The Murder Game (novel): Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox Story SMW
{{Infobox Story
|image= The Murder Game.jpg
|name= The Murder Game
|series = [[BBC Past Doctor Adventures|BBC ''Past Doctor Adventures'']]
|image= The Murder Game.jpg  
|number= 2
|series=[[BBC Past Doctor Adventures]]  
|doctor = Second Doctor
|number= 2  
|companions= [[Polly Wright|Polly]], [[Ben Jackson|Ben]]
|doctor=Second Doctor  
|enemy= [[Selachian]]s
|companions= [[Ben Jackson|Ben]], [[Polly Wright|Polly]]
|setting= [[Hotel Galaxian]], [[Selachian]] warcraft, [[2136]]
|enemy= The [[Selachian]]s  
|writer= Steve Lyons
|setting= {{il|[[Hotel Galaxian]] and the [[Selachian]] warcraft in orbit of [[Earth]], [[2136]]|unnamed volcanic planet}}
|publisher= BBC Books
|writer= [[Steve Lyons]]
|release date= 7 July 1997
|publisher= BBC Books  
|format= Paperback Book; 15 Chapters, 284 Pages
|release date= [[7 July (releases)|7 July]] [[1997 (releases)|1997]]
|isbn= ISBN 0-563-40565-1
|format= Paperback Book, ? Pages  
|isbn= ISBN 0-563-40565-1  
|prev= The Devil Goblins from Neptune (novel)
|prev= The Devil Goblins from Neptune (novel)
|next= The Ultimate Treasure (novel)}}
|next= The Ultimate Treasure (novel)
'''''The Murder Game''''' was the second novel in the ''[[BBC Past Doctor Adventures]]'' series. It featured the [[Second Doctor]], along with his companions [[Ben Jackson]] and [[Polly Wright]].
}}{{prose stub}}
'''''The Murder Game''''' was the second novel in the [[BBC Past Doctor Adventures]] series. It was written by [[Steve Lyons]], released [[7 July (releases)|7 July]] [[1997 (releases)|1997]] and featured the [[Second Doctor]], [[Ben Jackson]] and [[Polly Wright]].


The novel was written by [[Steve Lyons]], who had previously written a number of ''[[Doctor Who]]'' books. It was published on [[7 July (releases)|7 July]] [[1997 (releases)|1997]] as a paperback book.
The novel was written by Lyons, who had previously written a number of ''[[Doctor Who]]'' books. It was published on [[7 July (releases)|7 July]] [[1997 (releases)|1997]] as a paperback book. It saw the first appearance of the [[Selachian]]s, a race which was first mentioned in Lyons' [[Virgin Missing Adventures]] novel ''[[Killing Ground (novel)|Killing Ground]]''.


== Publisher's summary ==
== Publisher's summary ==
''The faded glamour of a hotel in space, spinning in an all-but-forgotten orbit round the Earth, is host to some unusual visitors this weekend - including a party that claim to travel in a battered blue police box...''
''The faded glamour of a hotel in space, spinning in an all-but-forgotten orbit round the [[Earth]], is host to some unusual visitors this weekend including a party that claim to travel in a [[The Doctor's TARDIS|battered blue police box]]...''


It is the year [[2146]]. Answering a distress call from the dilapidated [[Hotel Galaxian]], the TARDIS crew discover a games enthusiast is using the hotel to host a murder-mystery weekend. But it seems someone from his motley group of guests is taking things a little too seriously.
It is the year [[2136]]. Answering a distress call from the dilapidated [[Hotel Galaxian]], the TARDIS crew discover a games enthusiast is using the hotel to host a murder-mystery weekend. But it seems someone from his motley group of guests is taking things a little too seriously.


