Sladen Autobiography To Get Paperback Edition

Friday, 1 June 2012 - Reported by John Bowman

Elisabeth Sladen's autobiography is to be published in paperback next month, it was announced today.

Aurum Press, which brought the book out in hardback last November, said that it would be available from 26th July, but it is likely that it may be out on 1st July. It is available to pre-order here.

With a foreword by David Tennant and published with the support and participation of Sladen's family, Aurum calls the book "a warm and witty celebration of an actress who delighted generations of children and is fondly remembered by fans young and old alike".

When Elisabeth Sladen first appeared as plucky journalist Sarah Jane Smith in the 1973 Doctor Who story The Time Warrior, little did she know the character would become one of the most enduring and fondly remembered of the series' long history.

The years that followed saw Elisabeth traverse time and space alongside classic Doctors Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker, while a generation of children crouched behind the sofa, terrified but transfixed as their tea-time heroine found herself menaced by Daleks, dinosaurs, Cybermen, Egyptian mummies, actors in green bubble-wrap and even the Loch Ness Monster. By the time she quit the TARDIS in 1976, making front-page news, Elisabeth had become one of the most familiar faces of a TV golden age.

But you don't just walk away from Doctor Who. Elisabeth was asked to reprise her role many times, appearing in anniversary specials, an ill-fated 1981 spin-off with robotic sidekick K-9, radio plays, and for the BBC's Children in Need. She toured the weird, wide and wonderful world of Doctor Who fandom and became one of the series' all-time favourite companions. So when TV wunderkind Russell T Davies approached her to come back again, this time to a show backed by multi-million-pound budgets and garlanded with critical plaudits, how could she refuse?

This warm and witty autobiography, completed only months before Elisabeth died in April 2011, tells her remarkable story, from humble beginnings in post-war Liverpool, through an acclaimed theatrical career working alongside stage luminaries such as Alan Ayckbourn, to Coronation Street, Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em and the furthest reaches of the universe.

A unique insider's view of the world's longest-running science fiction series, and of British television yesterday and today, Elisabeth's memoir is funny, ridiculous, insightful and entertaining, and a fitting tribute to a woman who will be sadly missed by millions.

FILTER: - Merchandise - Auto/Biography - Books - Elisabeth Sladen

Big Finish: Fourth Doctor for 2014

Thursday, 31 May 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Big Finish have announced that Tom Baker and Louise Jameson will reprise their roles for a new eight episode season of Doctor Who adventures as the Doctor and Leela, to be released from January 2014.

Executive Producer Nicholas Briggs said:

We’ve been delighted by the response to the first season of our Fourth Doctor stories. We had such an exciting and rewarding time making series one and two, and we’re just thrilled to be back in the studio again with Tom and Louise recording more.

Of course, the second series – which features Mary Tamm as Romana, with John Leeson as the voice of K9 – won’t be released until January 2013. But, recording schedules being what they are, we are always working well ahead.

Producer David Richardson added:

We began recording on series three on 9th May, and production will continue through until July. At the moment it’s too early to reveal many story details, but we can say that Geoffrey Beevers will again return as the Master, the travellers will discover what lurks in the dead of night and the Doctor will encounter an even deadlier version of an old foe.

The series will also feature the titular Blake's Seven actor Gareth Thomas (pictured) in one episode, playing the last surviving member of the Colophon race; the story also features The Greatest Show in the Galaxy star Jessica Martin.

The Fourth Doctor Adventures: Series Three is now available for pre-order by subscription from Big Finish.

This June sees the finale of the first series released:

The Oseidon Adventure (available for pre-order)
By Alan Barnes
Directed by Nicholas Briggs
Starring Tom Baker, Louise Jameson and Geoffrey Beevers, with Dan Starkey, Michael Cochrane and John Banks
Release date: June 2012

The first time the fearsome Kraals attempted to take over the Earth, with the help of their android agents, things didn't go quite according to plan – thanks to the time-travelling alien Doctor and his allies at UNIT.

This time, Marshal Grinmal and his belligerent cohorts are ready for them. This time, they'll make no mistakes. This time, Chief Scientist Tyngworg has not just one plan, but a back-up plan, and a back-up back-up plan worked out...

