More books in September

Tuesday, 24 April 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper

BBC Shop has released information about the next set of Tenth Doctor novels which are slated to be released on September 6th.
Wetworld by Mark Michalowski

When the TARDIS makes a disastrous landing in the swamps of the planet Sunday, the Doctor has no choice but to abandon Martha and try to find help. But the tranquillity of Sunday's swamps is deceptive, and even the TARDIS can't protect Martha forever.
The human pioneers of Sunday have their own dangers to face: homeless and alone, they're only just starting to realise that Sunday's wildlife isn't as harmless as it first seems. Why are the native otters behaving so strangely, and what is the creature in the swamps that is so interested in the humans, and the new arrivals? The Doctor and Martha must fight to ensure that human intelligence doesn't become the greatest danger of all.

Sick Building by Paul Magrs

Tiermann's World: a planet covered in wintry woods and roamed by sabre-toothed tigers and other savage beasts. The Doctor is here to warn Professor Tiermann, his wife and their son that a terrible danger is on its way.
The Tiermann's live in luxury, in a fantastic, futuristic, fully-automated Dreamhome, under an impenetrable force shield. But that won't protect them from the Voracious Craw. A gigantic and extremely hungry alien creature is heading remorselessly toward their home. When it gets there everything will be devoured.
Can they get away in time? With the force shield cracking up, and the Dreamhome itself deciding who should or should not leave, things are looking desperate...

Forever Autumn by Mark Morris

It is almost Halloween in the sleepy New England town of Blackwood Falls. Autumn leaves litter lawns and sidewalks, paper skeletons hang in windows, and carved pumpkins leer from stoops and front porches.
The Doctor and Martha soon discover that something long-dormant has awoken in the town, and this will be no ordinary Halloween. What is the secret of the ancient chestnut tree and the mysterious book discovered tangled in its roots? What rises from the local churchyard in the dead of night, sealing up the lips of the only witness? And why are the harmless trappings of Halloween suddenly taking on a creepy new life of their own?
As nightmarish creatures prowl the streets, the Doctor and Martha must battle to prevent both the townspeople and themselves from a grisly fate...




FILTER: - Books

New Scarifyers Story Announced

Sunday, 25 March 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper

Cosmic Hobo has announced that The Devil of Denge Marsh, the second installment of their Scarifyers series starring Terry Molloy and Nicholas Courtney, will be released on May 7th.
Tis Shub-Niggurath as we worship, and dread,
For she reigns o'er the living and dwells with the dead,
O'er shoreline and beach, o'er heathland and marsh,
She sees all that men do, and her judgement be harsh.
A melting minister… a scientific project gripped by madness… a remote village on the Kent coast where the locals have some strange habits indeed. It's all just the ticket for top-secret government department, MI-13.

Lionheart (Nicholas Courtney) and Dunning (Terry Molloy) are back, to do battle with the Women's Institute, an old adversary and an inter-dimensional being from the dawn of time - THE DEVIL OF DENGE MARSH.




FILTER: - Books

Telos Announces New Titles

Friday, 16 March 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper

Telos Publishing has announced their new titles and release schedule for 2007.

Due in October, Third Dimension: The Unofficial and Unauthorised Guide to Doctor Who 2007 by Stephen James Walker is a comprehensive episode guide to Series Three of the new Doctor Who, following the ongoing adventures of the Doctor (David Tennant) as he travels through space and time accompanied by his new companion Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman) and rejoined by his old friend Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman). The full build-up and background are revealed, from the aftermath of Series Two and the departure of Rose Tyler (Billie Piper) right up to date, detailing all the major news stories, press releases, casting announcements and critical response. The spotlight is then turned on each of the 13 episodes in turn, plus the Christmas special The Runaway Bride, with in-depth coverage, including all the facts and figures, behind-the-scenes details, press and fan reaction and detailed and insightful analysis.

