Byzantium! (novel): Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox Story SMW
{{Infobox Story
|image          = Byzantium.jpg
|name= Byzantium!
|range          = BBC Past Doctor Adventures
|image=Byzantium.jpg
|number in range = 43
|series=[[BBC Past Doctor Adventures]]  
|series         = [[BBC Past Doctor Adventures]]
|number= 44
|number         = 43
|doctor=First Doctor  
|doctor         = First Doctor
|companions=[[Ian Chesterton|Ian]], [[Barbara Wright|Barbara]], [[Vicki Pallister|Vicki]]  
|companions     = [[Ian Chesterton|Ian]], [[Barbara Wright|Barbara]], [[Vicki Pallister|Vicki]]
|enemy=
|setting         = {{il|[[Byzantium (city)|Byzantium]], [[March]]-[[April]] [[64]]|[[London]], [[1973]]}}
|setting= {{il|[[Byzantium (city)|Byzantium]], the [[Roman Empire]], [[14 March|14]] to [[30 March (releases)|30 March]] [[64]]|[[London]], [[1973]]}}
|writer         = Keith Topping
|writer= [[Keith Topping]]
|publisher       = BBC Books
|publisher= [[BBC Books]]
|cover           = [[Black Sheep]]
|cover=[[Black Sheep]]
|release date   = 2 July 2001
|release date= July, 2001
|format         = Paperback Book, 36 Chapters, 288 Pages
|format= Paperback Book, --- Pages  
|isbn           = ISBN 0-563-53836-8
|isbn= ISBN 0-563-53836-8
|prev           = Superior Beings (novel)
|prev= Superior Beings (novel)
|next           = Bullet Time (novel)
|next= Bullet Time (novel)}}
}}{{prose stub}}
'''''{{StoryTitle}}''''' was the forty-fourth [[BBC Past Doctor Adventures]] novel. It featured the [[First Doctor]], [[Ian Chesterton]], [[Barbara Wright]] and [[Vicki Pallister]]. Set at the beginning of [[TV]]: ''[[The Romans (TV story)|The Romans]]'' as the TARDIS falls off the cliff, this is the first full length story that features Vicki as a 'companion'.
{{dab page|Byzantium}}
'''''{{StoryTitle}}''''' was the forty-third novel in the [[BBC Past Doctor Adventures]] series. It was written by [[Keith Topping]], released [[2 July (releases)|2 July]] [[2001 (releases)|2001]] and featured the [[First Doctor]], [[Ian Chesterton]], [[Barbara Wright]] and [[Vicki Pallister]].
 
Set at the beginning of ''[[The Romans (TV story)|The Romans]]'' as the TARDIS falls off the cliff, this is the earliest full length story chronologically to feature Vicki as a companion.


== Publisher's summary ==
== Publisher's summary ==
"Life is cheap in Byzantium. Life is cheap everywhere that the Romans are."
"Life is cheap in [[Byzantium (city)|Byzantium]]. Life is cheap everywhere that the [[Roman]]s are."


[[Byzantium (city)|Byzantium]]. The imperial city - rising dramatically, as if by a trick of the light, from the peninsula of the [[Bosphorus]] and the [[Black Sea]]. Its domes and towers and minarets overlook a place of intrigue, lust, power, oppression, resistance and murder.
Byzantium. The imperial city — rising dramatically, as if by a trick of the light, from the peninsula of the [[Bosphorus]] and the [[Black Sea]]. Its domes and towers and minarets overlook a place of intrigue, lust, power, oppression, resistance and murder.


Romans, Greeks, Zealots, Pharisees ... all meet in the market squares of the great city, but mutual loathing and suspicion are rife.
Romans, [[Greek]]s, [[Zealot]]s, [[Pharisee]]s ... all meet in the market squares of the great city, but mutual loathing and suspicion are rife.


Into this cauldron, the Doctor and his companions arrive, expecting to view the splendour and civilisation of the [[Roman Empire]]. But events cast them into a deadly maelstrom of social and political upheaval. In the eye of the hurricane they must each face the possibility of being stranded, alone and far from their own times, in an alien culture bunker.
Into this cauldron, [[First Doctor|the Doctor]] and his companions arrive, expecting to view the splendour and civilisation of the [[Roman Empire]]. But events cast them into a deadly maelstrom of social and political upheaval. In the eye of the hurricane they must each face the possibility of being stranded, alone and far from their own times, in an alien culture bunker.


