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{{Infobox Story
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|image           = At Childhood’s End (novel).jpg
|image       = At Childhood’s End (novel).jpg
|series         = ''[[BBC New Series Adventures]]''
|series       = ''[[BBC New Series Adventures]]''
|number         =  
|number       = 69
|main character  = [[Ace]]
|doctor      = Thirteenth Doctor
|featuring       = Seventh Doctor
|companions  = [[Graham O'Brien|Graham]], [[Yasmin Khan|Yaz]], [[Ryan Sinclair|Ryan]]
|featuring2     = Graham O'Brien
|featuring   = Ace
|featuring3     = Yasmin Khan
|featuring2   = Chantelle (Survival)
|featuring4     = Ryan Sinclair
|featuring3   = Seventh Doctor
|featuring5      =  
|featuring4   = Brian Cox
|enemy           =[[Halogi-Kari]], [[Ratts]]  
|enemy       = [[Halogi-Kari]], [[Ratt]]s
|setting         = [[London]], [[2020]]<br>[[Perivale]]<br>[[Peerie Canto]]
|setting     = [[London]], [[2020]]<br />[[Perivale]]<br />[[Peerie Canto]]
|writer         = [[Sophie Aldred]], [[Mike Tucker]], [[Steve Cole]]
|writer       = Sophie Aldred, Mike Tucker, Steve Cole
|read by         = [[Sophie Aldred]]
|read by     = [[Sophie Aldred]]
|publisher       = BBC Books
|publisher   = BBC Books
|release date   = [[6 February (releases)|6 February]] [[2020 (releases)|2020]]
|release date = 6 February 2020
|cover          =
|cover        = [[Two Associates]]  
|format         = Print, Audiobook
|format       = Print, Audiobook, 352 pages, 35 chapters
|isbn           = ISBN 9781785944994
|isbn         = ISBN 9781785944994
|prev           = Combat Magicks (novel)
|prev         = Combat Magicks (novel)
|next           =  
|next         = The Ruby's Curse (novel)
|trailer         =  
|trailer     =  
|clip           =  
|clip         =  
|bts             =  
|bts         =  
|doctor=Thirteenth Doctor}}{{prose stub}}
}}{{prose stub}}
'''''At Childhood's End''''' was a novel written by [[Sophie Aldred]], detailing a meeting between [[Ace|Ace McShane]] and the [[Thirteenth Doctor]].
'''''At Childhood's End''''' was the sixty-ninth novel and the sixth special release published by [[BBC Books]] in the [[BBC New Series Adventures]]. It was written by [[Sophie Aldred]], detailing a meeting between [[Ace|Ace McShane]] and the [[Thirteenth Doctor]].


== Publisher's summary ==
== Publisher's summary ==
Line 36: Line 36:


== Plot ==
== Plot ==
[[Justine (At Childhood's End)|Justine]], a homeless teenager in [[London]], is kidnapped by [[Ratts|hooded figures]].  
[[Justine (At Childhood's End)|Justine]], a homeless teenager in [[London]], is kidnapped by [[Ratt|hooded figures]].


[[Ace|Dorothy McShane]] wakes in a cold sweat from a recurring [[nightmare]] that she's had every day of the week so far. She tries to remember it, but can't. Fustrated, she gets out of bed and flicks through channels on her [[television]]. She sees [[Kim Fortune]] hosting his own show. He's interviewing a girl and her parents, describing how their daughter was almost kidnapped by aliens. The girl describes experiencing a nightmare eerily similar to her own, but what shakes Dorothoy is that she lives in [[Perivale]], near where she lived when she was taken in a [[time storm]] to [[Iceworld]].
[[Ace|Dorothy McShane]] wakes in a cold sweat from a recurring [[nightmare]] that she's had every day of the week so far. She tries to remember it, but can't. Frustrated, she gets out of bed and flicks through channels on her [[television]]. She sees [[Kim Fortune]] hosting his own show. He's interviewing a girl and her parents, describing how their daughter was almost kidnapped by aliens. The girl describes experiencing a nightmare eerily similar to her own, but what shakes Dorothy is that she lives in [[Perivale]], near where she lived when she was taken in a [[time storm]] to [[Iceworld]].