Also in October, The Target Book: A History of the Target Doctor Who Books by David J Howe is the story of Target Books. Including an introduction by Terrance DicksThe Target Book chronicles the origins of the imprint, speaking to all the major players in its development, from editors to art directors, managing directors to artists and authors, and charts the books’ critical reception as well as the fortunes and failings of the many publishing houses involved in their production. Profusely illustrated with all the covers, plus rare and unseen sketches and unused concepts and ideas.

In the third volume of the TALKBACK series, Stephen James Walker has assembled an impressive selection of the very best interviews and features relating to the Doctor Who stories of the 1980s. Those quoted include Doctors Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy, companion actors Matthew Waterhouse, Nicola Bryant, Bonnie Langford and Sophie Aldred, producer John Nathan-Turner, script editors Antony Root and Andrew Cartmel, director Alan Wareing, writer Marc Platt, designers Barry Newbery, Malcolm Thornton and Nick Somerville, costume designers Rosalind Ebbutt, Pat Godfrey and Ken Trew, make-up designers Dee Baron and Joan Stribling, title sequence designers Sid Sutton, Gareth Edwards and Oliver Elmes, visual effects designer Malcolm James, and visual effects assistants and contractors Mike Tucker, Susan Moore, Stephen Mansfield and Robert Allsopp. Currently slated for August release.

Also in August, Child of Time by George Mann and David J Howe sees the conclusion to the Time Hunter series of novellas. When Honoré and Emily investigate the bones of a young woman in the ruins of a collapsed house, they are thrown into a thrilling adventure that takes them from London in 1951 to Venice in 1586 and then forward a thousand years, to the terrifying, devastated London of 2586, ruled over by the sinister Sodality. What is the terrible truth about Emily’s forgotten past? What demonic power are the Sodality plotting to reawaken? And who is the mysterious Dr Smith?

Previously announced, Inside the Hub: The Unofficial and Unauthorised Guide to Torchwood Series One byStephen James Walker charts the story of Torchwood, complete with character profiles, cast and production team information, behind-the-scenes details and a comprehensive guide to each of the 13 episodes, looking at the key elements and the many links to Doctor Who that permeate the show.

Other titles from Telos include a new guide to The Prisoner, a look at taboo breaking horror films, a new zombie novella, and the first non-Doctor Who-related fiction from Daniel O'Mahony.




FILTER: - Books

Creatures and Demons

Friday, 9 March 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

BBC Books has released the cover image for the forthcoming publication Doctor Who: Creatures and Demons, written by Justin Richards.

Further details about the book are given below. Click on the thumbnail for a larger version of the cover.

(Thanks to Caroline Newbury/Random House)
With exclusive photographs, concept drawings, diagrams and FX models, and written by Justin Richards, this will be a lavishly illustrated collection of the scariest monsters from Doctor Who - a follow-up book to the best-selling Aliens and Enemies and Monsters and Villains.

Doctor Who: Creatures and Demons will be published by BBC Books on May 10, 2007.




FILTER: - Books

Spaced Out

Sunday, 25 February 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive
Ever since it was announced that Doctor Who was returning to our television screens, Britain's LGBT publications (along with most others, it seems) have taken the show to their hearts, regularly reporting on the show (and its spinoffs).

In particular, Millivres Prowler - who publish Gay Times (recently restyled as GT), Divaaxm, the free Pink Papernewspaper and the online magazine Puffta - have devoted many column inches to Who. Here's a flavour.

In recent weeks, two Doctor Who-related articles appeared in the Pink Paper, with Darren Scott Gleeson interviewing Who stars Elisabeth Sladen (about her return to Doctor Who and The Sarah Jane Adventures) and John Barrowman.

Forget the girl, it's the woman I want

Gleeson says of Sladen, "Forget Billie Piper, the best Doctor Who companion was Sarah Jane Smith.

"Following her heart-breaking return to the programme [in 2006], her own series looks set to be the latest in a long line of hits for Russell T Davies."

A self-professed Doctor Who fan, Gleeson admits that it was "intrepid reporter Sarah Jane that first got me interested in journalism".

