion who had last been seen in the second section of the dismal Trial of a Time Lord story in 1986, novelised as Mindwarp.
