TARDIS library: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox Location | {{Infobox Location | ||
|image = | |image = Tardis Library.jpg | ||
|type = [[Library]] | |type = [[Library]] | ||
|location = [[The Doctor's TARDIS]] | |location = [[The Doctor's TARDIS]] | ||
|first = Changes (comic story) | |first = Changes (comic story) | ||
|appearances = | |appearances = {{appears}} | ||
}} | }} | ||
[[The Doctor's TARDIS]] contained '''an extensive [[library]]'''. | [[The Doctor's TARDIS]] contained '''an extensive [[library]]'''. | ||
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It greatly varied in appearance. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Mark of Mandragora (comic story)|The Mark of Mandragora]]'', [[PROSE]]: ''[[The Dimension Riders (novel)|The Dimension Riders]]'', [[TV]]: ''[[Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS (TV story)|Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS]]'') | It greatly varied in appearance. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Mark of Mandragora (comic story)|The Mark of Mandragora]]'', [[PROSE]]: ''[[The Dimension Riders (novel)|The Dimension Riders]]'', [[TV]]: ''[[Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS (TV story)|Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS]]'') | ||
For a time, the [[TARDIS control room]] contained a library, ([[TV]]: ''[[Doctor Who (TV story)|Doctor Who]]'', [[COMIC]]: ''[[Endgame (DWM comic story)|Endgame]]'', [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Storm Warning (audio story)|Storm Warning]]'') but, even during that time, the Doctor had a separate library as well. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[War of the Daleks (novel)|War of the Daleks]]'', [[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Man Who Wasn't There (audio story)|The Man Who Wasn't There]]'') | For a time, the [[TARDIS control room]] contained a library, ([[TV]]: ''[[Doctor Who (TV story)|Doctor Who]]'', [[COMIC]]: ''[[Endgame (DWM comic story)|Endgame]]'', [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Storm Warning (audio story)|Storm Warning]]'') but, even during that time, the Doctor had a separate library as well. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[War of the Daleks (novel)|War of the Daleks]]'', [[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Man Who Wasn't There (audio story)|The Man Who Wasn't There]]'', ''[[Relative Dimensions (audio story)|Relative Dimensions]]'') | ||
[[The Master's TARDIS]] also contained a library. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Quantum Archangel (novel)|The Quantum Archangel]]'') | [[The Master's TARDIS]] also contained a library. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Quantum Archangel (novel)|The Quantum Archangel]]'') In the late [[2010s]], the [[Twelfth Doctor]] discovered [[TARDIS (Playing House)|a dying TARDIS]] with an extensive library, containing books that had yet to be written. The Doctor observed [[Spyrillite]]s trying to enter the dying TARDIS via the library and let them in, hoping that they would lead him to the danger. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Playing House (comic story)|Playing House]]'') | ||
== Appearance == | == Appearance == | ||
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[[Anji Kapoor]] thought that the library was "like some sort of optical illusion, with shelves disappearing into the far distance". ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Escape Velocity (novel)|Escape Velocity]]'') | [[Anji Kapoor]] thought that the library was "like some sort of optical illusion, with shelves disappearing into the far distance". ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Escape Velocity (novel)|Escape Velocity]]'') | ||
The [[Eleventh Doctor]]'s TARDIS library was four floors high, with detailed architecture and vast amounts of bookshelves on each floor. The library was not modern in appearance but quite old-fashioned, with dark, walnut wood furnishings reminiscent of the styles of both medieval and [[Victorian era|Victorian]] architecture. It contained several desks and lampshades, and the shelves appeared neatly organised and tidy. At least one shelving unit contained locked drawers. ([[TV]]: ''[[Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS (TV story)|Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS]]'') | |||
== History == | == History == | ||
[[Ian Chesterton]] and [[Barbara Wright]] first learnt of the library when the TARDIS arrived in [[Tyre]]. Barbara was somewhat put out that neither the [[First Doctor]] or [[Susan]] had told them about it. Through consulting his books, the Doctor tentatively concluded that Ian had ultimately inspired [[Aeneas]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Phoenicians (audio story)|The Phoenicians]]'') Later taking a tour of the TARDIS, the library was Ian's last stop before he returned to the console room. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Path of Skulls (comic story)|The Path of Skulls]]'') | |||
