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{{Infobox Story
{{Infobox Story SMW
|image         = The Secret in Vault 13 (novel).jpg
|image         =  
|number         =  
<gallery>
|doctor         = Thirteenth Doctor
The Secret in Vault 13 (novel).jpg|2018 Hardback
|companions     = [[Graham O'Brien|Graham]], [[Ryan Sinclair|Ryan]], [[Yasmin Khan|Yaz]]
The Secret in Vault 13 Paperback.jpg|2019 Paperback
|enemy         =  
</gallery>
|setting       = {{il|[[The Fleet planet|Unnamed planet]]|[[Tellus IV]]|[[Calufrax Major]]|[[New Phaeton]], [[4028]]|[[London]], [[2018]]|[[Svalbard]]}}
|number       =  
|writer         = [[David Solomons]]
|doctor       = Thirteenth Doctor
|publisher     = BBC Children's Books
|companions   = [[Yasmin Khan|Yaz]], [[Ryan Sinclair|Ryan]], [[Graham O'Brien|Graham]]
|release date   = {{il|[[1 November (releases)|1 November]] [[2018 (releases)|2018]] (paperback, Kindle, audio)|[[6 November (releases)|6 November]] 2018 (hardcover)}}
|enemy         = [[Draal (The Secret in Vault 13)|Draal]], [[The Fleet (species)|The Fleet]], [[Mark VI combat mechanical|Mark VI Combat Robots]]
|cover         = [[Laura Ellen Anderson]]
|setting       = {{il|[[The Fleet planet|Unnamed planet]]|[[Tellus IV]]|[[Calufrax Major]]|[[New Phaeton]], [[4028]]|[[London]], [[2018]]|[[Svalbard]]}}
|illustrator   = [[George Ermos]]
|writer       = David Solomons
|read by       = [[Sophie Aldred]]
|publisher     = BBC Children's Books
|format         =  
|release date = 1 November 2018 (paperback, Kindle, audio)
|isbn           = ISBN 978-1-405-93761-0 (paperback)<br />ISBN 978-1-405-93760-3 (Kindle)<br />ISBN 978-1-405-93884-6 (audio)<br /> ISBN 978-1-984-89598-1 (hardcover)
|release date2 = 6 November 2018 (hardcover)
|trailer       = Kids Read Thirteenth Doctor Book The Secret In Vault 13 Doctor Who
|cover         = [[Laura Ellen Anderson]]
|bts           = New Doctor Who book - The Secret in Vault 13 - David Solomons tells us more
|illustrator   = [[George Ermos]]
}}'''''{{StoryTitle}}''''' a novel released in [[2018 (releases)|2018]] by [[BBC Children's Books]]. It was written by [[David Solomons]] and featured the [[Thirteenth Doctor]], [[Graham O'Brien|Graham]], [[Yasmin Khan|Yaz]] and [[Ryan Sinclair|Ryan]].
|read by       = [[Sophie Aldred]]
|format       =  
|isbn         = ISBN 978-1-405-93761-0 (paperback)<br />ISBN 978-1-405-93760-3 (Kindle)<br />ISBN 978-1-405-93884-6 (audio)<br /> ISBN 978-1-984-89598-1 (hardcover)
|trailer       = Kids Read Thirteenth Doctor Book The Secret In Vault 13 Doctor Who
|clip          = Doctor Who The Secret in Vault 13 Read by David Solomons Time For Stories 4 Minute Extract
|bts           = New Doctor Who book - The Secret in Vault 13 - David Solomons tells us more
|series        = [[BBC Children's Books]]
|next          = The Maze of Doom (novel)
}}'''''{{StoryTitle}}''''' was a novel released on [[1 November (releases)|1 November]] [[2018 (releases)|2018]] by [[BBC Children's Books]]. It was written by [[David Solomons]] and featured the [[Thirteenth Doctor]], [[Graham O'Brien|Graham]], [[Yasmin Khan|Yaz]] and [[Ryan Sinclair|Ryan]].


== Publisher's summary ==
== Publisher's summary ==
A sinister [[school]] where [[graduation]] means [[death]]...
A sinister [[school]] where [[graduation]] means [[death]]...


A monstrous mystery lurking below a quiet [[London]] street...
A monstrous mystery lurking beneath a quiet [[London]] street...


A desperate plea for help delivered by... hang on. A potted [[Begonia (The Secret in Vault 13)|plant]]?
A desperate plea for help delivered by – hang on... a [[Begonia (The Secret in Vault 13)|potted plant]]?


[[Thirteenth Doctor|The Doctor]] has been summoned. The galaxy is in terrible danger, and only a [[Time Lord]] can save it. But to do so, she must break in to an ancient [[Galactic Seed Vault|vault]] on a [[Calufrax Major|remote and frozen world]] - from which nobody has ever returned alive...
[[Thirteenth Doctor|The Doctor]] has been summoned. The galaxy is in terrible danger, and only a [[Time Lord]] can save it. But to do so, she must break in to an [[Galactic Seed Vault|ancient vault]] on a [[Calufrax Major|remote and frozen world]] – from which nobody has ever returned alive...


