Deep and Dreamless Sleep (short story): Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox Short Story|
{{title dab away}}
story name= Deep and Dreamless Sleep|
{{real world}}
series=|
{{Infobox Story SMW
doctor=[[Tenth Doctor]]|
|series =  
companions= Daniel|
|doctor = Tenth Doctor
year=[[25th December]], various years including [[2006]] and [[1914]]|
|setting=[[24 December|24]] and [[25 December]], various years
writer=[[Paul Cornell]]|
|writer = Paul Cornell
publication=Times Online|
|publication=''[[The Sunday Times]]''
previous story=|
|release date = 24 December 2006
next story=[[The Runaway Bride]]|
}}
|}}
'''''Deep and Dreamless Sleep''''' was a [[Christmas]]-themed [[Tenth Doctor]] short story by [[Paul Cornell]]. It was published in ''[[The Sunday Times]]'' on Christmas Eve 2006. Because it was set on the same day it was published, its events are partially concurrent with ''[[The Christmas Invasion (TV story)|The Christmas Invasion]]''.


== Plot ==
== Plot ==
The Doctor attempts to see central [[London]]'s [[Christmas]] lights on [[Christmas]] Eve, [[2006]]. However [[The Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]] lands in the bedroom of a boy called [[Daniel Francis Thompson]]. Daniel runs into the TARDIS, saying that he wants to see Christmas. He starts pressing buttons, taking both of them into time and Space.


The Doctor attempts to visit [[London]] at [[Christmas]] 2006 to see the Christmas Lights. However the [[The Doctor's TARDIS|TARDIS]] lands in the bedroom of a boy called Daniel Francis Thompson. Daniel runs into the TARDIS, saying that he wants to see Christmas. He starts pressing buttons, taking both of them into time and Space.
They arrive in [[Ypres]] in [[Belgium]] at Christmas [[1914]]. They see the German and [[British]] armies playing [[football]]. Ninety minutes later, at the end of the match, they return to the TARDIS and Daniel again says that he wants to see Christmas. The Doctor travels to many different times and places and gets lots of people to come to a party for Daniel. The Doctor notices that the guests seem to have difficulty focusing on him. At the end of the party Daniel again runs to the console, saying that he wants to see Christmas. They arrive at Bethlehem and see the Nativity scene.


They arrive in Ypres in [[Belgium]] at Christmas [[1914]]. They see the German and [[British]] armies playing football. Ninety minutes later at the end of the match the two of them return to the TARDIS and Daniel again says that he wants to see Christmas. The Doctor travels to many different times and places and gets lots of people to come to a party for Daniel. The Doctor notices that the guests seem to have difficulty focusing on him. However at the end of the party Daniel again runs to the console, saying that he wants to see Christmas. They arrive at Bethlehem and see the Nativity scene.
Returning to the TARDIS Daniel begins to fade away. The Doctor, realising what is happening, uses the TARDIS to follow Daniel to where he really is, the A&E department of [[St. Nicholas's Hospital]]. As the Doctor watches, Daniel wakes up to see his parents and the Doctor knows he will survive.


Returning to the TARDIS Daniel begins to fade away. However the Doctor, realising  what is happening uses the TARDIS to follow Daniel to where he really is, the A&E department of St Nicholas’s Hospital. As the Doctor watches, Daniel wakes up to see his parents and the Doctor knows he will survive.
== Characters ==
* [[Tenth Doctor]]
* [[Daniel Francis Thompson]]
* [[Michael (Deep and Dreamless Sleep)|Michael]]
* [[Ann (Deep and Dreamless Sleep)|Ann]]
* [[Stan Laurel]]
* [[Oliver Hardy]]
* The [[Chuckle Brothers]]
* [[Sonia (Deep and Dreamless Sleep)|Sonia]]


== Characters ==
== Worldbuilding ==
*[[Tenth Doctor|The Doctor]]
''to be added''
*Daniel Francis Thompson
*Michael (Thompson?)
*Ann (Thompson?)
*Stan Laurel
*Oliver Hardy
*The Chuckle Brothers
*Sonia


==References==
== Notes ==
* Real-life Hollywood comedians Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy make a cameo appearance.
* Paul Cornell also explores the [[World War I]] era in the television stories ''[[Human Nature (TV story)|Human Nature]]'' and ''[[The Family of Blood (TV story)|The Family of Blood]]''.
* The story opens on Christmas Eve 2006, the same day as the events of ''[[The Christmas Invasion (TV story)|The Christmas Invasion]]'' begin. Daniel's accident is said to have occurred on [[24 December]] [[2006]] as well. This means there are actually two versions of the same incarnation of the Doctor in London simultaneously.
* The title derives from the lyrics of the Christmas carol "{{w|O Little Town of Bethlehem}}". Likewise, ''[[The Silent Stars Go By (novel)|The Silent Stars Go By]]'' is also named after words coming from the same line ("Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by"). Cornell also used another lyric from the same verse when titling the short story ''[[The Hopes and Fears of All the Years (short story)|The Hopes and Fears of All the Years]]''.


