Walking to Babylon (novel): Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox Story SMW | |||
{{Infobox Story | |image = Walking to Babylon.jpg | ||
|series = [[Virgin New Adventures]] | |||
|image= Walking to Babylon.jpg | |range = Virgin New Adventures | ||
|series= [[Virgin | |number in range = 71 | ||
|number= | |number = 71 | ||
|main character= [[Bernice Summerfield]] | |adapted into = Walking to Babylon (audio story) | ||
|featuring= | |main character = [[Bernice Summerfield]] | ||
|enemy= [[WiRgo!xu]] and [[!Ci!ci-tel]] | |featuring = Joseph (Oh No It Isn't!) | ||
| | |featuring2 = Clarence | ||
|writer= [[ | |featuring3 = God (The Also People) | ||
|publisher= | |featuring4 = Wolsey | ||
|release date= | |enemy = [[WiRgo!xu]] and [[!Ci!ci-tel]] | ||
|format= Paperback Book, | |setting = [[St Oscar's University|St Oscar's]], [[Worldsphere]], and [[MD 20879]], [[2594]]; [[Babylon]], [[12 December]] [[1901]] and [[BC#6th century BC|570 B.C.]] | ||
|isbn= ISBN 0-426-20521-9 | |writer = Kate Orman | ||
|prev= Tempest (novel) | |cover = [[Mark Salwowski]] | ||
|next= Oblivion (novel)}} | |publisher = Virgin Books | ||
'''''Walking to Babylon''''' is the | |release date = 3 February 1998 | ||
|format = Paperback Book;<br/>14 Chapters, 256 Pages | |||
|isbn = ISBN 0-426-20521-9 | |||
|prev = Tempest (novel) | |||
|next = Oblivion (novel) | |||
}}{{prose stub}} | |||
'''''Walking to Babylon''''' is the seventy-first [[Virgin New Adventures]] novel. It features [[Bernice Summerfield]] and [[the People]]. It was the third novel to be adapted by [[Big Finish Productions]] into a full cast audio story, which was released in [[November (releases)|November]] [[1998 (releases)|1998]]. | |||
== Publisher's summary == | == Publisher's summary == | ||
''"I'm scared of letting all these people down. Like the whole human race. At least if I get blown up as well, they can say I died heroically. Assuming I ever existed at all."'' | ''"I'm scared of letting all these people down. Like the whole human race. At least if I get blown up as well, they can say I died heroically. Assuming I ever existed at all."'' | ||
When Bernice Summerfield visits the People — an incredibly advanced civilisation living in a [[Dyson Sphere]] — she discovers that even in utopia, they still have their problems. | When [[Bernice Summerfield]] visits [[the People]] — an incredibly advanced civilisation living in a [[Dyson sphere|Dyson Sphere]] — she discovers that even in utopia, they still have their problems. | ||
An illegal time travel experiment threatens a war which could destroy them all. Rather than risk it, the People and their ultra-powerful computer, [[God (The Also People)|God]], are prepared to eradicate the source of the problem — the ancient city of [[Babylon]]. But such action would involve the death of a quarter of a million human beings, and do incalculable damage to [[Earth]]'s history. | |||
Babylon — and the [[human]] race — have one hope. Benny returns to the cradle of civilisation to try and stop the interference. She has just one week to prevent a catastrophe that could mean she will never be born. Her only assistance comes from a Victorian linguist who has stumbled across the experiment himself. But he's no help at all — even though he has a power neither of them suspects. | |||
== Chapter titles == | |||
* Chapter 0: An Invitation From God | |||
* Chapter 1: In Too Deep | |||
* Chapter 2: Basket Case | |||
* Chapter 3: Language | |||
* Chapter 4: The Party's Over | |||
* Chapter 5: Past Shock | |||
* Chapter 6: The Evening After the Afternoon Before | |||
* Chapter 7: Head Above Water | |||
* Chapter 8: The Shortest-Lived Profession | |||
* Chapter 9: Helpless | |||
* Chapter 10: Looking | |||
* Chapter 11: The Plan | |||
* Chapter 12: Rain and Snow | |||
* Chapter 13: Walking on Home | |||
== Plot == | == Plot == | ||
| Line 38: | Line 61: | ||
* [[Cin-ta!x]] | * [[Cin-ta!x]] | ||
* [[Ninan]] (High Princess) | * [[Ninan]] (High Princess) | ||
* [[WiRgo!xu]] | * [[WiRgo!xu]] | ||
* [[!Ci!ci-tel]] | * [[!Ci!ci-tel]] | ||
* [[!qu-!qu-tala]] | * [[!qu-!qu-tala]] | ||
== | == Worldbuilding == | ||
=== Biology === | === Biology === | ||
* Bernice once had sex with some [[Citdbtbed]]s | * Bernice once had [[sex]] with some [[Citdbtbed]]s by shaking hands with them. | ||
=== Groups === | === Groups === | ||