Can the Doctor and her friends [[Yasmin Khan|Yaz]], [[Ryan Sinclair|Ryan]] and [[Graham O'Brien|Graham]] uncover the shocking secret in Vault 13?
Can the Doctor and her friends [[Yasmin Khan|Yaz]], [[Ryan Sinclair|Ryan]] and [[Graham O'Brien|Graham]] uncover the shocking secret in Vault 13?
== Chapter titles ==
# Diddly-dum Diddly-dum Woo-woo
# Bigger on the Inside
# Re-potted
# Gardeners' World
# Non Compost Mentis
# The Curatrix
# Gardeners of the Galaxy
# Cuppa Tea?
# The Last Guardians
# Dorm
# Please, Miss, I Feel Sick
# The Faculty
# Always Keep the Warranty
# School's Out
# Exterminate
# Fantastic Voyage
# Party Animal
# Unearthly Child's Play
# By-laws
# A Hiccup in Time
# Kensington Gore
# Run!
# We Belong Together
# The Crack of Doom
# Breaking Bud
# An Apple a Day
# Plants Within Plants
# Sunset
# What Would Werelock Do?
# Always Remember to Back Up


== Plot ==
== Plot ==
[[The Fleet (species)|The Fleet]] was planning an assault on the [[Avolantis System]] when the [[Thirteenth Doctor]], [[Graham O'Brien]], [[Ryan Sinclair]] and [[Yasmin Khan]] visited their [[The Fleet planet|planet]]. Space Lord [[Draal (The Secret in Vault 13)|Draal]] took possession of the [[The Doctor's TARDIS|TARDIS]] and sent a [[Mark VI combat mechanical]] to capture the crew. The Doctor reprogrammed [[Bernard (The Secret in Vault 13)|this]] and other Mark VIs to prevent the Fleet from raging further wars and took prisoners held in Draal's throne room to their home planets.
[[The Fleet (species)|The Fleet]] was planning an assault on the [[Avolantis System]] when the [[Thirteenth Doctor]], [[Graham O'Brien]], [[Ryan Sinclair]] and [[Yasmin Khan]] visited their [[The Fleet planet|planet]]. Space Lord [[Draal (The Secret in Vault 13)|Draal]] took possession of the [[The Doctor's TARDIS|TARDIS]] and sent a [[Mark VI combat mechanical]] to capture the crew. The Doctor reprogrammed [[Bernard (The Secret in Vault 13)|this]] and other Mark VIs to prevent the Fleet from raging further wars and took prisoners held in Draal's throne room to their home planets.


By request of slightly homesick Graham, [[Team TARDIS]] returned to [[Sheffield]] to water plants in [[Graham and Grace's house|his and Ryan's apartment]]. One of the plants, a [[begonia (The Secret in Vault 13)|begonia]] that Graham took with him into the TARDIS used the TARDIS [[telepathic circuits]] to relay a message for the Doctor that the [[Gardener (species)|Gardener]]s of [[Tellus IV]] need her help.  
By request of slightly homesick Graham, [[Team TARDIS]] returned to [[Sheffield]] to water plants in [[Graham and Grace's house|his and Ryan's apartment]]. One of the plants, a [[begonia (The Secret in Vault 13)|begonia]] that Graham took with him into the TARDIS used the TARDIS [[telepathic circuits]] to relay a message for the Doctor that the [[Gardener (species)|Gardeners]] of [[Tellus IV]] need her help.


The Doctor and Team TARDIS materialise on Tellus IV, where [[Willow (The Secret in Vault 13)|Willow]], the leader of the Gardeners, imparts to the Doctor that the legendary [[Galactic Seed Vault]] on [[Calufrax Major]] was created by the [[First Gardener]] with the help of [[Time Lord]]s. Willow explains that a renegade faction of the Gardeners led by [[Nightshade (The Secret in Vault 13)|Nightshade]] want to destroy the vault and asks for the Doctor's help. Worse than that, the vault has already been compromised by Nightshade's predecessors and messages to the keepers of the vault remain unanswered. The reason Willow contacted the Doctor now was that the [[Rose Garden of Eternity]] seemed to have predicted her involvement by depicting number 13. As Willow is showing the floral prophecy to Team TARDIS, Nightshade and his [[Grave Digger]]s, summoned by the traitor [[Parsley (The Secret in Vault 13)|Parsley]], suddenly ambush them. Nightshade burns down the Rose Garden of Eternity.
The Doctor and Team TARDIS materialise on Tellus IV, where [[Willow (The Secret in Vault 13)|Willow]], the leader of the Gardeners, imparts to the Doctor that the legendary [[Galactic Seed Vault]] on [[Calufrax Major]] was created by the [[First Gardener]] with the help of [[Time Lord]]s. Willow explains that a renegade faction of the Gardeners led by [[Nightshade (The Secret in Vault 13)|Nightshade]] want to destroy the vault and asks for the Doctor's help. Worse than that, the vault has already been compromised by Nightshade's predecessors and messages to the keepers of the vault remain unanswered. The reason Willow contacted the Doctor now was that the [[Rose Garden of Eternity]] seemed to have predicted her involvement by depicting number 13. As Willow is showing the floral prophecy to Team TARDIS, Nightshade and his [[Grave Digger]]s, summoned by the traitor [[Parsley (The Secret in Vault 13)|Parsley]], suddenly ambush them. Nightshade burns down the Rose Garden of Eternity.


