The Blood Cell (novel): Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox Story SMW
{{Infobox Story
|image           = The blood cell.jpg
|image = The blood cell.jpg
|number          = 56
|name = The Blood Cell
|doctor         = Twelfth Doctor
|series = [[BBC New Series Adventures]]
|companions     = [[Clara Oswald|Clara]]
|doctor = Twelfth Doctor
|featuring       =  
|companions = [[Clara Oswald|Clara]]
|enemy           = [[Judge (The Blood Cell)|The Judge]]
|featuring =  
|setting         = [[The Prison]]
|enemy = [[Judge (The Blood Cell)|The Judge]]
|writer         = James Goss
|setting = [[The Prison]]
|cover          = [[Lee Binding]]
|writer = [[James Goss]]
|read by        = [[Colin McFarlane]]
|publisher = BBC Books
|publisher       = BBC Books
|release date = [[11 September (releases)|11 September]] [[2014 (releases)|2014]]
|release date = 11 September 2014  
|isbn = ISBN 978-1-84990-774-3
|isbn           = ISBN 978-1-84990-774-3
|format = {{il|Hardback (UK)|Paperback (US)}}
|soundcloudclip  = https://soundcloud.com/penguin-books/doctor-who-the-blood-cell
|prev = Shroud of Sorrow (novel)  
|format         = {{il|Hardback (UK)|Paperback (US)}}, 256 pages, 14 chapters
|next = Silhouette (novel)}}
|series          = [[BBC New Series Adventures|BBC ''New Series Adventures'']]
'''''The Blood Cell''''' is one of three [[Twelfth Doctor]] novels published in September 2014.
|prev           = Engines of War (novel)
|next           = Silhouette (novel)
}}
{{prose stub}}
'''''The Blood Cell''''' was the fifty-sixth novel in the [[BBC New Series Adventures]] series. It was written by [[James Goss]] and featured the [[Twelfth Doctor]] and [[Clara Oswald]].


== Publisher's summary ==
== Publisher's summary ==
"Release [[Twelfth Doctor|the Doctor]] — or the killing will start."  
"Release [[Twelfth Doctor|the Doctor]] — or the killing will start."


An [[asteroid]] in the furthest reaches of [[space]] — the most secure prison for the most dangerous of criminals. The Governor is responsible for the worst fraudsters and the cruellest murderers. So he's certainly not impressed by the arrival of the man they're calling the most dangerous criminal in the quadrant. Or, as he prefers to be known, the Doctor.  
An [[asteroid]] in the furthest reaches of [[space]] — the most secure prison for the most dangerous of criminals. The Governor is responsible for the worst fraudsters and the cruellest murderers. So he's certainly not impressed by the arrival of the man they're calling the most dangerous criminal in the quadrant. Or, as he prefers to be known, the Doctor.


What does impress the Governor is the way the new prisoner immediately sets about trying to escape. And keeps trying. Finally, he sends for the Doctor and asks him why? But the answer surprises even the Governor. And then there's the threat — unless the Governor listens to the Doctor, a lot of people will die.  
What does impress the Governor is the way the new prisoner immediately sets about trying to escape. And keeps trying. Finally, he sends for the Doctor and asks him why? But the answer surprises even the Governor. And then there's the threat — unless the Governor listens to the Doctor, a lot of people will die.


Who is the Doctor and what's he really doing here? Why does he want to help the Governor? And who is [[Clara Oswald|the young woman]] who comes every day to visit him, only to be turned away by the guards?
Who is the Doctor and what's he really doing here? Why does he want to help the Governor? And who is [[Clara Oswald|the young woman]] who comes every day to visit him, only to be turned away by the guards?


