A Letter from the Doctor (DWAN 2024 short story): Difference between revisions

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{{inuse}}{{retitle|''A Letter from the Doctor'' (DWAN 2024 short story)}}
{{retitle|''A Letter from the Doctor'' (DWAN 2024 short story)}}
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|name            = ''A Letter from the Doctor''
|name            = ''A Letter from the Doctor''
|range          = Doctor Who The Official Annual 2024
|range          = Doctor Who The Official Annual 2024
|number in range =  
|number in range = #1
|image          =  
|image          = A Letter from the Doctor DWAN 2024 title card.jpg
|doctor          = Fourteenth Doctor
|doctor          = Fourteenth Doctor
|setting        = [[The Doctor's TARDIS|The TARDIS]]
|setting        = [[The Doctor's TARDIS]]
|publisher      = Penguin Group
|publisher      = Penguin Group
|writer          = Paul Lang
|writer          = Paul Lang
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|format          = Short story
|format          = Short story
|series          = ''[[Doctor Who The Official Annual 2024]]''
|series          = ''[[Doctor Who The Official Annual 2024]]''
|prev            = TBA
|next            = What? What? What? (feature)
|next            = TBA
|series2        = ''[[A Letter from the Doctor (series)|A Letter from the Doctor]]''
|series2        = ''[[A Letter from the Doctor (series)|A Letter from the Doctor]]''
|prev2          = A Letter from the Doctor (DWM 500 short story){{!}}A letter from the Doctor 500
|prev2          = A Letter from the Doctor (DWM 500 short story){{!}}A letter from the Doctor 500
|next2          =  
|next2          =  
}}
}}
'''''A Letter from the Doctor''''' was a short story exclusively published in ''[[Doctor Who The Official Annual 2024]]'' on [[7 September (releases)|7 September]] [[2023 (releases)|2023]] by [[Penguin Group]].<ref>[https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/456150/doctor-who-annual-2024-by-who-paul-lang-doctor/9781405956895 ''Doctor Who Annual 2024'' on penguin.co.uk]</ref> Written by [[Paul Lang]], the short story, also forming part of the ''[[A Letter from the Doctor (series)|A Letter from the Doctor]]'' series that originated in the [[DWM 1|first issue]] of ''[[Doctor Who Weekly]]'' in [[1979 (releases)|1979]], was stylised as a letter written by the [[Fourteenth Doctor]] to [[Readers (A Letter from the Doctor)|the readers]] of the annual.
'''''A Letter from the Doctor''''' was the first short story and first release exclusively published in ''[[Doctor Who The Official Annual 2024]]'' on [[7 September (releases)|7 September]] [[2023 (releases)|2023]] by [[Penguin Group]]<ref>[https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/456150/doctor-who-annual-2024-by-who-paul-lang-doctor/9781405956895 ''Doctor Who Annual 2024'' on penguin.co.uk]</ref> and written by [[Paul Lang]].
 
The short story, also forming part of the ''[[A Letter from the Doctor (series)|A Letter from the Doctor]]'' series that originated in the [[DWM 1|first issue]] of ''[[Doctor Who Weekly]]'' in [[1979 (releases)|1979]], was stylised as a letter written by the [[Fourteenth Doctor]] to the readers of the annual.


== Plot ==
== Plot ==
Writing [[Letter (A Letter from the Doctor)|a letter]] to [[readers (A Letter from the Doctor)|the readers]] of [[Doctor Who The Official Annual 2024 (in-universe)|an annual]], the [[Fourteenth Doctor]] asks his recipients if they had a good [[year]], having been a year since he last wrote to them, going on to tell them about his year.
Writing [[Letter (A Letter from the Doctor)|a letter]] to the readers of [[Doctor Who The Official Annual 2024 (in-universe)|an annual]], the [[Fourteenth Doctor]] asks his recipients if they had a good [[year]] after he realises it has been a whole year since he last wrote to them, going on to tell them about his own year being full of ups and downs.