Assisted by the [[Lily of the Valley (The Secret in Vault 13)|Lily of the Valley]], the Doctor and her team escape in the TARDIS and head directly to the Galactic Seed Vault. The Doctor times their arrival to coincide with the return of a seed-collecting drone, which causes the doors to open letting them get inside. However, due to Ryan being delayed to help Graham, after he loses his footing, only the Doctor and Yaz make it inside the vault before the doors close again.  
Assisted by the [[Lily of the Valley (The Secret in Vault 13)|Lily of the Valley]], the Doctor and her team escape in the TARDIS and head directly to the Galactic Seed Vault. The Doctor times their arrival to coincide with the return of a seed-collecting drone, which causes the doors to open letting them get inside. However, due to Ryan being delayed to help Graham, after he loses his footing, only the Doctor and Yaz make it inside the vault before the doors close again.


Trying to find a way to let Graham and Ryan into the vault, the Doctor discovers a hidden door of non-human proportions. A [[The Attendant|beetle-like creature]] emerges from it and confronts the Doctor and Yaz. It does not speak but can understand them. Upon hearing that the Doctor is a Time Lord, it takes them to the control room of the vault to see [[the Curatrix]], the [[artificial intelligence]] running the vault. Passing through seed storage vaults, the Doctor and Yaz learn that they are too late and [[noughtweed]]] smuggled into the vault by renegade Gardeners has already devastated eight of the twelve seed storage vaults. Trying to guess the renegade Gardners' plan based on modifications made to noughtweed, the Doctor discovers the existence of the thirteenth vault, to the big surprise of the Curatrix. It turns out that the insect, who confronted the Doctor and Yaz originally, who is called the Attendant, is not a mindless animal but the second guardian of the vault, capable of [[Telepathy|telepathic]] communication and the only guardian who knows about the secret vault and its contents. And the prophecied number 13 refers to the thirteenth vault rather than to the Doctor. The Attendant takes the Doctor and Yaz to the secret vault hidden behind a [[hologram|holographic]] shield wall.
Trying to find a way to let Graham and Ryan into the vault, the Doctor discovers a hidden door of non-human proportions. A [[The Attendant|beetle-like creature]] emerges from it and confronts the Doctor and Yaz. It does not speak but can understand them. Upon hearing that the Doctor is a Time Lord, it takes them to the control room of the vault to see [[the Curatrix]], the [[artificial intelligence]] running the vault. Passing through seed storage vaults, the Doctor and Yaz learn that they are too late and [[noughtweed]] smuggled into the vault by renegade Gardeners has already devastated eight of the twelve seed storage vaults. Trying to guess the renegade Gardners' plan based on modifications made to noughtweed, the Doctor discovers the existence of the thirteenth vault, to the big surprise of the Curatrix. It turns out that the insect, who confronted the Doctor and Yaz originally, who is called the Attendant, is not a mindless animal but the second guardian of the vault, capable of [[Telepathy|telepathic]] communication and the only guardian who knows about the secret vault and its contents. And the prophecied number 13 refers to the thirteenth vault rather than to the Doctor. The Attendant takes the Doctor and Yaz to the secret vault hidden behind a [[hologram|holographic]] shield wall.


== Characters ==
== Characters ==
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* [[Tarkovsky (The Secret in Vault 13)|Professor Tarkovsky]]
* [[Tarkovsky (The Secret in Vault 13)|Professor Tarkovsky]]


== References ==
== Worldbuilding ==
=== Individuals ===
=== Individuals ===
* [[Harry Houdini]] was known for impossible escapes.
* [[Harry Houdini]] was known for impossible escapes.
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* The original plans of the Galactic Seed Vault were made on yellowing parchment and resembled sketches by [[Leonardo da Vinci]].
* The original plans of the Galactic Seed Vault were made on yellowing parchment and resembled sketches by [[Leonardo da Vinci]].
* [[Red Baron]] taught the Doctor to do a [[barrel roll]].
* [[Red Baron]] taught the Doctor to do a [[barrel roll]].
* [[Zeno (The Secret in Vault 13)|Zeno]] created [[Zeno's paralock]]s.