When the TARDIS landed in [[Ekaterinburg]] shortly before the [[Russian Civil War]], Susan was meditating within the library. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Last of the Romanovs (audio story)|Last of the Romanovs]]'') She later consulted its books to discover the fate of the [[Library of Alexandria]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Library of Alexandria (audio story)|The Library of Alexandria]]'') | |||
[[Vicki Pallister]] used the library to research the [[United States of America]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Schoolboy's Story (short story)|The Schoolboy's Story]]'') | [[Vicki Pallister]] used the library to research the [[United States of America]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Schoolboy's Story (short story)|The Schoolboy's Story]]'') | ||
While the [[Fourth Doctor]] was not speaking with [[Leela]] after an argument, she found her way to the library, marking the walls along the hall. Leela decided to study a [[book]] of [[fairy tale]]s to learn more about potential threats on [[Earth]]. When the Doctor discovered her, much to his surprise, she was reading "[[Jack and the Beanstalk]]" out loud from the book. He first checked the [[TARDIS boot cupboard|boot cupboard]], the [[TARDIS | While the [[Fourth Doctor]] was not speaking with [[Leela]] after an argument, she found her way to the library, marking the walls along the hall. Leela decided to study a [[book]] of [[fairy tale]]s to learn more about potential threats on [[Earth]]. When the Doctor discovered her, much to his surprise, she was reading "[[Jack and the Beanstalk]]" out loud from the book. He first checked the [[TARDIS boot cupboard|boot cupboard]], the [[TARDIS scullery|sculleries]], both [[TARDIS swimming pool|swimming pools]] and the [[TARDIS lagoon|lagoon]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[White Ghosts (audio story)|White Ghosts]]'') | ||
[[Adric]] read every single book on [[mathematics]] in the entire library. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Zaltys (audio story)|Zaltys]]'') | [[Adric]] read every single book on [[mathematics]] in the entire library. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Zaltys (audio story)|Zaltys]]'') | ||
According to certain accounts, the TARDIS had four "extensive" libraries in the Fourth Doctor's time, ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Worlds Beyond (audio story)|Worlds Beyond]]'') and at least two libraries during the time of the [[Fifth Doctor]]'s travels with [[Erimem]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[No Place Like Home (audio story)|No Place Like Home]]'') | |||
[[File:The Deal brief encounters.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Sixth Doctor]] and [[Melanie Bush]] in the TARDIS library. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Deal (short story)|The Deal]]'')]] | [[File:The Deal brief encounters.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Sixth Doctor]] and [[Melanie Bush]] in the TARDIS library. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Deal (short story)|The Deal]]'')]] | ||
On one occasion, the [[Sixth Doctor]] visited the library to check his address book and find the location of [[Vertipax]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Deal (short story)|The Deal]]'') | On one occasion, the [[Sixth Doctor]] visited the library to check [[The Doctor's address book|his address book]] and find the location of [[Vertipax]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Deal (short story)|The Deal]]'') | ||
The [[Time | The [[Time Lord]]s once sent a message to the computer of library about the TIRU. ([[GAME]]: ''[[Doctor Who and the Mines of Terror (video game)|Doctor Who and the Mines of Terror]]'') | ||
[[Ace]] once sorted through the library. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Genocide Machine (audio story)|Genocide Machine]]'') | [[Ace]] once sorted through the library. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Genocide Machine (audio story)|The Genocide Machine]]'') | ||
[[Bernice Summerfield]] once used the library to research the [[Shovoran]] dynasty. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[St Anthony's Fire (novel)|St Anthony's Fire]]'') | [[Bernice Summerfield]] once used the library to research the [[Shovoran]] dynasty. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[St Anthony's Fire (novel)|St Anthony's Fire]]'') | ||
