BBC Books re-issue eleven novels for 50th Anniversary

Friday, 8 March 2013 - Reported by Chuck Foster
BBC Books Eleven Doctors Collection (Credit: BBC)BBC Worldwide have announced the re-issue of eleven books featuring all eleven Doctors as part of the celebration of Doctor Who's 50th Anniversary, each featuring a new cover and special introduction.

The books hail from various periods in the history of Doctor Who in print, and feature a variety of well-known authors:
  • The First Doctor: Ten Little Aliens, by Stephen Cole (2002)
  • The Second Doctor: Dreams of Empire, by Justin Richards (1998)
  • The Third Doctor: Last of the Gaderene, by Mark Gatiss (2000)
  • The Fourth Doctor: Festival of Death, by Jonathan Morris (2000)
  • The Fifth Doctor: Fear of the Dark, by Trevor Baxendale (2003)
  • The Sixth Doctor: Players, by Terrance Dicks (1999)
  • The Seventh Doctor: Remembrance of the Daleks, by Ben Aaronovitch (1990)
  • The Eighth Doctor: Earthworld, by Jacqueline Rayner (2001)
  • The Ninth Doctor: Only Human, by Gareth Roberts (2005)
  • The Tenth Doctor: Beautiful Chaos, by Gary Russell (2008)
  • The Eleventh Doctor: The Silent Stars Go By, by Dan Abnett (2011)
 
Ten Little Aliens, written by Stephen Cole (Credit: BBC)Ten Little Aliens (available to order)
Written by Stephen Cole

Deep in the heart of a hollowed-out moon the First Doctor finds a chilling secret: ten alien corpses, frozen in time at the moment of their death. They are the empire’s most wanted terrorists, and their discovery could end a war devastating the galaxy. But is the same force that killed them still lurking in the dark? And what are its plans for the people of Earth?
 
Dreams of Empire, written by Justin Richards (Credit: BBC)Dreams of Empire (available to order)
Written by Justin Richards

On a barren asteroid, the once-mighty Haddron Empire is on the brink of collapse, torn apart by civil war. The one man who might have saved it languishes
in prison, his enemies planning his death and his friends plotting his escape. The Second Doctor arrives as the last act of this deadly drama is being played out – and with both terrifying killers and cunning traitors to defeat, the future hangs in the balance.
 
Last of the Gaderene, written by Mark Gatiss (Credit: BBC)Last of the Gaderene (available to order)
Written by Mark Gatiss

The aerodrome in Culverton has new owners, and they promise an era of prosperity for the idyllic village. But former Spitfire pilot Alex Whistler is suspicious – when black-shirted troops appear on the streets, he contacts his
old friend Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart at UNIT. The Third Doctor is sent to investigate – and soon uncovers a sinister plot to colonise the Earth. The Gaderene are on their way...
 
Festival of Death, written by Jonathan MorrisFestival of Death (available to order)
Written by Jonathan Morris

The Beautiful Death is the ultimate theme-park ride: a sightseeing tour of the afterlife. But something has gone wrong, and when the Fourth Doctor arrives in the aftermath of the disaster, he is congratulated for saving the population from destruction – something he hasn’t actually done yet. He has no choice but to travel back in time and discover how he became a hero. And then he finds out. He did it by sacrificing his life.
 
Fear of the Dark, written by Trevor BaxendaleFear of the Dark (available to order)
Written by Trevor Baxendale

On a moon of the ruined planet Akoshemon, an age-old terror is about to be reborn. Something that remembers the spiral of war, pestilence and deprivation – and rejoices in it. The Fifth Doctor joins a team of archaeologists searching for evidence of the planet’s infamous past, and uncovers more than just ancient history. Forced to confront his own worst fears, even the Doctor will be pushed to breaking point – and beyond.
 