=== Species ===
=== Species ===
* [[The Fleet (species)|The Fleet]] conquered 10,000 star systems. The Fleet were governed by the [[First Space Lord of the Admiralty]].
* [[The Fleet (species)|The Fleet]] conquered 10,000 star systems. The Fleet were governed by the [[First Space Lord of the Admiralty]].
* [[Time Lord]]s have [[Binary vascular system|two hearts]]. They have long lives and can create a new body via a [[regeneration]].  
* [[Time Lord]]s have [[Binary vascular system|two hearts]]. They have long lives and can create a new body via a [[regeneration]].
* The Doctor previously defeated [[Sontaran]]s, [[Cyberman|Cybermen]] and [[Dalek]]s.
* The Doctor previously defeated [[Sontaran]]s, [[Cyberman|Cybermen]] and [[Dalek]]s.
* The Thirteenth Doctor encountered [[Carnivorous chessman|carnivorous chessmen]] on Proxima Ceti earlier.
* The Thirteenth Doctor encountered [[Carnivorous chessman|carnivorous chessmen]] on Proxima Ceti earlier.
* [[Hydran (The Secret in Vault 13)|Hydran]]s have three [[head]]s.
* [[Hydran (The Secret in Vault 13)|Hydrans]] have three [[head]]s.
* [[Eight Legs|Giant spiders]] from Metebelis III have twelve [[eye]]s.
* [[Eight Legs|Giant spiders]] from Metebelis III have twelve [[eye]]s.
* In addition to the Hydran, the Space Lord holds a [[Dalse]], a [[Chentan]] and two [[Zraryx]] prisoners in his throne room.
* In addition to the Hydran, the Space Lord holds a [[Dalse]], a [[Chentan]] and two [[Zraryx]] prisoners in his throne room.
* [[Gardener (species)|Gardener]]s of Tellus IV care about plants.
* [[Gardener (species)|Gardeners]] of Tellus IV care about plants.
* The Doctor is prepared to bet a box of [[Judoon]] chocolates.
* The Doctor is prepared to bet a box of [[Judoon]] chocolates.


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* The Doctor and her team ride on sledges pulled by [[Frost Lepus]]es on Calufrax Major.
* The Doctor and her team ride on sledges pulled by [[Frost Lepus]]es on Calufrax Major.
* As a kid, Yasmin begged her parents to buy her a pet [[rabbit]]. Instead she was only allowed a cuddly toy she named [[Mister Hoppy]].
* As a kid, Yasmin begged her parents to buy her a pet [[rabbit]]. Instead she was only allowed a cuddly toy she named [[Mister Hoppy]].
* The Doctor mentions [[seashell]]s and [[turtle]]s. The growth of a seashells is facilitated by [[cell]]s secreting a [[protein matrix]], which binds [[calcium]] [[ion]]s and encourages calcification.
* The Doctor mentions [[seashell]]s and [[turtle]]s. The growth of a seashells is facilitated by [[Cell (biology)|cells]] secreting a [[protein matrix]], which binds [[calcium]] [[ion]]s and encourages calcification.


=== Plants ===
=== Plants ===
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* Graham takes a [[begonia]] into the TARDIS.
* Graham takes a [[begonia]] into the TARDIS.
* An [[orchid]] seemed to try to speak to the Doctor once on Solaria.
* An [[orchid]] seemed to try to speak to the Doctor once on Solaria.
* Gardeners grow [[tomato]]s on Tellus IV.
* Gardeners grow [[tomato]]es on Tellus IV.
* The Doctor asks the Gardeners to take her to their [[cedar]].
* The Doctor asks the Gardeners to take her to their [[cedar]].
* At Willow's picnic, the travellers sample rainbow-coloured [[grape]]s, [[fig]]s that happily sigh when bitten and blushing [[Strawberry|strawberries]] that pulsed in the hand.
* At Willow's picnic, the travellers sample rainbow-coloured [[grape]]s, [[fig]]s that happily sigh when bitten and blushing [[Strawberry|strawberries]] that pulsed in the hand.
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* Walls of the [[Rose Garden of Eternity]] were made of [[yew]] hedges.
* Walls of the [[Rose Garden of Eternity]] were made of [[yew]] hedges.
* [[Grave Digger]] weaponry was mostly plant-based and used [[black ash]] branches, [[dieback]] rounds, [[creeper]]-shot, poisonous [[hemlock]] and [[sunflower]]-based [[flamethrower]]s.
* [[Grave Digger]] weaponry was mostly plant-based and used [[black ash]] branches, [[dieback]] rounds, [[creeper]]-shot, poisonous [[hemlock]] and [[sunflower]]-based [[flamethrower]]s.
* In 3004, Mars went through the great [[ash (tree)|ash]] dieback.
* In [[3004]], Mars went through the great [[ash (tree)|ash]] dieback.
* The Rose Garden of Eternity predicted the first and second [[Venus flytrap]] massacres.
* The Rose Garden of Eternity predicted the first and second [[Venus flytrap]] massacres.
* Frost Lepuses eat [[carrot]]s.
* Frost Lepuses eat [[carrot]]s.
* Renegade Gardeners used a modified variety of [[noughtweed]].
* Renegade Gardeners used a modified variety of [[noughtweed]].
* Vault 13 contains seeds of [[doppelpod]] and [[Venusian gulper]].
* A door in Vault 13 was made of [[oak]].
* [[Genesis Seed]] was the first seed in the Galactic Seed Vault's collection.