Early in his adventures with the [[Eighth Doctor]], [[Fitz Kreiner]] went to research something deep in the stacks of the TARDIS library. He found [[Emily (Mad Dogs and Englishmen)|an old woman]] sleeping there, covered in [[cobweb]]s and surrounded by books about [[British]] [[bird]]s. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Mad Dogs and Englishmen (novel)|Mad Dogs and Englishmen]]'') | |||
When [[Anji Kapoor]] went into the TARDIS for the first time, she glanced into the library and was astounded by its size and messiness. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Escape Velocity (novel)|Escape Velocity]]'') | When [[Anji Kapoor]] went into the TARDIS for the first time, she glanced into the library and was astounded by its size and messiness. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Escape Velocity (novel)|Escape Velocity]]'') | ||
The | The Eighth Doctor and [[Charlotte Pollard]] once successfully sought out ''[[Pieter Montmarche: A Diary of Discovery]]'' in the library's children's literature section. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Man Who Wasn't There (audio story)|The Man Who Wasn't There]]'') | ||
When the Eighth Doctor, [[Lucie Miller]], [[ | When the Eighth Doctor, [[Lucie Miller]], [[Susan]], and [[Alex Campbell]] were attacked by a [[Blitzen fish]] during [[Christmas]] [[dinner]] inside the TARDIS, the library was among the rooms they were chased through. While there, they consulted ''[[Gauntlet's Bestiary of the Fourth Universe]]''. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Relative Dimensions (audio story)|Relative Dimensions]]'') | ||
When the [[Eleventh Doctor]] crashed the TARDIS shortly after his [[regeneration]], the [[swimming pool]] fell into the library. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Eleventh Hour (TV story)|The Eleventh Hour]]'') | When the [[Eleventh Doctor]] crashed the TARDIS shortly after his [[regeneration]], the [[swimming pool]] fell into the library. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Eleventh Hour (TV story)|The Eleventh Hour]]'') | ||
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== Collection == | == Collection == | ||
The library's books included ''[[Brave New World]]'', ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Wheel of Ice (novel)|The Wheel of Ice]]'') ''[[Jane's Spaceships]]'', ([[PROSE]]: ''[[War of the Daleks (novel)|War of the Daleks]]'') ''[[Jane's Spacecraft of the Universe]]'', ''[[Aladdin: The Script]]'', ''[[Parachuting]]'', ''[[A-Z of Planets]]'', ''[[VNR The Collection]]'', ''[[Timeview]]'', ''[[The Time Machine]]'', ''[[Collected Works of Beatrix Potter]]'', ''[[The Baker's Dozen]]'', ''[[Corpse]]'', ''[[Vegetarian Cook]]'', ''[[Vanity Fair]]'', ''[[Freeman: Editorial Decision]]'', ''[[The Early Years]]'', a book on [[aerobics]], ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Deal (short story)|The Deal]]'') ''[[Every Gallifreyan Child's Pop-Up Book of Nasty Creatures From Other Dimensions]]'', ([[PROSE]]: ''[[All-Consuming Fire (novel)|All-Consuming Fire]]'') ''[[Robinson Crusoe]]'', ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Heart of TARDIS (novel)|Heart of TARDIS]]'') ''[[Wisden Almanack]]'', ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Fear of the Dark (novel)|Fear of the Dark]]'') ''[[War and Peace]]'', ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Deal (short story)|The Deal]]'', [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Storm Warning (audio story)|Terror Firma]]'') ''[[Baedeker's Galactic Guide]]'', ''[[Bajazet Magna to Bali]]'', ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Cat's Cradle: Time's Crucible (novel)|Cat's Cradle: Time's Crucible]]'') ''[[The Wonderful Wizard of Oz]]'', ''[[The I-Spy Book of British Birds]]'', ''[[Can you forgive her?]]'', ''[[You Only Live Twice]]'', ''[[Frankenstein]]'', ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Storm Warning (audio story)|Storm Warning]]'', ''[[Zagreus (audio story)|Zagreus]]'') ''[[Pieter Montmarche: A Diary of Discovery]]'', ''[[The Little Book of Starships]]'', ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Man Who Wasn't There (audio story)|The Man Who Wasn't There]]'') | The library's books included ''[[Brave New World]]'', ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Wheel of Ice (novel)|The Wheel of Ice]]'') ''[[Jane's Spaceships]]'', ([[PROSE]]: ''[[War of the Daleks (novel)|War of the Daleks]]'') ''[[Jane's Spacecraft of the Universe]]'', ''[[Aladdin: The Script]]'', ''[[Parachuting]]'', ''[[A-Z of Planets]]'', ''[[VNR The Collection]]'', ''[[Timeview]]'', ''[[The Time Machine]]'', ''[[Collected Works of Beatrix Potter]]'', ''[[The Baker's Dozen]]'', ''[[Corpse]]'', ''[[Vegetarian Cook]]'', ''[[Vanity Fair]]'', ''[[Freeman: Editorial Decision]]'', ''[[The Early Years]]'', a book on [[aerobics]], ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Deal (short story)|The Deal]]'') ''[[Every Gallifreyan Child's Pop-Up Book of Nasty Creatures From Other Dimensions]]'', ([[PROSE]]: ''[[All-Consuming Fire (novel)|All-Consuming Fire]]'') ''[[Robinson Crusoe]]'', ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Heart of TARDIS (novel)|Heart of TARDIS]]'') ''[[Wisden Almanack]]'', ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Fear of the Dark (novel)|Fear of the Dark]]'') ''[[War and Peace]]'', ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Deal (short story)|The Deal]]'', [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Storm Warning (audio story)|Terror Firma]]'') ''[[Baedeker's Galactic Guide]]'', ''[[Bajazet Magna to Bali]]'', ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Cat's Cradle: Time's Crucible (novel)|Cat's Cradle: Time's Crucible]]'') ''[[The Wonderful Wizard of Oz]]'', ''[[The I-Spy Book of British Birds]]'', ''[[Can you forgive her?]]'', ''[[You Only Live Twice]]'', ''[[Frankenstein]]'', ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Storm Warning (audio story)|Storm Warning]]'', ''[[Zagreus (audio story)|Zagreus]]'') ''[[Pieter Montmarche: A Diary of Discovery]]'', ''[[The Little Book of Starships]]'', ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Man Who Wasn't There (audio story)|The Man Who Wasn't There]]'') the only signed copy of ''[[The Quarry]]'' in the universe, ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Keeping up with the Joneses (short story)|Keeping up with the Joneses]]'') a signed copy of ''[[Reminiscences of the Peculiar]]'' by [[George Litefoot]], ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Carrionite Curse (audio story)|The Carrionite Curse]]'') a [[Venusian]] translation of [[Beatrix Potter]], ''[[Another Brief History of Time]]'', ''[[Quantum Tachyonics in Time Travel]]'', signed copy of ''[[A Princess of Mars]]'', the ''[[Blue Peter Thirteenth Book]]'', and a copy of the [[Eagle (magazine)|Eagle]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Deadstone Memorial (novel)|The Deadstone Memorial]]'') | ||
Some of the library's history books included ''[[A History of the Varaxil Hegemony]]'', ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Witch from the Well (audio story)|The Witch from the Well]]'') ''[[Histories of the Dalek Imperium]]'', ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Keeping up with the Joneses (short story)|Keeping up with the Joneses]]'') ''[[The History of the Time War]]'', ([[TV]]: ''[[Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS (TV story)|Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS]]'') ''[[A Brief History of Time]]'', ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Fear of the Dark (novel)|Fear of the Dark]]'') and ''[[Fashion Through the Ages]]''. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Deal (short story)|The Deal]]'') | Some of the library's history books included ''[[A History of the Varaxil Hegemony]]'', ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Witch from the Well (audio story)|The Witch from the Well]]'') ''[[Histories of the Dalek Imperium]]'', ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Keeping up with the Joneses (short story)|Keeping up with the Joneses]]'') ''[[The History of the Time War]]'', ([[TV]]: ''[[Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS (TV story)|Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS]]'') ''[[A Brief History of Time]]'', ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Fear of the Dark (novel)|Fear of the Dark]]'') and ''[[Fashion Through the Ages]]''. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Deal (short story)|The Deal]]'') | ||
The Demonology and Witchcraft section contained books by an author named [[J. K. Rowling|Rowling]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Carrionite Curse (audio story)|The Carrionite Curse]]'') | The Demonology and Witchcraft section contained books by an author named [[J. K. Rowling|Rowling]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Carrionite Curse (audio story)|The Carrionite Curse]]'') The Eighth Doctor had ten ''[[Harry Potter]]'' books by [[J. K. Rowling]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Gallifrey Chronicles (novel)|The Gallifrey Chronicles]]'') | ||