== Plot ==
== Plot ==
Line 37: Line 41:
* [[Barbara Wright]]
* [[Barbara Wright]]
* [[Vicki Pallister]]
* [[Vicki Pallister]]
* [[Gaius Calaphilus]]
* [[Thalius Maximus]]
* [[Gemellus]]
* [[Hieronymous (Byzantium!)|Hieronymous]]
* [[Amos (Byzantium!)|Amos]]
* [[Daniel (Byzantium!)|Daniel]]
* [[James (Byzantium!)|James]]
* [[Reuben (Byzantium!)|Reuben]]
* [[Ruth (Byzantium!)|Ruth]]
* [[Bob Franklin]]
* [[Julia Franklin]]
* [[Fabulous]]
* [[Georgiadis]]
* [[Evangeline (Byzantium!)|Evangeline]]
* [[Iola]]
* [[Gabrielle (Byzantium!)|Gabrielle]]
* [[Agrinella Lanilla]]
* [[Marcus Lanilla]]
* [[Antonia Vinicius]]
* [[Cressida (Byzantium!)|Cressida]]
* [[Crispianus Dolavia]]
* [[Damien (Byzantium!)|Damien]]
* [[Dorcas]]
* [[Dorothea (Byzantium!)|Dorothea]]
* [[Drusus Felinistius]]
* [[Edius Flavia]]
* [[Erastus]]
* [[Fabius Actium]]
* [[Felicia (Byzantium!)|Felicia]]
* [[Germanicus Vinicius]]
* [[Hebron]]
* [[Jocelyn (Byzantium!)|Jocelyn]]
* [[Luke Panathaikos]]
* [[Matthew Basellas]]
* [[Papavasilliou]]
* [[Phasaei]]
* [[Rebecca (Byzantium!)|Rebecca]]
* [[Simeon (Byzantium!)|Simeon]]
* [[Tobias (Byzantium!)|Tobias]]
* [[Titus (Byzantium!)|Titus]]
* [[Yewhe]]
* [[Nikos (Byzantium!)|Nikos]]


== References ==
== Worldbuilding ==
=== The Doctor ===
=== The Doctor ===
* The Doctor has faced the "fifty-eight terrors of the universe".
* The Doctor has been travelling in [[The Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]] for sixty years, making him two hundred and ninety-six during this story.
* The Doctor has been travelling in the TARDIS for sixty years, making him two hundred ninety-six during this story.
* The Doctor has visited [[Rome]], [[Jerusalem]] and [[Antioch]] and witnessed both the debut performance of ''[[King Lear]]'' and the assassination of [[President of the United States|US President]] [[William McKinley]].
* The Doctor has visited [[Rome]], [[Jerusalem]] and [[Antioch]] and witnessed both the debut performance of ''[[King Lear]]'' and the assassination of [[President of the United States|US President]] [[William McKinley]].
* The Doctor was on the field of battle in the [[Battle of Passchendaele]] during [[World War I]].
* The Doctor was on the field of battle in the [[Battle of Passchendaele]] during [[World War I]].
Line 48: Line 93:
=== Individuals ===
=== Individuals ===
* Barbara compares Vicki to [[Susan Foreman]].
* Barbara compares Vicki to [[Susan Foreman]].
* There is a flash-forward scene which reveals Ian and Barbara will have a son, [[Johnny Chess|John Alydon Ganatus Chesterton]].
* The ship which transported Vicki to [[Dido]] left [[Earth]] in [[2493]].
* The ship which transported Vicki to [[Dido]] left [[Earth]] in [[2493]].
* Vicki is fourteen years old. Her mother died when she was eleven.
* While in Byzantium, she uses the alias "Vickius Pallisterus."
* Vicki has never heard of [[Plato]], [[Socrates]] or [[Archimedes]], though she is vaguely aware of [[Charles Dickens]].
* Vicki has never heard of [[Plato]], [[Socrates]] or [[Archimedes]], though she is vaguely aware of [[Charles Dickens]].
* Maximus tells Ian that [[Shalmaneser II]] failed in battle because his army had wicker shields.
* Maximus tells Ian that [[Shalmaneser II]] failed in battle because his army had wicker shields.
* [[Caesar]] [[Tiberius]] replaced [[Augustus]] in AD [[14]].
* [[Caesar]] [[Tiberius]] succeeded [[Augustus]] in AD [[14]].