With the Doctor a prisoner on the Kraals' radiation-blasted home planet of Oseidon, only his companion Leela can save the day – alongside a most unlikely ally.

FILTER: - Merchandise - Audio - Tom Baker - Big Finish

Big Finish: Scribe Award Nominations / Special Offers

Thursday, 31 May 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Three of Big Finish's audio releases have been nominated for the Best Audio award in this year's Scribe Awards, a ceremony organised by the International Association of Media Tie-In Writers to honour excellence in writing. For Doctor Who, The Many Deaths of Jo Grant by Mark Wright and Cavan Scott is featured, against other series entries Dark Shadows: The Lost Girl by D Lynn Smith and Highlander: All The King's Horsemen by Scott Andrews. The results will be announced at the July Comic-Con.

In celebration, this weekend (1st June 6pm - 4th June 8am) sees the releases available on special offer (the latter as part of the Highlander Series Two boxed set) - see the Big Finish website for full details.

Big Finish will be running a number of promotional sales during the course of June, with the one above followed by another to tie-in to the transit of Venus ... with Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles - The Transit of Venus, narrated by William Russell! This will be available on offer for the 5th-6th June.

FILTER: - Merchandise - Audio - Big Finish

BBC Books: The Wheel of Ice

Thursday, 24 May 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster

BBC Books have released details on the next book in their hardback range of Doctor Who novels; The Wheel Of Ice is written by science fiction author Stephen Baxter and features the Second Doctor, Jamie and Zoe. It is due to be published on 16th August.

The Wheel of Ice
By Stephen Baxter

Resilience. Remembrance. Resolution. Whatever the cost.

She had no name. She had only her mission - she would return Home. And bathe in the light of a long-dead sun... Even if it meant the sacrifice of this pointless little moon to do it.

The Wheel of Ice: a ring of ice and steel turning around a moon of Saturn, home to a colony mining minerals for a resource-hungry future Earth. A bad place to grow up.

The Wheel has been plagued by problems. Maybe it's just gremlins, just bad luck. But what's the truth of the children's stories of 'Blue Dolls' glimpsed aboard the gigantic facility? And why won't the children go down the warren-like mines? And then sixteen-year-old Phee Laws, surfing Saturn's rings, saves an enigmatic blue box from destruction.

Aboard the Wheel, The Doctor, Jamie and Zoe find a critical situation - and three strangers who have just turned up out of nowhere look like prime candidates to be accused of sabotage ... The Doctor finds himself caught up in a mystery that goes right back to the creation of the solar system. But it's a mystery that could have dire repercussions for the people on the Wheel. It's a mystery that could kill them all.

A thrilling, all-new adventure featuring the Second Doctor, as played by Patrick Troughton in the legendary, classic series from BBC Television.

BBC Books Senior Editorial Director Albert DePetrillo commented:

Stephen Baxter is one of the leading lights of British science fiction, and I was thrilled when he decided to write for our Doctor Who list. The Wheel of Ice is a delight - a bold Second Doctor adventure with elements of the harder SF that is Stephen's forte. It's fitting that our first original adventure for a past Doctor since 2005 should be a book as special as this.

FILTER: - Merchandise - Books

Regional Roundup

Tuesday, 22 May 2012 - By Chuck Foster and John Bowman

By Chuck Foster and John Bowman

United Kingdom:

Space, Time, Machine and Monster: The Science Fiction of Doctor Who is to take place from 6pm tonight in Lacock Church. The talk with CBBC's scientist Mark Brake, rapper Jon Brake and the Bishop of Swindon is described as "a fun exploration of the universe and a chance to discuss science and faith issues". [Corsham People, 20 May 2012]

Nearby Corsham saw Doctor Who stars help raise money for charity earlier in the month, with Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant, John Levene, and Julian Glover among the star names helping to raise £6,620 at the Corsham Sci-Fi Family Funday. Also there mingling with the likes of Daleks and Davros was Doctor Who Magazine artist Mike Collins. [Corsham People, 4 May 2012]

Colin Baker is to appear at a television, film, and toy collectors' fair at the River Park Leisure Centre, Winchester on 9th June (the day after his birthday!). He will be joined by Terry Molloy as Daleks are set to invade the event. [Romsey Advertiser, 21 May 2012]