Books kept in the library which were of personal significance to the Doctor included a signed copy of ''[[The Murder of Roger Ackroyd]]'' gifted to him by [[Gemma Griffin|Gemma]] and [[Samson Griffin]] ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Terror Firma (audio story)|Terror Firma]]'', ''[[Storm Warning (audio story)|Terror Firma]]'') and his [[Five Hundred Year Diary]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Deal (short story)|The Deal]]'', [[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Young Lions (audio story)|The Young Lions]]'') | Books kept in the library which were of personal significance to the Doctor included a signed copy of ''[[The Murder of Roger Ackroyd]]'' gifted to him by [[Gemma Griffin|Gemma]] and [[Samson Griffin]] ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Terror Firma (audio story)|Terror Firma]]'', ''[[Storm Warning (audio story)|Terror Firma]]'') and his [[Five Hundred Year Diary]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Deal (short story)|The Deal]]'', [[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Young Lions (audio story)|The Young Lions]]'') | ||
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He had several books by writers such as [[Karel Capek|Capek]], [[Truman Capote|Capote]], ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Zagreus (audio story)|Zagreus]]'', [[PROSE]]: ''[[The Blood Cell (novel)|The Blood Cell]]'') [[Lewis Carroll|Carroll]], ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Zagreus (audio story)|Zagreus]]'') and [[William Shakespeare|Shakespeare]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Deal (short story)|The Deal]]'', ''[[The Dimension Riders (novel)|The Dimension Riders]]'') | He had several books by writers such as [[Karel Capek|Capek]], [[Truman Capote|Capote]], ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Zagreus (audio story)|Zagreus]]'', [[PROSE]]: ''[[The Blood Cell (novel)|The Blood Cell]]'') [[Lewis Carroll|Carroll]], ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Zagreus (audio story)|Zagreus]]'') and [[William Shakespeare|Shakespeare]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Deal (short story)|The Deal]]'', ''[[The Dimension Riders (novel)|The Dimension Riders]]'') | ||
The contents of the library were not limited to books. It also contained a stack of 45 singles and | The contents of the library were not limited to books. It also contained a stack of 45 [[single (music)|singles]] and [[EP]]s by [[Billy Fury]], [[Adam Faith]] and [[the Beatles]], ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Cat's Cradle: Time's Crucible (novel)|Cat's Cradle: Time's Crucible]]'') the sentient liquid ''[[Encyclopedia Gallifreya]]'', ([[TV]]: ''[[Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS (TV story)|Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS]]''; [[PROSE]]: ''[[Citation Needed (short story)|Citation Needed]]'') and [[diskette]]s containing the complete works of the [[21st century]] [[environmentalist]]s. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Dimension Riders (novel)|The Dimension Riders]]'') | ||
The section of the library devoted to children's literature was "ridiculously small". ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Man Who Wasn't There (audio story)|The Man Who Wasn't There]]'') | The section of the library devoted to [[children's literature]] was "ridiculously small". ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Man Who Wasn't There (audio story)|The Man Who Wasn't There]]'') | ||
Unknown to the Doctor, the library contained books documenting the Doctor’s own adventures, which had been written by the TARDIS itself. The TARDIS admitted the records were not completely reliable, as it had sometimes altered details to improve the narratives. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Library of Time (short story)|The Library of Time]]'') | |||
== Behind the scenes == | == Behind the scenes == | ||
The incomplete television story ''[[The Dark Dimension (TV story)|Lost in the Dark Dimension]]'' would have featured the TARDIS library for a significant portion of the story. Set in an alternate timeline where the [[Fourth Doctor]] never regenerated and [[the TARDIS]] was mostly destroyed, the library would have been the last fragment of the ship remaining, camouflaged as a small [[church]]. | The incomplete television story ''[[The Dark Dimension (TV story)|Lost in the Dark Dimension]]'' would have featured the TARDIS library for a significant portion of the story. Set in an alternate timeline where the [[Fourth Doctor]] never regenerated and [[the TARDIS]] was mostly destroyed, the library would have been the last fragment of the ship remaining, camouflaged as a small [[church]]. | ||
For some of the shots of the [[Eleventh Doctor]]'s TARDIS library, [https://www.cardiffcastle.com/the-library/ Cardiff Castle's library] was used. This vast library was built on the site of an old medieval hall during the 1800s, giving it a mixture of design influences from different periods of time. | |||
{{The Doctor's TARDIS}} | |||
[[Category:Libraries and archives]] | [[Category:Libraries and archives]] | ||
[[Category:TARDIS sections]] | [[Category:TARDIS sections]] | ||
Latest revision as of 12:29, 8 March 2024
The Doctor's TARDIS contained an extensive library.