Full of ups and downs, the Doctor recently died on [[Cliff (The Power of the Doctor)|a cliff]] in a [[beauty|beautiful]] fashion with their [[arm]]s outstretched while the [[sun]] rose, [[Regeneration|regenerating]] [[Thirteenth Doctor's regeneration|into]] a what usually would be a new body, but this time, it was [[Tenth Doctor|not the case]]. After running his [[tongue]] over his [[teeth]], recognising them from one of his predecessors, he then returned to [[the Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]]
The Doctor tells of how he recently died on [[Cliff (The Power of the Doctor)|a cliff]] in a [[beauty|beautiful]] fashion with their [[arm]]s outstretched while the [[sun]] [[sunrise|rose]]. However, while they should have [[Regeneration|regenerated]] into a new body, this time the Doctor has regenerated back into [[Tenth Doctor|an old one]], which he realised after running his [[tongue]] over his [[teeth]]. Returning to [[the Doctor's TARDIS|his TARDIS]] to write the letter, the Doctor realises that, despite having the body of one of his previous selves, he does have new [[braincell]]s, after remembering that he has a [[custard-cream dispenser]] in the TARDIS.


Inside, while writing the letter, he realises that despite having the body of one of his previous selves, he does have new [[braincell]]s, after remembering that he has a [[custard-cream dispenser]] in the TARDIS. Explaining that he didn't think he would've missed his hands until [[Tenth Doctor's regeneration|he lost them]], he hopes he would be able to keep them attached for more than [[15 (number)|fifteen]] [[hour]]s, dismissing the [[Under Control (short story)|the possibility]] that he would encounter the [[Sycorax]] again and get into a [[sword]][[fight]] as "quite unlikely". Continuing, he questions why this face has returned and is surprised by how his [[clothes]] also changed, but, after he notices [[Automated Protocol Epsilon Delta Rho|something]] making "a racket" on the other side of [[TARDIS control console|the console]], he concludes by writing:
Explaining that he didn't think he would've missed his hands until [[Tenth Doctor's regeneration|he lost them]], he hopes he would be able to keep them attached for more than [[15 (number)|fifteen]] [[hour]]s, dismissing the possibility that he would encounter the [[Sycorax]] again and get into another [[sword]][[fight]] on his "first day" as "quite unlikely". Continuing, he questions why this face has returned and is surprised by how his [[clothes]] also changed, but, after he notices [[Automated Protocol Epsilon Delta Rho|something]] making "a right old racket" on the other side of [[TARDIS console (The Ghost Monument)|the console]], he goes to investigate and concludes the letter by writing:


:: "''All right then, universe — what have you got for me today?''"
:: "''All right then, universe — what have you got for me today?''"


== Characters ==
== Characters ==
* [[Readers (A Letter from the Doctor)|The readers]]
* [[Fourteenth Doctor]]
* [[Fourteenth Doctor]]


== Worldbuilding ==
== Worldbuilding ==
* [[Doctor Who The Official Annual 2024 (in-universe)|The annual]] is a [[book]].
* [[Doctor Who The Official Annual 2024 (in-universe)|The annual]] is a [[book]].
 
* The Doctor likens the acts of regenerating to letting out a [[sneeze]] after holding it in.
=== The Fourteenth Doctor ===
* The Doctor writes that he won't be keeping his teeth if he starts eating too many [[custard cream]]s.
* The Doctor writes that he won't keep his teeth if he starts eating too many [[custard cream]]s.
* The Doctor notes he has a familiar [[face]], fantastic [[hair]], a "slightly quizzical left [[eyebrow]]", and "that brilliant [[grinning|grin]]".
* The Doctor notes he has a familar [[face]], fantastic [[hair]], a "slightly quizzical left [[eyebrow]]", and "that brilliant [[grinning|grin]]".
* The Doctor mentions that his [[clothes]] changing hasn't happened for "[[First Doctor's renewal|absolutely ages]]".
* The Doctor mentions that his [[clothes]] changing hasn't happened


== Notes ==
== Notes ==
''to be added''
* A typo is made in this story, where the Doctor writes "they Sycorax" instead of "the Sycorax" when remembering how the [[Tenth Doctor's hand]] was cut off; the annual as a whole contained many typos and errors throughout, this being one example of many.