Players, written by Terrance Dicks (Credit: BBC)Players (available to order)
Written by Terrance Dicks

Arriving on the sun-baked veldt in the middle of the Boer War, the Sixth Doctor is soon involved in the adventures of struggling politician and war correspondent Winston Churchill. Of course, he knows Churchill is destined for great things, but unseen forces seem to be interfering with Winston’s historic career... The Doctor suspects the hidden hand of the Players, mysterious beings who regard human history as little more than a game. With time running out, can the Doctor find the right moves to defeat them?
 
Remembrance of the Daleks, written by Ben Aaronovitch (Credit: BBC)Remembrance of the Daleks (available to order)
Written by Ben Aaronovitch

With unfinished business to attend to, the Seventh Doctor returns to where it all began: Coal Hill School in London in 1963. Last time he was here, the Doctor left something behind – a powerful Time Lord artefact that could unlock the secrets of time travel. Can the Doctor retrieve it before two rival factions of Daleks track it down? And even if he can, how will the Doctor prevent the whole of London becoming a war zone as the Daleks meet in explosive confrontation?
 
Earthworld, by Jacqueline Rayner (Credit: BBC)Earthworld (available to order)
Written by Jacqueline Rayner

Anji has just had the worst week of her life. She should be back at her desk, not travelling through time and space in a police box. The Eighth Doctor is supposed to be taking her home, so why are there dinosaurs outside? The Doctor doesn’t seem to know either, or else he surely would have mentioned the homicidal princesses, teen terrorists and mad robots? One thing is certain: Anji is never going to com- plain about Monday mornings in the office again.
 
Only Human, written by Gareth Roberts (Credit: BBC)Only Human (available to order)
Written by Gareth Roberts

Reports of a time disturbance lead the Ninth Doctor to modern-day London, where he discovers a Neanderthal Man, twenty-eight thousand years after his race became extinct. A trip back to the dawn of humanity only deepens the mystery: who are these strange humans from the far future now living in the distant past? The Doctor must learn the truth about the Osterberg experiment before history is changed forever.
 
Beautiful Chaos, written by Gary Russell (Credit: BBC)Beautiful Chaos (available to order)
Written by Gary Russell

Wilfred Mott is very happy: his granddaughter, Donna, is back home, catching up with family and gossiping about her journeys, and he has just discovered a new star and had it named after him. He takes the Tenth Doctor with him to the naming ceremony. But the Doctor soon discovers something else new, and worryingly bright, in the heavens – something that is heading for Earth. It’s an ancient force from the Dark Times. And it is very, very angry...
 
The Silent Stars Go By. written by Dan Abnett (Credit: BBC)The Silent Stars Go By (available to order)
Written by Dan Abnett

The winter festival is approaching for the hardy colony of Morphans, but no one is in the mood to celebrate. They’re trying to build a new life on a cold new world, but each year gets harder and harder. It’s almost as if some dark force is working against them. Then three mysterious travelers arrive out of the midwinter night, one of them claiming to be a doctor. Are they bringing the gift of salvation or doom? And what else might be lurking out there, about to wake up?
 




FILTER: - Merchandise - Eighth Doctor - Books - Eleventh Doctor - WHO50 - Fifth Doctor - Tenth Doctor

Puffin Books:The Spear of Destiny by Marcus Sedgwick

Wednesday, 6 March 2013 - Reported by Marcus
Award winning author Marcus Sedgwick has been revealed as the author of the third instalment in Puffin’s series celebrating the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who.

Sedgwick has re imagined the Third Doctor, played by Jon Pertwee, and created a brand new Doctor Who adventure called The Spear of Destiny, to be released globally on 23rd March. The Spear of Destiny follows on from Michael Scott’s Second Doctor story, The Nameless City, and A Big Hand for the Doctor – a First Doctor adventure from Eoin Colfer.

