Instruments of Darkness (novel): Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox Story
{{Infobox Story SMW
|image= Instruments of Darkness.jpg  
|image       = Instruments of Darkness.jpg
|series=[[BBC Past Doctor Adventures]]  
|series       = [[BBC Past Doctor Adventures]]
|number= 48
|number       = 47
|doctor=Sixth Doctor
|doctor       = Sixth Doctor
|companions=[[Melanie Bush|Mel]], [[Evelyn Smythe|Evelyn]]
|companions   = [[Melanie Bush|Mel]]
|enemy= [[Lai-Ma]], [[Tko-Ma]]
|featuring    = Evelyn Smythe
|setting=[[Earth]], [[1993]]
|featuring2  = Robert Lines{{!}}Lines
|writer= [[Gary Russell]]
|enemy       = [[Lai-Ma]], [[Tko-Ma]]
|publisher= BBC Books  
|setting     = [[Earth]], [[1993]]
|cover=[[Black Sheep]]
|writer       = Gary Russell
|release date= [[5 November (releases)|5 November]] [[2001 (releases)|2001]]
|publisher   = BBC Books
|format= Paperback Book; 19 Chapters, 287 Pages  
|cover       = [[Black Sheep]]
|isbn= ISBN 0-563-53828-7  
|release date = 5 November 2001
|prev=Dying in the Sun (novel)
|format       = Paperback Book;<br/>19 Chapters, 287 Pages
|next=Relative Dementias (novel)}}
|isbn         = ISBN 0-563-53828-7
'''''{{StoryTitle}}''''' was the forty-eighth [[BBC Past Doctor Adventures]] novel. It featured the [[Sixth Doctor]], [[Melanie Bush]] and [[Evelyn Smythe]]. This was the first novel to feature a character from [[Big Finish Productions]]' [[Big Finish Doctor Who audio stories|''Doctor Who'' audio story range]]. Evelyn Smythe had first appeared in the audio story ''[[The Marian Conspiracy]]'', and when this novel was published had appeared in five audio stories.
|prev         = Dying in the Sun (novel)
|next         = Relative Dementias (novel)
}}{{prose stub}}
'''''{{StoryTitle}}''''' was the forty-seventh novel in the [[BBC Past Doctor Adventures]] series. It was written by [[Gary Russell]], released [[5 November (releases)|5 November]] [[2001 (releases)|2001]] and featured the [[Sixth Doctor]], [[Melanie Bush]] and [[Evelyn Smythe]].
 
This was the first novel to feature a character from [[Big Finish Productions]]' [[Big Finish Doctor Who audio stories|''Doctor Who'' audio story range]]. Evelyn had first appeared in the audio story ''[[The Marian Conspiracy (audio story)|The Marian Conspiracy]]'', and when this novel was published had appeared in five audio stories.


== Publisher's summary ==
== Publisher's summary ==
The leaders on planet [[Earth]] think that the [[Magnate]] is a mysterious "shadow Government" that controls the world. It isn't. The leaders believe [[the Network (Instruments of Darkness)|the Network]] to be a ramshackle, paranoid outfit of European anarchists who will eventually blow themselves up. They won't. The leaders believe that if there are humans who can control things with their minds — [[ESPnet]]s — they're few and far between, and not worth worrying about. They're wrong. The leaders believe that one minute after midnight on [[31 December]] [[1993]], a new year, full of promise, will begin. They're wrong.
The leaders on planet [[Earth]] think that the [[Magnate]] is a mysterious "shadow Government" that controls the world. It isn't. The leaders believe [[the Network (Instruments of Darkness)|the Network]] to be a ramshackle, paranoid outfit of European anarchists who will eventually blow themselves up. They won't. The leaders believe that if there are humans who can control things with their minds — [[ESPnet]]s — they're few and far between, and not worth worrying about. They're wrong. The leaders believe that one minute after midnight on [[31 December]] [[1993]], a new year, full of promise, will begin. They're wrong.


The Doctor and Mel arrive on [[Earth]] just days before New Year. An old friend has been kidnapped and taken to [[France]]. And two murderous enemies are setting up a new life in the Peak District. Which of these threats should the Doctor deal with first? And why is his old travelling companion [[Evelyn Smythe]] using her knowledge of the future to make a fortune from [[chocolate cake]] recipes?!
[[Sixth Doctor|The Doctor]] and [[Melanie Bush|Mel]] arrive on [[Earth]] just days before [[1994|New Year]]. An old friend has been kidnapped and taken to [[France]]. And two murderous enemies are setting up a new life in the [[Peak District]]. Which of these threats should the Doctor deal with first? And why is his old travelling companion [[Evelyn Smythe]] using her knowledge of the future to make a fortune from [[chocolate cake]] recipes?!


