Human Nature (novel): Difference between revisions

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{{real world}}
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{{Infobox Story
{{ImageLinkNovel}}
|image= NA38 humannature.jpg
{{Infobox Story SMW
|series=[[Virgin New Adventures]]
|image           = <gallery>
|number= 38
NA38 humannature.jpg|1995
|adapted into= Human Nature (TV story)
Human Nature e-book cover.jpg|2002
|doctor=John Smith (Seventh Doctor)
DW-Human-Nature Large.jpg|2015
|companions= [[Bernice Summerfield|Benny]]
</gallery>
|featuring = Joan Redfern (novel character)
|series         = [[Virgin New Adventures]]
|featuring2 = Wolsey
|range          = Virgin New Adventures
|featuring3 = Alexander Shuttleworth
|number in range = 38
|enemy= The [[Aubertide]]s
|number         = 38
|setting= {{il|[[Crex]], the [[Augon System]]|[[Farringham]], [[Norfolk]], [[England]], [[April]] [[1914]]}}
|adapted into   = Human Nature (TV story)
|writer= [[Paul Cornell]]
|doctor         = John Smith (Seventh Doctor){{!}}John Smith
|read by= [[Lisa Bowerman]]
|featuring      = Bernice Summerfield{{!}}Benny
|publisher= Virgin Books
|featuring2      = Joan Redfern
|release date= [[18 May (releases)|18 May]] [[1995 (releases)|1995]]
|featuring3      = Wolsey
|format= Paperback Book; 16 Chapters, 256 Pages
|featuring4      = Alexander Shuttleworth
|isbn= ISBN 0-426-20443-3
|featuring5      = Death (mythology)
|prev= Sanctuary (novel)
|featuring6      = Seventh Doctor
|next= Original Sin (novel)
|enemy           = The [[Aubertide]]s
|setting         = {{il|[[Crex]], the [[Augon System]]|[[Farringham]], [[Norfolk]], [[England]], [[April]] [[1914]]}}
|writer         = Paul Cornell
|read by         = [[Lisa Bowerman]]
|cover          = [[Bill Donohoe]]
|publisher       = Virgin Books
|release date   = 18 May 1995
|format         = Paperback Book; 16 Chapters, 256 Pages
|isbn           = ISBN 0-426-20443-3
|prev           = Sanctuary (novel)
|next           = Original Sin (novel)
}}{{prose stub}}
}}{{prose stub}}
{{you may|Human Nature (TV story)|n1 = its TV adaptation}}
{{you may|Human Nature (TV story)|n1 = its TV adaptation}}
'''''Human Nature''''' was the thirty-eighth novel in the ''[[Virgin New Adventures]]'' series. It was released as an ebook on the BBC's website in November 2002. One of the most highly regarded New Adventures, it formed the basis of [[Paul Cornell]]'s two part story ''[[Human Nature (TV story)|Human Nature]]'' / ''[[The Family of Blood (TV story)|The Family of Blood]]'' for the [[Series 3 (Doctor Who)|third series]] of [[BBC Wales]]' ''[[Doctor Who]]''.
'''''Human Nature''''' was the thirty-eighth novel in the ''[[Virgin New Adventures]]'' series. It was released as an ebook on the BBC's website in November 2002. One of the most highly regarded New Adventures, it formed the basis of [[Paul Cornell]]'s two part story ''[[Human Nature (TV story)|Human Nature]]'' / ''[[The Family of Blood (TV story)|The Family of Blood]]'' for the [[Series 3 (Doctor Who 2005)|third series]] of [[BBC Wales]]' ''[[Doctor Who]]''.


== Publisher's summary ==
== Publisher's summary ==
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The Doctor's friend Benny is enjoying her holiday in the same town. But then she meets a future version of the Doctor, and things start to get dangerous very quickly. With the Doctor she knows gone, and only a suffragette and an elderly rake for company, can Benny fight off a vicious alien attack? And will Dr Smith be able to save the day?
The Doctor's friend Benny is enjoying her holiday in the same town. But then she meets a future version of the Doctor, and things start to get dangerous very quickly. With the Doctor she knows gone, and only a suffragette and an elderly rake for company, can Benny fight off a vicious alien attack? And will Dr Smith be able to save the day?


