The Ancestor Cell (novel): Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox Story | {{Infobox Story SMW | ||
|image=The Ancestor Cell.jpg | |image = The Ancestor Cell.jpg | ||
|range= BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures | |range= BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures | ||
|number in range = 36 | |number in range = 36 | ||
|series=[[BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures]] | |series = [[BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures]] | ||
|number= 36 | |number= 36 | ||
|doctor=Eighth Doctor | |doctor = Eighth Doctor | ||
|companions= [[Fitz Kreiner|Fitz]], [[Compassion]] | |companions= [[Fitz Kreiner|Fitz]], [[Compassion]] | ||
|setting= [[Romana III's Gallifrey|Gallifrey]], the [[Rassilon Era]] | |setting= [[Romana III's Gallifrey|Gallifrey]], the [[Rassilon Era]] | ||
|enemy= [[Faction Paradox]], [[Grandfather Paradox]] | |enemy= [[Faction Paradox]], [[Grandfather Paradox]] | ||
|writer= | |writer= Peter Anghelides, Stephen Cole | ||
|publisher= BBC Books | |publisher= BBC Books | ||
|release date= | |release date= 3 July 2000 | ||
|format= Paperback Book; 51 Chapters, 288 Pages | |format= Paperback Book; 51 Chapters, 288 Pages | ||
|isbn= ISBN 0-563-53809-0 | |isbn= ISBN 0-563-53809-0 | ||
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* [[Fitz Kreiner]] | * [[Fitz Kreiner]] | ||
* [[Compassion]] | * [[Compassion]] | ||
* [[Romana III|Lady President Romana]] | * [[Romana III (The Shadows of Avalon)|Lady President Romana]] | ||
* [[Withycombe]] | |||
* [[Ostler]] | |||
* [[Mali]] | * [[Mali]] | ||
* [[Nivet|Technician Nivet]] | * [[Nivet|Technician Nivet]] | ||
| Line 49: | Line 51: | ||
* [[Vozarti]] | * [[Vozarti]] | ||
* [[Third Doctor]] ('ghost') | * [[Third Doctor]] ('ghost') | ||
* [[Trantres]] | |||
* [[Ditrec]] | |||
* [[Fremest]] | |||
* [[Branastigert]] | |||
* [[Djarshar]] | |||
* [[Tragdorvigan]] | |||
* [[Klenchron]] | |||
* [[Samax]] | |||
* [[Ryssal]] | |||
== | == Worldbuilding == | ||
* The [[Faction | * The [[Biodata virus|Faction virus]] which infected the Doctor during his paradoxical regeneration on [[Dust (planet)|Dust]] continues to affect him. | ||
* Fitz knows of the [[Faction Paradox]] either from his encounter on Earth in [[San Francisco]] [[2002]] or on Earth in [[1996]], or when he was part of [[the Remote]] prior to his re-remembering by [[the TARDIS]]. | * Fitz knows of the [[Faction Paradox]] either from his encounter on Earth in [[San Francisco]] [[2002]] or on Earth in [[1996]], or when he was part of [[the Remote]] prior to his re-remembering by [[the TARDIS]]. | ||
* The [[Edifice (TARDIS)|Edifice]] which hangs over [[Gallifrey]] is revealed to be the Doctor's TARDIS, which he thought was destroyed. It exists in the form of a [[Gallifreyan Flower of Remembrance]]. | * The [[Edifice (TARDIS)|Edifice]] which hangs over [[Gallifrey]] is revealed to be the Doctor's TARDIS, which he thought was destroyed. It exists in the form of a [[Gallifreyan Flower of Remembrance]]. | ||
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* The [[Penansulix Structure]] is a building on Gallifrey. | * The [[Penansulix Structure]] is a building on Gallifrey. | ||
* Greyjan was president for three [[year]]s. | * Greyjan was president for three [[year]]s. | ||
* When [[Chancellor of Time Future]] [[Djarshar]] said he needed to consult the [[Black Book of Gallifrey]] for information, the Doctor jokingly recommended he also check the [[Little Red Book of Gallifrey]], [[the Bones of the Dead]], | * When [[Chancellor of Time Future]] [[Djarshar]] said he needed to consult the [[Black Book of Gallifrey]] for information, the Doctor jokingly recommended he also check the [[Red Book of Gallifrey|Little Red Book of Gallifrey]], [[the Bones of the Dead]], [[the Scrolls of Antiquity]] and the [[Runes of Rassilon]]. | ||
== Notes == | == Notes == | ||
* Both the "current version" of [[Fitz Kreiner|Fitz]] ([[Kode]]) and the original ([[Father Kreiner]]) appear in this novel. Father Kreiner is killed during the novel. | * Both the "current version" of [[Fitz Kreiner|Fitz]] ([[Kode]]) and the original ([[Father Kreiner]]) appear in this novel. Father Kreiner is killed during the novel. | ||