A six-year-old girl from Kedington has become the envy of collectors after finding a rare item of merchandise. Jessie Spicer bought a £1.50 packet of Lego Doctor Who figures at Hamley's in London and when she opened it she found a Day of the Moon model of the Doctor, of which only 100 have been made. Her mother said: "It was a real Willy Wonka moment for her and we were all really excited about it. She is going to hold on to it as an investment for the future." The figure is currently estimated to be worth up to £600. [Haverhill Weekly News, 4 May 2012]

Meeting rooms at the newly-extended BBC Broadcasting House in London have been brightened up with some familiar faces. Images of the Doctors have been applied to the walls of the cubicles, as can be seen in the picture on the right, which can be clicked on to expand. (With thanks to Rob Fitt for the details)

The PC Support Group in Liverpool counts Doctor Who amongst the company's credits, having provided support to stunt-coordinator/performer Abbi Collins for Dalek co-ordination in the series. Co-founder Simon Albert said: "I've been a huge fan of Dr Who since I was little, so when we got the opportunity to actually work with the people behind the show we all jumped at the chance to get up close with some of its most infamous characters." [Liverpool Daily Post, 18 May 2012]

Boscombe police are hoping to re-introduce police boxes in the high street in order to help combat anti-social behaviour. PC Will Martindale told the local business forum in April: "The Inspector would like to put a 'Tardis' outside McDonald's. There are issues in that area and this would be putting our stamp back in the area." Phil Stanley-Watts, councillor for Boscombe West, has been calling for the return of police boxes in Boscombe for years, saying that updated versions could be used for reporting crime and would make the public feel safer. [Bournemouth Echo, 1 May 2012]

FILTER: - Merchandise - Special Events - Charities - Miscellaneous - Colin Baker - BBC

Doctor Who Magazine 447

Wednesday, 2 May 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The new issue of Doctor Who Magazine is published on Thursday, and Steven Moffat talks in depth about his version of Doctor Who in an exclusive eight-page interview.

Talking about Episode One of the new series, he said:

We’re going to have the most Daleks we’ve had on screen ever – but they will be from every era, quite deliberately. We’re calling them in from everywhere! All of them! Even the Special Weapons Dalek. They'll all be there...

Also this issue:

Conquer and Destroy! The Daleks are the most feared race of creatures in the entire universe and will stop at nothing to achieve their goal of total intergalactic domination. And they've concocted more than a few audacious schemes to achieve this aim – not all of which, it has to be said, have been entirely successful. Jonathan Morris unearths the Daleks' own assessment of their successes and failures.
I Am Not The Moff You Are Looking For! Doctor Who's commander-in-chief, Steven Moffat, writes exclusively for DWM in Production Notes! Find out what the Moff thinks of his nickname, how he's getting along (or not) with the script for the Christmas Special and what he had for lunch in New York!
Farewell to Philip: Philip Madoc, who played four notable roles in Doctor Who in the 60s and 70s – including the War Lord in The War Games and Doctor Mehendri Solon in The Brain of Morbius – passed away in March of this year, at the age of 77. Marcus Hearn takes a look back at the actor's distinguished career and at his contribution to Doctor Who.
End Of An Era: Countdown to 50 continues its season-by-season analysis of Doctor Who, and the mood is sombre as we reach 1980/81 with Series 18 and bid farewell to Romana, K9 and, of course, Tom Baker's Fourth Doctor as he takes his fateful fall from the Pharos Project radio telescope.
Lost in Translation: Shopping can be dangerous to your health as Amy and Rory have found out when the Monos menace strikes London. Meanwhile, as the capital's inhabitants succumb to Monos mania, the Doctor and his new friend Bill discover the source of the trouble. Monos! Monos! Monos! It's the second instalment of Sticks & Stones, written by Scott Gray with art by Martin Geraghty.
Chemical Reaction! The Third Doctor, Jo Grant and UNIT become involved in a green movement – in more ways than one – in a Welsh mining village. Giant maggots, toxic chemical waste, an insane super computer, a rather tasty fungus, and angry Welshmen – 1973's The Green Death takes its turn under the microscope in The Fact Of Fiction.
All By Myself? Johnny Candon and Toby Hadoke cross swords once again in their latest Battle Of Wits! This issue, the hot topic for debate has been inspired by the imminent departure of companions Amy and Rory: should the Doctor travel with a regular companion or is he better off alone?
A Silver Side-Step: The Time Team has been upgraded to four pages this month as Chris, Emma, Will and Michael sit down to watch the Tenth Doctor, Rose and Mickey's battle with the Cybermen on a parallel Earth in the two-part story Rise of the Cybermen/The Age of Steel
Out Of Stock: A History of Doctor Who in 100 Objects reaches number 18 and finds The Watcher mourning the last use of film for a live action sequence in Doctor Who in The Serving Hatch of Rassilon. Plus the latest Top Ten Pop Acts, the challenge of The Six Faces of Delusion, the oh-so painful Stockbridge English Dictionary, the hapless Supporting Artist of the Month – all crammed onto one fabulous single page, it's Wotcha!