* Several Interest Groups are mentioned including | * Several Interest Groups are mentioned, including the [[Obscure and Unlikely Civilisations Interest Group]], the [[Abnormal Psychology Interest Group]], the [[Weird Aviation Interest Group]], the [[Seriously Primitive Societies Interest Group]], the [[Apathy Interest Group]], the [[Wilderness Gardening Interest Group]], the [[Temporal Interest Group]], the [[Interpersonal Dynamics Interest Group]], the [[Weapons Development Interest Group]], the [[Primitive Cooking Interest Group]], the [[Freak Accidents Interest Group]], the [[Ke Chedani Interest Group]], the [[Immortality Through Not Pissing Off God Interest Group]], the [[Solar Mechanics Interest Group]], the [[Creative Writing Interest Group]], and the [[Celibacy Interest Group]]. | ||
* [[Cin-ta!x]] is a spokesperson for the | * [[Cin-ta!x]] is a spokesperson for the Temporal Interest Group. | ||
=== Individuals === | === Individuals === | ||
* [[God (The Also People)|God]] speaks through | * [[God (The Also People)|God]] speaks through Benny's porter [[Joseph (Oh No It Isn't!)|Joseph]]. | ||
* [[Clarence]] collects Benny from [[St | * [[Clarence]] collects Benny from [[St Oscar's University|St Oscar's]]. | ||
* [[!qu-!qu-tala]] is a [[drone]] accompanying !Ci!ci-tel and WiRgo!xu. The drone is also a veteran of the war. | * [[!qu-!qu-tala]] is a [[drone]] accompanying !Ci!ci-tel and WiRgo!xu. The drone is also a veteran of the war. | ||
=== Literature === | === Literature === | ||
* | * Bernice Summerfield is studying some [[D'nasian]] poetry. | ||
=== Planets === | === Planets === | ||
| Line 65: | Line 85: | ||
=== Time travel === | === Time travel === | ||
* [[The People]] can't develop [[time travel]] because of their [[Time Lord - People Treaty|treaty]] with the [[Time Lord]]s. | * [[The People]] can't develop [[time travel]] because of their [[Time Lord-People Treaty|treaty]] with the [[Time Lord]]s. | ||
* [[John Lafayette]] is a [[time sensitive]] and thus was able to walk the [[Time Path]]. | * [[John Lafayette]] is a [[Time sensitivity|time sensitive]] and thus was able to walk the [[Time Path]]. | ||
* [[Temporal Flexibility]] is the ability to store up potential temporal energy (as a result of some forms of time travel). | * [[Temporal Flexibility]] is the ability to store up potential temporal energy (as a result of some forms of time travel). | ||
* [[The Path]] is an unstable temporal path leading back to ancient Babylon. | * [[The Path]] is an unstable temporal path leading back to ancient Babylon. | ||
| Line 80: | Line 100: | ||
* Benny agreed to become an agent of the People in [[PROSE]]: ''[[Oh No It Isn't! (novel)|Oh No It Isn't!]]''. | * Benny agreed to become an agent of the People in [[PROSE]]: ''[[Oh No It Isn't! (novel)|Oh No It Isn't!]]''. | ||
* The People make a deal regarding time travel in [[PROSE]]: ''[[Dead Romance (novel)|Dead Romance]]''. | * The People make a deal regarding time travel in [[PROSE]]: ''[[Dead Romance (novel)|Dead Romance]]''. | ||
* Benny tells the story of her solo dig on [[Capella Four]]. This was first mentioned in [[PROSE]]: ''[[Parasite (novel)|Parasite]]'' and expanded upon in [[PROSE]]: ''[[Steal from the World (short story)|Steal from the World]]''. | |||
== External links == | == External links == | ||
{{dwrefguide|who_na71.htm|Walking to Babylon}} | |||
* {{whoniverse| | * {{whoniverse|na71|Walking to Babylon}} | ||
* [http://mysite.science.uottawa.ca/rsmith43/cloister/walk.htm The Cloister Library: '''Walking to Babylon'''] | |||
{{BNA}} | {{BNA}} | ||
{{TitleSort}} | {{TitleSort}} | ||
[[Category:Bernice Summerfield | [[Category:Bernice Summerfield sources]] | ||
[[Category:1998 novels]] | [[Category:1998 novels]] | ||
[[Category:BNA novels]] | [[Category:BNA novels]] | ||
[[Category:Stories set in | [[Category:Stories set in 570 BC]] | ||
[[Category:Stories set in 1901]] | [[Category:Stories set in 1901]] | ||
[[Category:Stories set in Babylon]] | [[Category:Stories set in Babylon]] | ||
[[Category:Stories set in 2594]] | |||
[[Category:Novels set on Dellah]] | |||
Latest revision as of 21:13, 12 January 2024
Walking to Babylon is the seventy-first Virgin New Adventures novel. It features Bernice Summerfield and the People. It was the third novel to be adapted by Big Finish Productions into a full cast audio story, which was released in November 1998.