=== Planets ===
=== Locations ===
* [[Dalmatia]] and [[Macedonia]] are part of the [[Roman Empire]].
 
=== Planets and stars ===
* The Doctor has visited [[Mondas]].
* The Doctor has visited [[Mondas]].
* Ian Chesterton shows Vicki several celestial bodies in the Earth sky: [[Pegasus]], [[Andromeda (constellation)|Andromeda]], the [[Seven Sisters]], [[Orion]], [[Betelgeuse (star)|Betelgeuse]], [[Rigel (star)|Rigel]], the [[Horsehead Nebula]], [[Orionis Zeta]], [[Orionis Epsilon]], [[Orionis Delta]], [[Polaris]] (the [[pole star]]), the [[Ursa Minor]], [[Castor (star)|Castor]] and [[Pollux (star)|Pollux]], [[Gemini]], [[Venus]] and [[Jupiter]].


=== Television series ===
=== Television series ===
* Ian mentions ''[[The Morecambe & Wise Show]]''.
* Ian mentions ''[[The Morecambe & Wise Show]]''.
* [[Yewhe]] quotes the [[Monty Python]] film ''Life of Brian'' during the meeting of the [[Zealot]]s when he asks, "What have the Romans ever done for us?"


== Notes ==
== Notes ==
* This book is also available as an ebook and from the Amazon Kindle store.  
* This book is also available as an ebook and from the Amazon Kindle store.
* The novel reveals that Vicki's last name is Pallister. It was never mentioned in any televised episode.
* The novel reveals that Vicki's last name is Pallister. It was never mentioned in any televised episode.
* Vicki states that her mother wanted to call her Tanni, but her father preferred Vicki. This is a sly reference to the fact that the new companion's name in [[TV]]: ''[[The Rescue (TV story)|The Rescue]]'' was originally going to be Tanni.
* Vicki states that her mother wanted to call her Tanni, but her father preferred Vicki. This is a sly reference to the fact that the new companion's name in [[TV]]: ''[[The Rescue (TV story)|The Rescue]]'' was originally going to be Tanni.
* There is a flash-forward scene which reveals Ian and Barbara will have a son, [[Johnny Chess|John Alydon Ganatus Chesterton]], by [[1973]]. [[TV]]: ''[[Death of the Doctor (TV story)|Death of the Doctor]]'' and [[COMIC]]: ''[[Hunters of the Burning Stone (comic story)|Hunters of the Burning Stone]]'' would later confirm that Ian and Barbara will someday marry.
* The details of the story conflict with the earlier short story ''[[Romans Cutaway (short story)|Romans Cutaway]]'' from ''[[More Short Trips]]'', which also takes place immediately after the TARDIS falls of the cliff. ''Byzantium!'' references ''Romans Cutaway'' through Ian's dream about crashing a [[Ford Anglia]] and hurting his head, and meeting a lion tamer. In ''Romans Cutaway'', Ian dreams about the death of a girl he used to love at the hands of a Ford Anglia, having been out cold following the TARDIS's crash, and he meets a [[Lion (Romans Cutaway)|a lion]]. The implication is that the events of ''Romans Cutaway'' were just a dream had by Ian on his way to Rome.
* This story is a "[[pure historical]]" featuring no science fiction elements apart from the presence of the Doctor, Ian, Barbara, Vicki and the TARDIS.