PLUS! All the latest official news, TV and merchandise reviews, previews, competitions, a prize-winning crossword, and more.

In celebration of the Daleks' return, this issue has a larger, folded cover featuring all of the Doctor's infamous enemies:

FILTER: - Merchandise - DWM

The Collectable Art Company: ‘Seventh Doctor’ costume design

Friday, 20 April 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The Collectable Art Company has announced the release of the second in their range of Limited Edition Fine Art prints of the original Doctor Who costume designs.

The officially licensed print features the 1987 costume designed by Ken Trew for the Seventh Doctor. As with the first release of the Sixth Doctor's costume in February, the print comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and the print will be signed by both the designer and the wearer himself, Sylvester McCoy.

The print also comes with a 28 page booklet containing an introduction by McCoy, an in-depth interview with Trew describing the production process, plus never before seen preliminary designs and detailed photographs of the original costume.

Grahame Flynn, Managing Director of The Collectable Art Company said:

Having released Pat Godfrey’s design for the Sixth Doctor in March I am pleased to follow it up with the original design for Sylvester McCoy’s costume by Ken Trew. Ken has had a long association with Doctor Who, having first worked on the William Hartnell story The Myth Makers as a Costume Assistant. He has designed some major characters for the series including The Master as played by Roger Delgado and Anthony Ainley.

The prints are reproduced using a museum-quality process utilising colourfast inks and acid-free paper. These prints are of the highest quality and I'm sure that they will be treasured by the most discerning of collectors.

We are delighted to be working with Ken Trew and Sylvester McCoy on this project.

The prints are available for pre-order now and will be dispatched shortly after Sylvester McCoy returns to the United Kingdom after filming The Hobbit in New Zealand.

The print is limited to 750 worldwide, and is available for pre-order from the company's website.

The first design print released, for the Sixth Doctor's costume as designed by Pat Godfrey, is still available to order. Grahame Flynn updated us on distribution, saying:

Colin invited me to meet him at a recording studio in Somerset to sign the first batch of prints. He was also reunited with his original costume! We have sent out all those prints that were pre-ordered and are pleased to advise collectors that we now have a quantity of prints signed by Colin Baker and Pat Godfrey in stock and available for immediate dispatch.

Colin also posed in costume with the design of his coat, as seen here.

FILTER: - Merchandise - Sylvester McCoy

DWM Companion: The Eleventh Doctor (Vol 5)

Thursday, 19 April 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Details for the fifth Doctor Who Companion volume covering the adventures of the Eleventh Doctor have been released by Doctor Who Magazine. This edition features the final episodes of the 2011 series and the Christmas Special, The God Complex to The Doctor, The Widow and The Wardrobe, plus The Doctor Who Experience and Crash of the Elysium.

The magazine is published today, 19th April 2012.

The Doctor Who Companion
The Eleventh Doctor
Volume Five

Your complete guide to the award-winning BBC One series!
Written and researched by Andrew Pixley.

The 2011 season of Doctor Who began in the most dramatic way possible – by killing off the Doctor in the first episode! Unaware of his ultimate fate, the Doctor (Matt Smith) was reunited with his friends, newlyweds Amy (Karen Gillan) and Rory Pond (Arthur Darvill) and together they embarked on an incredible series of adventures in time and space. Their journey took them from a mysterious space prison to an alternative Earth where past, present and future were one, and saw encounters with River Song, Madame Kovarian, the Cybermen, the Silence, Winston Churchill... and even a Minotaur!