''An adventure set in Britain on the eve of the First World War, featuring the Seventh Doctor as played by Sylvester McCoy and his companion Bernice Summerfield. This book was the basis for the Tenth Doctor television story ''Human Nature / The Family of Blood'' starring David Tennant.''
''An adventure set in Britain on the eve of the First World War, featuring the Seventh Doctor as played by Sylvester McCoy and his companion Bernice Summerfield. This book was the basis for the Tenth Doctor television story ''Human Nature / The Family of Blood'' starring David Tennant.''


== Plot ==
== Plot ==
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* [[Clive Alton]] (a Time Lord)
* [[Clive Alton]] (a Time Lord)
* [[Hadleigh-Scott]]
* [[Hadleigh-Scott]]
* [[Hutchinson (novel character)|Hutchinson]]
* [[Hutchinson (Human Nature)|Hutchinson]]
* Captain [[Merryweather (novel character)|Merryweather]]
* Captain [[Merryweather (novel character)|Merryweather]]
* [[Phipps (Human Nature)|Phipps]]
* [[Phipps (Human Nature)|Phipps]]


People of [[Farringham]]
People of [[Farringham]]
* [[Jill (Human Nature novel character)|Jill]] and [[Jenny (Human Nature novel character)|Jenny]]
* [[Jill (Human Nature)|Jill]] and [[Jenny (Human Nature novel character)|Jenny]]
* Mrs [[Windrush (Human Nature)|Windrush]]
* Mrs [[Windrush (Human Nature)|Windrush]]
* Mr [[Hodges]]
* Mr [[Hodges (Human Nature)|Hodges]]
* [[Constance Harding]]
* [[Constance Harding]]
* Mr [[Sangster]]
* Mr [[Sangster]]
Line 85: Line 95:
* Constable [[Bickerston]]
* Constable [[Bickerston]]
* [[Nathan Bottomley]]
* [[Nathan Bottomley]]
* [[Horace]]
* [[Horace (Human Nature)|Horace]]
* [[Richard Hadleman]]
* [[Richard Hadleman]]


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Seen orbiting the planet
Seen orbiting the planet
* [[Nemesis]]
* [[Nemesis]]
[[Eternal|Eternals]]
* [[Death (Timewyrm: Revelation)|Death]]


== References ==
== Worldbuilding ==
=== Astronomical objects ===
=== Astronomical objects ===
* The [[Aubertide]]s state that [[Earth]] is in the arm of [[Mutter's Spiral]] in the [[Stellarian Galaxy]], whilst [[Gallifrey]] is at the core.
* The [[Aubertide]]s state that [[Earth]] is in the arm of [[Mutter's Spiral]] in the [[Stellarian Galaxy]], whilst [[Gallifrey]] is at the core.
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* Benny drinks six pints on the planet [[Crex]].
* Benny drinks six pints on the planet [[Crex]].
* [[Seventh Doctor|The Doctor]] hates [[pear]]s.
* [[Seventh Doctor|The Doctor]] hates [[pear]]s.
* Bernice refers to Mr Kipling pies. Bottomly thinks she is referring to [[Rudyard Kipling]].
* Benny refers to [[Mr Kipling]] pies. [[Nathan Bottomley|Bottomley]] thinks she is referring to [[Rudyard Kipling]].


=== Individuals ===
=== Individuals ===
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* [[Clive Alton]] is a [[Time Lord]], undercover as a student to ensure the situation remains under control.
* [[Clive Alton]] is a [[Time Lord]], undercover as a student to ensure the situation remains under control.
* John and Joan often play [[whist]].
* John and Joan often play [[whist]].
=== Influences ===
* [[Paul Cornell]] was heavily inspired by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Campbell Joseph Campbell]'s ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hero_with_a_Thousand_Faces The Hero With a Thousand Faces],'' in particular the stage known as the “apotheosis”, in which a hero gave up everything in order to gain enlightenment.


=== Languages ===
=== Languages ===
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=== Occupations ===
=== Occupations ===
* [[John Smith (Seventh Doctor)|John Smith]] and [[Joan Redfern (novel character)|Joan Redfern]] work at [[Hulton College]].
* [[John Smith (Seventh Doctor)|John Smith]] and [[Joan Redfern (novel character)|Joan Redfern]] work at [[Hulton College]].
* John Smith is a history teacher.
* John Smith is a [[history]] [[teacher]].
* Joan Redfern is a science teacher. She doesn't like teaching at the school.
* Joan Redfern is a [[science]] teacher. She doesn't like teaching at the school.