== Continuity ==
== Continuity ==
* Vicki refers to her recent rescue from [[Dido]] in [[2493]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Rescue (TV story)|The Rescue]]'')
* Vicki refers to her recent rescue from [[Dido]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Rescue (TV story)|The Rescue]]'')
* Ian adapts the story of the [[Dalek]]s and the [[Thal]]s to entertain an audience. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Daleks (TV story)|The Daleks]]'')
* Ian adapts the story of the [[Dalek]]s and the [[Thal]]s to entertain an audience. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Daleks (TV story)|The Daleks]]'')
* The Doctor seems to be aware that Vicki will eventually become Cressida in circa [[BC|1200 BC]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Myth Makers (TV story)|The Myth Makers]]'')
* The Doctor seems to be aware that Vicki will eventually become Cressida in circa [[BC|1200 BC]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Myth Makers (TV story)|The Myth Makers]]'')
* Barbara mentions that she learned her lesson about trying to change history in [[Mexico]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Aztecs (TV story)|The Aztecs]]'')
* Barbara mentions that she learned her lesson about trying to change history in [[Mexico]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Aztecs (TV story)|The Aztecs]]'')
* The Doctor thinks back to when he fled his home, ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Beginning (audio story)|The Beginning]]'') as well as the numerous times he stared death in the face, including [[France]], ([[TV]]: ''[[The Reign of Terror (TV story)|The Reign of Terror]]'') [[Mexico]], ([[TV]]: ''[[The Aztecs (TV story)|The Aztecs]]'') [[Skaro]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Daleks (TV story)|The Daleks]]'', [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Return to Skaro (audio story)|Return to Skaro]]'') He also thinks of undepicted adventures on [[Mondas]] ([[TV]]: ''[[The Tenth Planet (TV story)|The Tenth Planet]]'') and [[Cassuragi]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Ghost Ship (novel)|Ghost Ship]]'')
* The Doctor thinks of his encounter with the [[Mountain Mauler of Montana]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Romans (TV story)|The Romans]]'')
* By [[1973]], Ian has befriended [[Greg Sutton]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Inferno (TV story)|Inferno]]'')
* By [[1973]], Ian has befriended [[Greg Sutton]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Inferno (TV story)|Inferno]]'')
* [[Gaius Calaphilus]] fought "[[Boudica]]'s wretched [[Iceni]]" in [[Britain|Roman Britain]] in [[60]]. During his [[Fourth Doctor|fourth incarnation]], the Doctor and his companion [[Leela]] would encounter Boudica during her revolt against the occupying Roman forces in Britain. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Wrath of the Iceni (audio story)|The Wrath of the Iceni]]'')
* [[Gaius Calaphilus]] fought "[[Boudica]]'s wretched [[Iceni]]" in [[Britain|Roman Britain]] in [[60]]. During his [[Fourth Doctor|fourth incarnation]], the Doctor and his companion [[Leela]] would encounter Boudica during her revolt against the occupying Roman forces in Britain. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Wrath of the Iceni (audio story)|The Wrath of the Iceni]]'') The [[Renegade Time Lord|renegade Time Lady]] [[Iris Wildthyme]] claimed that she had also been present during the revolt. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Elixir of Doom (audio story)|The Elixir of Doom]]'')
* Ian dreams about a crash involving a [[Ford Anglia]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Romans Cutaway (short story)|Romans Cutaway]]'')


== External links ==
== External links ==
* {{dwrefguide|whobbk44.htm|Byzantium!}}
* {{Penguin|1073602/doctor-who--byzantium-/}}
* {{whoniverse|PD44.php|Byzantium!}}
{{dwrefguide|whobbk44.htm|Byzantium!}}
* {{whoniverse|pd44|Byzantium!}}
* [http://mysite.science.uottawa.ca/rsmith43/cloister/byzantiu.htm The Cloister Library: '''Byzantium!''']
 
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050406231200/http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/news/drwho/2004/01/01/13726.shtml Interview: Keith Topping]
{{PDA}}
{{PDA}}
{{TitleSort}}
{{TitleSort}}


[[Category:2001 novels]]
[[Category:PDA novels]]
[[Category:PDA novels]]
[[Category:2001 novels]]
[[Category:First Doctor novels]]
[[Category:First Doctor novels]]
[[Category:Stories set in the 1st century]]
[[Category:Novels set in the Roman Empire]]
[[Category:Stories set in Italy]]
[[Category:Stories set in 64]]
[[Category:Stories set in the Roman Empire]]
[[Category:Historical stories]]
[[Category:Stories set in London]]
[[Category:Stories set in London]]
[[Category:Stories set in 1973]]
[[Category:Stories set in 1973]]
[[Category:E-books]]
[[Category:Stories set in Istanbul]]

Latest revision as of 03:48, 3 November 2024

RealWorld.png

prose stub
You may wish to consult Byzantium for other, similarly-named pages.