Dorothy drives to [[Chantelle's flat]] in her [[Hypergreen]], and tells her about what she discovered. Chantelle tells her that she wasn't the first to ask around, and that she has heard some strange noises at night, not to mention the large amount of rats that there suddenly is. [[Sanaul]] calls her and asks her to turn on the television, where every channel is showing footage of a [[Transit Station|UFO]] that has appeared around the [[moon]]. Calling [[Will Buckland]] on the way, she drives to her [[Dorothy's workshop|workshop]], picking up the [[Squidget]] before arriving at the [[Space Defence Station|British Space Defence Centre]] in [[Devesham]].
Dorothy drives to [[Chantelle's flat]] in her [[Hypergreen]], and tells her about what she discovered. Chantelle tells her that she wasn't the first to ask around, and that she has heard some strange noises at night, not to mention the large amount of rats that there suddenly is. [[Sanaul]] calls her and asks her to turn on the television, where every channel is showing footage of a [[Transit Station|UFO]] that has appeared around the [[moon]]. Calling [[Will Buckland]] on the way, she drives to her [[Dorothy's workshop|workshop]], picking up the [[Squidget]] before arriving at the [[Space Defence Station|British Space Defence Centre]] in [[Devesham]].


Will meets her at the Centre, and takes her to a hangar at the back which houses the [[Virgil (spacecraft)|''Virgil'']].
Will meets her at the Centre, and takes her to a hangar at the back which houses the ''[[Virgil (spacecraft)|Virgil]]''. She lets the Squidget take control of the machine, but it told by [[Sam O'Connor]], the Mission Controller, that she needs to take a full medical examination before she goes up into space with Will.
 
''to be continued''


== Characters ==
== Characters ==
Line 50: Line 52:
* [[Yasmin Khan]]
* [[Yasmin Khan]]
* [[Ryan Sinclair]]
* [[Ryan Sinclair]]
* [[Seventh Doctor]]
* [[Squeak|Chantelle]]
* [[Squeak|Chantelle]]
* [[Will Buckland]]
* [[Will Buckland]]
Line 57: Line 60:
* [[Sanaul]]
* [[Sanaul]]
* [[Sam O'Connor]]
* [[Sam O'Connor]]
* [[Squidget]]
* [[Kerry Eldon]]
* [[Kerry Eldon]]
*[[Squidget]]
* [[Andrew Eldon]]
* [[Andrew Eldon]]
* [[Tracey Eldon]]
* [[Tracey Eldon]]
* [[Sorin (At Childhood's End)|Sorin]]
* [[Sorin (At Childhood's End)|Sorin]]
* [[Seventh Doctor]]
* [[Aquillon]]
* [[Masst]]
* [[Elkon]]
* [[Wraith Queen]]


== References ==
== Worldbuilding ==
=== Culture ===
* [[Justine (At Childhood's End)|Justine]] feels like Dorothy in ''[[The Wizard of Oz]]''.
* [[Ryan Sinclair|Ryan]] recognises [[Squeak|Chantelle]] from ''[[Checkout Girls vs Sea Monsters]]'' and ''[[Alien Bike Riders]]''.
* [[Graham O'Brien|Graham]] recognises Chantelle from ''[[EastEnders]].''
* Graham compares [[Yasmin Khan|Yaz]] to [[Gene Hunt]].
* Dorothy compares [[Will Buckland|Will's]] grin to a [[Cheshire Cat]].


=== Television ===
=== Individuals ===
* Yaz mentions [[Aaron (Resolution)|Ryan's dad]].
* Ace re-experiences a memory of [[Audrey Dudman|her mother]].
* When he believes he is about to die, Graham thinks of being reunited with [[Grace O'Brien|Grace]].
* Halogi-Kari employed [[Crozier]] to augment the [[Ratt]]s' brains.


*[[Justine (At Childhood's End)|Justine]] feels like Dorothy in [[The Wizard of Oz]].
=== Species ===
*[[Ryan Sinclair|Ryan]] recognises [[Squeak|Chantelle]] from ''[[Checkout Girls vs Sea Monsters]]'' and ''[[Alien Bike Riders]]''.
* The [[Ratt]]s can somewhat [[shapeshifter|shapeshift]] between small rat and [[humanoid]] forms.
* [[Graham O'Brien|Graham]] recognises Chantelle from ''[[EastEnders]].''
* The [[Astingir]] are similar to [[centaur]]s, but with small horse heads upon the human torso. [[Masst]] is unfamiliar with what a [[horse]] is.
* Graham compares [[Yasmin Khan|Yaz]] to [[Gene Hunt]].
* The Doctor identifies Halogi-Kari as a [[Harbinger]], a "very rare and very powerful" race.