When the killing finally starts, the Governor begins to get his answers...
When the killing finally starts, the Governor begins to get his answers...
Line 32: Line 37:
== Plot ==
== Plot ==
''to be added''
''to be added''
 
 
== Characters ==
== Characters ==
* [[Governor (The Blood Cell)|The Governor]]
* [[Governor (The Blood Cell)|The Governor]]
* [[Twelfth Doctor]]
* [[Twelfth Doctor]]
* [[Clara Oswald]]
* [[Clara Oswald]]
* Guardian [[Bentley]]
* Guardian [[Bentley (The Blood Cell)|Bentley]]
* [[Marianne Globus]]
* [[Marianne Globus]]
* [[Lafcardio]]
* [[Lafcardio]]
Line 48: Line 53:
* [[Marla (The Blood Cell)|Marla]]
* [[Marla (The Blood Cell)|Marla]]


== References ==
== Worldbuilding ==
* Clara suggests that the Doctor [[Regeneration|regenerate]] to fix his broken toe. The Doctor views this as a waste of a life.
* Clara suggests that the Doctor [[Regeneration|regenerate]] to fix his broken [[toe]].
* The Doctor says if the Governor hadn't destroyed Clara's mobile phone he would have used it to show him how annoying [[Candy Crush]] was.
* The Doctor says if the Governor hadn't destroyed Clara's [[mobile phone]], he would have used it to show him how annoying [[Candy Crush]] was.
* The Doctor states that the [[Dalek Emperor]] is nothing compared to an average mobile phone salesperson.
* The Doctor states that the [[Dalek Emperor]] is nothing compared to an average mobile phone salesperson.
* The Prison library contained ''[[The Da Vinci Code]]'', ''[[The Woman in White]]'', and ''[[Shall We Tell the President?]]''
* The Prison library contains ''[[The Da Vinci Code]]'', ''[[The Woman in White]]'', ''[[Shall We Tell the President?]], ''the [[Garfield]] book ''[[I Hate Mondays]], [[The Magician's Nephew]], [[Arabian Nights]]'' and ''[[Moll Flanders]]''. ''Moll Flanders'' is a TV tie-in edition and the Doctor stops himself before reciting the name of its star ([[Alex Kingston]]).
* Lafcardio finds a copy of ''[[The Barber of Seville]]''.
* Lafcardio finds a copy of ''[[The Barber of Seville]]''.
* The Doctor mentions the show ''[[Call the Midwife]]'', which was apparently about babies and bicycles.
* The Doctor mentions the show ''[[Call the Midwife]]'', which was apparently about babies and bicycles.
* The Doctor mentions that he's in his early 1000s.
* The Doctor mentions that he's in his early 1000s. Clara says that he is over 2000 years old. (See: [[the Doctor's age]])
* The Doctor once made [[balloon]] animals for Clara's [[Coal Hill School|class]].
* Clara's class, 2B, created protest signs saying "Save the Doctor", however one of the children wrote "Save [[Dot Cotton]]" by mistake. Clara calls her a "Cockney chimney".
* The Doctor says that the walls were painted pink in [[Alcatraz]].
* The Doctor discusses how the citizens of [[Dachau]] claimed not to be aware of the "[[Concentration camp|death camps]]" during [[World War II]].
* When ''[[Arabian Nights]] ''is mentioned, the Doctor remembers when he flew on a [[Magic carpet|flying carpet]].
* The Doctor hums ''[[The Entry of the Toreadors]]'' from ''[[Carmen (opera)|Carmen]]''.
* The Doctor talks about [[Clockwork Droid|clockwork robots]] and [[Cybermen|"living silver suits of armour"]].
* The Doctor remembers having [[K9|a dog]].
* [[Class 3B]] is taught at [[Coal Hill School]].


== Notes ==
== Notes ==
* This novel is written entirely in the first-person from the perspective of the unnamed Governor.
* This novel is written entirely in the first-person from the perspective of the unnamed Governor.
[[File:Bloodcell-cd.jpg|thumb|Audiobook cover]]
* Clara makes limited appearances in the novel, making it a "companion-lite" story.


