Mad Norwegian has confirmed that Mags L. Halliday ("History 101") will write the fourth Faction Paradox novel, due out in December 2004. Warring States takes place in China, 1900, and concerns Cousin Octavia (the Faction Paradox member responsible for the fall of the Thirteen-Day Republic, as told in The Book of the War ). Meanwhile, the second book, Of the City of the Saved by Philip Purser-Hallard is now due out in late April, delayed a month due to production schedules. The cover blurb for the book (based on the cult favorites created in the BBC Eighth Doctor novel series) is as follows: "We all remember Resurrection Day. Even now, three centuries later, we cannot forget that awakening: our bewilderment, our terror and our joy. Each of us had experienced death, imagining ourselves bound for oblivion, Heaven or Nirvana, according to taste. Instead, we found, each member of the many human species û from tool-wielding australopithecines to posthuman philosopher-gods û had been harvested, gathered here by the FoundersÆ unfathomable technologies. Reborn in our countless immortal bodies, we were given the freedom of the City of the Saved. A single conurbation as broad as a spiral galaxy, she has been our sanctuary from the ravages of the War. That monstrous conflict between inhuman cultures cannot touch us here: we live our afterlives beyond the end of time, in perfect safety. We may be certain, therefore, that these rumours of a murder (the brutal stabbing of a City Councillor, no less!) are nothing more than lurid fabrications. The supposition that the murder weapon is missing, or that it could have been û as hysterical conjecture has claimed û a "potent weapon", capable of injuring a Citizen within the haven of the City, is equally absurd. The idea that a guerrilla war has already begun in one of our less harmonious enclaves need not be dignified with refutation. Please go about your business, Citizens, as normal. We are perfectly safe, here in the City. Humanity has never been safer." Also, author Lars Pearson will return with a fourth installment of his I, Who series later in the year; "I, Who 4" is scheduled for October 2004 release, co-written with Arnold T. Blumberg this time, and will again cover the BBC Doctor Who novels and Big Finish audios as well as the various anthologies recently published. Finally, the second edition of A History of the Universe by Lance Parkin has been moved up to November 2004 instead of December.

Portal to Infinity is a new, unauthorized review guide of Doctor Who stories written by Keith C. Bradbury (the owner of the Who North America web store), due out in February. Says the press release: "Portal to Infinity is a guide to all those televised stories that have delighted fans of all ages throughout the globe. With plot synopses, reviews, multiple opinions, and even a ten star rating system, this book covers the entire series during its 26 year run. It even covers the 1996 telemovie starring Paul McGann, the Dalek movies featuring Peter Cushing, and the charity specials. What makes this book unique is the wide range of opinions given on the various stories. Dozens of reviewers contributed their time and opinions to make this book a reality. Sometimes they agree; often they disagree. But in the end, you will understand why we say 'It's like watching Doctor Who with a group of your friends!'" "Portal to Infinity" will be available first at WhoNA, then at specialty shops soon thereafter. The cover illustration to the book is available atwww.whona.com/portaltoinfinity.jpg. (Thanks to Keith & Jany Bradbury)

BBC Worldwide has released details on the forthcoming novel Empire of Death by David Bishop, due out in March from BBC Bokos. Details are as follows:

Mad Norwegian Press will be reprinting Lance Parkin's acclaimed and out-of-print A History of the Universe, editor Lars Pearson told Outpost Gallifrey today. "History of the Universe," a complete timeline to the Doctor Who mythos, was originally published by Virgin in May 1996; Parkin will be updating the guide to encompass the remainder of the Virgin Doctor Who series not covered when the book was printed, the BBC Doctor Who novels, the Big Finish audios and other stories. The book, which will be printed as "unauthorized," will be released in December 2004 as an oversized softcover. (Thanks to Lars Pearson)

Lance Parkin, author of several acclaimed Doctor Who novels including "Father Time," "The Infinity Doctors" and "Just War," will be penning the third Faction Paradox novel. Entitled Warlords of Utopia, the novel is the third in Mad Norwegian Press' series of books concerning the time-travelling voodoo cult first created by Lawrence Miles for the BBC Books Doctor Who novel range. Parkin's book "is a generational story in which every parallel reality where Rome conquered the world finds itself warring against every parallel reality where Nazi Germany dominated the globe. The book serves to reintroduce crucial elements concerning the Warùthe ongoing conflict between major powers in the Faction Paradox seriesùpaving the way for major War developments in the Faction Paradox book line." The novel is due out in August 2003. (Thanks to Lars Pearson)

Telos Publishing has announced some of its 2004 offerings. The final two books in their Doctor Who novellas range, already previously announced, include Blood and Hope by Iain McLaughlin (February) and The Dalek Factor by Simon Clark (March). Also in release will be two books in their "Time Hunter" series, spun-off from the Doctor Who novella "Cabinet of Light": The Tunnel at the End of the Light by Stefan Petrucha (March) and The Clockwork Womanby Claire Bott (June). Meanwhile, their latest Doctor Who novella, Companion Piece by Mike Tucker, as well as the paperback versions of their books Ghost Ship by Keith Topping and Foreign Devils by Andrew Cartmel, are now in release. More details can be found on Telos' website. (Thanks to Telos Publishing)

Outpost Gallifrey has received the working cover blurb for the forthcoming April 2003 BBC Books novel Halflife by Mark Michalowski, as follows. Please note that this may change before it goes to print.