=== Technology ===
=== Technology ===
* Chantelle calls the Doctor's [[sonic screwdriver]] 'a magic wand'.
* Chantelle calls the Doctor's [[sonic screwdriver]] 'a magic wand'.
*Ace owns two [[Honda]] Fireblade motorcycles.
* Ace owns two [[Honda]] Fireblade motorcycles.
* The [[Wraith (At Childhood's End)|Wraiths]] were imprisoned in the [[Quantum Anvil]], fracturing them into their possible futures.
* Ace is familiar with other bio-mechanical technology used by the [[Dragon (biomechanoid)|Dragon]] on [[Iceworld]], [[Zygon]]s, and [[Axos]].


=== The TARDIS ===
=== The TARDIS ===
* Ace reminiscences on the [[The Doctor's TARDIS|TARDIS]]' old [[TARDIS control room|control room]]
* Ace reminisces on the [[The Doctor's TARDIS|TARDIS]]' old [[TARDIS control room|control room]].


=== Places ===
=== Places ===
 
* [[Squeak|Chantelle]] used to model clothes for [[Henrik's]].
*[[Squeak]] used to model clothes for [[Henrik's]].
* [[China]] intends to launch a rocket to investigate the Wraith ship in lunar orbit.
* [[Obsidian Four]] is relatively near the [[Astingir Herdworld]].
* The [[Hondopel Peace Corps]] are based on the planet [[Hondopel]].
* [[Peerie Canto]] is in a [[triple star system]].


=== Organisations ===
=== Organisations ===
* Ace built the headquarters for [[A Charitable Earth]] next to the [[Tower of London]] so that she could keep an eye on [[UNIT]].
* Ace built the headquarters for [[A Charitable Earth]] next to the [[Tower of London]] so that she could keep an eye on [[UNIT]].
*Ace was supposed to go to a meeting with the [[World Ecology Bureau]].
* Ace was supposed to go to a meeting with the [[World Ecology Bureau]].
*Various people recognise Ace from her charity, A Charitable Earth.
* Various people recognise Ace from her charity, A Charitable Earth.
* Ace tells the Doctor she'd taken the money that would later be used to start her charity from her after an incident involving the [[Cybermen]].
* Ace tells the Doctor she'd taken the money that would later be used to start her charity from her after an incident involving the [[Cybermen]].
* Halogi-Kari was detained by the [[Shadow Proclamation]].


== Notes ==
== Notes ==
[[File:At Childhood's End audiobook.jpg|thumb|Audiobook cover.]]
* The story indicates that Chantelle had appeared on the show ''[[EastEnders]]'' at some point. Incidentally, Chantelle's original actress in ''[[Survival (TV story)|Survival]]'', [[Adele Silva]], acted in the show herself in 1991. Silva's path of becoming a model when grown up is also mirrored in Chantelle.
* An audiobook was released by [[BBC Audiobooks|BBC Physical Audio]] on [[6 February (releases)|6 February]] [[2020 (releases)|2020]], read by [[Sophie Aldred]].
* The novel acknowledges the many divergent portrayals of [[Ace's timeline]] in ''Doctor Who'' expanded media as visions that Ace experienced during her encounter with the Quantum Anvil during her youth; however, the novel's depiction of her departure from the TARDIS differs from all of them, creating yet another account of her future following her original television appearances (though not inherently contradictory, given suggestions in other narratives of tampering in Ace's timeline or alterations to her personal memories).
* The story indicates that Chantelle had appeared on the show ''[[EastEnders]]'' at some point. Incidentally, Chantelle's original actress in ''[[Survival (TV story)|Survival]]'', [[Adele Silva]], acted in the show herself in 1991.
* The novel's events would ultimately be ignored by [[TV]]: ''[[The Power of the Doctor (TV story)|The Power of the Doctor]]'', which depicts Ace appearing to meet the Thirteenth Doctor and Graham for the first time in different circumstances. Though it is common for televised ''Doctor Who'' to ultimately contradict events that other media have depicted, it is notable for the show revisiting a specific plotline (Ace meeting the the Thirteenth Doctor and confronting the circumstances of her departure) of a relatively recent and high-profile publication.
** The two works do share similarities on their depiction of Ace: Both works depict Ace's departure as a result of a falling out with the Seventh Doctor, and both also depict Ace as owning a new baseball bat capable of enhanced damage capabilities. Both works also remain in compatibility with [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Quantum of Axos (audio story)|Quantum of Axos]]'' (released a month prior to ''The Power of the Doctor''), where Ace has already met and made amends with a future (implied to be female) Doctor when she encounters the [[Tenth Doctor]].
** The novel is also mentioned in a BBC America article titled, "[https://www.bbcamerica.com/blogs/13-of-the-deepest-cuts-of-wonderful-fan-service-in-the-power-of-the-doctor--1060316 13 OF THE DEEPEST CUTS OF WONDERFUL FAN SERVICE IN ‘THE POWER OF THE DOCTOR’]" released only a couple of days after the original broadcast of [[The Power of the Doctor (TV story)|The Power of The Doctor]]. The article mentions how the novel depicts the [[Seventh Doctor]]'s Fallout with Ace and how it "oddly suggests" that [[Ace]] has met the [[Thirteenth Doctor]] and [[Team TARDIS]] before.