In total there will be eleven short stories in this ebook series, each based on one of the Eleven Doctors, released on the 23rd of each month from January to November 2013. Each story is written by a different author, bringing together some of the best known names in children’s fiction.
The Spear of Destiny , by Marcus SedgwickThe Spear of Destiny
Written by Marcus Sedgwick
Published 23rd March 2013

The Third Doctor and Jo Grant are trying to track down the magical spear of Odin when they find themselves caught up in a vicious battle between two Viking tribes. But one of the Vikings is even more dangerous than he appears to be. Can the Doctor stop the spear getting into the wrong hands before it’s too late?

Marcus Sedgwick was born and raised in Kent in the South-east of England. Alongside a 16 year career in publishing he is established as a widely-admired writer of young adult fiction and winner of many prizes, most notably the Branford-Boase Award for a debut novel (Floodland), and the Booktrust Teenage Prize (My Swordhand is Singing). His books have been shortlisted for over 30 other awards, including the Carnegie Medal (four times), Edgar Allan Poe Award (twice) and Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize (four times). Talking about the new book Sedgwick said
To me, Jon Pertwee is the quintessential Doctor – a hero of both thought and action. When I was young he seemed like a schoolmaster you were a bit afraid of, and yet really liked at the same time. Bringing him back to life and pitting him against his old nemesis, The Master, was a huge thrill for me and I hope fans will recognise Jon in the pages of my story.
The authors of the subsequent eshorts will continue to be unveiled on the BBC Worldwide Doctor Who Facebook page on the first Tuesday of every month throughout the year.




FILTER: - Third Doctor - Books - WHO50

The Dr Who 8th Anniversary Special

Friday, 1 March 2013 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The Dr Who 8th Anniversary Special is a follow-up to 2011's The Wonderful Book of Dr Who 1965, this time paying homage to the iconic Radio Times 10th Anniversary Special. Produced by Paul Smith, this volume takes a tongue-in-cheek look at the current series over its eight years, with contributions from a variety of fan writers.

DR WHO ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL

Dr Who, the thrilling television series that follows the adventures of the multi-faced time traveller Dr Who, reaches a very special anniversary this year, one that is a milestone for any drama programme let alone such a completely bonkers one as this. Yes, Dr Who is eight years old!

When Dr Who arrived on our screens in 2005 no one could have predicted what a phenomenon it would become. So to celebrate its continuing popularity eight years on, Wonderful Books has published the DR WHO ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL, a must-have magazine for every fan of Dr Who -- you could call it a 'fan-zine' if such a term existed.

Relive all of Dr Who's astonishing exploits from the very beginning, hardly ever repeated on television since their original broadcast but retold here in all their gripping detail (as well as we can remember them). There are also examinations of each major companion by some of the best writers from among Dr Who's loyal followers, with impressive new artwork. And you can learn exactly how to build your very own Dalek (although we can't take responsibility for the results).

All this for just 530 credits from your nearest Jagrafessian news outlet.



The Special is a 36 page, full colour fanzine which includes a wraparound cover from the toy photographer "Tomfan". Contributors include Andrew Blair, Johnny Candon, Frank Collins, Martin Day, Philip Sandifer, JR Southall, Keith Topping and Alex Wilcock, with artists Jason Fletcher & Westley Smith, Jon Pinto, M Jason Reed, James Taylor, Will Thompson and more.

For more details visit the Wonderful Book Anniversary Special website.





FILTER: - Merchandise - Fan Productions - Books

BBC Books Announces April Releases

Friday, 15 February 2013 - Reported by John Bowman
The BBC has released details of three forthcoming books featuring the 11th Doctor, with new companion Clara also in one of them. All three hardback titles will be published on Thursday 11th April.

The Dalek Generation, by Nicholas BriggsThe Dalek Generation
Written by Nicholas Briggs
(Pre-order here)

Sunlight 349 is one of countless Dalek Foundation worlds, planets created to house billions of humanoids suffering from economic hardship. The Doctor arrives there, suspicious of any world where the Daleks are apparently a force for good – and determined to find out the truth.