While the Doctor, Ben and Polly find themselves joining in the shadowplay, it becomes clear that a real-life murderer is stalking the dark, disused corridors of the Galaxian. But worse than this: there's a sinister force waiting silently in space for events to unfold. A terrible secret is hidden on board the Galaxian, and if it is discovered nothing - least of all murder - will ever be the same again. If this is a game, the stakes just got higher.
While the [[Second Doctor|Doctor]], [[Ben Jackson|Ben]] and [[Polly Wright|Polly]] find themselves joining in the shadowplay, it becomes clear that a real-life murderer is stalking the dark, disused corridors of the Galaxian. But worse than this: there's a sinister force waiting silently in space for events to unfold. A terrible secret is hidden on board the Galaxian, and if it is discovered nothing least of all murder will ever be the same again. If this is a game, the stakes just got higher.


== Plot ==
== Plot ==
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* [[Dorothy Adler]]
* [[Dorothy Adler]]
* [[Henry Mace]]
* [[Henry Mace]]
* [[Hornby]]
* [[Geoff Hornby]]
* [[Neville Adler]]
* [[Neville Adler]]
* [[Ted Matlock]]
* [[Ted Matlock]]
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* [[Thomas (The Murder Game)|Thomas]]
* [[Thomas (The Murder Game)|Thomas]]


== References ==
== Worldbuilding ==
 
=== The Doctor ===
=== The Doctor ===
* The Doctor had previously seen an entire world devastated by the [[Selachian]]s, although he had not yet met them.
* In the Doctor's pockets are (amongst other things) a bag of [[Jelly baby|jelly babies]] and a [[yo-yo]].
* In a rarely seen gesture, the Doctor offers a silent prayer to "the gods of [[Time Lord|his own people]]".
* In the Doctor's pockets are (amongst other things) a bag of [[Jelly baby|jelly babies]] and a [[yo-yo]], both used frequently by the [[Fourth Doctor]].


=== Objects ===
=== Objects ===
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=== Species ===
=== Species ===
* The Doctor, Ben and Polly encountered [[Venusian]]s, [[Draconian]]s and [[Alpha Centauran]]s at a spaceport bar in an unchronicled adventure preceding this one.
* The Doctor, Ben and Polly encountered [[Venusian]]s, [[Draconian]]s and [[Alpha Centauran]]s at a spaceport bar in an adventure preceding this one.
* The Doctor offers a silent prayer to "the [[god]]s of [[Time Lord|his own people]]".
 
=== Other ===
* [[Ben Jackson's TARDIS bedroom|Ben's bedroom]] has a [[cabinet]] and a [[dressing table]], upon which he kept a bottle of [[aftershave]] before it smashed.
* Thomas refers to six [[colony]] worlds which don't maintain computerised links to Earth.
* Hayes and Matlock work for an agency with ties to the [[European]] government.
* The [[TSF]] mention the [[First Galactic Treaty]].


== Notes ==
== Notes ==
* The cover image depicting the Doctor seems to actually be of [[Salamander]], even though they were both portrayed by Patrick Troughton.
* The cover image depicting the Doctor seems to actually be of [[Salamander]], even though they were both portrayed by Patrick Troughton.
* The back cover blurb incorrectly states that the story is set in 2146.
* This story is set between ''[[The Power of the Daleks (TV story)|The Power of the Daleks]]'' and ''[[The Highlanders (TV story)|The Highlanders]]''.