== Continuity ==
== Continuity ==
* [[Team TARDIS]] know that the Doctor used to be a man. ([[TV]]: ''[[Spyfall (TV story)|Spyfall]]'')
* [[Team TARDIS]] know that the Doctor used to be a man. ([[TV]]: ''[[Spyfall (TV story)|Spyfall]]'')
* Ace is concerned that the [[Torchwood Institute]] ([[TV]]: ''[[Army of Ghosts (TV story)|Army of Ghosts]]'', ''[[Everything Changes (TV story)|Everything Changes]]''), [[UNIT]] ([[TV]]: ''[[The Web of Fear (TV story)|The Web of Fear]]'') or the [[Intrusion Counter-Measures Group]] ([[TV]]: ''[[Remembrance of the Daleks (TV story)|Remembrance of the Daleks]]'') would be after her technology.
* Ace is concerned that the [[Torchwood Institute]] ([[TV]]: ''[[Army of Ghosts (TV story)|Army of Ghosts]]'', ''[[Everything Changes (TV story)|Everything Changes]]''), [[UNIT]] ([[TV]]: ''[[The Web of Fear (TV story)|The Web of Fear]]'') or the [[Intrusion Counter-Measures Group]] ([[TV]]: ''[[Remembrance of the Daleks (TV story)|Remembrance of the Daleks]]'') would be after her technology.
* The Tower of London used to be [[Unified Intelligence Taskforce|UNIT]]'s UK headquarters ([[TV]]: ''[[The Christmas Invasion (TV story)|The Christmas Invasion]]'', ''[[The Power of Three (TV story)|The Power of Three]]'', ''[[The Day of the Doctor (TV story)|The Day of the Doctor]]'', ''[[The Zygon Invasion (TV story)|The Zygon Invasion]]'' / ''[[The Zygon Inversion (TV story)|The Zygon Inversion]]'') but has now been axed by the government. ([[TV]]: ''[[Resolution (TV story)|Resolution]]'') A Charitable Earth's headquarters are established opposite the Tower.
* The Tower of London used to be [[UNIT]]'s UK headquarters ([[TV]]: ''[[The Christmas Invasion (TV story)|The Christmas Invasion]]'', ''[[The Power of Three (TV story)|The Power of Three]]'', ''[[The Day of the Doctor (TV story)|The Day of the Doctor]]'', ''[[The Zygon Invasion (TV story)|The Zygon Invasion]]'' / ''[[The Zygon Inversion (TV story)|The Zygon Inversion]]'') but has now been axed by the government. ([[TV]]: ''[[Resolution (TV story)|Resolution]]'') A Charitable Earth's headquarters are established opposite the Tower.
* Ace refers to meeting the [[Cybermen]] during the [[the Blitz|Blitz]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Illegal Alien]]'')
* Ace refers to meeting the [[Cybermen]] during the [[the Blitz|Blitz]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Illegal Alien]]'')
* [[Devesham]] is home to the [[Space Defence Station]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Android Invasion (TV story)|The Android Invasion]]'')
* [[Devesham]] is home to the [[Space Defence Station]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Android Invasion (TV story)|The Android Invasion]]'')
* Ace recalls liberating [[Terra Alpha]] ([[TV]]: ''[[The Happiness Patrol (TV story)|The Happiness Patrol]]'') and [[Segonax]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Greatest Show in the Galaxy (TV story)|The Greatest Show in the Galaxy]]'')
* Ace recalls liberating [[Terra Alpha]] ([[TV]]: ''[[The Happiness Patrol (TV story)|The Happiness Patrol]]'') and [[Segonax]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Greatest Show in the Galaxy (TV story)|The Greatest Show in the Galaxy]]'')
* Ace remembers being taken by a time-storm by [[Fenric]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Dragonfire (TV story)|Dragonfire]]'', ''[[The Curse of Fenric (TV story)|The Curse of Fenric]]'')
