Country of the Blind (short story): Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox Story SMW
{{Infobox Story
|series = ''[[Brief Encounter]]''
|name=Country of the Blind
|series=[[Brief Encounter]]
|image = Country of the BlindDWY93.jpg
|image = Country of the BlindDWY93.jpg
|doctor=Third Doctor
|doctor = Third Doctor
|companions=[[Liz Shaw|Liz]]
|companions = [[The Brigadier]], [[Liz Shaw|Liz]], [[Mike Yates|Yates]]
|featuring=[[Mike Yates]]
|setting = [[England]], [[1970s]]
|setting=[[England]], [[1970s]]
|writer = Paul Cornell
|writer=[[Paul Cornell]]
|illustrator = [[Paul Vyse]]
|illustrator=[[Paul Vyse]]
|publication = ''[[Doctor Who Yearbook 1993]]''
|publication=''[[Doctor Who Yearbook 1993]]''
|prev = Dream a Little Dream for Me (short story)
|prev=Dream a Little Dream for Me (short story)
|next = Farewells (short story)
|next=Farewells (short story)
|series2 = ''[[Doctor Who Yearbook]]''
|series2=[[Doctor Who Yearbook]]
|prev2 = Dream a Little Dream for Me (short story)
|prev2=Dream a Little Dream for Me (short story)
|next2 = Farewells (short story)
|next2=Farewells (short story)
|release date = September 1992
|release date = [[September (releases)|September]] [[1992 (releases)|1992]]
}}
}}
'''''{{StoryTitle}}''''' was a ''[[Brief Encounter]]'' short story published in the ''[[Doctor Who Yearbook 1993]]''. It provides an alternate explanation of [[Liz Shaw]]'s departure from [[UNIT]].
'''''{{StoryTitle}}''''' was a ''[[Brief Encounter]]'' short story published in the ''[[Doctor Who Yearbook 1993]]''. It provided an explanation of [[Liz Shaw]]'s departure from [[UNIT]].
 
Her departure has also been shown and/or explained in the stories ''[[The Scales of Injustice (novel)|The Scales of Injustice]]'', ''[[Reconnaissance (short story)|Reconnaissance]]'' and ''[[Prisoners of the Sun (short story)|Prisoners of the Sun]]''. ''Country of the Blind'' was the only one of these stories that stated that Liz did not leave UNIT to work at the [[University of Cambridge]].
 
It was also notable for showing [[the Other]]'s influence on the Doctor.


== Publisher's summary ==
== Publisher's summary ==
Companion [[Liz Shaw]], exasperated by his attitudes, has decided to say goodbye to the [[Third Doctor]]. A new story by [[Paul Cornell]], author of '''''[[Virgin New Adventures|Doctor Who: The New Adventures]]''''' novel ''[[Timewyrm: Revelation (novel)|Revelation]]''. Illustration by [[Paul Vyse]].
Companion [[Liz Shaw]], exasperated by his attitudes, has decided to say goodbye to the [[Third Doctor]]. A new story by [[Paul Cornell]], author of ''[[Virgin New Adventures|Doctor Who: The New Adventures]]'' novel ''[[Timewyrm: Revelation (novel)|Revelation]]''. Illustration by [[Paul Vyse]].


== Plot ==
== Plot ==
Having received an offer from [[CERN]], a new research facility, [[Liz Shaw]] decides to say goodbye to the [[Third Doctor]] and leave [[UNIT]]. She finds this no easy task because Captain [[Mike Yates]] and some soldiers are redecorating the Doctor's laboratory, causing chaos. Eventually, Liz slips quietly away without a goodbye while the Doctor is trying to stop his lab equipment from being smashed.
To boost morale, [[Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart|the Brigadier]] has decided that the Doctor's laboratory should be repainted. He has assigned this task to the newly recruited Captain [[Mike Yates|Michael Yates]]. Unfortunately, this annoys the [[Third Doctor]], as he is using his lab for a "very important thought experiment". The aforementioned experiment concerns the fact that since regenerating the Doctor has become an expert in [[Venusian aikido|martial arts]]. The Doctor theorises that his body isn't gaining new skills, but [[The Other|remembering them]].
 
As the Doctor stubbornly accepts that his lab will be redecorated, [[Liz Shaw]] walks into the room with a nervous look on her face. The Doctor greets her by asking if she believes in [[reincarnation]]. Liz quietly responds that she doesn't, and begins to tell the Doctor that she has received an offer from the [[Queen Mary University of London]] to work at [[CERN]]. Liz clarifies that accepting the offer would mean leaving UNIT. The Doctor condescendingly replies, "Well, you don't want to do that, do you?", angering Liz. She tells the Doctor:{{Quote|"I was considering leaving, but now you've convinced me. I have a brilliant career in front of me, Doctor. I have to put that first.| - [[Liz Shaw]]|}}
 
The soldiers doing the redecorating accidentally bump into some of the Doctor's equipment, leading to him being temporarily distracted. He turns around to ask Liz to share a final glass of [[wine]], but she has already left.


