Do you ever suddenly realise that you don’t actually know the meaning of a word that you’ve blithely used most of your life? That happened to me recently, when I was reading an article on the Cybermen in ‘The Scientific Secrets of Doctor Who’ (by Simon Guerrier and Dr Marek Kukula), in which they talkContinue reading “Being Human – The Cybermen, body horror and The Turing Test”
Tag Archives: Doctor Who
From Tibet to Tooting Bec – An introduction to the Yeti
A single blow from the giant, hairy paw smashes the explorer to the ground. Terrified, he flees from the monster’s glowing eyes and savage fangs… Why are the peaceful Yeti now spreading death and destruction? And what is the secret behind the glowing cave on the mountain? When DOCTOR WHO discovers that a long-dead friendContinue reading “From Tibet to Tooting Bec – An introduction to the Yeti”
The Abominable Snowmen by Mervyn Haisman and Henry Lincoln (1967)
‘Gentlemen, I assure you—the body of evidence that has accumulated over the years is undeniable. The Abominable Snowman does exist.’ ‘Oh, Intelligence. You promised to release me, yet still I feel your grasp upon this frail body. Why? What is happening? This was not your plan. But if you continue to expand? I have broughtContinue reading “The Abominable Snowmen by Mervyn Haisman and Henry Lincoln (1967)”
Kill the Moon by Peter Harness (2014)
‘Look at the size of it. It’s the size of a badger.’ The moon’s an egg. Has it, er, has it always been an egg? Oh, my gosh. It laid a new egg. I could just leave the review there. Feel free to stop at this point. Let me set out my stall on thisContinue reading “Kill the Moon by Peter Harness (2014)”
Absent Friends by John Dorney (2016)
Absent Friends, written by John Dorney is an 8th Doctor story, the first of the 3rd Doom Coalition box set. At the heart of this wonderful story is death and bereavement, how it affects us and how we come to terms with it or fail to over time. It is a narrative structure that only reallyContinue reading “Absent Friends by John Dorney (2016)”
Survival by Rona Munro (1989)
‘The chase. To hunt in the morning and live till evening. Run out of the light, and slip into the dark. Smell the blood on the wind. Hear your blood in your ears. Die at last, with your enemy’s blood in your mouth. With your enemy’s blood in your mouth’ “This planet’s alive. The animalsContinue reading “Survival by Rona Munro (1989)”
Curse of Fenric by Ian Briggs (1989)
Powerplay – a matter of Life and Death ‘A chance action by Ace brings the TARDIS to Earth in the early 1940’s: Coventry in the Blitz, black rain falling out of the sky and pulverising all hope and humanity. But it was no accident brought them here – just as it was on accident thatContinue reading “Curse of Fenric by Ian Briggs (1989)”
Ghost Light by Marc Platt (1989)
Introduction – A room with a view ‘Ghost Light’ might be set in Perivale Village in 1883, but really, I think its heart is in Oxford, in the writings of Charles DoDoDodgson, of Alice Liddell, The Oxford Dodo, of Soapy Sam Wilberforce, T.H. Huxley and ‘The Great Debate’. Oxford and its surroundings are somewhere IContinue reading “Ghost Light by Marc Platt (1989)”
Battlefield by Ben Aaronovitch (1989)
Battlefield is a bit unloved isn’t it? Even its author, a talented writer, isn’t happy with how it worked out – blaming himself, but also, I think recognising the limitations inherent in making Doctor Who in the BBC of 1989. It is the opener of 1989’s season 26 and stands out really, the other threeContinue reading “Battlefield by Ben Aaronovitch (1989)”
The Empty Child by Steven Moffat (2005)
A table for four at Chula – an introduction to ‘The Empty Child’ In February 2004, at an Indian restaurant in Hammersmith, four colleagues meet to chat and exchange notes. The restaurant is called ‘Chula’ and the people sat around the table are celebrating being asked to write for the new series of Doctor WhoContinue reading “The Empty Child by Steven Moffat (2005)”
A Journal of Impossible Things 