* This novel's version of Gallifrey has been twisted by the [[Edifice (TARDIS)|Edifice]]'s temporal damage into a parody of the Gallifrey glimpsed in ''[[Alien Bodies (novel)|Alien Bodies]]'' and ''[[The Taking of Planet 5 (novel)|The Taking of Planet 5]]''. | * This novel's version of Gallifrey has been twisted by the [[Edifice (TARDIS)|Edifice]]'s temporal damage into a parody of the Gallifrey glimpsed in ''[[Alien Bodies (novel)|Alien Bodies]]'' and ''[[The Taking of Planet 5 (novel)|The Taking of Planet 5]]''. | ||
* ''The Ancestor Cell'' saw the culmination of [[War in Heaven|the War]] arc, which had begun in ''[[Alien Bodies (novel)|Alien Bodies]]''. That novel's author, [[Lawrence Miles]], criticised ''The Ancestor Cell'' for its revelations about [[the enemy]] (suggested to be primordial [[ancestor cell|cells]] irradiated by temporal interference and energised by a leaking [[bottle universe]]) and [[Grandfather Paradox]] (a future version of the Eighth Doctor).<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20050127140324/http://www.planeteleven.co.uk/features/lmia/ancestorcell.php Lawrence Miles' ''The Ancestor Cell'' review]</ref> In ''[[The Gallifrey Chronicles (novel)|The Gallifrey Chronicles]]'', [[Lance Parkin]] retconned Grandfather Paradox to appear as everyone's potential future, rather than a specific future version of the Eighth Doctor. ''[[The Book of the Enemy (anthology)|The Book of the Enemy]]'' would later establish that [[the enemy]] had more than one "true" answer for its identity. | * ''The Ancestor Cell'' saw the culmination of [[War in Heaven|the War]] arc, which had begun in ''[[Alien Bodies (novel)|Alien Bodies]]'', although the way in which it resolves some of these issues have made it very unpopular amongst many fans of the arc. That novel's author, [[Lawrence Miles]], criticised ''The Ancestor Cell'' for its revelations about [[the enemy]] (suggested to be primordial [[ancestor cell|cells]] irradiated by temporal interference and energised by a leaking [[bottle universe]]) and [[Grandfather Paradox]] (a future version of the Eighth Doctor).<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20050127140324/http://www.planeteleven.co.uk/features/lmia/ancestorcell.php Lawrence Miles' ''The Ancestor Cell'' review]</ref> In ''[[The Gallifrey Chronicles (novel)|The Gallifrey Chronicles]]'', [[Lance Parkin]] retconned Grandfather Paradox to appear as everyone's potential future, rather than a specific future version of the Eighth Doctor. ''[[The Book of the Enemy (anthology)|The Book of the Enemy]]'' would later establish that [[the enemy]] had more than one "true" answer for its identity. | ||
* This novel marked the "end" of the [[War in Heaven]] for the [[BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures]]. However, after leaving the Eighth Doctor, Compassion became a recurring participant in the War in the [[Faction Paradox (series)|''Faction Paradox'' series]]. | * This novel marked the "end" of the [[War in Heaven]] for the [[BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures]]. However, after leaving the Eighth Doctor, Compassion became a recurring participant in the War in the [[Faction Paradox (series)|''Faction Paradox'' series]]. | ||
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* Romana mentions the [[Etra Prime incident|Dalek incident]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Apocalypse Element (audio story)|The Apocalypse Element]]'') | * Romana mentions the [[Etra Prime incident|Dalek incident]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Apocalypse Element (audio story)|The Apocalypse Element]]'') | ||
* Romana remembers challenging [[Flavia]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Goth Opera (novel)|Goth Opera]]'') | * Romana remembers challenging [[Flavia]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Goth Opera (novel)|Goth Opera]]'') | ||