=== Organisations ===
=== Organisations ===
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=== Personifications of concepts ===
=== Personifications of concepts ===
* [[Death (Timewyrm: Revelation)|Death]] collects Smith as a life owed by the Doctor.
* [[Death (mythology)|Death]] collects Smith as a life owed by the Doctor.


=== Species ===
=== Species ===
* The [[Aubertide]]s are from the planet [[Aubris]]. They are shape shifters, and reproduce asexually via buds on their backs.
* The [[Aubertide]]s are from the planet [[Aubris]]. They are shape-shifters, and reproduce asexually via buds on their backs.
* The Doctor has created a clay model of a [[Zygon]].
* The Doctor has created a clay model of a [[Zygon]].


=== Time Lords ===
=== Time Lords ===
* The Doctor claims that [[Time Lord]]s dream of what it is to be able to fly, be a different sex or to have a child.
* The Doctor claims that [[Time Lord]]s dream of what it is to be able to fly, be a different sex or to have a child.
=== Titles ===
* Bernice describes herself as the current occupier of the [[Proxima University]] [[Chair Of Archaeology]] and holder of the [[Martian Gallantry Medal]].


== Notes ==
== Notes ==
* A television adaptation of this story appeared in the 2007 series of ''[[Doctor Who]]'', entitled [[TV]]: ''[[Human Nature (TV story)|Human Nature]]''/''[[The Family of Blood (TV story)|The Family of Blood]]''.
* A television adaptation of this story appeared in the 2007 series of ''[[Doctor Who]]'', entitled ''[[Human Nature (TV story)|Human Nature]]''/''[[The Family of Blood (TV story)|The Family of Blood]]'', with several changes in the story.
* A [[Prelude Human Nature (short story)|prelude]] to this novel was published in [[DWM 226]].
* A [[Prelude Human Nature (short story)|prelude]] to this novel was published in [[DWM 226]].
* The novel features a sequence where Greeneye meets Bernice whilst pretending to be the [[Tenth Doctor|tenth incarnation of the Doctor]]. Coincidentally, the television adaptation featured the [[Tenth Doctor]] as portrayed by [[David Tennant]].
* The novel features a sequence where Greeneye meets Bernice whilst pretending to be the [[Tenth Doctor|tenth incarnation of the Doctor]]. Coincidentally, the television adaptation featured the [[Tenth Doctor]] as portrayed by [[David Tennant]].
* This novel was the second to be re-released by BBCi on the official Doctor Who website in ebook form, in November 2002. It was accompanied by extensive notes and commentary from author Paul Cornell and new illustrations from artist [[Daryl Joyce]]. The ebook featured minor differences from the original text, most notably the censorship of Joan's use of the N-word. It became inaccessible in 2010.
* This novel was the second to be re-released by BBCi on the official Doctor Who website in ebook form, in November 2002. It was accompanied by extensive notes and commentary from author Paul Cornell and new illustrations from artist [[Daryl Joyce]]. The ebook featured minor differences from the original text, most notably the censorship of Joan's use of the N-word. It became inaccessible in 2010.
* The novel was reprinted as part of ''The History Collection'' in [[February (releases)|February]] [[2015 (releases)|2015]], with a new cover and introduction by Cornell. An audiobook of the story was released in [[August (releases)|August]] [[2015 (releases)|2015]], read by [[Lisa Bowerman]].
* The novel was reprinted as part of ''The History Collection'' in [[February (releases)|February]] [[2015 (releases)|2015]], with a new cover and introduction by Cornell.
* This novel marks the first time the Doctor is shown to kiss someone romantically, though he is [[John Smith (Seventh Doctor)|someone else]] at the time. The Doctor would not be shown to kiss someone on screen until the following year when the [[Eighth Doctor]] kisses [[Grace Holloway|Grace]] in the [[Doctor Who (TV story)|TV movie]].