== Continuity ==
== Continuity ==
* Clara gives the Doctor's birthday cake to [[Danny Pink]] for being nice, and also borrows a [[broom]] off him. ([[TV]]: ''[[Into the Dalek (TV story)|Into the Dalek]]'')
* Clara gives the Doctor's birthday cake to [[Danny Pink]] for being nice, and also borrows a [[broom]] off him. ([[TV]]: ''[[Into the Dalek (TV story)|Into the Dalek]]'')
* Due to the Govenor's ignoranace, the sonic screwdriver is destroyed ('''''again'''''). Though Clara tries to sneak a new one in by trying to pass it off as a birthday candle. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Visitation (TV story)|The Visitation]], [[Smith and Jones]], [[The Eleventh Hour]], [[The Rebel Flesh]])''
* Due to [[Governor (The Blood Cell)|the Governor]]'s ignorance, the [[the Doctor's sonic screwdriver|sonic screwdriver]] is yet again destroyed, although Clara appears to be in possession of a second one that she attempts to smuggle into the prison by disguising it as the candle on a cake. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Visitation (TV story)|The Visitation]], [[Smith and Jones (TV story)|Smith and Jones]], [[The Eleventh Hour (TV story)|The Eleventh Hour]], [[The Rebel Flesh (TV story)|The Rebel Flesh]])''
* The Doctor uses [[Venusian aikido]] to defend himself from Abesse. ([[TV]]: ''[[Inferno (TV story)|Inferno]]'', ''[[Robot of Sherwood (TV story)|Robot of Sherwood]]'', [[PROSE]]: ''[[The Eight Doctors (novel)|The Eight Doctors]]'', [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Voyage to Venus (audio story)|Voyage to Venus]]'', ''[[Faith Stealer (audio story)|Faith Stealer]]'')
* The Doctor uses [[Venusian aikido]] to defend himself from Abesse. ([[TV]]: ''[[Inferno (TV story)|Inferno]]'', ''[[Robot of Sherwood (TV story)|Robot of Sherwood]]'', [[PROSE]]: ''[[The Eight Doctors (novel)|The Eight Doctors]]'', [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Voyage to Venus (audio story)|Voyage to Venus]]'', ''[[Faith Stealer (audio story)|Faith Stealer]]'')
* The Doctor and Clara refer to the TARDIS initial dislike of Clara, and how the ship mostly tolerates her now. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Rings of Akhaten (TV story)|The Rings of Akhaten]]'', ''[[Hide (TV story)|Hide]]'', ''[[Clara and the TARDIS (TV story)|Clara and the TARDIS]]'', ''[[The Day of the Doctor (TV story)|The Day of the Doctor]]'')
* The Doctor and Clara refer to the TARDIS's initial dislike of Clara and how the ship mostly tolerates her now. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Rings of Akhaten (TV story)|The Rings of Akhaten]]'', ''[[Hide (TV story)|Hide]]'', ''[[The Day of the Doctor (TV story)|The Day of the Doctor]]'', [[HOMEVID]]: ''[[Clara and the TARDIS (home video)|Clara and the TARDIS]]'')
* The Doctor alludes to his previous guilt of destroying [[Gallifrey]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Day of the Doctor (TV story)|The Day of the Doctor]]'')
* The Doctor alludes to his previous guilt of destroying [[Gallifrey]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Day of the Doctor (TV story)|The Day of the Doctor]]'')
* The Twelfth Doctor maintains the dislike the [[Sixth Doctor|Sixth]] and [[Tenth Doctor|Tenth]] Doctors displayed for [[Jeffrey Archer]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Telling Tales (short story)|Telling Tales]]'', [[COMIC]]: ''[[Cats and Dogs]]'')
* The Twelfth Doctor maintains the dislike the [[Sixth Doctor|Sixth]] and [[Tenth Doctor|Tenth]] Doctors displayed for [[Jeffrey Archer]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Telling Tales (short story)|Telling Tales]]'', [[COMIC]]: ''[[Cats and Dogs]]'')
* The Governor's pompous attitude reminded Clara of her headmaster. It is not clear whether this refers to W. Coburn ([[TV]]: ''[[The Day of the Doctor (TV story)|The Day of the Doctor]]''), or [[Armitage (Into the Dalek)|Armitage]] (''[[The Caretaker (TV story)|The Caretaker]]'')
* The Governor's pompous attitude reminded Clara of her headmaster. It is not clear whether this refers to W. Coburn ([[TV]]: ''[[The Day of the Doctor (TV story)|The Day of the Doctor]]'') or [[Frank Armitage|Armitage]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Caretaker (TV story)|The Caretaker]]'')