Now, DWM takes you behind the scenes of these astonishing episodes with an in-depth episode guide – including original storylines, deleted scenes, media appearances, ratings information and hundreds of facts about the day-to-day life of the making of Doctor Who – all illustrated with gorgeous, never-before-seen photographs.

This collectors’ edition examines The God Complex, Closing Time, The Wedding of River Song and The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe, as well as the interactive attractions, The Doctor Who Experience and Crash of the Elysium.

This is your essential guide to the worlds of Doctor Who.
Get ready to discover a wealth of information – and remember, silence will fall...

FILTER: - Merchandise - Magazines - DWM

Big Finish: April Releases / Five-Day Sale

Thursday, 19 April 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Big Finish have announced the release of three new stories in their ongoing series of adventures for the Doctor: Energy of the Daleks - the fourth story in the audio series starring Tom Baker and Louise Jameson - sees the Doctor pitted against a familiar foe, one Leela is about to meet for the first time; The Emerald Tiger sees the Fifth Doctor, Tegan, Nyssa and Turlough together again for a new 'mini-season', kicking off with a visit to Calcutta; and William Russell reprises his role as Ian Chesteron for the latest Companion Chronicle, The Wanderer, as the original TARDIS crew journeys to 19th Century Siberia ...

Energy of the Daleks
By Nicholas Briggs (order)

The Doctor and Leela find themselves in the middle of London at the time of a new energy crisis. The GlobeSphere Corporation seems to have all the answers – but several thousand protestors beg to differ.

What is the connection between the National Gallery and a base on the Moon? Has radical thinker Damien Stephens simply sold out, or does he have a more sinister agenda?

The Doctor has detected a mysterious energy reading. Could it be that the most evil creatures in the universe have returned to claim ultimate victory once and for all?

The Emerald Tiger
By Barnaby Edwards (order)

Tiger, tiger, burning bright
In the forests of the night

Calcutta, 1926. The Doctor and his companions join an expedition to locate the fabled emerald tiger – a legendary marvel shrouded in myth and mystery. They must journey to an unexplored lost world filled with wonder and wickedness.

But at the centre of this terra incognita, something is stirring. Something with emerald eyes, diamond-sharp claws and a heart of darkness.

The Wanderer
By Richard Dinnick (order)

Siberia at the end of the 19th Century, and the TARDIS arrives just as a shooting star hurtles to the ground.

With it comes an illness that affects the Doctor and Susan, and knowledge that must not fall into the wrong hands.

With his friends either dying or lost, Ian Chesterton must save the future and win the ultimate prize – a way home to 1963...

All three stories are available on CD, and for download from the Big Finish website.

Big Finish will also be running a special five-day promotion on a number of their early Doctor Who adventures, with ten titles available on each consecutive day. Each story will be available to buy for £5.00 on either CD or via download from their website.

23rd April - The Sirens of Time, Phantasmagoria, Whispers of Terror, The Land of the Dead, The Fearmonger, The Marian Conspiracy, The Genocide Machine, Red Dawn, The Spectre of Lanyon Moor, Winter for the Adept
24th April –The Apocalypse Element, The Fires of Vulcan, The Shadow of the Scourge, The Holy
Terror, The Mutant Phase, Storm Warning, Sword of Orion, The Stones of Venice, Minuet in Hell, Loups-Garoux.
25th April - Dust Breeding, Bloodtide, Project: Twilight, The Eye of the Scorpion, Colditz, Primeval, The One Doctor, Invaders from Mars, The Chimes of Midnight, Seasons of Fear
26th April - Embrace the Darkness, The Time of the Daleks, Neverland, Spare Parts, ...Ish, The Rapture, The Sandman, The Church and the Crown, Bang-Bang-A-Boom!, Jubilee
27th April - Nekromanteia, The Dark Flame, The Pirates, Creatures of Beauty, Project: Lazarus, Flip-Flop, Omega, Davros, Master, Zagreus

FILTER: - Merchandise - Audio - Big Finish

Death To The Daleks DVD and updates

Monday, 16 April 2012 - By John Bowman and Chuck Foster

By John Bowman and Chuck Foster

The cover and content details for the forthcoming UK DVD release of Death To The Daleks have been finalised.