Publisher's summary[[edit] | [edit source]]
"I'm scared of letting all these people down. Like the whole human race. At least if I get blown up as well, they can say I died heroically. Assuming I ever existed at all."
When Bernice Summerfield visits the People — an incredibly advanced civilisation living in a Dyson Sphere — she discovers that even in utopia, they still have their problems.
An illegal time travel experiment threatens a war which could destroy them all. Rather than risk it, the People and their ultra-powerful computer, God, are prepared to eradicate the source of the problem — the ancient city of Babylon. But such action would involve the death of a quarter of a million human beings, and do incalculable damage to Earth's history.
Babylon — and the human race — have one hope. Benny returns to the cradle of civilisation to try and stop the interference. She has just one week to prevent a catastrophe that could mean she will never be born. Her only assistance comes from a Victorian linguist who has stumbled across the experiment himself. But he's no help at all — even though he has a power neither of them suspects.
Chapter titles[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Chapter 0: An Invitation From God
- Chapter 1: In Too Deep
- Chapter 2: Basket Case
- Chapter 3: Language
- Chapter 4: The Party's Over
- Chapter 5: Past Shock
- Chapter 6: The Evening After the Afternoon Before
- Chapter 7: Head Above Water
- Chapter 8: The Shortest-Lived Profession
- Chapter 9: Helpless
- Chapter 10: Looking
- Chapter 11: The Plan
- Chapter 12: Rain and Snow
- Chapter 13: Walking on Home
Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]
to be added
Characters[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Bernice Summerfield
- God
- John Lafayette
- Clarence
- Cin-ta!x
- Ninan (High Princess)
- WiRgo!xu
- !Ci!ci-tel
- !qu-!qu-tala
Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]
Biology[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Bernice once had sex with some Citdbtbeds by shaking hands with them.
Groups[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Several Interest Groups are mentioned, including the Obscure and Unlikely Civilisations Interest Group, the Abnormal Psychology Interest Group, the Weird Aviation Interest Group, the Seriously Primitive Societies Interest Group, the Apathy Interest Group, the Wilderness Gardening Interest Group, the Temporal Interest Group, the Interpersonal Dynamics Interest Group, the Weapons Development Interest Group, the Primitive Cooking Interest Group, the Freak Accidents Interest Group, the Ke Chedani Interest Group, the Immortality Through Not Pissing Off God Interest Group, the Solar Mechanics Interest Group, the Creative Writing Interest Group, and the Celibacy Interest Group.
- Cin-ta!x is a spokesperson for the Temporal Interest Group.
Individuals[[edit] | [edit source]]
- God speaks through Benny's porter Joseph.
- Clarence collects Benny from St Oscar's.
- !qu-!qu-tala is a drone accompanying !Ci!ci-tel and WiRgo!xu. The drone is also a veteran of the war.
Literature[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Bernice Summerfield is studying some D'nasian poetry.
Planets[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Bernice mentions the planet Jalkejai.
Time travel[[edit] | [edit source]]
- The People can't develop time travel because of their treaty with the Time Lords.
- John Lafayette is a time sensitive and thus was able to walk the Time Path.
- Temporal Flexibility is the ability to store up potential temporal energy (as a result of some forms of time travel).
- The Path is an unstable temporal path leading back to ancient Babylon.
Weapons[[edit] | [edit source]]
- The People decide to send back a Singularity Bomb to shut down the path, which would also destroy Babylon.
Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]
- This novel was adapted into an audio story by Big Finish Productions by Jacqueline Rayner. (see AUDIO: Walking to Babylon)
Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]
- The People first appeared in PROSE: The Also People.
- Benny agreed to become an agent of the People in PROSE: Oh No It Isn't!.
- The People make a deal regarding time travel in PROSE: Dead Romance.
- Benny tells the story of her solo dig on Capella Four. This was first mentioned in PROSE: Parasite and expanded upon in PROSE: Steal from the World.
External links[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Walking to Babylon at the Doctor Who Reference Guide
- The Discontinuity Guide to: Walking to Babylon at The Whoniverse
- The Cloister Library: Walking to Babylon
