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{{Infobox Story | {{Infobox Story SMW | ||
|name | |range = Who is Doctor Who? (tie-in website){{!}}Who is Doctor Who? | ||
|image | |number in range = #8 | ||
|main character = [[Mickey Smith]] | |name = ''Essay Competition'' | ||
|featuring | |image = Wedding2.jpg | ||
|setting | |main character = [[Mickey Smith]] | ||
|release date | |featuring = [[Ninth Doctor]], [[Rose Tyler|Rose]], [[Adam Mitchell|Adam]] | ||
|writer | |setting = [[Powell Estate]], [[London]] [[2006]] | ||
|publisher | |release date = 8 May 2005 | ||
|format | |writer = BBC webteam | ||
|website | |publisher = BBC | ||
|series | |format = Online short story | ||
|prev | |genre = Science fiction | ||
|next | |website = ''[[Who is Doctor Who? (tie-in website)|Who is Doctor Who?]]'' | ||
|series = [[Who is Doctor Who? (tie-in website)|''Who is Doctor Who?'' fiction]] | |||
|prev = Henry Van Statten (short story) | |||
|next = Rose's Dad? (short story) | |||
}} | }} | ||
'''''Essay Competition''''' was the eighth short story exclusively published on the ''[[Who is Doctor Who? (tie-in website)|Who is Doctor Who?]]'' website on [[8 May (releases)|8 May]] [[2005 (releases)|2005]]{{fact}} by the [[BBC webteam]] to coincide with the broadcast of ''[[Dalek (TV story)|Dalek]]'' and ''[[Father's Day (TV story)|Father's Day]]''. | |||
'''''Essay Competition''''' was the eighth short story exclusively published on the ''[[Who is Doctor Who? ( | |||
== Plot == | == Plot == | ||
[[Mickey Smith|Mickey]] writes on [[Who is Doctor Who?]] about how, now is he is known to not be a [[murderer]], people around [[Powell Estate|the estate]] are being helpful to him. [[Jackie Tyler|Jackie]], in particular, had been going through some of her old possessions whereupon she had found an old [[Stuart Hoskins and Sarah Clark's wedding|wedding]] [[video]] from the [[1980s]]; upon his inspection of it, he discovers that [[Rose Tyler|Rose]] and the [[Ninth Doctor]] were visible in some shots. Unsure of what they were doing in their own [[past]], he suspects that the Doctor may be meddling with how "[[history]] should be". | |||
Onto another subject, Mickey reveals that the [[winner]] of last [[week]]'s [[Geocomtex]] [[essay]] [[competition]] is [[14 (number)|fourteen]]-year-old [[Adam Mitchell]], a "[[star]]" with [[computer]]s. | |||
Adam has a desire to meet [[alien]]s and to see the stars, to be in [[space]] looking down at [[Earth]]. He wants to known what life is like out there, to travel, and to learn from them; he doesn't believe aliens are [[evil]], but just more advanced that humans. [[Geoff Mitchell|His father]] has [[arthritis]], which despite humanity's [[science]], is currently [[cure|incurable]] and only able to be made to [[pain|hurt]] less, but with an alien's understanding of [[metabolism]] and experience with wear and tear of bodies, ''would'' be able to cure it. With all it takes to travel beyond their planet, aliens would have much [[knowledge]] to impart to humanity. | |||
Adam doesn't believe it would be [[cheating]], just a [[short cut]], and belives humanity could make a trade by sharing works, such as those by [[William Shakespeare|Shakespeare]]. Even if they didn't want anything in return, Adam writes that — like [[file sharing]] — it can feel good to "show off" something you own by sharing it, knowing that you got there first. | |||
Adam concludes, writing that that is why he wants to meet an alien. To learn from them, to travel with them, to "[[vision|see]] what they see", and to be their [[best friend]]. | |||
== Characters == | == Characters == | ||
(In order of appearance) | |||
* [[Mickey Smith|Mickey]] | |||
* [[Suzie (Father's Day)|Suzie]]{{note|n=Unnamed|Unnamed in the story.}} | |||
* [[Sarah Clark]]{{note|n=Unnamed}} | |||
* [[Stuart Hoskins]]{{note|n=Unnamed}} | |||
* [[Rose Tyler]]{{note|n=Unnamed}} | |||
* [[Jackie Tyler|Jackie]] | |||
* [[Ninth Doctor]] | |||
* [[Adam Mitchell]] | |||
== | === Referenced only === | ||