== Continuity ==
== Continuity ==
* Death takes Smith as the life the Doctor promised her, rather than for Ace's. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Love and War (novel)|Love and War]])''.
* Death takes Smith as the life the Doctor promised her during [[PROSE]]: ''[[Love and War (novel)|Love and War]]''.
* In [[TV]]: ''[[Doctor Who (TV story)|Doctor Who]]'', the [[Eighth Doctor]] kisses Grace twice; in ''Human Nature'' the [[Seventh Doctor|Seventh]] kisses Joan six times. This makes the Seventh Doctor the first to be shown to kiss, despite being [[John Smith (Seventh Doctor)|someone else]] at the time.
* [[Bernice Summerfield|Benny]] is still thinking of [[Guy de Carnac]]'s death after the events of [[PROSE]]: ''[[Sanctuary (novel)|Sanctuary]]''.
* [[Bernice Summerfield|Benny]] is still thinking of [[Guy de Carnac]]'s death. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Sanctuary (novel)|Sanctuary]]'')
* Benny recalls Ace's departure during [[PROSE]]: ''[[Set Piece (novel)|Set Piece]]''.
* Bernice recalls Ace's departure. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Love and War (novel)|Love and War]]'')
* Whilst discussing Benny's device, the Doctor claims he threw away the manual, just as he did when he first took control of the TARDIS. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Beginning (audio story)|The Beginning]]'')
* Whilst discussing Benny's device, the Doctor claims he threw away the manual, just as he did when he first took control of the TARDIS. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Beginning (audio story)|The Beginning]]'')
* Benny isn't convinced she'll ever have children. She later had a son, [[Peter Summerfield|Peter]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Squire's Crystal (novel)|The Squire's Crystal]]'')
* Benny isn't convinced she'll ever have children. She later had a son, [[Peter Summerfield|Peter]] in [[PROSE]]: ''[[The Squire's Crystal (novel)|The Squire's Crystal]]''.
* John Smith tells his students about [[Boudica]]'s failed revolt against the [[Roman Empire]] in [[Great Britain|Roman Britain]] in [[60]]. The [[Fourth Doctor]] and his [[companion]] [[Leela]] encountered the [[Iceni]] [[Queen]] shortly before her army's attack on the Roman capital city of [[Colchester|Camulodunum]] in the midst of the rebellion. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Wrath of the Iceni (audio story)|The Wrath of the Iceni]]'')
* John Smith tells his students about [[Boudica]]'s failed revolt against the [[Roman Empire]] in [[Great Britain|Roman Britain]] in [[60]]. In [[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Wrath of the Iceni (audio story)|The Wrath of the Iceni]]'' the [[Fourth Doctor]] and his [[companion]] [[Leela]] encountered the [[Iceni]] [[Queen]] shortly before her army's attack on the Roman capital city of [[Colchester|Camulodunum]] in the midst of the rebellion.
* Bernice claims John's brother Jonathan has returned to Gallifrey in [[Ireland]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Hand of Fear (TV story)|The Hand of Fear]]'')
* Benny claims John's brother Jonathan has returned to Gallifrey in [[Ireland]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Hand of Fear (TV story)|The Hand of Fear]]'')
* John recalls knowing a [[Barbara Wright|Barbara]] in [[Rome]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Romans (TV story)|The Romans]]'')
* John recalls knowing a [[Barbara Wright|Barbara]] in [[Rome]], a memory of [[TV]]: ''[[The Romans (TV story)|The Romans]]''.
* John recalls a [[The Master|man with a beard]] who always upset his experiments. ([[TV]]: ''[[Terror of the Autons (TV story)|Terror of the Autons]]'' et al)
* John recalls a [[The Master|man with a beard]] who always upset his experiments, a memory of the Master, first seen in [[TV]]: ''[[Terror of the Autons (TV story)|Terror of the Autons]]''.
* In the story ''The Old Man and the Police Box'', John writes of how the [[Time Lord|people of Gallifrey]] can no longer have children. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Lungbarrow (novel)|Lungbarrow]]'')
* In the story ''The Old Man and the Police Box'', John writes of how the [[Time Lord|people of Gallifrey]] can no longer have children, which would be explored in [[PROSE]]: ''[[Lungbarrow (novel)|Lungbarrow]]''.
* The Doctor claims that Time Lords dream of what it would be like to become the opposite sex. The [[Eleventh Doctor]] would later state he knew [[the Corsair]] in both male and female incarnations, indicating they could change sex during [[regeneration]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Doctor's Wife]]'') This was later confirmed when the Master regenerated into a woman. ([[TV]]: ''[[Dark Water (TV story)|Dark Water]]'') The Doctor himself eventually regenerated into a [[Thirteenth Doctor|female body]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Twice Upon a Time (TV story)|Twice Upon a Time]]'')
