Whotopia is a new fan magazine covering "Doctor Who". Published quarterly, each issue covers the past, present and future of Doctor Who through articles, reviews, interviews, opinion pieces, columns, features, original fiction, original comics and more. The debut issue is available now and features: Exclusive Interview with Patricia Merrick ("Rani Reaps The Whirlwind, Airzone Solution"); The Return of The Cybermen; The Making of Doctor Who Recons; What The Doctor Needs Is A Really Good Monster To Fight; The Essential... First Doctor; Shada Online; original fiction, original comic series and much more. Join us as we celebrate the Doctor's travels through time and space at whotopia.tvheaven.com.

What are the essential elements of Doctor Who? Myth Makers presents Essentials, a 60-page collection illustrated by top artist Michael Leis and presented in a high-quality zine with an original, full-colour cover by Daryl Joyce (artist for BBCi's e-books Lungbarrow, The Well-Mannered War and Human Nature). The lineup of writers includes Andy Lane (Original Sin, The Banquo Legacy), Daniel O'Mahony (Falls the Shadow, The Cabinet of Light), Jonathan Blum (Seeing I, Fallen Gods), Mark Clapham (Beige Planet Mars, Hope), Dale Smith (Heritage), Mags L Halliday (History 101) and Graeme Burk (Short Trips and Side Steps, Short Trips Steel Skies). Presented with the stories are chosen essential elements from well known names in Doctor Who circles such as Paul Cornell, Kate Orman, Marc Platt, Justin Richards, Jean-Marc Lofficier, Gary Russell, David J Howe and Mark Ayres, alongside top writers from the wider field of science fiction and fantasy, including Robert J Sawyer, Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett and Piers Anthony. For more details visit www.dwin.org.

Telos Publishing's forthcoming second edition of the popular guide to Doctor Who collectible merchandise, Howe's Transcendental Toybox will celebrate the release with an exclusive collectible which will only be available to individual customers who order the book direct from Telos Publishing. 600 numbered, especially commissioned, chromed Gunner Dalek Rolykins were produced by Product Enterprises to give away with orders of the book. "The Rolykin range was a massive hit for Product Enterprises," says the press release, "but has now been superseded by the 'roll-a-matic' Daleks, so this is probably your last chance to get one of the Rolykin Daleks, and in a unique edition created especially for Telos Publishing." Orders from customers who already subscribe to the Deluxe editions of the Doctor Who Novellas will automatically receive the Dalek toy with the same number as their Deluxe edition books. (Thanks to David Howe)

A terrible blow to all fans: Doctor Who licensees Product Enterprises suffered a horrible fire at their warehousing company over the weekend. Says the note from Product Enterprises to distributors: "We unfortunately have to inform you of a devastating blow we have suffered at Product Enterprise Ltd. We were informed at 6.30pm yesterday evening that our import and warehousing company (Import Services) has burned to the ground. Import Services house and distribute our products around the UK. Details are still sketchy, however, we have been told that the fire completely destroyed the complex and all stock is lost. Several major companies utilize Import Services and will also be reeling from this news as Christmas stock will just be arriving in ready for distribution. The only good news is that as our new products are running behind schedule, they had yet to arrive into the warehouse. We have stocks of Talking Daleks arriving into the UK at the end of November and our new products - Eagle Transporter / Talking Dr Who & Clockwork Dalek, will be arriving early Jan. Re-stocking of the products lost will take a little while longer. Obviously, we are sorry for the problems this will cause to all of our customers, however I am sure you understand this is something completely out of our control and a devastating blow for us. Please bear with us while we re-organise our shipping, importation and warehouse facilities and we will update you as soon as we know more." Of course, Outpost Gallifrey sends our sympathies and good wishes to our friends at Product Enterprises, and we hope that they can get back up and running soon with their terrific collectible Doctor Who merchandise.

Issue #337 of Doctor Who Magazine is soon to be released (November 13, actually). Featured in the issue is, as expected, the CD of "Living Legend," the Big Finish single-episode audio play starring Paul McGann and India Fisher, as well as an interview with the stars of Big Finish's "Zagreus". Inside the magazine are interviews with Russell T. Davies (producer of the new series) and Barry Letts & Terrance Dicks (discussing the novel "Deadly Reunion"); a look at the production of "Zagreus"; The Fact of Fiction looks at "100,000 BC" (aka "An Unearthly Child"); "Happy Ever After," a single-episode anniversary comic from Scott Gray, Martin Geraghty and Daryl Joyce; and all the usual features. The cover illustration is at right.

