Doctor Who‘s relationship with time travel has evolved over her years, from the resolute “You can’t change history, not one line!” of ‘The Aztecs’ to the Eleventh Doctor’s wilful alterations for his own ends in tales like ‘A Christmas Carol’.
This collection from the show’s literary back catalogue novels reflect that change, with the first pair being “pure historicals” in the programme’s early mould, while the other books mix alien antics with historical events.
As with the previous collections, the titles are drawn from both from the BBC and Virgin’s pre-2005 ranges, as well as a couple of more recent novels. Along with a smart new cover, each comes with a present day introduction from the author, commonly setting the scene for the tale.
In ‘The Witch Hunters’ by Steve Lyons, the First Doctor, with Susan, Ian & Barbara, arrives at the time of the Salem Witch trials and Susan becomes involved in events among the fearful residents. There’s an interesting framing device at play too, with a post-‘The Five Doctors’ Hartnell returning to the scene of the adventure with something troubling his conscience.
‘The Roundheads’ from Mark Gatiss brings English Civil War strife for the Second, who arrives with Ben, Polly & Jamie. Split three ways, Ben is press-ganged while Polly arouses the interest of some scheming Royalists. Meanwhile the Doctor and Jamie get themselves in trouble with an anachronistic book that tells the fate of both sides and find themselves brought before Oliver Cromwell.
‘Amorality Tale’ by David Bishop finds the Third Doctor and Sarah Jane in 1952, drawn there to investigate a picture of the Doctor she has found. Setting up as a watchmaker, the Doctor investigates while Sarah goes undercover with an East End gangster. Brutal deaths follow, both caused by and concealed in the smog.
‘The English Way of Death’ reunites the Fourth Doctor, Romana II and K-9, seeing them foiling an alien threat while he is attempts to return some overdue library books. While the recent audio adaptation was great, there’s plenty to warrant a return to the original to enjoy the rich detail of Gareth Robert’s comic creations.
Perhaps the oddest of the bunch is Stephen Cole and Justin Richards’s ‘The Shadow in the Glass’ which sets the Sixth Doctor on the trail of Hitler and some revelatory WWII secrets. It also features the Brigadier, and it is great to see the interaction between the pair which never occurred in the series proper.
Easily the best known of these stories, author Paul Cornell adapted ‘Human Nature’ for David Tennant’s second season. Here, in its original form, it features the Seventh Doctor with his archaeologist companion Bernice Summerfield and, as well as being a terrific read, is a very different tale from what appeared on screen.
From the modern era, Jacqueline Rayner’s ‘The Stone Rose’ sees Ten and Rose back in roman times to unpick the puzzle of a stone statue of with a worrying resemblance to Rose herself.
Meanwhile, ‘Dead of Winter’ by James Goss brings the Eleventh Doctor, with Amy and Rory in tow, crash landing in the 18th century. Bereft of their memories, a gripping tale unfolds through the format of letters and memories of events that occur at a remote Italian for those suffering from tuberculosis.
Limited somewhat by the theme, BBC Books have once again provided a collection quite varied in tone; the horrific death toll in ‘Amorality Tale’ is a world away from the more comic notes of ‘The English Way of Death’. This was ever true of the television show too.
If drawn to pick a favourite or two, we would heartily recommend ‘The Roundheads’ for a thumping good adventure yarn, as well as ‘Dead of Winter’ which rather beautifully captures the show’s leading trio.
Out now from BBC Books.
Which books is your favourite? Let us know below…