=== Robots ===
=== Robots ===
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* [[Mars]] went through ash dieback in 3004.
* [[Mars]] went through ash dieback in 3004.
* Noughtweed is a plant from the planet [[Gehenna Prime]].
* Noughtweed is a plant from the planet [[Gehenna Prime]].
* Doppelpod is a plant from the planet [[Aether]].
* Venusian gulper is a plant from [[Venus]].


==== Earth locations ====
==== Earth locations ====
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* The Outland Sea boiled away during the [[Ice Cap Wars]].
* The Outland Sea boiled away during the [[Ice Cap Wars]].
* In [[3004]], Mars went through the great ash dieback.
* In [[3004]], Mars went through the great ash dieback.
* In [[2151]], bees invaded earth.
* In [[2151]], bees invaded Earth.
* [[3049]], Yaz lost her wallet in a [[Martian]] moon base.
* Events on Tellus IV and Calufrax Major happen no earlier than [[4004]]. Indeed, the [[Rose Garden of Eternity]] correctly predicted events of 3004, which happened at least one thousand years before the prophecy about the Doctor because the garden blooms once every thousand years and it was destroyed after the Doctor-related prophecy.
* Events on Tellus IV and Calufrax Major happen no earlier than [[4004]]. Indeed, the [[Rose Garden of Eternity]] correctly predicted events of 3004, which happened at least one thousand years before the prophecy about the Doctor because the garden blooms once every thousand years and it was destroyed after the Doctor-related prophecy.


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=== Cultural references ===
=== Cultural references ===
* ''[[Star Trek]]'' features the so-called "Prime Directive" not to meddle in other civilisations.
* ''[[Star Trek]]'' features the so-called "[[Non-interference policy|Prime Directive]]" not to meddle in other civilisations.
* Graham mistakes the high-pitched voice of his begonia for the music of the [[Bee Gees]].
* Graham mistakes the high-pitched voice of his begonia for the music of the [[Bee Gees]].
* The Doctor explains the harmlessness of the begonia by saying it is not a [[triffid]].
* The Doctor explains the harmlessness of the begonia by saying it is not a [[triffid]].
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=== Food ===
=== Food ===
* Graham is worried about dropping [[spaghetti bolognaise]] on his jumper.
* Graham is worried about dropping [[spaghetti bolognaise]] on his jumper.
* At Willows picnic, the travellers eat crunchy [[crouton]]s that never got soft.
* At Willow's picnic, the travellers eat crunchy [[crouton]]s that never got soft.
* On Calufrax Major, Ryan feels frozen like [[fish finger]]s in a freezer.
* On Calufrax Major, Ryan feels frozen like [[fish finger]]s in a freezer.