In the article, Sladen says it's incredible what Doctor Who has done, and she recounts the time a Who fan who's gay thanked her: "He said he had a very difficult childhood and would switch on Doctor Who on a Saturday and identify with it because it was about a loner and he felt very alone. He said it was just that half-hour when he actually believed everything would be all right."

Roberts' Code

There was also a short accompanying article, "Who's that boy?", about Gareth Roberts, which mentioned his Doctor Who novels, audios, Tardisodes, interactive episode (Attack of the Graske) and his Series 3 story The Shakespeare Code. Roberts said, "It's going to be pretty fab, they've done things which I can't quite believe. This is the kind of television I've always wanted to do. I'm very happy with The Sarah Jane Adventures too [...] I love working with BBC Wales, I'm not going anywhere until they kick me out."

He nose, you know

In the second interview, Barrowman talked to Gleeson about Live and Kicking, Doctor Who, Torchwood, and being the recipient of the "Entertainer of the Year" award at the first Annual Stonewall Awards.

"I'm really pleased about the award because that's being recognised by - if we have to put ourselves into categories - my community. It's a community I'm very proud of. I'm very proud to be gay and I don't see it as a detriment at all, as some people look at it.

Unfortunately, due to work commitments, Barrowman was unable to collect the award in person and so Sir Ian McKellan did so on his behalf. "I look up to Ian. Follow in his footsteps," Barrowman said of his friend.

During the interview, Barrowman talks about his civil partnership to long-time partner Scott Gill, his thoughts on religion, his Doctor Who mobile ring tone - "I'm really proud of that, dude [...] that's bought me a couple of homes" - and his six-inch Captain Jack action figure: "I turned down three or four different prototypes as the chin and nose [and] cheekbones weren't right, I was particular about it."

He also talks about how great it is being part of the whole Doctor Who/Torchwood family: "I love every second of it [but] I don't Google myself and dissuade my family from doing it because you read a lot of things that aren't true." Of the Dr Who Weakest Link Christmas Special, he says Anne Robinson (Bad Wolf) confided that they were the best celebrity group the Weakest Link had ever had!

Finally, of Series 3 of Doctor Who, he teases, "You're going to love it!"

The Captain Dances

The Pink Paper interview (mentioned above) was conducted in Stirling, Scotland, during Barrowman's official opening of his cousin Mark Barrowman's new business, MB Disco Supplies. Barrowman (Mark) said that although the shop started trading in July 2006, this was a private ceremony as "a thank you to our suppliers, key business partners and family members. We then opened the doors to the public and John mingled with his fans, signing photographs and his CDs."

The Pink Paper also published the winners of its annual Pink Paper Readers' Awards. "Best TV Show" went to Doctor Who. Davies accepted the award, saying, rather cheekily, "Thanks very much. I've always said the gay audience is cleverer, more imaginative and frankly more good-looking than anyone else, and now you've gone and proved it!" The Catherine Tate Show came second in the same category.

Who's Got Attitude?

Barrowman and Mark Gatiss both appeared in December's Attitude magazine.

Barrowman was asked "Any Queries?" by readers. He answered a diverse set of questions, including homophobia in Hollywood, his time on Live and Kicking, civil partnerships, watching Doctor Who as a child and not winning Dancing On Ice.

Gatiss was interviewed to coincide with the publication of his second Lucifer Box novel The Devil in Amber. As well as his books, he talked about playing Johnny Craddock in Fear of Fanny and Ratty in The Wind in the Willows, and briefly mentioned how thrilled he is to be in Series 3 of Doctor Who: "Another dream come true. I can't say much but it's a brilliant part and I can't wait to work with my old friend David Tennant."

Asked what it's like being involved with the show, Gatiss replied, "It's been a total joy. Really, it's been unbelievable. Doctor Who is the number one show and I don't think any of us believed that we'd ever see that again. Kids are obsessed with Daleks, they have wall-charts and stuff. It's like 1973 all over again! Russell T Davies presides over it all with his incredible enthusiasm and tirelessness. It's like a big family really. It's like UNIT. I'm Jo Grant!"