== Continuity ==
== Continuity ==
* The Selachians also appear in [[PROSE]]: ''[[The Final Sanction]]'', [[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Architects of History]]'' and [[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Selachian Gambit]]''.
* [[T-Mat]] equipment is mentioned. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Seeds of Death (TV story)|The Seeds of Death]]'')
* [[T-Mat]] equipment is mentioned. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Seeds of Death]]'')
* Henry Mace sings a song "about business being business and always aiming to please". ([[STAGE]]: ''[[The Ultimate Adventure (stage play)|The Ultimate Adventure]]'')
* [[UNIT]] — and mentions of the Doctor in the organisation's files — are mentioned; however, the Doctor says he knows nothing of such an organisation (not having heard of it until [[TV]]: ''[[The Invasion]]'').
* [[UNIT]] — and mentions of the Doctor in the organisation's files — are mentioned; however, the Doctor says he knows nothing of such an organisation. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Invasion (TV story)|The Invasion]]'', ''[[Spearhead from Space (TV story)|Spearhead from Space]]'', et al.)
* The Doctor refers to Sir [[Arthur Conan Doyle]] as an "old friend". In [[PROSE]]: ''[[Evolution (novel)|Evolution]]'', the [[Fourth Doctor]] suspects they may have met before.
* The Doctor refers to Sir [[Arthur Conan Doyle]] as an "old friend"; the [[Fourth Doctor]] suspects they may have met before. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Evolution (novel)|Evolution]]'')
* The Doctor can feel the space station moving, even though no one else can. This is similar to his ability to feel the movement of the Earth. ([[TV]]: ''[[Rose (TV story)|Rose]]'')
* The Doctor can feel the space station moving, even though no one else can. ([[TV]]: ''[[Rose (TV story)|Rose]]'')
* Among the alien menaces the Doctor has fought, Ben mentions the [[War Machine]]s, ([[TV]]: ''[[The War Machines]]'') the [[Dalek]]s, ([[TV]]: ''[[The Power of the Daleks]]'') and the Cybermen, ([[TV]]: ''[[The Tenth Planet]]'') and is about to mention more (but is interrupted), implying that additional adventures have taken place since he met the [[First Doctor]] (which likely include: [[PROSE]]: ''[[Pluto (short story)|Pluto]]'' and [[PROSE]]: ''[[Invasion of the Cat-People]]'' among others).
* Among the alien menaces the Doctor has fought, Ben mentions the [[War Machine]]s, ([[TV]]: ''[[The War Machines (TV story)|The War Machines]]'') the [[Dalek]]s, ([[TV]]: ''[[The Power of the Daleks (TV story)|The Power of the Daleks]]'') and the [[Cyberman|Cybermen]], ([[TV]]: ''[[The Tenth Planet (TV story)|The Tenth Planet]]'') and is about to mention more (but is interrupted).
* ''[[Professor X]]'' is mentioned. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[No Future]]'')
* Polly recalls ''[[Professor X]]''. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[No Future (novel)|No Future]]'')
* The Doctor creates a temporary sonic device, used to unlock a door, and resolves to begin work on a permanent version when he got back to the TARDIS. The resulting [[sonic screwdriver]] is later seen in [[PROSE]]: ''[[Dreams of Empire]]'' (and onscreen in [[TV]]: ''[[Fury from the Deep]]''), and possibly even earlier — in [[PROSE]]: ''[[Wonderland]]''. (What happened to his previous sonic device used in [[PROSE]]: ''[[Venusian Lullaby (novel)|Venusian Lullaby]]'' is unknown.)
* The Doctor creates a temporary sonic device, used to unlock a door, and resolves to begin work on a [[The Doctor's sonic screwdriver|permanent version]] when he gets back to the TARDIS. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Dreams of Empire (novel)|Dreams of Empire]]'', [[TV]]: ''[[Fury from the Deep (TV story)|Fury from the Deep]]'')
* Ben states that in his experience, computers do as they please. ([[TV]]: ''[[The War Machines]]'')
* Ben states that in his experience, computers do as they please. ([[TV]]: ''[[The War Machines (TV story)|The War Machines]]'')
* When seeing an outfit found in the [[TARDIS wardrobe]] consisting of a colourful patchwork shirt clashing with yellow trousers, the Doctor thinks to himself that he would never wear such a thing, a notion obviously forgotten by the time that his [[Sixth Doctor|sixth incarnation]] came around. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Twin Dilemma (TV story)|The Twin Dilemma]]'')
* When seeing an outfit found in the [[TARDIS wardrobe]] consisting of a colourful patchwork shirt clashing with yellow trousers, the Doctor thinks to himself that he would never wear such a thing. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Twin Dilemma (TV story)|The Twin Dilemma]]'')
* Ben and Polly both refer to the attempted [[Cyberman (Mondas)|Cyberman]] invasion of [[Earth]] in [[December]] [[1986]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Tenth Planet (TV story)|The Tenth Planet]]'')
* Ben and Polly both refer to the attempted [[Cyberman]] invasion of [[Earth]] in [[December]] [[1986]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Tenth Planet (TV story)|The Tenth Planet]]'')
* Terri mentions the [[Ice Warrior|green men]] of Mars to Ben. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Ice Warriors (TV story)|The Ice Warriors]]'', ''[[The Seeds of Death (TV story)|The Seeds of Death]]'', et al.)
* Terri also tells Ben about an encounter between the Selachians and the colonists of [[Terra Alpha]]. Terra Alpha was the setting of [[TV]]: ''[[The Happiness Patrol (TV story)|The Happiness Patrol]]''.
* The Cybermen stole a Selachian [[spaceship]] in [[2191]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Killing Ground (novel)|Killing Ground]]'')
* Ben remembers hiding under a tarpaulin as a 14-year-old stowaway. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Invasion of the Cat-People (novel)|Invasion of the Cat-People]]'')
* The Selachians are challenged by the [[Terran Security Forces]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Time of Your Life (novel)|Time of Your Life]]'')