Death To The Daleks
Release date: 18th June 2012 (Available for pre-order)

Starring Jon Pertwee as the Doctor, with Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane Smith
Written by Terry Nation
Directed by Michael E Briant

Broadcast: 23rd February - 16th March 1974

A power failure in the TARDIS draws it off course and the Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith end up stranded on the bleak planet of Exxilon, where they soon meet members of an Earth expedition in a similar situation.

The humans are searching for a rare mineral, but first they must find out what is draining their power and avoid what's inside another grounded spaceship – the Doctor's oldest enemies, the Daleks . . .

Special Features

Commentary - With actors Julian Fox (Peter Hamilton), Dalek operator Cy Town, director Michael E Briant, assistant floor manager Richard Leyland, costume designer L Rowland Warne and special sounds maestro Dick Mills. Moderated by Toby Hadoke.
Beneath the City of the Exxilons - Cast and crew look back on the making of this story. With actor Arnold Yarrow (Bellal), Julian Fox, Michael E Briant, Richard Leyland, L Rowland Warne and fan and Dalek voice artist Nick Briggs.
Studio Recording - A rare glimpse into the production of a Third Doctor story.
On the Set of Dr Who and the Daleks - Behind the scenes on the first Dalek film in 1965.
Doctor Who Stories – Dalek Men
Radio Times listings
Programme subtitles
Production information subtitles
Photo gallery
Coming Soon trailer
Digitally remastered picture and sound quality

The British Board of Film Classification classified the features on 30th March, revealing that a textless version of the title sequence will be included as an Easter egg:

26:44:24  BENEATH THE CITY OF THE EXXILONS - MAKING DEATH TO THE DALEKS
23:33:11  STUDIO RECORDING - 4 DECEMBER 1973
05:49:04  PHOTO GALLERY
01:26:05  (EASTER EGG) (TEXTLESS TITLE SEQUENCE)
07:47:22  ON THE SET OF DR WHO AND THE DALEKS

Feature Previews:

BBC Worldwide has released a number of clips from the recently released stories Nightmare of Eden and The Daemons on its Classic Doctor Who YouTube channel:

THE DAEMONS

The Daemons on location - The BBC is shooting classic Doctor Who series 'The Daemons' in Aldbourne in 1971, in this rare clip of archive film.
Aldbourne - Doctor Who cast members including Katy Manning and Damaris Hayman discuss their experience of filming The Daemons in Aldbourne in the classic 1971 series.
A great working relationship - Often cited as one of the best of the Third Doctor's storylines, The Daemons owes much of its success to the great working relationship between producer Barry Letts and script editor Terrance Dicks. In this DVD extra, cast and crew explain the friendship.
A stormy night's sky - Boasting some impressive location filming, the village of Aldbourne was the perfect setting for The Daemons. As the crew reveals, however, attempting a stormy night scene can be quite problematic on a calm night. Journey behind the scenes to find out how the crew managed to ratchet up the atmosphere.
Exit Lines - Actors Richard Franklin and Katy Manning reveal the influence the cast had on the script, and how open Barry Letts was to adding extra dimensions to the characters.

NIGHTMARE OF EDEN

Alan Bromly - Crew members recount their experiences of director Alan Bromly and his old-school techniques.
Drug-smuggling storyline - Bob Baker reveals how his research of drug abuse for the production of BBC police drama series Target, which featured Katy Manning in the role of a drug addict, was to prove invaluable to the writing of the drug-smuggling storyline of Nightmare of Eden. (Target was created by Graham Williams, produced by Philip Hinchcliffe, and written by Baker and Dave Martin, with David Wickes. The theme music was by Dudley Simpson.)

Looking ahead:

The Krotons: Ed Stradling commented on Twitter: "here's an image from my recent feature for The Krotons DVD. It's another long one!«"
The Mind of Evil - Steve Roberts spoke to Radio Free Skaro, during which he indicated that all of the episodes for this story should be released in colour. Episode One (which does not have a print containing the chromadot information used for the recent colour recovery process) will be colourised by Babelcolour, using motion-estimation techniques to aid the process.