* Ace remembers being taken by a time-storm by [[Fenric]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Dragonfire (TV story)|Dragonfire]]'', ''[[The Curse of Fenric (TV story)|The Curse of Fenric]]'')
* To convince Ace that she is the Doctor, the Thirteenth Doctor mentions [[Dalek]]s ([[TV]]: ''[[Remembrance of the Daleks (TV story)|Remembrance of the Daleks]]'') and how Ace hates [[clown]]s. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Greatest Show in the Galaxy]]'')
* To convince Ace that she is the Doctor, the Thirteenth Doctor mentions [[Dalek]]s ([[TV]]: ''[[Remembrance of the Daleks (TV story)|Remembrance of the Daleks]]'') and how Ace hates [[clown]]s. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Greatest Show in the Galaxy (TV story)|The Greatest Show in the Galaxy]]'')
* The [[Seventh Doctor]] had some [[everlasting match]]es ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Doctor Who in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks (novelisation)|Doctor Who in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks]]'')
* The [[Seventh Doctor]] had some [[everlasting match]]es ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Doctor Who in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks (novelisation)|Doctor Who in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks]]'')
* [[Sarah Jane Smith]] had previously shown awareness of Ace's charity work. ([[TV]]: ''[[Death of the Doctor (TV story)|Death of the Doctor]]'')
* [[Sarah Jane Smith]] had previously shown awareness of Ace's charity work. ([[TV]]: ''[[Death of the Doctor (TV story)|Death of the Doctor]]'')
* Yaz recalls [[Aaron (Resolution)|Ryan's father]] defeating a [[Dalek]] with a microwave. ([[TV]]: ''[[Resolution (TV story)|Resolution]]'')
* Yaz recalls [[Aaron (Resolution)|Ryan's father]] defeating a [[Dalek]] with a microwave. ([[TV]]: ''[[Resolution (TV story)|Resolution]]'')
* Ace previously met someone called [[Justine Wheaton|Justine]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Cat's Cradle: Warhead (novel)|Cat's Cradle: Warhead]], [[Warlock (novel)|Warlock]]'')
* Ace previously met someone called [[Justine Wheaton|Justine]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Cat's Cradle: Warhead (novel)|Cat's Cradle: Warhead]], [[Warlock (novel)|Warlock]]'')
* Chantelle eventually died in the early 21st century due to her weakened immune system being caused by severe pollution. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Cat's Cradle: Warhead (novel)|Cat's Cradle: Warhead]]'')
* According to another account, Chantelle eventually died in the early 21st century due to her weakened immune system being caused by severe pollution. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Cat's Cradle: Warhead (novel)|Cat's Cradle: Warhead]]'')
* Ace arrives on a planet/spaceship that happens to be made of flesh. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Love and War (novel)|Love and War]]'')
* Ace arrives on a planet/spaceship that happens to be made of flesh. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Love and War (novel)|Love and War]]'')