== Continuity ==
== Continuity ==
* The Doctor heavily references [[Thirteenth Doctor|his predecessor]]'s [[Thirteenth Doctor's regeneration|regeneration]] seen in ''[[The Power of the Doctor (TV story)|The Power of the Doctor]]'' and briefly in ''[[Liberation of the Daleks (comic story)|Liberation of the Daleks]]''.
* The Doctor continuously references [[Thirteenth Doctor|his predecessor]]'s [[Thirteenth Doctor's regeneration|regeneration]] from {{cs|The Power of the Doctor (TV story)}}. He also mentions walking back into the TARDIS, which was briefly seen in ''[[Liberation of the Daleks (comic story)|Liberation of the Daleks]]''.
* The Doctor directly compares him appearance to the [[Tenth Doctor]], who debuted in ''[[The Parting of the Ways (TV story)|The Parting of the Ways]]'' and finally regenerated in ''[[The End of Time (TV story)|The End of Time]]''.
** The Fourteenth Doctor's entry in {{cs|Whotopia: The Ultimate Guide to the Whoniverse (reference book)}} takes place moments after ''The Power of the Doctor'', as it follows on directly from Fourteen's line "''What? What? What?''", thus being set during the extremely short time in which ''A Letter from the Doctor'' takes place after ''Power''.
* The Doctor also mentions that his clothes haven't changed during a regeneration for a long time, referencing the change of clothes between his [[first incarnation]]'s "[[First Doctor's renewal|renewal]]" into the [[Second Doctor]] in ''[[The Tenth Planet (TV story)|The Tenth Planet]]''.
* The Doctor directly compares his appearance to the [[Tenth Doctor]], who debuted in {{cs|The Parting of the Ways (TV story)}} and finally regenerated in ''[[The End of Time (TV story)|The End of Time]]''.
* This story is set directly after the first panel of ''[[Liberation of the Daleks (comic story)|Liberation of the Daleks]]'' but before the second; the Fourteenth Doctor repeats the same line in both — "''All right then, universe — what have you got for me today?''" — although he vocalises it in ''Liberation'' but writes it in this story.
* The Doctor takes note of the [[custard cream]] [[biscuit dispenser]] on the [[TARDIS console (The Ghost Monument)|TARDIS console]], which was a detail highlighted in the crystal console's debut in {{cs|The Ghost Monument (TV story)}}
 
* The Doctor jokingly wonders if he'll be able to keep both his hands this time, slyly referencing how the Tenth Doctor lost [[Tenth Doctor's hand|a hand]] during {{cs|The Christmas Invasion (TV story)}} but then concludes that he is unlikely the be sword-fighting the [[Sycorax]] again, alluding to [[Fadros Pallujikaa (The Christmas Invasion)|the Sycorax leader]] that had cut his hand off.
== Gallery ==
* The Doctor mentions his clothes having changed during the regeneration, and subtly recalls it happening when the [[First Doctor]] regenerated into the [[Second Doctor]] during {{cs|The Tenth Planet (TV story)}}.
''to be added''
* At the end of the letter, the Doctor notices "something making a right old racket over the other side of the console" and goes to have a look, signing off with, "''All right then, universe — what have you got for me today?''", leading directly into {{cs|Liberation of the Daleks (comic story)}}.


== Footnotes ==
== Footnotes ==
Line 64: Line 63:
=== Sources ===
=== Sources ===
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
{{Post-regeneration stories}}
{{TitleSort}}
{{TitleSort}}
[[Category:DWAN 2024 short stories]]
[[Category:Fourteenth Doctor short stories]]
[[Category:A Letter from the Doctor short stories]]

Latest revision as of 15:14, 3 April 2024

RealWorld.png

A Letter from the Doctor was the first short story and first release exclusively published in Doctor Who The Official Annual 2024 on 7 September 2023 by Penguin Group[1] and written by Paul Lang.

The short story, also forming part of the A Letter from the Doctor series that originated in the first issue of Doctor Who Weekly in 1979, was stylised as a letter written by the Fourteenth Doctor to the readers of the annual.

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

Writing a letter to the readers of an annual, the Fourteenth Doctor asks his recipients if they had a good year after he realises it has been a whole year since he last wrote to them, going on to tell them about his own year being full of ups and downs.