It greatly varied in appearance. (COMIC: The Mark of Mandragora, PROSE: The Dimension Riders, TV: Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS)
For a time, the TARDIS control room contained a library, (TV: Doctor Who, COMIC: Endgame, AUDIO: Storm Warning) but, even during that time, the Doctor had a separate library as well. (PROSE: War of the Daleks, AUDIO: The Man Who Wasn't There, Relative Dimensions)
The Master's TARDIS also contained a library. (PROSE: The Quantum Archangel) In the late 2010s, the Twelfth Doctor discovered a dying TARDIS with an extensive library, containing books that had yet to be written. The Doctor observed Spyrillites trying to enter the dying TARDIS via the library and let them in, hoping that they would lead him to the danger. (COMIC: Playing House)
Appearance[[edit] | [edit source]]
At one point, the walls of the library were covered in dark roundeled wood. (AUDIO: The Man Who Wasn't There)
Anji Kapoor thought that the library was "like some sort of optical illusion, with shelves disappearing into the far distance". (PROSE: Escape Velocity)
The Eleventh Doctor's TARDIS library was four floors high, with detailed architecture and vast amounts of bookshelves on each floor. The library was not modern in appearance but quite old-fashioned, with dark, walnut wood furnishings reminiscent of the styles of both medieval and Victorian architecture. It contained several desks and lampshades, and the shelves appeared neatly organised and tidy. At least one shelving unit contained locked drawers. (TV: Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS)
History[[edit] | [edit source]]
Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright first learnt of the library when the TARDIS arrived in Tyre. Barbara was somewhat put out that neither the First Doctor or Susan had told them about it. Through consulting his books, the Doctor tentatively concluded that Ian had ultimately inspired Aeneas. (AUDIO: The Phoenicians) Later taking a tour of the TARDIS, the library was Ian's last stop before he returned to the console room. (COMIC: The Path of Skulls)
When the TARDIS landed in Ekaterinburg shortly before the Russian Civil War, Susan was meditating within the library. (AUDIO: Last of the Romanovs) She later consulted its books to discover the fate of the Library of Alexandria. (AUDIO: The Library of Alexandria)
Vicki Pallister used the library to research the United States of America. (PROSE: The Schoolboy's Story)
While the Fourth Doctor was not speaking with Leela after an argument, she found her way to the library, marking the walls along the hall. Leela decided to study a book of fairy tales to learn more about potential threats on Earth. When the Doctor discovered her, much to his surprise, she was reading "Jack and the Beanstalk" out loud from the book. He first checked the boot cupboard, the sculleries, both swimming pools and the lagoon. (AUDIO: White Ghosts)
Adric read every single book on mathematics in the entire library. (AUDIO: Zaltys)
According to certain accounts, the TARDIS had four "extensive" libraries in the Fourth Doctor's time, (AUDIO: Worlds Beyond) and at least two libraries during the time of the Fifth Doctor's travels with Erimem. (AUDIO: No Place Like Home)
On one occasion, the Sixth Doctor visited the library to check his address book and find the location of Vertipax. (PROSE: The Deal)
The Time Lords once sent a message to the computer of library about the TIRU. (GAME: Doctor Who and the Mines of Terror)
Ace once sorted through the library. (AUDIO: The Genocide Machine)
Bernice Summerfield once used the library to research the Shovoran dynasty. (PROSE: St Anthony's Fire)
Early in his adventures with the Eighth Doctor, Fitz Kreiner went to research something deep in the stacks of the TARDIS library. He found an old woman sleeping there, covered in cobwebs and surrounded by books about British birds. (PROSE: Mad Dogs and Englishmen)
When Anji Kapoor went into the TARDIS for the first time, she glanced into the library and was astounded by its size and messiness. (PROSE: Escape Velocity)
The Eighth Doctor and Charlotte Pollard once successfully sought out Pieter Montmarche: A Diary of Discovery in the library's children's literature section. (AUDIO: The Man Who Wasn't There)
When the Eighth Doctor, Lucie Miller, Susan, and Alex Campbell were attacked by a Blitzen fish during Christmas dinner inside the TARDIS, the library was among the rooms they were chased through. While there, they consulted Gauntlet's Bestiary of the Fourth Universe. (AUDIO: Relative Dimensions)