* During her travels, Ace found one timeline where it showed her living on [[Gallifrey]] ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Intervention Earth (audio story)|Intervention Earth]]''), a life where she and the Doctor travelled with [[Bernice Summerfield|a dark-haired woman]] ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Love and War (novel)|Love and War]], [[Deceit (novel)|Deceit]]-[[Set Piece (novel)|Set Piece]]'') and [[Robin Yeadon|flirted]] [[Jan Rydd|with a]] [[Hex|young man]] ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Nightshade (novel)|Nightshade]]'', ''[[Love and War (novel)|Love and War]]'', [[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Harvest (audio story)|The Harvest]]''), killing a [[Dalek]] while the explosion reflected in her black sunglasses ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Deceit (novel)|Deceit]]'', et. al), a life where she lived with a descendant of [[Sorin]] ([[TV]]: ''[[The Curse of Fenric (TV story)|The Curse of Fenric]]'', [[PROSE]]: ''[[Set Piece (novel)|Set Piece]]'') and got killed in a Nitro-Nine Explosion ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Ground Zero (comic story)|Ground Zero]]''), and a life where she grew old travelling with the Doctor. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Signs and Wonders (audio story)|Signs and Wonders]]'')
* When Ace touches the Quantum Anvil, she sees possible futures showing her living on [[Gallifrey]], ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Intervention Earth (audio story)|Intervention Earth]]'') a life where she and the Doctor travelled with [[Bernice Summerfield|a dark-haired woman]] ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Love and War (novel)|Love and War]], [[Deceit (novel)|Deceit]]-[[Set Piece (novel)|Set Piece]]'') and [[Robin Yeadon|flirted]] [[Jan Rydd|with a]] [[Hex|young man]] ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Nightshade (novel)|Nightshade]]'', ''[[Love and War (novel)|Love and War]]'', [[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Harvest (audio story)|The Harvest]]''), killing a [[Dalek]] while the explosion reflected in her black sunglasses ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Deceit (novel)|Deceit]]'', et. al), a life where she lived with an ancestor of [[Sorin]] ([[TV]]: ''[[The Curse of Fenric (TV story)|The Curse of Fenric]]'', [[PROSE]]: ''[[Set Piece (novel)|Set Piece]]'') and got killed in a Nitro-Nine Explosion, ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Ground Zero (comic story)|Ground Zero]]'') and a life where she grew old travelling with the Doctor. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Signs and Wonders (audio story)|Signs and Wonders]]'')
*The Doctor remembers battling [[Morbius]]. ([[TV]]: [[The Brain of Morbius (TV story)|''The'' ''Brain'' ''of'' ''Morbius'']])
* Chantelle recalls meeting the Seventh Doctor as a child. ([[TV]]: ''[[Survival (TV story)|Survival]]'')
*The [[Virgil (spacecraft)|''Virgil'']] is the successor of the ill-fated [[XK-5 space freighter|XK-5 Space Freighter]]. ([[TV]]: [[The Android Invasion (TV story)|''The Android Invasion'']])
* The Doctor remembers battling [[Morbius]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Brain of Morbius (TV story)|The'' ''Brain'' ''of'' ''Morbius]]'')
* The ''[[Virgil (spacecraft)|Virgil]]'' is the successor of the ill-fated [[XK-5 space freighter|XK-5 Space Freighter]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Android Invasion (TV story)|The Android Invasion]]'')
 