The Church and the Crown

The current issue of the Pink Paper reports on Barrowman's desire to have children, and his response to the recent row in the UK between the church and Parliament over the rights of gay people to adopt: "If people think of a family unit as being something from the past, then I'm happy to get the Doctor to take them back to the Dark Ages in the Tardis [sic]. We don't need them in our future."

Earlier, in Gay Times (December 2006), Terry Sanderson in his "Mediawatch" column, commented, happily, that the Daily Mirror reported Barrowman and Gill's desire to become parents "without a whisper of censure or judgementalism" on the tabloid's part.

Age of Enlightenment

Elsewhere in the current issue of the Pink Paper covers the story of Sylvester McCoy joining McKellan in the Royal Shakespeare Company's new production of King Lear, and the news that Lynda Baron (Enlightenment) will be hosting a 10-year birthday celebration of Amnesty International's LGBT UK Network on 27 February, which is also supported by Simon Callow (The Unquiet Dead).

Glad to be Kay

Also reported in the Pink, Peter Kay (Love and Monsters) is to play Roger de Bris, "the theatrical gay icon and world's worst director", in a new production, at the Palace Theatre in Manchester, of Mel Brooks's classic musical comedy The Producers.

"I've always been a huge fan of The Producers, ever since I first saw the film on telly when I was 11," Kay said. "[This] is definitely, for me, a real dream come true. I can't wait."

The story was previously reported in the Bolton News.

Naked Lunch

Gay Times and Attitude both recommended the 2007 Philip Olivier calendar from Slow Dazzle. No mention of Doctor Who - Olivier plays Seventh Doctor companion Hex in the Big Finish audios - but the piece briefly talks about his role as a gay schoolteacher in Hollyoaks: In the City.

At Home with the Barrowman's

The same issue of Gay Times has a three-page article about how Barrowman and his agent, Gavin Barker, met. Barker recounts that Barrowman's casting as Captain Jack in Doctor Who "was the quickest offer in the history of BBC Drama".

New Girl

Meanwhile, the restyled GT tests new Doctor Who companion Freema Agyeman on her Who knowledge in a light-hearted piece, "Doctor, Doctor". Asked what's the best thing about being the Doctor's companion, Agyeman replies, "[...] all the adventures you go on. You don't know from one minute to the next where you're going to be, who you're going to be encountering. It's a real roller-coaster ride. And for me personally this part has no stereotypical limitations as a black female, which I may have encountered in the past."

Huge Who

The new issue of Out Northwest (March 2007, available from 28 February), the free magazine published by the Lesbian and Gay Foundation, reports on Series 3 of Doctor Who and the "Huge Who exhibition" at the Museum of Science and Industry. The cover shows a full-page publicity shot of the Tenth Doctor and Martha Jones inside the TARDIS and proclaims: "The Doctor Lands in Manchester".

Billie and the Boys

Puffta.co.uk's online magazine details Billie Piper in their "Icon One Series": "Billie Piper. Only 23 years old but she's just published her autobiography, ditched the Doctor but we'd rather she release another album!" The article presents a potted biog of Piper, including quotes from the actor and RTD.

Charlie not Charley

In its online archive, ScotsGay magazine has an article on all things Doctor Who, including an interview with, as the piece puts it, "the openly gay Glaswegian comedian" Charlie Ross, a favourite on the UK Doctor Who convention circuit, who also appears as Lest in Big Finish's Eighth Doctor/Charley/C'rizz audio drama Memory Lane. "It's a dark, comic piece with a twist [...] a traditional Dr Who story of the best kind," Ross says.

The article states: "Charlie has been a fan his whole life. He grew up watching Tom Baker and Peter Davison - 'Who I've been lucky enough to meet' [and who, together with a couple of classic Daleks, he appeared with on the front cover of the print magazine] - and often includes Dr Who material in his stand-up act."