* The Doctor acknowledges that, for reasons unknown, his current incarnation cannot tolerate soldiers ([[TV]]: ''[[Into the Dalek (TV story)|Into the Dalek]]'', ''[[The Caretaker (TV story)|The Caretaker]]'').
* The Doctor acknowledges that, for reasons unknown, his current incarnation cannot tolerate soldiers. ([[TV]]: ''[[Into the Dalek (TV story)|Into the Dalek]]'', ''[[The Caretaker (TV story)|The Caretaker]]'')
* The Doctor once again states his current self doesn't like hugs. Though he suggests it's a good way to smell shampoo. ([[TV]]: ''[[Deep Breath]]'', etc)
* The Doctor once again states his current self doesn't like hugs, suggesting that it's a good way to smell [[shampoo]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Deep Breath (TV story)|Deep Breath]]'', et al)
* The Doctor is blamed for things he didn't do. ([[TV]]: ''[[Midnight]], [[Planet of the Dead (TV story)|Planet of the Dead]], [[The Pandorica Opens (TV story)|The Pandorica Opens]], [[Cold War (TV story)|Cold War]], etc)''
* The Doctor is blamed for things he didn't do. ([[TV]]: ''[[Midnight (TV story)|Midnight]]'', ''[[Planet of the Dead (TV story)|Planet of the Dead]]'', ''[[The Pandorica Opens (TV story)|The Pandorica Opens]]'', ''[[Cold War (TV story)|Cold War]]'', et al)
* The Doctor has previously been imprisoned (a fact he alludes to himself by suggesting he should write a book on the subject). ([[TV]]: ''[[Frontier in Space (TV story)|Frontier in Space]] ''et al.)
* The Governor suspects Clara may be infatuated with the Doctor or his wife. She had flirted with him in his [[Eleventh Doctor|eleventh incarnation]] and considered him her "boyfriend", ([[TV]]: ''[[The Time of the Doctor (TV story)|The Time of the Doctor]] ''et al.) something the Doctor also believed. ([[TV]]: ''[[Deep Breath (TV story)|Deep Breath]]'') Clara also considered travelling with the Doctor be "an addiction". ([[TV]]: ''[[Mummy on the Orient Express (TV story)|Mummy on the Orient Express]]'')
* Clara mentions that [[Danny Pink|Danny]] is a fellow teacher in her school. The Governor suspects he is her boyfriend. ([[TV]]: ''[[Into the Dalek (TV story)|Into the Dalek]]'' et al.)
* Reference is made to [[New Earth (New Earth)|New Earth]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[New Earth (TV story)|New Earth]] ''et al.)
* The Doctor compares The Judge to the [[Clockwork Droid]]s ([[TV]]: ''[[The Girl in the Fireplace (TV story)|The Girl in the Fireplace]]''/''[[Deep Breath (TV story)|Deep Breath]]'') and the [[Cybermen]]. It would appear the Doctor has regained his memory of the Clockwork Droids after previously suggesting he couldn't remember them (''Deep Breath'').
* The Doctor recalls talking about levers with [[Archimedes]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Two Doctors (TV story)|The Two Doctors]]'', [[PROSE]]: ''[[City at World's End (novel)|City at World's End]]'', ''[[Fallen Gods (novel)|Fallen Gods]]'')
* Clara says that [[Clara Oswald's gran|her nan]] is in a mobility scooter. However, she was still mobile over the Christmas of 2013, which occurs prior to this story (though mobility scooters are not exclusively used by people who cannot walk at all). ([[TV]]: ''[[The Time of the Doctor (TV story)|The Time of the Doctor]]'')
* The Doctor exhibits telepathic abilities. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Sensorites (TV story)|The Sensorites]]'')
* For reasons not made clear, the Doctor is in possession of Clara's [[mobile phone]] ([[TV]]: ''[[Mummy on the Orient Express (TV story)|Mummy on the Orient Express]]'', et al) until it is destroyed.
* The Doctor scoffs at Clara's notion of him regenerating, or using regeneration energy, to mend his broken toe. However, he previously did expend some regeneration energy to heal [[River Song]]'s broken wrist. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Angels Take Manhattan (TV story)|The Angels Take Manhattan]]'')
* Clara is still not totally used to the Doctor's older appearance and strongly implies the Doctor could use the mending of his broken toe as an excuse to regenerate and perhaps become younger-looking again. ([[TV]]: ''[[Deep Breath (TV story)|Deep Breath]]'')