== Audiobook ==
[[File:At Childhood's End audiobook.jpg|thumb|Audiobook cover.]]
This novel was released as an audiobook on [[6 February (releases)|6 February]] [[2020 (releases)|2020]] complete and unabridged by [[BBC Audio]] and read by [[Sophie Aldred]].


== External links ==
== External links ==

Latest revision as of 09:34, 13 June 2024

RealWorld.png

prose stub

At Childhood's End was the sixty-ninth novel and the sixth special release published by BBC Books in the BBC New Series Adventures. It was written by Sophie Aldred, detailing a meeting between Ace McShane and the Thirteenth Doctor.

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

Once, a girl called Ace travelled the universe with the Doctor – until, in the wake of a terrible tragedy they parted company. Decades later, she is known as Dorothy McShane, the reclusive millionaire philanthropist who heads global organisation A Charitable Earth.

And Dorothy is haunted by terrible nightmares, vivid dreams that begin just as scores of young runaways are vanishing from the dark alleyways of London. Could the disappearances be linked to sightings of sinister creatures lurking in the city shadows? Why has an alien satellite entered a secret orbit around the Moon?

Investigating the satellite with Ryan, Graham and Yaz, the Doctor is thrown together with Ace once more. Together they must unravel a malevolent plot that will cost thousands of lives. But can the Doctor atone for her past incarnation’s behaviour – and how much must Ace sacrifice to win victory not only for herself, but for the Earth?

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

Justine, a homeless teenager in London, is kidnapped by hooded figures.

Dorothy McShane wakes in a cold sweat from a recurring nightmare that she's had every day of the week so far. She tries to remember it, but can't. Frustrated, she gets out of bed and flicks through channels on her television. She sees Kim Fortune hosting his own show. He's interviewing a girl and her parents, describing how their daughter was almost kidnapped by aliens. The girl describes experiencing a nightmare eerily similar to her own, but what shakes Dorothy is that she lives in Perivale, near where she lived when she was taken in a time storm to Iceworld.

Dorothy drives to Chantelle's flat in her Hypergreen, and tells her about what she discovered. Chantelle tells her that she wasn't the first to ask around, and that she has heard some strange noises at night, not to mention the large amount of rats that there suddenly is. Sanaul calls her and asks her to turn on the television, where every channel is showing footage of a UFO that has appeared around the moon. Calling Will Buckland on the way, she drives to her workshop, picking up the Squidget before arriving at the British Space Defence Centre in Devesham.

Will meets her at the Centre, and takes her to a hangar at the back which houses the Virgil. She lets the Squidget take control of the machine, but it told by Sam O'Connor, the Mission Controller, that she needs to take a full medical examination before she goes up into space with Will.

to be continued

Characters[[edit] | [edit source]]

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

Culture[[edit] | [edit source]]

Individuals[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Yaz mentions Ryan's dad.
  • Ace re-experiences a memory of her mother.
  • When he believes he is about to die, Graham thinks of being reunited with Grace.
  • Halogi-Kari employed Crozier to augment the Ratts' brains.

Species[[edit] | [edit source]]

Technology[[edit] | [edit source]]

The TARDIS[[edit] | [edit source]]

Places[[edit] | [edit source]]

Organisations[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Ace built the headquarters for A Charitable Earth next to the Tower of London so that she could keep an eye on UNIT.
  • Ace was supposed to go to a meeting with the World Ecology Bureau.
  • Various people recognise Ace from her charity, A Charitable Earth.
  • Ace tells the Doctor she'd taken the money that would later be used to start her charity from her after an incident involving the Cybermen.
  • Halogi-Kari was detained by the Shadow Proclamation.

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The story indicates that Chantelle had appeared on the show EastEnders at some point. Incidentally, Chantelle's original actress in Survival, Adele Silva, acted in the show herself in 1991. Silva's path of becoming a model when grown up is also mirrored in Chantelle.
  • The novel acknowledges the many divergent portrayals of Ace's timeline in Doctor Who expanded media as visions that Ace experienced during her encounter with the Quantum Anvil during her youth; however, the novel's depiction of her departure from the TARDIS differs from all of them, creating yet another account of her future following her original television appearances (though not inherently contradictory, given suggestions in other narratives of tampering in Ace's timeline or alterations to her personal memories).
  • The novel's events would ultimately be ignored by TV: The Power of the Doctor, which depicts Ace appearing to meet the Thirteenth Doctor and Graham for the first time in different circumstances. Though it is common for televised Doctor Who to ultimately contradict events that other media have depicted, it is notable for the show revisiting a specific plotline (Ace meeting the the Thirteenth Doctor and confronting the circumstances of her departure) of a relatively recent and high-profile publication.

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

Audiobook[[edit] | [edit source]]

Audiobook cover.

This novel was released as an audiobook on 6 February 2020 complete and unabridged by BBC Audio and read by Sophie Aldred.

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

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Alone
 
Eleventh Doctor
Main book series
Amy
Amy and Rory
Alone
Clara
Quick Reads
Amy and Rory
Alone
Audiobooks
Amy
Amy and Rory
2-in-1 books
Amy and Rory
 
Twelfth Doctor
Main book series
Clara
Benny
Bill
Bill and Nardole
Audiobooks
Clara
Alex and Brandon
Alone
 
Thirteenth Doctor
Main book series
Ryan, Yaz and Graham
Ryan, Yaz, Graham and Ace
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