He soon finds himself in court, facing the "Dalek Litigator". But do his arch-enemies really have nothing more to threaten than legal action? The Doctor knows they have a far more sinister plan – but how can he convince those who have lived under the benevolence of the Daleks for a generation? However, convince them he must, and soon. For on another Foundation planet, archaeologists have unearthed the most dangerous technology in the universe . . .
 
Nicholas Briggs has been a prolific Doctor Who contributor since 1999, when he began work on the Big Finish Doctor Who audio dramas, for which he is now executive producer. Nick is also an actor, and since Doctor Who’s return to television in 2005 he has worked on set with all three of the new Doctors as the voice of the Daleks, also providing the voice of the Cybermen and other aliens.

Plague of the Cybermen, by Justin RichardsPlague of the Cybermen
Written by Justin Richards
(Pre-order here)

When the Doctor arrives in the 19th-century village of Klimtenburg, he
discovers the residents suffering from some kind of plague – a "wasting
disease". The victims face a horrible death – but what's worse, the dead
seem to be leaving their graves. The Plague Warriors have returned . . .

The Doctor is confident he knows what's really happening; he understands
where the dead go, and he's sure the Plague Warriors are just a myth. But
as some of the Doctor's oldest and most terrible enemies start to awaken, he realises that maybe – just maybe – he's misjudged the situation.
 
Justin Richards is creative consultant to BBC Books' range of Doctor Who titles, has written for stage and screen, and has penned novels and graphic novels. Together with Jack Higgins, he has also written several action thrillers for older children.

Shroud of Sorrow, by Tommy DonbavandShroud of Sorrow
Written by Tommy Donbavand
(Pre-order here)

It is the day after John F Kennedy's assassination and the faces of the dead are everywhere. PC Reg Cranfield sees his deceased father in the mists along Totter's Lane. Reporter Mae Callon sees her late grandmother in a coffee stain on her desk. FBI Special Agent Warren Skeet finds his long-dead partner staring back at him from raindrops on a window pane.

Then the faces begin to talk, and scream - and push through into our world. As the alien Shroud begins to feast on the grief of a world in mourning, can the Doctor dig deep enough into his own sorrow to save mankind?
 
Tommy Donbavand is the author of the 13-book Scream Street series, published in more than 12 languages worldwide, and was the winner of the 2011 Hackney Short Novel Award.




FILTER: - Merchandise - Books - Eleventh Doctor - BBC

Puffin Books: The Nameless City

Tuesday, 5 February 2013 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The second in Puffin's range of Doctor Who books to celebrate the 50th Anniversary has now been announced:
The Nameless City, by Michael ScottThe Nameless City
Written by Michael Scott
Published 23rd February 2013 (pre-order UK / USA)

When Jamie McCrimmon brings the Second Doctor a mysterious book, little does he realise the danger contained within its pages. The book transports the TARDIS to a terrifying glass city on a distant world, where the Archons are intent on getting revenge on the Time Lord for an ancient grudge.

Eleven Doctors, eleven months, eleven stories: a year-long celebration of Doctor Who! The most exciting names in children's fiction each create their own unique adventure about the time-travelling Time Lord.
 

Michael Scott is the author of the Nicholas Flamel range of children's books, whose debut book in the series, The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, made the New York best sellers list in 2007. The author said of his Doctor Who assignment:
Everyone has their "own" Doctor – usually the one they first started watching. Patrick Troughton, the Second Doctor, was mine and so writing this story was an opportunity to revisit a really important part of my childhood. There are elements of Patrick Troughton in every Doctor who followed – that's how influential and important he is.

A promotional video about Scott will be released by BBC Worldwide via their YouTube channel on Monday 11th February, and an extract from the book can be read via the Guardian. The e-book itself will be released on Saturday 23rd February on Amazon (UK/USA) and iTunes.





