Inside a Dalek (feature): Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
(11 intermediate revisions by 7 users not shown) | |||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{title dab away}} | {{title dab away}} | ||
{{real world}} | {{real world}} | ||
{{Infobox Story SMW | |||
{{Infobox Story | |||
|image = Inside a Dalek.jpg | |image = Inside a Dalek.jpg | ||
|main character = | |main character = | ||
|featuring = [[Dalek]] | |featuring = [[Dalek]] | ||
|setting = | |setting = | ||
|writer = | |writer = Terry Nation | ||
| | |anthology = Terry Nation's Dalek Special | ||
|release date = | |release date = 25 October 1979 | ||
|series = ''[[Terry Nation's Dalek Special]]'' fiction | |series = ''[[Terry Nation's Dalek Special]]'' fiction | ||
|prev = Daleks: The Secret Invasion (short story) | |prev = Daleks: The Secret Invasion (short story) | ||
|next = Untitled 1 (Terry Nation's Dalek Special game){{!}}Untitled 1 | |next = Untitled 1 (Terry Nation's Dalek Special game){{!}}Untitled 1 | ||
}}{{prose stub}} | }}{{prose stub}} | ||
'''''Inside a Dalek''''', | '''''Inside a Dalek''''', also called '''''The Anatomy of a Dalek''''', was a ficton piece published in ''[[Terry Nation's Dalek Special]]''. Essentially an update on ''[[Anatomy of the Dalek]]'' from [[The Dalek Book|the first Dalek annual]], it incorporated new concepts from the television series (such as [[Davros]]) and its illustration depicted a [[Grey Dalek]] casing instead of the 1960s [[Dalek War Machine]], thus accounting for the vast technological shifts. | ||
== Summary == | == Summary == | ||
Line 26: | Line 23: | ||
* [[Space Intelligence Service]] | * [[Space Intelligence Service]] | ||
== | == Worldbuilding == | ||
* The [[Dalek eyestalk]]'s [[eye]] is a [[scanner]] with [[telescopic magnification]], [[infrared|infra-red]] [[night vision]], and [[X-ray vision|X-]] and [[Z-ray vision]]. | * The [[Dalek eyestalk]]'s [[eye]] is a [[scanner]] with [[telescopic magnification]], [[infrared|infra-red]] [[night vision]], and [[X-ray vision|X-]] and [[Z-ray vision]]. | ||
* The Daleks' [[audio-scanner]]s are super-senstivie listening devices capable of hearing far beyond the spectrum of human hearing. | * The Daleks' [[audio-scanner]]s are super-senstivie listening devices capable of hearing far beyond the spectrum of human hearing. | ||
* The [[combat computor]] is a [[memory cell]] containing every known war strategy and combat situation in the Daleks' database, allowing the Dalek to react to any combat situation within [[microsecond]]s. | * The [[combat computor]] is a [[memory cell]] containing every known war strategy and combat situation in the Daleks' database, allowing the Dalek to react to any combat situation within [[microsecond]]s. | ||
* The [[photo-sonic cell]]s record all the visual and auditory experiences of the Dalek, for instant retrievability. | * The [[photo-sonic cell]]s record all the visual and auditory experiences of the Dalek, for instant retrievability. | ||
* The [[environment chamber]] is the container in which the [[ | * The [[environment chamber]] is the container in which the [[Dalek mutant|"living Dalek"]] is housed. | ||
* [[Grav deflector]]s allow the Dalek to remain in [[gravity]] conditions identical to [[Skaro]]'s at all times. | * [[Grav deflector]]s allow the Dalek to remain in [[gravity]] conditions identical to [[Skaro]]'s at all times. | ||
* [[Psych analyser]]s give the Dalek an ability virtually indistinguishable from [[telepathy|mind-reading]] which it can use to guess its opponents' intentions. | * [[Psych analyser]]s give the Dalek an ability virtually indistinguishable from [[telepathy|mind-reading]] which it can use to guess its opponents' intentions. | ||
* [[ | * [[Dalek mutant|The Dalek creature]] is incapable of speech; its thought processes are translated into [[voice]] by the [[vocal simulator]], with the [[translator unit]] instantly translating the output into the language of the listener. | ||
* The [[etheric transmitter-receiver]] constantly operates to feed the Dalek info beamed straight from central comment. | * The [[etheric transmitter-receiver]] constantly operates to feed the Dalek info beamed straight from central comment. | ||
* The [[gunstick]] is actually a [[multi-range variable power destructor]]. It is capable of "perforing armour plating at a range of more than three [[mile]]s". | * The [[gunstick]] is actually a [[multi-range variable power destructor]]. It is capable of "perforing armour plating at a range of more than three [[mile]]s". | ||
* The [[Manipulator arm|control arm]] allows the Dalek to hold and lift fantastical weight thanks to a powerful [[vacuum]] effect. | * The [[Manipulator arm|control arm]] allows the Dalek to hold and lift fantastical weight thanks to a powerful [[vacuum]] effect. | ||