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* An audiobook was released by [[BBC Audiobooks|BBC Physical Audio]] on [[1 November (releases)|1 November]] [[2018 (releases)|2018]], read by [[Sophie Aldred]].
* An audiobook was released by [[BBC Audiobooks|BBC Physical Audio]] on [[1 November (releases)|1 November]] [[2018 (releases)|2018]], read by [[Sophie Aldred]].
* An interview with [[David Solomons]] was printed in [[DWM 532]], p. 60. In this interview, the author shared the following insights:
* An interview with [[David Solomons]] was printed in [[DWM 532]], p. 60. In this interview, the author shared the following insights:
** The idea of the novel was inspired by the real-world seed vault in Norway, which is depicted in the novel as [[Svalbard Global Seed Vault]].  
** The idea of the novel was inspired by the real-world seed vault in Norway, which is depicted in the novel as [[Svalbard Global Seed Vault]].
** The choice in favour of an "episodic, quest-style story" was made for time considerations: to make sure that a problem with one part would not jeopardise the whole.
** The choice in favour of an "episodic, quest-style story" was made for time considerations: to make sure that a problem with one part would not jeopardise the whole.
** The book had been written before [[Series 11 (Doctor Who)|Series 11]] began airing. Thus, Solomons could not closely follow the onscreen characterisation of the Doctor and her companions.
** The book had been written before [[Series 11 (Doctor Who 2005)|Series 11]] began airing. Thus, Solomons could not closely follow the onscreen characterisation of the Doctor and her companions.
* Some of the references in the novel pay behind-the-scenes homage to other famous books and stories:
* Some of the references in the novel pay behind-the-scenes homage to other famous books and stories:
** "monoliths on the moons of Europa" are reminiscent though not identical to the monolith on [[Europa (moon)|Europa]] from {{wi|2010: Odyssey Two}} by [[Arthur C. Clarke]];
** "monoliths on the moons of Europa" are reminiscent though not identical to the monolith on [[Europa (moon)|Europa]] from {{wi|2010: Odyssey Two}} by [[Arthur C. Clarke]];
Line 258: Line 241:
** the planet [[Calufrax Major]], where the Doctor receives a quest to find several keys, harkens back to the planet [[Calufrax]] from the television story ''[[The Pirate Planet (TV story)|The Pirate Planet]]'', which itself was one of the segments of the [[Key to Time]], which the [[Fourth Doctor]] was on a quest to find;
** the planet [[Calufrax Major]], where the Doctor receives a quest to find several keys, harkens back to the planet [[Calufrax]] from the television story ''[[The Pirate Planet (TV story)|The Pirate Planet]]'', which itself was one of the segments of the [[Key to Time]], which the [[Fourth Doctor]] was on a quest to find;
** Ryan thinking about [[fish finger]]s is a subtle nod to [[Eleventh Doctor]]'s favourite food right after the regeneration in the television story ''[[The Eleventh Hour (TV story)|The Eleventh Hour]]'';
** Ryan thinking about [[fish finger]]s is a subtle nod to [[Eleventh Doctor]]'s favourite food right after the regeneration in the television story ''[[The Eleventh Hour (TV story)|The Eleventh Hour]]'';
** While it is tempting to suggest that the reference to the Doctor helping [[Mozart]] deal with some haunted-mask problem might refer to the events of the audio story ''[[My Own Private Wolfgang (audio story)|My Own Private Wolfgang]]'', the details do not exactly match. While there the [[Sixth Doctor]] and [[Evelyn Smythe]] visited Mozart who was already bed-ridden and had finished his ''[[Requiem in D minor (Mozart)|Requiem]]'', famously his last musical creation, here the [[Thirteenth Doctor]] refers to an event that must have happened no later than the premiere of ''[[The Magic Flute]]''.
** While it is tempting to suggest that the reference to the Doctor helping [[Mozart]] deal with some haunted-mask problem might refer to the events of the audio story ''[[My Own Private Wolfgang (audio story)|My Own Private Wolfgang]]'', the details do not exactly match. While there the [[Sixth Doctor]] and [[Evelyn Smythe]] visited Mozart who was already bed-ridden and had finished his ''[[Requiem in D minor (Mozart)|Requiem]]'', famously his last musical creation, here the [[Thirteenth Doctor]] refers to an event that must have happened no later than the premiere of ''[[The Magic Flute]]'';
** [[Zeno's paralock]]s are an obvious allusion to {{w|Zeno's paradoxes}}, especially the dichotomy paradox revolving around the inability to reach one place from another.
* A paperback reprint was published on [[11 July (releases)|11 July]] [[2019 (releases)|2019]].
* The first chapter was printed as ''[[The Space Lord (short story)|The Space Lord]]'' with new illustrations by [[George Ermos]] in ''[[Doctor Who The Official Annual 2020]]''.


== Continuity ==
== Continuity ==
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* The Doctor recalls her encounters with [[robot Yeti|Yeti robots]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Abominable Snowmen (TV story)|The Abominable Snowmen]]'', ''[[The Web of Fear (TV story)|The Web of Fear]]'')
* The Doctor recalls her encounters with [[robot Yeti|Yeti robots]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Abominable Snowmen (TV story)|The Abominable Snowmen]]'', ''[[The Web of Fear (TV story)|The Web of Fear]]'')
* [[Ryan Sinclair]] has [[dyspraxia]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Woman Who Fell to Earth (TV story)|The Woman Who Fell to Earth]]'')
* [[Ryan Sinclair]] has [[dyspraxia]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Woman Who Fell to Earth (TV story)|The Woman Who Fell to Earth]]'')
* The Doctor mistakes a grandfather clock as [[the Master]]'s [[Goth's TARDIS|TARDIS]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Deadly Assassin (TV story)|The Deadly Assassin]]'', ''[[The Keeper of Traken (TV story)|The Keeper of Traken]]'')
* The Doctor mentions having bought a [[T-shirt]] on the planet [[Shada]], which she thought was "a terrible place". ([[TV]]: ''[[Shada (TV story)|Shada]]'', etc.)