== Characters ==
== Characters ==
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* [[Liz Shaw]]
* [[Liz Shaw]]
* [[Mike Yates]]
* [[Mike Yates]]
* [[Lethbridge-Stewart]]
* [[Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart]]


== References ==
== Worldbuilding ==
* The Doctor meets Mike Yates.
* The Doctor mentions that [[Mary I|Queen Mary]] once asked him to be her [[court physician]].
* Before seeing Liz is gone, the Doctor hopes to have a last glass of [[wine]] with her.
* The Doctor has never been taught [[Venusian aikido]], he theorises that he learned it in [[The Other|a previous life]].
* He meditates in the lotus position.
* There are several experiments set up in the lab.


== Notes ==
== Notes ==
* The events of this story conflict with those of the novel ''[[The Scales of Injustice]]'', which has Liz return to [[Cambridge]] after an adventure with the Doctor involving the [[Glasshouse]] and [[Silurian]]s.
* The events of this story conflict with those of the novel ''[[The Scales of Injustice (novel)|The Scales of Injustice]]'', which has Liz return to [[Cambridge]] after an adventure with the Doctor involving the [[Glasshouse]] and [[Silurian]]s.


== Continuity ==
== Continuity ==
* The Doctor has been considering his new incarnation, ([[TV]]: ''[[Spearhead from Space]]'') and his newfound prowess at martial arts. ([[TV]]: ''[[Inferno (TV story)|Inferno]]'')
* The Doctor has been considering his new incarnation, ([[TV]]: ''[[Spearhead from Space (TV story)|Spearhead from Space]]'') and his newfound prowess at martial arts. ([[TV]]: ''[[Inferno (TV story)|Inferno]]'')
* The Brigadier notes his past encounters with the Doctor have been aggressive. ([[TV]]: ''[[Doctor Who and the Silurians]]'')
* The Brigadier notes that some of his past encounters with the Doctor have been aggressive. ([[TV]]: ''[[Doctor Who and the Silurians (TV story)|Doctor Who and the Silurians]]''; [[PROSE]]: ''[[The Straw that Broke the Camel's Back (short story)|The Straw that Broke the Camel's Back]]'')
* [[Jack Harkness|Captain Jack Harkness]], [[Gwen Cooper]], [[Ianto Jones]] and [[Martha Jones]] would later visit [[CERN]] in [[Switzerland]] in [[2009]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Lost Souls (audio story)|Lost Souls]]'')


== External links ==
== External links ==
* {{dwrefguide|brief.htm#yb1993c|Country of the Blind}}
{{dwrefguide|brief.htm#yb1993c|Country of the Blind}}
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[[Category:Stories set in the 1970s]]
[[Category:Stories set in the 1970s]]
[[Category:Stories set in England]]
[[Category:Stories set in England]]
[[Category:Historical stories]]
[[Category:Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart short stories]]

Latest revision as of 22:33, 29 February 2024

RealWorld.png

Country of the Blind was a Brief Encounter short story published in the Doctor Who Yearbook 1993. It provided an explanation of Liz Shaw's departure from UNIT.

Her departure has also been shown and/or explained in the stories The Scales of Injustice, Reconnaissance and Prisoners of the Sun. Country of the Blind was the only one of these stories that stated that Liz did not leave UNIT to work at the University of Cambridge.

It was also notable for showing the Other's influence on the Doctor.

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

Companion Liz Shaw, exasperated by his attitudes, has decided to say goodbye to the Third Doctor. A new story by Paul Cornell, author of Doctor Who: The New Adventures novel Revelation. Illustration by Paul Vyse.

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

To boost morale, the Brigadier has decided that the Doctor's laboratory should be repainted. He has assigned this task to the newly recruited Captain Michael Yates. Unfortunately, this annoys the Third Doctor, as he is using his lab for a "very important thought experiment". The aforementioned experiment concerns the fact that since regenerating the Doctor has become an expert in martial arts. The Doctor theorises that his body isn't gaining new skills, but remembering them.

As the Doctor stubbornly accepts that his lab will be redecorated, Liz Shaw walks into the room with a nervous look on her face. The Doctor greets her by asking if she believes in reincarnation. Liz quietly responds that she doesn't, and begins to tell the Doctor that she has received an offer from the Queen Mary University of London to work at CERN. Liz clarifies that accepting the offer would mean leaving UNIT. The Doctor condescendingly replies, "Well, you don't want to do that, do you?", angering Liz. She tells the Doctor:

"I was considering leaving, but now you've convinced me. I have a brilliant career in front of me, Doctor. I have to put that first. - Liz Shaw

The soldiers doing the redecorating accidentally bump into some of the Doctor's equipment, leading to him being temporarily distracted. He turns around to ask Liz to share a final glass of wine, but she has already left.

Characters[[edit] | [edit source]]

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

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