ScotsGay's "Top 6 Websites" lists Outpost Gallifrey as their "Best Dr Who Fan site".

Just Spaced

Away from matters pink, the current issue of Hotline magazine (January-March 2007) from Virgin Trains has a two-page interview with Simon Pegg (The Long Game). He talks about Shaun of the Dead, appearing opposite Tom Cruise inMission: Impossible III, his new film Hot Fuzz and his part as the Editor in Doctor Who: "It was amazing, the very idea of being part of Doctor Who was great."

He also recounts how, at the age of eight, he met Tom Baker: "I have a book somewhere [...] autographed by Tom Baker. It says: 'To Simon, 8, from Tom Baker, 888.' [...] he signed it for me and offered me a jelly baby. If someone had come to me then, some sort of emissary from the future, and said that years later I would be in Doctor Who, it would have fried my mind."




FILTER: - Books

New Covers and Titles Announced

Sunday, 25 February 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper
The covers for the March releases of the new 10th Doctor and Martha novels are now available.

Also announced are the new titles and authors for the next 3 books, which are slated for a September release. They are:
Sick Building by Paul Magrs
Forever Autumn by Mark Morris
Wetworld by Mark Michalowski

June sees the release of Calling the Shots: Directing the new series of Doctor Who by Graeme Harper

July has a new series of Decide Your Destiny novels from Penguin Character books. They are:
The Corinthian Project by Davey Moore
The Time Crocodile by Colin Brake
Frozen Earth by Kay Woodward
Arena by Richard Dungworth

Later in the year will see Penguin releasing an activity collection, family planner and desk calendar.




FILTER: - Books

Odd Doctor Who Influences

Thursday, 15 February 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive
While the Doctor officially made an appearance in BeanoMAX comic in the UK, there was an odd appearance just last month in the long-running comic strip Annie. Best known as Little Orphan Annie, the updated version had the young adventurer enter a time machine that was larger on the inside than the out and featured a strangely familiar looking console. After almost interrupting the assassination of Abe Lincoln, little Annie went on a visit to Atlantis.

Visit Annie to take a look at the exciting adventure complete with daily cliffhangers. Love the console.




FILTER: - Books

Dr Who story in Sunday Times

Sunday, 24 December 2006 - Reported by Kenny Davidson
Paul Cornell's short Dr Who story for Christmas was published today in The Sunday Times. Entitled "Deep and Dreamless Sleep", the tale is also available to read online from their website, and features the tenth Doctor in a seasonal story suitable for all ages.

Cornell, who wrote the 2005 episode "Fathers Day", is also the writer of episodes 8 and 9 in the next series of Doctor Who.




FILTER: - Books - Press

US/Canada New Releases

Wednesday, 20 December 2006 - Reported by Jeremy Bement
For Doctor Who fans in the US and Canada, head to your local comic shop this week. Doctor Who Magazine #377, should be available as you read this. Also of interest is Second Flight,Shaun Lyon's reference book covering the second series of Doctor Who, published by Telos(item number SEP063812) as well as Doctor Who: The Inside Story by Gary Russell (item number JUL063679). If you can't find these books, ask your comic book retailer to order them for you.




FILTER: - Books

New books out in North America this week

Sunday, 10 December 2006 - Reported by Jeremy Bement
For our readers in the US and Canada, a new Doctor Who book and new magazine will be available this week at comic book stores. Doctor Who: In Their Own Words Volume 2 (Item number SEP063746), a collection of interviews from the 1970s compiled from various issues of Doctor Who Magazine and published by Panini Press should hit the shelves Wednesday. Likewise, Talkback: The Unofficial Interview Book (Item number MAY063632), edited by Stephen James Walker and published by Telos, will also be available. If your local shop doesn't have these, ask them to order these books from Diamond Comic Distributors.




FILTER: - Canada - USA - Books