== External links ==
== External links ==
* {{penguin|309464/doctor-who--the-secret-in-vault-13/9781405937610.html}}
* {{penguin|309464/doctor-who--the-secret-in-vault-13/9781405937610.html}}
* Official [http://rhcbooks.com/books/607125/doctor-who-the-secret-in-vault-13-by-david-solomons '''''The Secret in Vault 13'''''] page at [http://rhcbooks.com Random House Children’s Books]
* Official [http://rhcbooks.com/books/607125/doctor-who-the-secret-in-vault-13-by-david-solomons '''''The Secret in Vault 13'''''] page at [http://rhcbooks.com Random House Children’s Books]
* Free extract from [https://www.penguin.co.uk/articles/children/2018/oct/doctor-who-the-secret-in-vault-13-by-david-solomons-extract.html '''''The Secret in Vault 13'''''] at [https://www.penguin.co.uk Penguin Books]
* Free extract from [https://www.penguin.co.uk/articles/children/2018/oct/doctor-who-the-secret-in-vault-13-by-david-solomons-extract.html '''''The Secret in Vault 13'''''] at [https://www.penguin.co.uk Penguin Books]
* [https://mysite.science.uottawa.ca/rsmith43/cloister/secretvault13.htm|The Cloister Library page for The Secret in Vault 13]
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[[Category:Thirteenth Doctor novels]]
[[Category:Thirteenth Doctor novels]]
[[Category:2018 novels]]
[[Category:2018 novels]]
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[[Category:Stories set in 4028]]
[[Category:Stories set in 4028]]
[[Category:BBC Children's Books novels]]
[[Category:BBC Children's Books novels]]
[[Category:E-books]]
[[Category:Novels with audiobook readings]]

Latest revision as of 21:28, 30 April 2024

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The Secret in Vault 13 was a novel released on 1 November 2018 by BBC Children's Books. It was written by David Solomons and featured the Thirteenth Doctor, Graham, Yaz and Ryan.

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

A sinister school where graduation means death...

A monstrous mystery lurking beneath a quiet London street...

A desperate plea for help delivered by – hang on... a potted plant?

The Doctor has been summoned. The galaxy is in terrible danger, and only a Time Lord can save it. But to do so, she must break in to an ancient vault on a remote and frozen world – from which nobody has ever returned alive...

Can the Doctor and her friends Yaz, Ryan and Graham uncover the shocking secret in Vault 13?

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Fleet was planning an assault on the Avolantis System when the Thirteenth Doctor, Graham O'Brien, Ryan Sinclair and Yasmin Khan visited their planet. Space Lord Draal took possession of the TARDIS and sent a Mark VI combat mechanical to capture the crew. The Doctor reprogrammed this and other Mark VIs to prevent the Fleet from raging further wars and took prisoners held in Draal's throne room to their home planets.

By request of slightly homesick Graham, Team TARDIS returned to Sheffield to water plants in his and Ryan's apartment. One of the plants, a begonia that Graham took with him into the TARDIS used the TARDIS telepathic circuits to relay a message for the Doctor that the Gardeners of Tellus IV need her help.

The Doctor and Team TARDIS materialise on Tellus IV, where Willow, the leader of the Gardeners, imparts to the Doctor that the legendary Galactic Seed Vault on Calufrax Major was created by the First Gardener with the help of Time Lords. Willow explains that a renegade faction of the Gardeners led by Nightshade want to destroy the vault and asks for the Doctor's help. Worse than that, the vault has already been compromised by Nightshade's predecessors and messages to the keepers of the vault remain unanswered. The reason Willow contacted the Doctor now was that the Rose Garden of Eternity seemed to have predicted her involvement by depicting number 13. As Willow is showing the floral prophecy to Team TARDIS, Nightshade and his Grave Diggers, summoned by the traitor Parsley, suddenly ambush them. Nightshade burns down the Rose Garden of Eternity.

Assisted by the Lily of the Valley, the Doctor and her team escape in the TARDIS and head directly to the Galactic Seed Vault. The Doctor times their arrival to coincide with the return of a seed-collecting drone, which causes the doors to open letting them get inside. However, due to Ryan being delayed to help Graham, after he loses his footing, only the Doctor and Yaz make it inside the vault before the doors close again.

Trying to find a way to let Graham and Ryan into the vault, the Doctor discovers a hidden door of non-human proportions. A beetle-like creature emerges from it and confronts the Doctor and Yaz. It does not speak but can understand them. Upon hearing that the Doctor is a Time Lord, it takes them to the control room of the vault to see the Curatrix, the artificial intelligence running the vault. Passing through seed storage vaults, the Doctor and Yaz learn that they are too late and noughtweed smuggled into the vault by renegade Gardeners has already devastated eight of the twelve seed storage vaults. Trying to guess the renegade Gardners' plan based on modifications made to noughtweed, the Doctor discovers the existence of the thirteenth vault, to the big surprise of the Curatrix. It turns out that the insect, who confronted the Doctor and Yaz originally, who is called the Attendant, is not a mindless animal but the second guardian of the vault, capable of telepathic communication and the only guardian who knows about the secret vault and its contents. And the prophecied number 13 refers to the thirteenth vault rather than to the Doctor. The Attendant takes the Doctor and Yaz to the secret vault hidden behind a holographic shield wall.

