The Pit

To celebrate Halloween, 2012, we discuss the mind-blowing and arguably frightening Virgin New Adventure, The Pit by Neil Penswick.  From the back cover:

For two weeks now it has been the same message again and again, and it’s getting stranger; death and destruction, the end of all things, ARMAGEDDON.

In an attempt to lift the Doctor out of his irritable and erratic mood, Bernice suggests he investigates the mystery of the Seven Planets – an entire planetary system that disappeared without trace several decades before Bernice was born.

One of the Seven Planets is a nameless giant, quarantined against all intruders.  But when the TARDIS materializes, it becomes clear that the planet has other visitors: a hit-squad of killer androids; a trespassing scientist and his wife; and two shape-changing criminals with their team of slaves.

As riot and anarchy spread on the system’s colonized worlds, the Doctor is flung into another universe while Bernice closes in on the horror that is about to be unleashed – a horror that comes from a terrible secret in the Time Lords’ past.

If you’re wondering who Neil Penswick is, then you’re not alone; this novel was his single contribution to Doctor Who canon.  It was only after a little hunting that we were able to track down an interview with him (see the link on our blog page).  To the best of our knowledge, he’s currently working in an office, so when it all comes down to it he has one up on me, as I’ve never even tried to publish a novel.

Fun links:

"The Pit" on Amazon.  (Yep, it's cheap!)

A detailed synopsis at The Doctor Reference Guide.  (Spoilers, sweetie!)

The Doctor Who Ratings Guide regarding "The Pit".

An interview with Neil Penswick.  (Source unknown.)

Email us at dwbcpodcast@gmail.com, join us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter via @dwbcpodcast.  You can also follow Erik via @sjcaustenite and Sean via @tardistavern.

 

Back to Lance Parkin: The Dying Days

Our review of Lance Parkin's Cold Fusion can now be downloaded here.  It's time to review another Virgin New Adventure, and we've chosen The Dying Days by...well, by Lance Parkin again.

From the back cover:

6 May 1997

The Dying Days of the Twentieth Century

On the Mare Sirenum, British astronauts are walking on the surface of Mars for the first time in over twenty years.  The National Space Museum in London is the venue for a spectacular event where the great and the good celebrate a unique British achievement.

In Ardisham, Kent, the most dangerous man in Britain has escaped from custody while being transported by helicopter.  In Whitehall, the new Home Secretary is convinced that there is a plot brewing to overthrow the government.  In west London, MI5 agents shut down a publishing company that got too close to the top secret organisation known as UNIT.  And, on a state visit to Washington, the Prime Minister prepares to make a crucial speech, totally unaware that dark forces are working against him.

As the eighth Doctor and Professor Bernice Summerfield discover, all these events are connected.  However, soon all will be overshadowed.

This time, the Doctor is already too late.

The novel is unique in that it is the final Virgin New Adventure before they lost their license to publish Doctor Who books.  It's doubly unique in that it is the only New Adventure featuring the Eighth Doctor, so it's a respite from the machinations and manipulations of Doctor Seven.

This is the third novel we've read by Lance Parkin (The Infinity Doctors and, of course more recently, Cold Fusion), and we both agree that he's an ambitious writer.  We're looking forward to see what he can do with a story that is, on its face, not dissimilar to a Torchwood episode.  Grab a copy if you can and join us in a few days time when we sit down to discuss The Dying Days.

Fun links:

"The Dying Days" on the Doctor Who Ratings Guide

The Doctor Who Reference Guide  (Spoilers, sweetie!)

Lance Parkin's Official Website

"The Dying Days" on Amazon  (Wow, that's expensive!)

For February: Love and War (at Gallifrey!)

Our latest episode, a review of Christopher Bulis' A Device of Death is now available for downloading.  As February rolls in and the time has come to read another Virgin New Adventure, Erik has chosen Paul Cornell's Love and War.  From the back cover:

On a planet called Heaven, all hell is breaking loose.

Heaven is a paradise for both humans and Draconians -- a place of rest in more ways than one.  The Doctor comes here on a trivial mission -- to find a book, or so he says -- and Ace, wandering alone in the city, becomes involved with a charismatic Traveller called Jan.

But the Doctor is strenuously opposed to the romance.  What is he trying to prevent?  Is he planning some more deadly game connected with the mysterious objects causing the military forces of Heaven such concern?

Archaeologist Bernice Summerfield thinks so.  Her destiny is inextricably linked with that of the Doctor, but even she may not be able to save Ace from the Time Lord's plans.

This time, has the Doctor gone too far?

Good old McCoy and his Machiavellian schemes.

This year marks the 20-year anniversary of Professor Benny Summerfield, possibly the most popular companion in Doctor Who's literary form.  She became so popular, in fact, that after publishing its last New Adventure featuring the Doctor, The Dying Days, Virgin released a series of novels featuring Benny as the lead character.  This eventually spawned a range of Big Finish audio adventures as well.  (Although, if that is indeed her on the cover, her fashion choices are a bit questionable.)

Nary a fan has never heard of Paul Cornell.  Although Love and War is one of his most popular books, he's probably best known for authoring the Virgin New Adventure Human Nature, which eventually became an installment in the fourth series of the television show with the Tenth Doctor.  Cornell has written nine New Adventures (four of which were for the Benny Summerfield range), one Missing Adventure, one Eighth Doctor novel, and a Past Doctor novel based on the BBC's animated short, Scream of the Shalka.

Episode 14 marks a special occasion, as Erik and Sean will be recording in person at Gallifrey One in February.  (Also, look forward to a tentative special guest...no, not Paul Cornell.)  If you are there and see us, don't be afraid to come up and say hello.  We really are a couple of splendid fellows.  Also join our page on Facebook, follow us on Twitter via @dwbcpodcast, or email us at dwbcpodcast@gmail.com (Erik personally answers each and every email while Sean shuns email like a red-headed stepchild).

Fun links:

Love and War at the Doctor Who Reference Guide  (Spoilers, sweetie!)

Paul Cornell's Blog

Love and War on Amazon  (Hey, it's affordable!)