==Notes==
== Continuity ==
*The Doctor mentions that he has fought [[Robot Santa|evil versions of Santa]] a couple of times, however at the time this was published ([[24th December]] [[2006]]) they had only been seen once; their second appearance in ''[[The Runaway Bride]]'' was published the next day.
* The [[Ninth Doctor]] is the referee for the 1914 football game in [[COMIC]]: ''[[The Forgotten (comic story)|The Forgotten]]''.
*Paul Cornell later adapted one of his [[Virgin New Adventures]] novels into the episodes ''[[Human Nature (TV story)|Human Nature]]'' and ''[[The Family of Blood]]'', both of which also have a World War I motif.


==Continuity==
* The [[First Doctor|First]] and [[Twelfth Doctor]]'s are also at the [[Ypres]] Christmas truce prior to their [[Regeneration]]s. ([[TV]]: ''[[Twice Upon a Time (TV story)|Twice Upon a Time]]'')
*The Doctor is travelling alone, most likely placing this in the gap between ''[[The Runaway Bride]]'' and ''[[Smith and Jones]]'', based on when it was written and published, though it could just as easily take place during any later companionless interval or post-''[[Journey's End]]''.
*The story opens on Christmas Eve 2006, the same day as the events of ''[[The Christmas Invasion]]'' begin. Daniel's accident is said to have occurred on 24th December 2006 as well. This means there are actually two versions of the same incarnation of the Doctor in London simultaneously.
*The Doctor allows a number of individuals into the TARDIS to share Christmas with Daniel -- including Laurel & Hardy -- but erases their memories of the experience after he returns them to their proper time and place. This could be seen as an oblique reference to the [[Time Lords]] ability to erase memories ([[DW]]: ''[[The War Games]]''), as well as foreshadowing the later fate of [[Donna Noble]] ([[DW]]: ''[[Journey's End]]'').
*The Doctor had visited St. Nicholas Hospital six months prior to Daniel's hospitalization.


==Discontinuity, Plot Holes, Errors==
== External links ==
*London was in the midst of the [[Sycorax]] invasion during the timeframe of this story, yet no reference is made to this. ''Everyone is concentrating on saving Daniel's life.''
{{dwrefguide|stories10.htm#1|Deep and Dreamless Sleep}}
*Since his newly-regenerated self is not far away, isn't the Doctor taking a chance going to London? ''The story opens with the Doctor indicating he know when he is, but not where he is. Clearly the visit to London was not intended; he presumably remembers where he was on this day, so as long as he stuck to the hospital, there was no issue.''


==See also==
{{TitleSort}}
*[[Christmas]]
[[fr:Deep and Dreamless Sleep]]
*[[Santa Claus]]
*[[The Hopes and Fears of All the Years]]


==External links==
[[Category:Tenth Doctor short stories]]
*[http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/article1264037.ece Deep and Dreamless Sleep - Full Story]
[[Category:2006 short stories]]
[[Category:Doctor Who short stories]]
[[Category:Stories set at Christmas]]
[[Category:Stories set in London]]
[[Category:Stories set in 2006]]
[[Category:Stories set in 1914]]
[[Category:Stories set in Belgium]]
[[Category:Stories set in World War I]]
[[Category:Stories set in the 1st century]]
[[Category:Stories set in the Middle East]]

Latest revision as of 19:26, 3 November 2024

RealWorld.png

Deep and Dreamless Sleep was a Christmas-themed Tenth Doctor short story by Paul Cornell. It was published in The Sunday Times on Christmas Eve 2006. Because it was set on the same day it was published, its events are partially concurrent with The Christmas Invasion.

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Doctor attempts to see central London's Christmas lights on Christmas Eve, 2006. However the TARDIS lands in the bedroom of a boy called Daniel Francis Thompson. Daniel runs into the TARDIS, saying that he wants to see Christmas. He starts pressing buttons, taking both of them into time and Space.

They arrive in Ypres in Belgium at Christmas 1914. They see the German and British armies playing football. Ninety minutes later, at the end of the match, they return to the TARDIS and Daniel again says that he wants to see Christmas. The Doctor travels to many different times and places and gets lots of people to come to a party for Daniel. The Doctor notices that the guests seem to have difficulty focusing on him. At the end of the party Daniel again runs to the console, saying that he wants to see Christmas. They arrive at Bethlehem and see the Nativity scene.

Returning to the TARDIS Daniel begins to fade away. The Doctor, realising what is happening, uses the TARDIS to follow Daniel to where he really is, the A&E department of St. Nicholas's Hospital. As the Doctor watches, Daniel wakes up to see his parents and the Doctor knows he will survive.

Characters[[edit] | [edit source]]

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

to be added

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

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

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