Byzantium! was the forty-third novel in the BBC Past Doctor Adventures series. It was written by Keith Topping, released 2 July 2001 and featured the First Doctor, Ian Chesterton, Barbara Wright and Vicki Pallister.

Set at the beginning of The Romans as the TARDIS falls off the cliff, this is the earliest full length story chronologically to feature Vicki as a companion.

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

"Life is cheap in Byzantium. Life is cheap everywhere that the Romans are."

Byzantium. The imperial city — rising dramatically, as if by a trick of the light, from the peninsula of the Bosphorus and the Black Sea. Its domes and towers and minarets overlook a place of intrigue, lust, power, oppression, resistance and murder.

Romans, Greeks, Zealots, Pharisees ... all meet in the market squares of the great city, but mutual loathing and suspicion are rife.

Into this cauldron, the Doctor and his companions arrive, expecting to view the splendour and civilisation of the Roman Empire. But events cast them into a deadly maelstrom of social and political upheaval. In the eye of the hurricane they must each face the possibility of being stranded, alone and far from their own times, in an alien culture bunker.

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

to be added

Characters[[edit] | [edit source]]

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Doctor[[edit] | [edit source]]

Individuals[[edit] | [edit source]]

Locations[[edit] | [edit source]]

Planets and stars[[edit] | [edit source]]

Television series[[edit] | [edit source]]

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • This book is also available as an ebook and from the Amazon Kindle store.
  • The novel reveals that Vicki's last name is Pallister. It was never mentioned in any televised episode.
  • Vicki states that her mother wanted to call her Tanni, but her father preferred Vicki. This is a sly reference to the fact that the new companion's name in TV: The Rescue was originally going to be Tanni.
  • There is a flash-forward scene which reveals Ian and Barbara will have a son, John Alydon Ganatus Chesterton, by 1973. TV: Death of the Doctor and COMIC: Hunters of the Burning Stone would later confirm that Ian and Barbara will someday marry.
  • The details of the story conflict with the earlier short story Romans Cutaway from More Short Trips, which also takes place immediately after the TARDIS falls of the cliff. Byzantium! references Romans Cutaway through Ian's dream about crashing a Ford Anglia and hurting his head, and meeting a lion tamer. In Romans Cutaway, Ian dreams about the death of a girl he used to love at the hands of a Ford Anglia, having been out cold following the TARDIS's crash, and he meets a a lion. The implication is that the events of Romans Cutaway were just a dream had by Ian on his way to Rome.
  • This story is a "pure historical" featuring no science fiction elements apart from the presence of the Doctor, Ian, Barbara, Vicki and the TARDIS.

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

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

v • e
BBC Past Doctor Adventures
 
First Doctor
Susan, Ian, Barbara
Ian, Barbara, Vicki
Steven, Dodo
Ben, Polly
 
Second Doctor
Ben, Polly
Ben, Polly, Jamie
Jamie, Victoria
Jamie, Zoe
Serena
 
Third Doctor
Liz, UNIT
Jo, UNIT
Jo, Liz
Jo
Sarah
 
Fourth Doctor
Sarah, Harry
Harry
Leela
Romana I
Romana II, K9
Nyssa
 
Fifth Doctor
Adric, Nyssa, Tegan
Nyssa
Nyssa, Tegan
Tegan, Turlough
Turlough, Kamelion
Peri
 
Sixth Doctor
Peri
Frobisher
Mel
Mel, Evelyn
The Brigadier
 
Seventh Doctor
Ace
Solo travels
 
Eighth Doctor
Solo travels
Fitz, Anji
 
Other novels
The Master, Ian, Barbara
"Infinity Doctor"
Shalka Doctor, Shalka Master, Alison
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