The sixth volume of Big Finish's hardcover Doctor Who fiction anthology series Short Trips: Past Tense is due in March 2004. "Throughout all his travels, the Doctor has had many adventures both on Earth, and in the past. His affection for this particlular planet is clear, as is his enjoyment of seeing history happen. Past Tense features stories set exclusively in Earth's past: from the heady atmosphere of Shakespearian London to the shadowy world of pre-war Istanbul; from the time of King Alfred to that epoch-making year of 1999. Established writers of Doctor Who for television, print and audio are joined in this collection by fresh talent and new voices. Featuring stories by Eric Saward, Nev Fountain, Nicholas Briggs, Joseph Lidster, Mark Wright and many more!" Included in the book are "Fixing a Hole" by Samantha Baker, "All Done With Mirrors" by Christopher Bav, "White Man's Burden" by John Binns, "One Small Stepà" by Nicholas Briggs, "The Man Who Never Gave Up" by Nev Fountain, "The Immortals" by Simon Guerrier, "Ante Bellum" by Stephen Hatcher, "Bide-a-Wee" by Anthony Keetch, "Far From Home" by Alison Lawson, "That Time I Nearly Destroyed The World While Looking For a Dress" by Joseph Lidster, "Graham Dilley Saves The World" by Iain McLaughlin & Claire Bartlett, "Of The Mercury and Jupiter" by Ian Mond & Daniel Heap, "The Thief of Sherwood" by Jonathan Morris, "Come Friendly Bombsà" by Dave Owen, "CHAOS" by Eric Saward, "The Demise of the Nandi Bear" by Paul Williams, and "Mortlake" by Mark Wright.

Big Finish has released the cover illustration and blurb for Scherzo, December's Doctor Who play with only two cast members; click on the thumbnail below left for a larger version. Also in release is the cover illustration for the forthcoming "Doctor Who: The Audio Scripts - Volume Three" which includes the scripts of "Spare Parts," "The Spectre of Lanyon Moor," "The Rapture" and "The Chimes of Midnight"; click the thumbnail below right. Meanwhile, several details about new and forthcoming products: The Inside Story by Benjamin Cook, the new hardcover about the first four years of Big Finish audios, is now in release (and what a lovely book it is, too). Also out is Master by Joseph Lidster, although apparently the first of the two CD's in some packages has a fault preventing it from playing (Big Finish asks on itswebsite to contact them with details and they'll replace it). Also out is The Wormery by Paul Magrs & Stephen Cole, the 51st story, which surprisingly has been issued before the release of the anniversary story, "Zagreus"; but the sixth Unbound serial, Exile was delayed until this week due to German holidays!

As Outpost Gallifrey announced only a week ago, the first two DVDs in release in North America in 2004 are The Seeds of Death starring Patrick Troughton and The Three Doctors starring Jon Pertwee, Patrick Troughton and William Hartnell; the only change to our announcement is the date: they're due on March 2, not in early February. The following are the official press blurbs from BBC Worldwide Americas, plus the cover illustrations for each (click for a larger version).

BBC Worldwide have announced the first of 2004's DVD releases in the UK: The Visitation. The Season 19 serial's release is scheduled for January 24 from BBC Video, and features commentary by its four stars -- Peter Davison, Sarah Sutton, Janet Fielding and Matthew Waterhouse -- as well as director Peter Moffatt; "Directing Who: Peter Moffatt," a 26-minute featurette about the director from an interview conducted earlier this year; "Writing a Final Visitation," an 12-minute interview with author and script editor Eric Saward conducted in Black Park (site of the story's filming) in September; "Scoring the Visitation," a short interview with composer Paddy Kingsland excerpted from a longer one conducted by Mark Ayres (presumably to be released on later DVDs); Film Trims, including extended and deleted scenes; a music-only option; photo gallery, easter eggs and production notes. There are rumors that "Black Orchid" would also be attached to this on other sites, but the Restoration Team has confirmed that this is completely untrue. The RT has posted an article about the restoration process for this episode, as well. "The Visitation" was previously rumored on a list of 2004 releases that remained unconfirmed by the BBC, but now joins the pack as the first confirmation for the year.

Meanwhile, several bits of information were revealed this weekend to Panopticon attendees. Actor Michael Sheard announced that he, Elisabeth Sladen and producer Philip Hinchcliffe had recorded the commentary for the forthcomingPyramids of Mars DVD, due out later in the year (possibly March); the DVD would also feature both a location visit to Stargroves Estate that Sheard hosts, and (subject to licensing) a comedy sketch screened at the convention featuring Sutekh. Director Christopher Barry said he recorded a commentary for The Daemons, while Nick Courtney mentioned that he, Katy Manning and Barry Letts would provide commentaries for The Claws of Axos -- of course, neither of these discs have been announced by the BBC; other commentaries have been recorded in the past for future story releases, which still haven't happened! (Thanks to Colin John Francis, BBCi, the Restoration Team)