FILTER: - Online - Second Doctor - Books - BBC Worldwide - WHO50

Mad Norwegian Press: Queers Dig Time Lords

Thursday, 10 January 2013 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Mad Norwegian Press have announced a new book in their range of essays about Doctor Who by its fans and focusses, as the title suggests, on how Queers Dig Time Lords: A Celebration of Doctor Who by the LGBTQ Fans Who Love It.

Queers Dig Time Lords. Mad Norwegian PressQueers Dig Time Lords: A Celebration of Doctor Who by the LGBTQ Fans Who Love It
Edited by Sigrid Ellis and Michael Damian Thomas
Released 4 Jun 2013 (pre-order)

In Queers Dig Time Lords, editors Sigrid Ellis (Chicks Dig Comics) and Michael Damian Thomas (Apex Magazine) bring together essays by award-winning writers to celebrate the phenomenon that is Doctor Who, in the tradition of the Hugo Award-winning Chicks Dig Time Lords.

Tanya Huff (Blood Ties) wears bi-focals as she analyzes the Doctor’s fluid sexuality, former Doctor Who script editor Gary Russell explores the show’s effect on his teenage years, Paul Magrs (Hornets' Nest) defends and celebrates the series' camp qualities, and Melissa Scott (Trouble and Her Friends) describes Who’s impact on her greatest love and loss.

Other contributors include David Llewellyn (Night of the Humans), Rachel Swirsky (Through the Drowsy Dark), Hal Duncan (Ink: The Book of All Hours), Mary Anne Mohanraj (Bodies in Motion), and Jed Hartman (Strange Horizons).

Introduction by Doctor Who and Torchwood star John Barrowman, and Carole E Barrowman (Exodus Code). Cover art by Colleen Coover (Small Favors).

Their previous book in this vein, Chicks Dig Time Lords: A Celebration of Doctor Who by the Women Who Love It, received a Hugo Award back in 2011, winning the Best Related Work category.





FILTER: - Merchandise - Books

Puffin Books: A Big Hand For The Doctor

Monday, 7 January 2013 - Reported by Chuck Foster
As reported last week, a new series of ebooks are to be published by Puffin over the course of Doctor Who's 50th Anniversary year, with the first book in the range being announced today by BBC Worldwide via Facebook.

A Big Hand For The Doctor, by Eoin ColferA Big Hand For The Doctor
Written by Eoin Colfer
Published 23rd January 2013

London, 1900. The First Doctor is missing both his hand and his granddaughter, Susan. Faced with the search for Susan, a strange beam of soporific light, and a host of marauding Soul Pirates intent on harvesting human limbs, the Doctor is promised a dangerous journey into a land he may never forget...

Eleven Doctors, eleven months, eleven stories: a year-long celebration of Doctor Who! The most exciting names in children's fiction each create their own unique adventure about the time-travelling Time Lord.
 

Eoin Colfer is the author of the hugely successful Artemis Fowl series of books, and who also penned the sixth book in The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy series, And Another Thing ... - continuing the universe and characters created by Doctor Who writer/script editor Douglas Adams (whose unfinished television story Shada is released on DVD today in the United Kingdom).

A promotional video about Colfer will be released by BBC Worldwide via their YouTube channel on Friday, with the book itself published in electronic format on 23rd January through Amazon and iTunes. A paperback version will be published on the 50th Anniversary itself in November.

Update: an extract from the book has been published by the Guardian.





FILTER: - Online - Books - BBC Worldwide - WHO50

Puffin Books: eshort series for 50th Anniversary

Thursday, 3 January 2013 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Penguin Books are to publish a new series of ebooks in their Puffin range for children to tie in with Doctor Who's 50th Anniversary. The series will consist of eleven short stories published electronically, with the first released on 23rd January featuring a tale about the First Doctor. Each subsequent incarnation will then be published on the 23rd of each month thereafter until the Eleventh Doctor's adventure on the anniversary itself.