* Father Kreiner mentions the [[T'hiili]] ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Dominion (novel)|Dominion]]'') and [[Vega Station]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Demontage (novel)|Demontage]]'') Fitz retaliates with tales of [[Drebnar]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Frontier Worlds (novel)|Frontier Worlds]]'') | * Father Kreiner mentions the [[T'hiili]] ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Dominion (novel)|Dominion]]'') and [[Vega Station (Demontage)|Vega Station]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Demontage (novel)|Demontage]]'') Fitz retaliates with tales of [[Drebnar]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Frontier Worlds (novel)|Frontier Worlds]]'') | ||
* [[PROSE]]: ''[[Spinning Jenny (novel)|Spinning Jenny]]'' states that there are different conflicting accounts of Faction Paradox's destruction. | * [[PROSE]]: ''[[Spinning Jenny (novel)|Spinning Jenny]]'' states that there are different conflicting accounts of Faction Paradox's destruction. | ||
* In the aftermath of Gallifrey's destruction, time travel became essentially unregulated leading to various new methods of time travel popping up. In turn this led to the creation of (one version of) the Time Agency, time travel experiments on Isolation Station Forty, the Blithe Pinking Shears, the timeship Jonah ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Trading Futures (novel)|Trading Futures]]''), and the Book of the Still along with the rise of non-linear anthropology ([[PROSE]]: (''[[The Book of the Still (novel)|The Book of the Still]]''). | |||
== External links == | == External links == | ||
Latest revision as of 17:45, 13 May 2024
The Ancestor Cell was the thirty-sixth novel in the BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures series. It was written by Peter Anghelides and Stephen Cole, released 3 July 2000 and featured the Eighth Doctor, Fitz Kreiner and Compassion. It marked the end of Stephen Cole's role as editor of the BBC Books ranges.
Publisher's summary[[edit] | [edit source]]
The Doctor's not the man he was. But what has he become? An old enemy — Faction Paradox, a cult of time-travelling voodoo terrorists — is finally making him one of its own. These rebels have a mission for him, one that will deliver him into the hands of his own people, who have decreed that he must die. Except now, it seems, the Time Lords have a mission for him too...
A gargantuan structure, hewn from solid bone, has appeared in the skies over Gallifrey. Its origin and purpose are unknown, but its powers threaten to tear apart the web of time and the universe with it. Only the Doctor can get inside... but soon he will learn that nothing is safe and nothing sacred.
Shot by both sides, confronted by past sins and future crimes, the Doctor finds himself a prisoner of his own actions. With options finally running out, he must face his most crushing defeat or take one last, desperate chance for salvation...
Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]
to be added
Characters[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Eighth Doctor
- Fitz Kreiner
- Compassion
- Lady President Romana
- Withycombe
- Ostler
- Mali
- Technician Nivet
- Greyjan the Sane
- Mother Tarra
- Mother Mathara
- Kellen
- Kaufima
- Eton
- Kristeva
- Ressadriand
- Timon
- Vozarti
- Third Doctor ('ghost')
- Trantres
- Ditrec
- Fremest
- Branastigert
- Djarshar
- Tragdorvigan
- Klenchron
- Samax
- Ryssal
Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]
- The Faction virus which infected the Doctor during his paradoxical regeneration on Dust continues to affect him.
- Fitz knows of the Faction Paradox either from his encounter on Earth in San Francisco 2002 or on Earth in 1996, or when he was part of the Remote prior to his re-remembering by the TARDIS.
- The Edifice which hangs over Gallifrey is revealed to be the Doctor's TARDIS, which he thought was destroyed. It exists in the form of a Gallifreyan Flower of Remembrance.
- The Panopticon should have six sides, but due to the Faction Paradox's interference it keeps losing sides until it's a circle.
- Romana is about to celebrate her 150th year as Lady President of Gallifrey.
- Romana is a Prydonian.
- Cherantrin V is a planet where the Doctor, Fitz and Sam saw a double sunrise.
- The founders of Time Lord society include Rassilon, Omega, Pandak, Apeiron and the Other.