The Doctor tells of how he recently died on a cliff in a beautiful fashion with their arms outstretched while the sun rose. However, while they should have regenerated into a new body, this time the Doctor has regenerated back into an old one, which he realised after running his tongue over his teeth. Returning to his TARDIS to write the letter, the Doctor realises that, despite having the body of one of his previous selves, he does have new braincells, after remembering that he has a custard-cream dispenser in the TARDIS.

Explaining that he didn't think he would've missed his hands until he lost them, he hopes he would be able to keep them attached for more than fifteen hours, dismissing the possibility that he would encounter the Sycorax again and get into another swordfight on his "first day" as "quite unlikely". Continuing, he questions why this face has returned and is surprised by how his clothes also changed, but, after he notices something making "a right old racket" on the other side of the console, he goes to investigate and concludes the letter by writing:

"All right then, universe — what have you got for me today?"

Characters[[edit] | [edit source]]

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The annual is a book.
  • The Doctor likens the acts of regenerating to letting out a sneeze after holding it in.
  • The Doctor writes that he won't be keeping his teeth if he starts eating too many custard creams.
  • The Doctor notes he has a familiar face, fantastic hair, a "slightly quizzical left eyebrow", and "that brilliant grin".
  • The Doctor mentions that his clothes changing hasn't happened for "absolutely ages".

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • A typo is made in this story, where the Doctor writes "they Sycorax" instead of "the Sycorax" when remembering how the Tenth Doctor's hand was cut off; the annual as a whole contained many typos and errors throughout, this being one example of many.

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The Doctor continuously references his predecessor's regeneration from The Power of the Doctor [+]Loading...["The Power of the Doctor (TV story)"]. He also mentions walking back into the TARDIS, which was briefly seen in Liberation of the Daleks.
    • The Fourteenth Doctor's entry in Whotopia: The Ultimate Guide to the Whoniverse [+]Loading...["Whotopia: The Ultimate Guide to the Whoniverse (reference book)"] takes place moments after The Power of the Doctor, as it follows on directly from Fourteen's line "What? What? What?", thus being set during the extremely short time in which A Letter from the Doctor takes place after Power.
  • The Doctor directly compares his appearance to the Tenth Doctor, who debuted in The Parting of the Ways [+]Loading...["The Parting of the Ways (TV story)"] and finally regenerated in The End of Time.
  • The Doctor takes note of the custard cream biscuit dispenser on the TARDIS console, which was a detail highlighted in the crystal console's debut in The Ghost Monument [+]Loading...["The Ghost Monument (TV story)"]
  • The Doctor jokingly wonders if he'll be able to keep both his hands this time, slyly referencing how the Tenth Doctor lost a hand during The Christmas Invasion [+]Loading...["The Christmas Invasion (TV story)"] but then concludes that he is unlikely the be sword-fighting the Sycorax again, alluding to the Sycorax leader that had cut his hand off.
  • The Doctor mentions his clothes having changed during the regeneration, and subtly recalls it happening when the First Doctor regenerated into the Second Doctor during The Tenth Planet [+]Loading...["The Tenth Planet (TV story)"].
  • At the end of the letter, the Doctor notices "something making a right old racket over the other side of the console" and goes to have a look, signing off with, "All right then, universe — what have you got for me today?", leading directly into Liberation of the Daleks [+]Loading...["Liberation of the Daleks (comic story)"].

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

Sources[[edit] | [edit source]]

  1. ↑ Doctor Who Annual 2024 on penguin.co.uk
v • e
Post-regeneration stories
For the purposes of this list, a "post-regeneration story" is one in which the after-effects of a regeneration is actually and initially depicted and the Time Lord fully settles into their new body. For this reason, Rose is not included below, even though it is commonly thought of as a "post-regeneration story". It doesn't actually include a clear scene of regeneration, and the preponderance of stories in other media confirm that the Ninth Doctor has not immediately regenerated prior to the story.
The Doctor
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The Master
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Alternate
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Romana
Television
The Multitude
Audio
Other Time Lords
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Proto-Time Lords
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Television
Regeneration is usually considered a biologic process exclusive to Time Lords and a few other species. However, some consider Regeneration to also be a "post-regeneration story", though neither describes anything close to a biological process.
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