* The [[element to energy convertor]] allows the casing to convert all the natural [[element]]s of the [[atmosphere]] into [[energy]] it can use to power itself. | * The [[element to energy convertor]] allows the casing to convert all the natural [[element]]s of the [[atmosphere]] into [[energy]] it can use to power itself. | ||
Line 43: | Line 40: | ||
* The [[hostility sensor]]s allow the Daleks to detect any hostile thoughts from other lifeforms. | * The [[hostility sensor]]s allow the Daleks to detect any hostile thoughts from other lifeforms. | ||
* Daleks are equipped with a [[Suspended animation|cryogen survival unit]]. | * Daleks are equipped with a [[Suspended animation|cryogen survival unit]]. | ||
* Daleks possess an [[ | * Daleks possess an [[Dalek self-destruct mechanism|auto-destruct mechanism]] which they can use to become a gigantic bomb. | ||
* The [[motive unit]] allows the Dalek to travel at great speeds. | * The [[motive unit]] allows the Dalek to travel at great speeds. | ||
Line 50: | Line 47: | ||
{{TitleSort}} | {{TitleSort}} | ||
[[Category:1979 short stories]] | [[Category:1979 short stories]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Dalek features]] |
Latest revision as of 21:47, 19 July 2024
Inside a Dalek, also called The Anatomy of a Dalek, was a ficton piece published in Terry Nation's Dalek Special. Essentially an update on Anatomy of the Dalek from the first Dalek annual, it incorporated new concepts from the television series (such as Davros) and its illustration depicted a Grey Dalek casing instead of the 1960s Dalek War Machine, thus accounting for the vast technological shifts.
Summary[[edit] | [edit source]]
The Daleks of Skaro's drive to create the perfect destructive machine has led them to improve the Dalek casing again and again over the centuries. The Space Intelligence Service releases a report of its findings on the current inner workings of the casing, though it remains incomplete.
Characters[[edit] | [edit source]]
Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]
- The Dalek eyestalk's eye is a scanner with telescopic magnification, infra-red night vision, and X- and Z-ray vision.
- The Daleks' audio-scanners are super-senstivie listening devices capable of hearing far beyond the spectrum of human hearing.
- The combat computor is a memory cell containing every known war strategy and combat situation in the Daleks' database, allowing the Dalek to react to any combat situation within microseconds.
- The photo-sonic cells record all the visual and auditory experiences of the Dalek, for instant retrievability.
- The environment chamber is the container in which the "living Dalek" is housed.
- Grav deflectors allow the Dalek to remain in gravity conditions identical to Skaro's at all times.
- Psych analysers give the Dalek an ability virtually indistinguishable from mind-reading which it can use to guess its opponents' intentions.
- The Dalek creature is incapable of speech; its thought processes are translated into voice by the vocal simulator, with the translator unit instantly translating the output into the language of the listener.
- The etheric transmitter-receiver constantly operates to feed the Dalek info beamed straight from central comment.
- The gunstick is actually a multi-range variable power destructor. It is capable of "perforing armour plating at a range of more than three miles".
- The control arm allows the Dalek to hold and lift fantastical weight thanks to a powerful vacuum effect.
- The element to energy convertor allows the casing to convert all the natural elements of the atmosphere into energy it can use to power itself.
- The auto-navigators allow the Dalek to pinpoint its exact location in the universe.
- The auto-repair circuits, linked to a computor, analyse fault and amage within the casing and automatically repair the damaged section if the harm is mild enough.
- The hostility sensors allow the Daleks to detect any hostile thoughts from other lifeforms.
- Daleks are equipped with a cryogen survival unit.
- Daleks possess an auto-destruct mechanism which they can use to become a gigantic bomb.
- The motive unit allows the Dalek to travel at great speeds.
Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]
- The assertion that the Daleks have no voice of their own and that the familiar voice is a processed computer-generated, while it is not unique, stands in contrast to many other accounts, most notably the original serial, where Ian Chesterton's voice becomes muffled into the Dalek voice as soon as he climbs into a casing.