The Sorcerer's Apprentice (novel)

The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Doctor:	[[doctor::First Doctor]]
Companion(s):	Susan, Ian, Barbara
Main enemy:	Morton Dhal Gramling
Main setting:	Avalon, 2945
Key crew
Publisher:	[[publisher::Virgin Books]]
Writer:	Christopher Bulis
Release details
Release number:	12
Release date:	July, 1995
Format:	Paperback Book, 296 Pages
ISBN:	ISBN 0-426-20447-8
Virgin Missing Adventures
← Previous	System Shock
Next →	Invasion of the Cat-People

The Sorcerer's Apprentice was the twelfth novel in the Virgin Missing Adventures series. It was written by Christopher Bulis. It featured the First Doctor, Susan Foreman, Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright.

Publisher's summary

"There’s no such thing as magic," the Doctor said.

But the land of Elbyon might just prove him to be wrong. It is a place, populated by creatures of fantasy, where myth and legend rule. Elves and dwarves live in harmony with mankind, wizards wield arcane powers and armoured knights battle monstrous dragons.

Yet it seems that Elbyon has secrets to hide. The TARDIS crew find a relic from the thirtieth century hidden in the woods. Whose sinister manipulations are threatening the stability of a once peaceful lane? And what part does the planet play in a conflict that may save an Empire, yet doom a galaxy?

To solve these puzzles, and save his companions, the Doctor must learn to use the sorcery whose very existence he doubts.

Plot

to be added

Characters

• The Doctor
• Susan Foreman
• Ian Chesterton
• Barbara Wright

Avalonians

• Sir Bron
• Gramling
• Edmund
• Mellisa
• Kildenny Odoyle
• Marton Dhal
• Anni Glassfeather
• Harding

Earth Empire

• Captain Shannon
• Lieutenant Modando
• Ivanov
• Jen Komati
• Admiral Nyborg

References

Culture

• Body beppling is a fad.

The Doctor

• The Doctor palms an egg to demonstrate "magic".
• He dresses up like a wizard (as seen on the cover).
• He has visited Ireland.

The Doctor's items

• The Doctor uses his sapphire ring to create "magic" spells.

Foods and beverages

• Susan tells Ian that she cannot get drunk (whilst drinking wine) unless she wants to.

Individuals

• Susan performs a simple spell.
• Susan uses Princess Mellisa's hair to escape from a high tower.
• Ian fights a dragon, stabbing it with a lance.
• Marton Dhal is an evil wizard who was Gramling's apprentice. He has an army that includes dragons and winged apes.

Time Lords

• Susan has yet to pass the "first maturation" and therefore needs a few hours sleep.

Governments

• The fall of the Earth Empire is mentioned.
• The Special Services Directorate is concerned with the security of the Earth Empire and was formed after the Imperial Landsknechte collapsed.

TARDISes

• The TARDIS has a force field that protects the doors and filters the outside air when the doors are open.
• The Doctor asks Susan to check the radiation counter and Ian sees that she makes sure, commenting, "We don't want a repeat of what happened on Skaro".

Vehicles

• Barbara flies on a broomstick with a witch.

Notes

• The novel's title is likely a reference to the Goethe poem The Sorcerer's Apprentice and the well-known symphonic poem by Paul Dukas based on it.

Continuity

• The story begins literally two minutes after the events of TV: Marco Polo. Ian is described as wearing the same outfit that he wore in the preceding story.
• The body beppling reaction and city riots occurred in PROSE: Original Sin.
• PROSE: The Dark Path makes mention of events in this novel.
• Ian refers to the radiation poisoning which the travellers suffered on Skaro. (TV: The Daleks)
• Prior to their arrival in 1963, the Doctor and Susan met Harry Houdini in the United States. Houdini taught the Doctor how to perform sleight-of-hand tricks. (TV: Planet of the Spiders, AUDIO: The Wrath of the Iceni, AUDIO: Nevermore)
• The Doctor refers to the fall of the Earth Empire in the late 30th century. (TV: The Mutants)

External links

• The Sorcerer's Apprentice at the Doctor Who Reference Guide
• The Discontinuity Guide to: The Sorcerer's Apprentice at The Whoniverse