== Plot ==
== Plot ==
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* [[Tko-Ma]]
* [[Tko-Ma]]
* [[Trey Korte]]
* [[Trey Korte]]
* [[Woody Ashburn]]
* [[Woody Ashtree]]


== References ==
== Worldbuilding ==
* The Doctor took an [[Ornithologist (Instruments of Darkness)|ornithologist]] to see a living dodo.
=== Vehicles ===
=== Vehicles ===
* Mel scolds the Doctor for failing to return a hired [[Volkswagen Beetle]]. He protests that his former companions, [[Grant Markham]] and [[Evelyn Smythe]], would have let him keep the car.
* Mel scolds the Doctor for failing to return a hired [[Volkswagen Beetle]]. He protests that his former companions, [[Grant Markham]] and [[Evelyn Smythe]], would have let him keep the car.
Line 65: Line 71:


== Notes ==
== Notes ==
* This novel is a sequel to the novels ''[[The Scales of Injustice (novel)|The Scales of Injustice]]'' and ''[[Business Unusual (novel)|Business Unusual]]''.
* This novel is a sequel to the novels ''[[The Scales of Injustice (novel)|The Scales of Injustice]]'' and ''[[Business Unusual (novel)|Business Unusual]]''.
* This account of Mel's first meeting with Evelyn, along with Evelyn's post-TARDIS life, is in open and irresolvable conflict with audio stories ''[[Thicker Than Water (audio story)|Thicker Than Water]]'' and ''[[A Death in the Family (audio story)|A Death in the Family]]''.
* This account of Mel's first meeting with Evelyn, along with Evelyn's post-TARDIS life, is in open and irresolvable conflict with audio stories ''[[Thicker Than Water (audio story)|Thicker Than Water]]'' and ''[[A Death in the Family (audio story)|A Death in the Family]]''.
** One simple explanation occurs; while travelling with the Doctor and Mel after these events, something took place that caused Mel to lose her memory of these meetings with Evelyn and would have made it dangerous for her to regain those memories, prompting Evelyn to return to Rossiter (as depicted in ''Thicker Than Water'') and start a new life.


== Continuity ==
== Continuity ==
* The Doctor's first meeting with Evelyn is mentioned. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Marian Conspiracy]]'') Evelyn also refers to meeting [[Romana II]] ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Apocalypse Element]]'') and [[Charles Darwin]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Bloodtide (audio story)|Bloodtide]]'')
* The Doctor's first meeting with Evelyn is mentioned. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Marian Conspiracy (audio story)|The Marian Conspiracy]]'') Evelyn also refers to meeting [[Romana II]] ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Apocalypse Element (audio story)|The Apocalypse Element]]'') and [[Charles Darwin]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Bloodtide (audio story)|Bloodtide]]'')


== External links ==
== External links ==
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* [http://mysite.science.uottawa.ca/rsmith43/cloister/instru.htm The Cloister Library: '''Instruments of Darkness''']
* [http://mysite.science.uottawa.ca/rsmith43/cloister/instru.htm The Cloister Library: '''Instruments of Darkness''']


* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050406224612/http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/news/drwho/2004/01/01/13719.shtml Interview: Gary Russell]
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[[Category:Stories set in Oxford]]
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[[Category:Stories set in Australia]]
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[[Category:Pseudo-historical stories]]
[[Category:Stories set in Sheffield]]

Latest revision as of 21:43, 13 January 2024

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prose stub

Instruments of Darkness was the forty-seventh novel in the BBC Past Doctor Adventures series. It was written by Gary Russell, released 5 November 2001 and featured the Sixth Doctor, Melanie Bush and Evelyn Smythe.

This was the first novel to feature a character from Big Finish Productions' Doctor Who audio story range. Evelyn had first appeared in the audio story The Marian Conspiracy, and when this novel was published had appeared in five audio stories.

Publisher's summary[[edit] | [edit source]]

The leaders on planet Earth think that the Magnate is a mysterious "shadow Government" that controls the world. It isn't. The leaders believe the Network to be a ramshackle, paranoid outfit of European anarchists who will eventually blow themselves up. They won't. The leaders believe that if there are humans who can control things with their minds — ESPnets — they're few and far between, and not worth worrying about. They're wrong. The leaders believe that one minute after midnight on 31 December 1993, a new year, full of promise, will begin. They're wrong.

The Doctor and Mel arrive on Earth just days before New Year. An old friend has been kidnapped and taken to France. And two murderous enemies are setting up a new life in the Peak District. Which of these threats should the Doctor deal with first? And why is his old travelling companion Evelyn Smythe using her knowledge of the future to make a fortune from chocolate cake recipes?!

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

to be added

Characters[[edit] | [edit source]]

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

Vehicles[[edit] | [edit source]]

Organisations[[edit] | [edit source]]

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • This novel is a sequel to the novels The Scales of Injustice and Business Unusual.
  • This account of Mel's first meeting with Evelyn, along with Evelyn's post-TARDIS life, is in open and irresolvable conflict with audio stories Thicker Than Water and A Death in the Family.
    • One simple explanation occurs; while travelling with the Doctor and Mel after these events, something took place that caused Mel to lose her memory of these meetings with Evelyn and would have made it dangerous for her to regain those memories, prompting Evelyn to return to Rossiter (as depicted in Thicker Than Water) and start a new life.

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

External links[[edit] | [edit source]]