Doctor Who Novels Get A Re-Release And Some Snazzy New Covers
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It seems like we can’t get through a day lately without covering some new Doctor Who announcement tied into this year’s celebration of the show’s 50th anniversary. That’s certainly not a bad thing for the devout Whovian, and now here’s yet another bit of Who merch that’s going to chew a hole in your wallet. BBC Books will be re-releasing 11 Doctor Who novels, one for each Doctor, with some very cool redesigned cover art.
To clarify, these are previously published books by Who notables such as Mark Gatiss (“A Good Man Goes to War”) and Terrance Dicks (“The Five Doctors”). If you’ve never dived into the bumper crop of Who print fiction, checking these out would be a nice way to sample the expanded universe and the adventures of each of the Doctors. Each novel will also include a new introduction.
There does seem to be some confusion about when the books will be available. Amazon says March, but the BBC’s site says July. If we have to defer to one or the other, we’re guessing the BBC site is correct until proven otherwise.
You can check out cover art and synopses for each of the 11 books below.
Doctor Who: Ten Little Aliens 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?
An adventure featuring the First Doctor as played by William Hartnell and his companions Ben and Polly.
Doctor Who: Dreams of Empire 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.
An adventure featuring the Second Doctor as played by Patrick Troughton and his companions Jamie and Victoria.
Doctor Who: Last of the Gadarene 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 U.N.I.T. The Third Doctor is sent to investigate – and soon uncovers a sinister plot to colonise the Earth. The Gaderene are on their way…
An adventure featuring the Third Doctor as played by Jon Pertwee and his companion Jo.
Doctor Who: Festival of Death 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.
An adventure featuring the Fourth Doctor as played by Tom Baker and his companions Romana and K-9.
Doctor Who: Fear of the Dark 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.
An adventure featuring the Fifth Doctor as played by Peter Davison and his companions Tegan and Nyssa.
Doctor Who: Players 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?
An adventure featuring the Sixth Doctor as played by Colin Baker and his companion Peri.
Doctor Who: Remembrance of the Daleks 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?
An adventure featuring the Seventh Doctor as played by Sylvester McCoy and his companion Ace.
Doctor Who: Earthworld 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 complain about Monday mornings in the office again
An adventure featuring the Eighth Doctor as played by Paul McGann and his companions Fitz and Anji.
Doctor Who: Only Human 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.
An adventure featuring the Ninth Doctor as played by Christopher Eccleston and his companion Rose.
Doctor Who: Beautiful Chaos 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…
An adventure featuring the Tenth Doctor as played by David Tennant and his companion Donna.
Doctor Who: The Silent Stars Go By 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?
An adventure featuring the Eleventh Doctor as played by Matt Smith and his companions Amy and Rory.