When the Eleventh Doctor crashed the TARDIS shortly after his regeneration, the swimming pool fell into the library. (TV: The Eleventh Hour)
While on the run from time zombies, Clara Oswald accidentally found the library and had a look through The History of the Time War. (TV: Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS)
While talking to Bill Potts, the Twelfth Doctor mentioned that the last time he went to the TARDIS library, Hattie was attacked by the 1986 Bash Street Kids annual. (PROSE: The Shining Man)
Collection[[edit] | [edit source]]
The library's books included Brave New World, (PROSE: The Wheel of Ice) Jane's Spaceships, (PROSE: War of the Daleks) Jane's Spacecraft of the Universe, Aladdin: The Script, Parachuting, A-Z of Planets, VNR The Collection, Timeview, The Time Machine, Collected Works of Beatrix Potter, The Baker's Dozen, Corpse, Vegetarian Cook, Vanity Fair, Freeman: Editorial Decision, The Early Years, a book on aerobics, (PROSE: The Deal) Every Gallifreyan Child's Pop-Up Book of Nasty Creatures From Other Dimensions, (PROSE: All-Consuming Fire) Robinson Crusoe, (PROSE: Heart of TARDIS) Wisden Almanack, (PROSE: Fear of the Dark) War and Peace, (PROSE: The Deal, AUDIO: Terror Firma) Baedeker's Galactic Guide, Bajazet Magna to Bali, (PROSE: Cat's Cradle: Time's Crucible) The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, The I-Spy Book of British Birds, Can you forgive her?, You Only Live Twice, Frankenstein, (AUDIO: Storm Warning, Zagreus) Pieter Montmarche: A Diary of Discovery, The Little Book of Starships, (AUDIO: The Man Who Wasn't There) the only signed copy of The Quarry in the universe, (PROSE: Keeping up with the Joneses) a signed copy of Reminiscences of the Peculiar by George Litefoot, (AUDIO: The Carrionite Curse) a Venusian translation of Beatrix Potter, Another Brief History of Time, Quantum Tachyonics in Time Travel, signed copy of A Princess of Mars, the Blue Peter Thirteenth Book, and a copy of the Eagle. (PROSE: The Deadstone Memorial)
Some of the library's history books included A History of the Varaxil Hegemony, (AUDIO: The Witch from the Well) Histories of the Dalek Imperium, (PROSE: Keeping up with the Joneses) The History of the Time War, (TV: Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS) A Brief History of Time, (PROSE: Fear of the Dark) and Fashion Through the Ages. (PROSE: The Deal)
The Demonology and Witchcraft section contained books by an author named Rowling. (AUDIO: The Carrionite Curse) The Eighth Doctor had ten Harry Potter books by J. K. Rowling. (PROSE: The Gallifrey Chronicles)
Books kept in the library which were of personal significance to the Doctor included a signed copy of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd gifted to him by Gemma and Samson Griffin (AUDIO: Terror Firma, Terror Firma) and his Five Hundred Year Diary. (PROSE: The Deal, AUDIO: The Young Lions)
He had several books by writers such as Capek, Capote, (AUDIO: Zagreus, PROSE: The Blood Cell) Carroll, (AUDIO: Zagreus) and Shakespeare. (PROSE: The Deal, The Dimension Riders)
The contents of the library were not limited to books. It also contained a stack of 45 singles and EPs by Billy Fury, Adam Faith and the Beatles, (PROSE: Cat's Cradle: Time's Crucible) the sentient liquid Encyclopedia Gallifreya, (TV: Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS; PROSE: Citation Needed) and diskettes containing the complete works of the 21st century environmentalists. (PROSE: The Dimension Riders)
The section of the library devoted to children's literature was "ridiculously small". (AUDIO: The Man Who Wasn't There)
Unknown to the Doctor, the library contained books documenting the Doctor’s own adventures, which had been written by the TARDIS itself. The TARDIS admitted the records were not completely reliable, as it had sometimes altered details to improve the narratives. (PROSE: The Library of Time)
Behind the scenes[[edit] | [edit source]]
The incomplete television story Lost in the Dark Dimension would have featured the TARDIS library for a significant portion of the story. Set in an alternate timeline where the Fourth Doctor never regenerated and the TARDIS was mostly destroyed, the library would have been the last fragment of the ship remaining, camouflaged as a small church.
For some of the shots of the Eleventh Doctor's TARDIS library, Cardiff Castle's library was used. This vast library was built on the site of an old medieval hall during the 1800s, giving it a mixture of design influences from different periods of time.
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