* [[Sandra Mitchell|Adam's mum]] | |||
* [[Geoff Mitchell|Adam's father]] | |||
* [[William Shakespeare|Shakespeare]] | |||
== Worldbuilding == | |||
* The wedding video was filmed on [[7 November]]. On frame has the timestamp of 15:25. | |||
* Adam and his parents are from [[Nottingham]]. | |||
* Mickey thinks that Adam has a "bright [[future]]" ahead of him. | |||
* Adam [[wish]]es that Mickey hadn't have spoken to his mum, seemingly embarrassed. | |||
* Adam thinks aliens would, presumably, have faster computers and better [[public transport]]. | |||
* Adam's mum thinks that his dad has [[gout]]. | |||
* Adam doesn't think that aliens are [[god]]s. | |||
* Adam thinks aliens could control [[ageing]] and their [[appearance]]. | |||
* This is a small disclaimer about the [[photograph]]s on the site not necessarily being in the webmaster's [[copyright]], although no infringement is intended. | |||
* There is a small icon for [[Campaign for Real Aliens]] and the "[[website]] of the [[month]]" distinction from [[Conspiracy GOLD]]. | |||
* There is an advertisement for [[GEOCOMTEX]]. | |||
** The advert asks you to switch to them, for "[[Information technology|IT]] [[solution]]s out of this [[world]]". | |||
== Notes == | == Notes == | ||
* Despite the real readers of the ''[[Who is Doctor Who? (tie-in website)|Who is Doctor Who?]]'' website being able to submit entries to the previous week's "competition", given it was clearly fiction — such as the "prize" being technology by a company that doesn't exist — the user entries presumably had no real chance of winning, with Adam's essay likely being planned from the beginning. | |||
* The character of Adam's mum — [[Sandra Mitchell]] — is heavily implied in other DWU fiction to be the character of the same name from the [[BBC]] television series {{wi|Children's Ward}}, in part due to the actor [[Judy Holt]] portraying both characters. This story is seemingly at odds with this as Adam is stated to be from [[Nottingham]], not [[Manchester]], the setting of ''Children's Ward'' and the hometown of Adam as depicted in ''[[The Time Traveller's Almanac (reference book)|The Time Traveller's Almanac]]'' and ''[[The Time Lord Letters (novel)|The Time Lord Letters]]''. | |||
** Additionally, the [[Dalek (novelisation)|novelisation of ''Dalek'']] depicts Adam's home town being [[Milton Keynes]], at odds with both this short story and the implied shared universe with ''Children's Ward''. | |||
== Continuity == | == Continuity == | ||
* This story is a sequel to ''[[Dalek (TV story)|Dalek]]'' and ''[[Henry Van Statten (short story)|Henry Van Statten]]'', as well as being a sequel to ''[[Father's Day (TV story)|Father's Day]]''. | |||
== Gallery == | |||
<gallery position="center" captionalign="center" widths="250"> | |||
Wedding1 EC.jpg|Rose at the wedding. | |||
Wedding2.jpg|The Doctor at the wedding. | |||
</gallery> | |||
== External links == | == External links == | ||
{{elx|page url= | {{elx|page url=http://web.archive.org/web/20050509004151/http://www.whoisdoctorwho.co.uk/|page name=''Essay Competition''|website url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070127163633/http://www.whoisdoctorwho.co.uk/|website name=''Who is Doctor Who?'' via the Wayback Machine}} | ||
== Footnotes == | |||
=== Notes === | |||
{{notelist}} | |||
=== Sources === | |||
{{reflist}} | |||
{{Who is Doctor Who? fiction}} | {{Who is Doctor Who? fiction}} | ||
{{TitleSort}} | {{TitleSort}} | ||
[[Category:Who is Doctor Who? short stories]] | [[Category:Who is Doctor Who? short stories]] | ||
[[Category:Mickey Smith short stories]] | |||
[[Category:Stories set in 2006]] | |||
[[Category:Stories set in London]] | |||
[[Category:Ninth Doctor short stories]] | |||
Latest revision as of 18:55, 9 November 2023
Essay Competition was the eighth short story exclusively published on the Who is Doctor Who? website on 8 May 2005[source needed] by the BBC webteam to coincide with the broadcast of Dalek and Father's Day.
Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]
Mickey writes on Who is Doctor Who? about how, now is he is known to not be a murderer, people around the estate are being helpful to him. Jackie, in particular, had been going through some of her old possessions whereupon she had found an old wedding video from the 1980s; upon his inspection of it, he discovers that Rose and the Ninth Doctor were visible in some shots. Unsure of what they were doing in their own past, he suspects that the Doctor may be meddling with how "history should be".
Onto another subject, Mickey reveals that the winner of last week's Geocomtex essay competition is fourteen-year-old Adam Mitchell, a "star" with computers.
Adam has a desire to meet aliens and to see the stars, to be in space looking down at Earth. He wants to known what life is like out there, to travel, and to learn from them; he doesn't believe aliens are evil, but just more advanced that humans. His father has arthritis, which despite humanity's science, is currently incurable and only able to be made to hurt less, but with an alien's understanding of metabolism and experience with wear and tear of bodies, would be able to cure it. With all it takes to travel beyond their planet, aliens would have much knowledge to impart to humanity.
Adam doesn't believe it would be cheating, just a short cut, and belives humanity could make a trade by sharing works, such as those by Shakespeare. Even if they didn't want anything in return, Adam writes that — like file sharing — it can feel good to "show off" something you own by sharing it, knowing that you got there first.
Adam concludes, writing that that is why he wants to meet an alien. To learn from them, to travel with them, to "see what they see", and to be their best friend.
Characters[[edit] | [edit source]]
(In order of appearance)
- Mickey
- Suzie[nb 1]
- Sarah Clark[nb 1]
- Stuart Hoskins[nb 1]
- Rose Tyler[nb 1]
- Jackie
- Ninth Doctor
- Adam Mitchell
Referenced only[[edit] | [edit source]]
Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]
- The wedding video was filmed on 7 November. On frame has the timestamp of 15:25.
- Adam and his parents are from Nottingham.
- Mickey thinks that Adam has a "bright future" ahead of him.
- Adam wishes that Mickey hadn't have spoken to his mum, seemingly embarrassed.
- Adam thinks aliens would, presumably, have faster computers and better public transport.
- Adam's mum thinks that his dad has gout.
- Adam doesn't think that aliens are gods.
- Adam thinks aliens could control ageing and their appearance.
- This is a small disclaimer about the photographs on the site not necessarily being in the webmaster's copyright, although no infringement is intended.
- There is a small icon for Campaign for Real Aliens and the "website of the month" distinction from Conspiracy GOLD.
- There is an advertisement for GEOCOMTEX.
Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Despite the real readers of the Who is Doctor Who? website being able to submit entries to the previous week's "competition", given it was clearly fiction — such as the "prize" being technology by a company that doesn't exist — the user entries presumably had no real chance of winning, with Adam's essay likely being planned from the beginning.
- The character of Adam's mum — Sandra Mitchell — is heavily implied in other DWU fiction to be the character of the same name from the BBC television series Children's Ward, in part due to the actor Judy Holt portraying both characters. This story is seemingly at odds with this as Adam is stated to be from Nottingham, not Manchester, the setting of Children's Ward and the hometown of Adam as depicted in The Time Traveller's Almanac and The Time Lord Letters.
- Additionally, the novelisation of Dalek depicts Adam's home town being Milton Keynes, at odds with both this short story and the implied shared universe with Children's Ward.
Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]
- This story is a sequel to Dalek and Henry Van Statten, as well as being a sequel to Father's Day.
Gallery[[edit] | [edit source]]
Rose at the wedding.
The Doctor at the wedding.
External links[[edit] | [edit source]]
Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]
Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]
Sources[[edit] | [edit source]]
| |||||||||||