- The Penansulix Structure is a building on Gallifrey.
- Greyjan was president for three years.
- When Chancellor of Time Future Djarshar said he needed to consult the Black Book of Gallifrey for information, the Doctor jokingly recommended he also check the Little Red Book of Gallifrey, the Bones of the Dead, the Scrolls of Antiquity and the Runes of Rassilon.
Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Both the "current version" of Fitz (Kode) and the original (Father Kreiner) appear in this novel. Father Kreiner is killed during the novel.
- This novel's version of Gallifrey has been twisted by the Edifice's temporal damage into a parody of the Gallifrey glimpsed in Alien Bodies and The Taking of Planet 5.
- The Ancestor Cell saw the culmination of the War arc, which had begun in Alien Bodies, although the way in which it resolves some of these issues have made it very unpopular amongst many fans of the arc. That novel's author, Lawrence Miles, criticised The Ancestor Cell for its revelations about the enemy (suggested to be primordial cells irradiated by temporal interference and energised by a leaking bottle universe) and Grandfather Paradox (a future version of the Eighth Doctor).[1] In The Gallifrey Chronicles, Lance Parkin retconned Grandfather Paradox to appear as everyone's potential future, rather than a specific future version of the Eighth Doctor. The Book of the Enemy would later establish that the enemy had more than one "true" answer for its identity.
- This novel marked the "end" of the War in Heaven for the BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures. However, after leaving the Eighth Doctor, Compassion became a recurring participant in the War in the Faction Paradox series.
Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Each of the duplicate Homeworlds created during the War believed themselves to be the original, had their own War Queens, and created their own duplicates. (PROSE: The Book of the War)
- A Gallifrey was destroyed early in the War. (PROSE: Alien Bodies, The Taking of Planet 5, The Brakespeare Voyage)
- The 'ghost' of the Third Doctor who features here is intended to be a manifestation of the Doctor who would have existed before the Doctor's unintentional interference in PROSE: Interference - Book One erased the events of TV: Planet of the Spiders.
- PROSE: Alien Bodies was the first novel to feature both the Faction Paradox and the first mention of the future War, the Enemy, and sentient TARDISes.
- PROSE: The Taking of Planet 5 debuted the War TARDISes.
- PROSE: The Shadows of Avalon started the Time Lords chasing the Doctor, Compassion and Fitz.
- Fitz knows who the Faction Paradox are from his encounters with them in PROSE: Unnatural History and Interference - Book One.
- Compassion drops the Doctor on Earth, leading into PROSE: The Burning.
- Compassion also delivers Fitz on Earth a hundred years later in time to meet the Doctor, which he does in PROSE: Escape Velocity.
- PROSE: The Gallifrey Chronicles sorts out and re-interprets many of the events seen in this novel. For instance, it specifies that The Ancestor Cell's Faction Paradox fleet was a devolved and militaristic sect, come to the Eleven-Day Empire and invading Romana's Gallifrey from 292 years into the War.
- Romana mentions the Dalek incident. (AUDIO: The Apocalypse Element)
- Romana remembers challenging Flavia. (PROSE: Goth Opera)
- Father Kreiner mentions the T'hiili (PROSE: Dominion) and Vega Station. (PROSE: Demontage) Fitz retaliates with tales of Drebnar. (PROSE: Frontier Worlds)
- PROSE: Spinning Jenny states that there are different conflicting accounts of Faction Paradox's destruction.
- In the aftermath of Gallifrey's destruction, time travel became essentially unregulated leading to various new methods of time travel popping up. In turn this led to the creation of (one version of) the Time Agency, time travel experiments on Isolation Station Forty, the Blithe Pinking Shears, the timeship Jonah (PROSE: Trading Futures), and the Book of the Still along with the rise of non-linear anthropology (PROSE: (The Book of the Still).
External links[[edit] | [edit source]]
- The Ancestor Cell at the Faction Paradox wiki
- The Ancestor Cell at the Doctor Who Reference Guide
- The Discontinuity Guide to: The Ancestor Cell at The Whoniverse
- The Cloister Library: The Ancestor Cell
- Unused Chapter 10 of The Ancestor Cell (PDF) from Peter Anghelides website
- Ancestor Cell | The Red Lines Page - Peter Anghelides - WordPress.com