== External links ==
== External links ==
* {{dwrefguide|whobbk02.htm|The Murder Game}}
{{dwrefguide|whobbk02.htm|The Murder Game}}
* {{whoniverse|PD02.php|The Murder Game}}
* {{whoniverse|pd02|The Murder Game}}
* [http://www.magnetopia.org/cloisterlibrary/murd.htm The Cloister Library: '''The Murder Game''']
* [http://mysite.science.uottawa.ca/rsmith43/cloister/murd.htm The Cloister Library: '''The Murder Game''']
 
{{PDA}}
{{PDA}}
{{Selachian sources}}
{{TitleSort}}
{{TitleSort}}


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[[Category:Second Doctor novels]]
[[Category:Second Doctor novels]]
[[Category:1997 novels]]
[[Category:1997 novels]]
[[Category:Stories set in the 2140s]]
[[Category:Stories set in 2136]]
[[Category:Novels set in the Sol System]]
[[Category:Selachian novels]]

Latest revision as of 03:10, 13 March 2024

RealWorld.png

prose stub

The Murder Game was the second novel in the BBC Past Doctor Adventures series. It was written by Steve Lyons, released 7 July 1997 and featured the Second Doctor, Ben Jackson and Polly Wright.

The novel was written by Lyons, who had previously written a number of Doctor Who books. It was published on 7 July 1997 as a paperback book. It saw the first appearance of the Selachians, a race which was first mentioned in Lyons' Virgin Missing Adventures novel Killing Ground.

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

The faded glamour of a hotel in space, spinning in an all-but-forgotten orbit round the Earth, is host to some unusual visitors this weekend — including a party that claim to travel in a battered blue police box...

It is the year 2136. Answering a distress call from the dilapidated Hotel Galaxian, the TARDIS crew discover a games enthusiast is using the hotel to host a murder-mystery weekend. But it seems someone from his motley group of guests is taking things a little too seriously.

While the Doctor, Ben and Polly find themselves joining in the shadowplay, it becomes clear that a real-life murderer is stalking the dark, disused corridors of the Galaxian. But worse than this: there's a sinister force waiting silently in space for events to unfold. A terrible secret is hidden on board the Galaxian, and if it is discovered nothing — least of all murder — will ever be the same again. If this is a game, the stakes just got higher.

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

to be added

Characters[[edit] | [edit source]]

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Doctor[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • In the Doctor's pockets are (amongst other things) a bag of jelly babies and a yo-yo.

Objects[[edit] | [edit source]]

Species[[edit] | [edit source]]

Other[[edit] | [edit source]]

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The cover image depicting the Doctor seems to actually be of Salamander, even though they were both portrayed by Patrick Troughton.
  • The back cover blurb incorrectly states that the story is set in 2146.
  • This story is set between The Power of the Daleks and The Highlanders.

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

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