The range is being produced in partnership with BBC Worldwide, who will be promoting each book through their Facebook and YouTube channels. The series launches next Monday with the author of the first book being announced on Facebook, with a promotional video appearing on YouTube the following Friday.

Each author will then continue to be announced on Facebook on the first Monday of the month, with a video on YouTube on the 11th.

Juliet Matthews, Publisher, Penguin Children's, said:
Penguin Children's has been the proud home of children's Doctor Who publishing for eight years and to be part of the 50th anniversary is incredibly exciting. We are delighted to have eleven sensational children's authors involved in the series, all bringing an individual style, imagination and interpretation to their eshort tribute to The Doctor. This is a who's who of children's fiction coming together to celebrate the much-loved Doctor Who.
The books will be published online through Penguin itself, the iBookstore and Amazon.


In addition, the anniversary itself will see all eleven adventures released together as a single book anthology.

Other books during 2013

Other Penguin Children’s books relating to Doctor Who this year include:
  • Doctor Who: Puffin Eshorts (January – November)
  • Doctor Who: Anniversary Sticker Book (4th April, Paperback)
  • Doctor Who: Where’s the Doctor? (4th April, Paperback Reissue)
  • Doctor Who: Official Annual 2014 (1st August, Hardback)
  • Doctor Who: Lost in Space (5th September, Hardback)
  • Doctor Who: The Essential Guide to Fifty Years of Doctor Who (October, Hardback)
  • Doctor Who: Anniversary Anthology (November, Paperback)




FILTER: - Online - Books - BBC Worldwide - WHO50

Doctor Who Encyclopedia Updated For iPads

Monday, 17 December 2012 - Reported by John Bowman
A revised and updated iPad app is being released for the Doctor Who Encyclopedia later this week.

Developed by Brandwidth with BBC Books, the app has up-to-date information on every episode since the show returned to our TV screens in 2005. New entries and images cover The Doctor, The Widow, and The Wardrobe, the first five episodes of Series 7, and mini-episodes such as Pond Life. In addition, four of the 11 portals have been updated.

  • Scroll your way through a complete A-Z of the show. You'll discover the Doctor's fiercest enemies and closest allies as well as key places and objects, and have the chance to preview and buy episodes.
  • There are 3,200 entries. Additionally, each entry has an episode reference, allowing you to search the encyclopedia by episode or series.
  • It contains 11 portals, with those for Amy, Rory, River Song, and the Daleks having been updated to reflect recent episodes.
The app is now optimised for iOS6, and BBC Books says that no more in-app purchasing is needed.

The updated app will be released on Wednesday 19th December.








FILTER: - Merchandise - Books - BBC

Devil in the Smoke

Thursday, 13 December 2012 - Reported by Harry Ward
BBC Books have announced the release of a second Doctor Who ebook. The story, written by Justin Richards, is set prior to the events of this year’s Christmas special, The Snowmen, and features Madame Vastra, Jenny and Strax.

BBC Books’ second digital-only Doctor Who adventure (the first being The Angel's Kiss) will be published on 18 December 2012.

Devil in the SmokeDevil in the Smoke
An Adventure for The Great Detective

Recounted by Mr Justin Richards

Madame Vastra, the fabled Lizard Woman of Paternoster Row, knew death in many shapes and forms. But perhaps one of the most bizarre of these was death by snow…

On a cold day in December, two young boys, tired of sweeping snow from the workhouse yard, decide to build a snowman – and are confronted with a strange and grisly mystery. In horrified fascination, they watch as their snowman begins to bleed…

The search for answers to this impossible event will plunge Harry into the most hazardous – and exhilarating – adventure of his life. He will encounter a hideous troll. He will dine with a mysterious parlour maid. And he will help The Great Detective, Madame Vastra, save the world from the terrifying Devil in the Smoke.




FILTER: - Merchandise - Books - Series 7/33 - BBC