Characters[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Fleet planet[[edit] | [edit source]]

Tellus IV[[edit] | [edit source]]

New Phaeton[[edit] | [edit source]]

London[[edit] | [edit source]]

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

Individuals[[edit] | [edit source]]

Species[[edit] | [edit source]]

Animals[[edit] | [edit source]]

Plants[[edit] | [edit source]]

Robots[[edit] | [edit source]]

Groups and organisations[[edit] | [edit source]]

Locations[[edit] | [edit source]]

Planets[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The Fleet operates from an unnamed planet.
  • Bugbeasts live on Zeta Draconis.
  • Time Lords from Gallifrey are known to the Fleet.
  • Daleks are from Skaro.
  • Carnivorous chessmen live on Proxima Ceti.
  • The Fleet devastated their own home world.
  • Hydrans originate from Polaris Alpha.
  • The Fleet defeated Murgon III.
  • Metebelis III is a planet of giant spiders.
  • The TARDIS team decides to go to Lotos B but never gets there.
  • The Doctor recalls an orchid seemingly trying to speak to her on Solaria.
  • The TARDIS crew goes to Tellus IV to meet with the Gardeners.
  • Gardeners brought topsoil from their home world.
  • The Doctor names the monoliths on the moons of Europa as one of mysteries lost in the mists of time.
  • The Galactic Seed Vault is on the ice planet of Calufrax Major.
  • Mars went through ash dieback in 3004.
  • Noughtweed is a plant from the planet Gehenna Prime.
  • Doppelpod is a plant from the planet Aether.
  • Venusian gulper is a plant from Venus.

Earth locations[[edit] | [edit source]]

Other locations[[edit] | [edit source]]

Events[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The Outland Sea boiled away during the Ice Cap Wars.
  • In 3004, Mars went through the great ash dieback.
  • In 2151, bees invaded Earth.
  • 3049, Yaz lost her wallet in a Martian moon base.
  • Events on Tellus IV and Calufrax Major happen no earlier than 4004. Indeed, the Rose Garden of Eternity correctly predicted events of 3004, which happened at least one thousand years before the prophecy about the Doctor because the garden blooms once every thousand years and it was destroyed after the Doctor-related prophecy.

TARDIS[[edit] | [edit source]]

Materials[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Mark VIs were made of phlebotinum.
  • Ryan's clothes is made from cellulose-based materials. His shoes are made from rubber and plastic.
  • The Citadel was made of iridanium steel.
  • Grave Digger leaf-based armour was harder and lighter than Kevlar.

Clothes[[edit] | [edit source]]

Technology[[edit] | [edit source]]

Earth technology[[edit] | [edit source]]

Science[[edit] | [edit source]]

Cultural references[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Star Trek features the so-called "Prime Directive" not to meddle in other civilisations.
  • Graham mistakes the high-pitched voice of his begonia for the music of the Bee Gees.
  • The Doctor explains the harmlessness of the begonia by saying it is not a triffid.
  • The Doctor compares the polar region of the ice planet Calufrax Major to Narnia.
  • The Doctor was present at the premier of The Magic Flute.

Food[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Graham is worried about dropping spaghetti bolognaise on his jumper.
  • At Willow's picnic, the travellers eat crunchy croutons that never got soft.
  • On Calufrax Major, Ryan feels frozen like fish fingers in a freezer.

Martial arts[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Yaz hopes the Doctor knows some space karate. The Doctor replies that her martial art of choice is Venusian aikido.

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

Audiobook cover.
  • The age advisory from the publisher is 8 to 12 years.
  • An audiobook was released by BBC Physical Audio on 1 November 2018, read by Sophie Aldred.
  • An interview with David Solomons was printed in DWM 532, p. 60. In this interview, the author shared the following insights:
    • The idea of the novel was inspired by the real-world seed vault in Norway, which is depicted in the novel as Svalbard Global Seed Vault.
    • The choice in favour of an "episodic, quest-style story" was made for time considerations: to make sure that a problem with one part would not jeopardise the whole.
    • The book had been written before Series 11 began airing. Thus, Solomons could not closely follow the onscreen characterisation of the Doctor and her companions.
  • Some of the references in the novel pay behind-the-scenes homage to other famous books and stories:
  • A paperback reprint was published on 11 July 2019.
  • The first chapter was printed as The Space Lord with new illustrations by George Ermos in Doctor Who The Official Annual 2020.

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

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

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