== Audio release ==
== Additional cover images ==
* An audio reading by [[Colin McFarlane]] was released by BBC Physical Audio on [[13 November (releases)|13 November]] [[2014 (releases)|2014]]. This was the first new series audio to be released since AudioGo went into administration in 2013.
<gallery position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true">
The Blood Cell Textless.jpg|Textless cover art
</gallery>
 
== Editions published outside Britain ==
* Published in the USA by Broadway Books in 2014 as a paperback edition.
* Published in Germany by Cross Cult in 2015 as a paperback edition.
* Published in Russia by AST in 2015 as a hardback edition.
* Published in Italy by Asengard Edizioni in 2015 as a paperback edition.
* Published in the China by New Star Press in 2018 as a paperback edition.
 
<gallery position=center captionalign=center hideaddbutton="true" >
AmericanBloodCell.jpg|US edition
GermanBloodCell.jpg|German edition
RussianBloodCell.jpg|Russian edition
ItalianBloodCell.jpg|Italian edition
ChineseBloodCell.jpg|Chinese edition
</gallery>
 
== Audiobook ==
* This novel was released as an audiobook on [[13 November (releases)|13 November]] [[2014 (releases)|2014]] complete and unabridged by [[BBC Audio]] and read by [[Colin McFarlane]].
 
<gallery position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true">
Bloodcell-cd.jpg|Audiobook cover
</gallery>


== External links ==
== External links ==
''to be added''
* {{whoniverse|ns55|The Blood Cell}}
 
* [http://mysite.science.uottawa.ca/rsmith43/cloister/bloodcell.htm The Cloister Library: '''The Blood Cell''']
{{NSA}}
{{NSA}}
{{TitleSort}}
{{TitleSort}}
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[[Category:Stories set in the far future]]
[[Category:Stories set in the far future]]
[[Category:E-books]]
[[Category:E-books]]
[[Category:NSA novels with audiobook readings]]


[[fr:{{StoryTitle}}]]
[[cy:The Blood Cell (nofel)]]
[[de:The Blood Cell]]
[[fr:The Blood Cell (roman)]]

Latest revision as of 09:17, 13 June 2024

RealWorld.png

prose stub

The Blood Cell was the fifty-sixth novel in the BBC New Series Adventures series. It was written by James Goss and featured the Twelfth Doctor and Clara Oswald.

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

"Release the Doctor — or the killing will start."

An asteroid in the furthest reaches of space — the most secure prison for the most dangerous of criminals. The Governor is responsible for the worst fraudsters and the cruellest murderers. So he's certainly not impressed by the arrival of the man they're calling the most dangerous criminal in the quadrant. Or, as he prefers to be known, the Doctor.

What does impress the Governor is the way the new prisoner immediately sets about trying to escape. And keeps trying. Finally, he sends for the Doctor and asks him why? But the answer surprises even the Governor. And then there's the threat — unless the Governor listens to the Doctor, a lot of people will die.

Who is the Doctor and what's he really doing here? Why does he want to help the Governor? And who is the young woman who comes every day to visit him, only to be turned away by the guards?

When the killing finally starts, the Governor begins to get his answers...

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

to be added

Characters[[edit] | [edit source]]

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • This novel is written entirely in the first-person from the perspective of the unnamed Governor.
  • Clara makes limited appearances in the novel, making it a "companion-lite" story.

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

Additional cover images[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Textless cover art

    Textless cover art

Editions published outside Britain[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Published in the USA by Broadway Books in 2014 as a paperback edition.
  • Published in Germany by Cross Cult in 2015 as a paperback edition.
  • Published in Russia by AST in 2015 as a hardback edition.
  • Published in Italy by Asengard Edizioni in 2015 as a paperback edition.
  • Published in the China by New Star Press in 2018 as a paperback edition.
  • AmericanBloodCell.jpg

    US edition

  • GermanBloodCell.jpg

    German edition

  • RussianBloodCell.jpg

    Russian edition

  • Italian edition

    Italian edition

  • ChineseBloodCell.jpg

    Chinese edition

Audiobook[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Audiobook cover

    Audiobook cover

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

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