* The Doctor claims that Time Lords dream of what it would be like to become the opposite sex. The [[Eleventh Doctor]] would later state he knew [[the Corsair]] in both male and female incarnations, indicating they could change sex during [[regeneration]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Doctor's Wife (TV story)}}) This was later confirmed when the Master regenerated into a woman. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Dark Water (TV story)}}) The Doctor himself eventually regenerated into a [[Thirteenth Doctor|female body]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Twice Upon a Time (TV story)}})
* Alexander is surprised to learn that Bernice received military training. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Love and War (novel)|Love and War]]'')
* Alexander is surprised to learn that Bernice received military training. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Love and War (novel)|Love and War]]'')
* John says that he is [[Merlin]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Battlefield (TV story)|Battlefield]]'' et al.)
* John says that he is [[Merlin]], which was first mentioned in [[TV]]: ''[[Battlefield (TV story)|Battlefield]]''.
* [[Wrightson]] briefly communicates with [[Nemesis]] as she passes by the Earth. ([[TV]]: ''[[Silver Nemesis (TV story)|Silver Nemesis]]'')
* [[Wrightson]] briefly communicates with [[Nemesis]] as she passes by the Earth. ([[TV]]: ''[[Silver Nemesis (TV story)|Silver Nemesis]]'')
* John says that [[Isaac Newton|Newton]] was a very bad-tempered man. He met him in his [[Fifth Doctor|fifth incarnation]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Summer (audio story)|Summer]]'')
* John says that [[Isaac Newton|Newton]] was a very bad-tempered man. His fourth incarnation mentioned meeting him before ([[TV]]: [[The Pirate Planet (TV story)|''The Pirate Planet'']]) and later met him in his [[Fifth Doctor|fifth]] ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Summer (audio story)|Summer]])'' and [[Fourteenth Doctor|fourteenth]] incarnations. ([[TV]]: [[Wild Blue Yonder (TV story)|''Wild Blue Yonder'']])
* The Doctor says he could assume the identity of John Smith again. ([[TV]]: ''[[Human Nature (TV story)|Human Nature]]''/''[[The Family of Blood (TV story)|The Family of Blood]]'')
* The Doctor says he could assume the identity of John Smith again, but that it wouldn't be the same John Smith, which would later be seen in [[TV]]: {{cs|Human Nature (TV story)}}/{{cs|The Family of Blood (TV story)}}.
* John mentions living seaweed to Joan, much to her amusement. ([[TV]]: ''[[Fury from the Deep (TV story)|Fury from the Deep]]'')
* John mentions living seaweed to Joan, much to her amusement. ([[TV]]: ''[[Fury from the Deep (TV story)|Fury from the Deep]]'')
* The Doctor tells Bernice about [[Oolian]]s and [[Oolis]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Original Sin (novel)|Original Sin]]'')
* When drawing on the Doctor's personality, John says "there's another way" ([[TV]]: ''[[Warriors of the Deep (TV story)|Warriors of the Deep]]'') and "throw away your gun". ([[TV]]: ''[[The Happiness Patrol (TV story)|The Happiness Patrol]]'')
* When Wolsey enters the Doctor's TARDIS, he smells, that there was another cat there some time ago, but now it is gone. This can be interpreted as both [[Lynx (Cat's Cradle: Time's Crucible)|Lynx]] ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Cat's Cradle: Time's Crucible (novel)|Cat's Cradle: Time's Crucible]]'', ''[[Cat's Cradle: Warhead (novel)|Cat's Cradle: Warhead]]'', ''[[Cat's Cradle: Witch Mark (novel)|Cat's Cradle: Witch Mark]]'') and/or [[Antranak (cat)|Antranak]] ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Eye of the Scorpion (audio story)|The Eye of the Scorpion]]'', ''[[No Place Like Home (audio story)|No Place Like Home]]'', ''[[Nekromanteia (audio story)|Nekromanteia]]'').
* "Verity", who John Smith meets here, can be interpreted as an unintended vision/foreshadowing of [[Patience]] ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Cold Fusion (novel)|Cold Fusion]]'', [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Cold Fusion (audio story)|Cold Fusion]]'').


== Illustrations ==
== Illustrations ==
* Includes seventeen illustrations from the e-book by [[Daryl Joyce]], originally published on the BBC's website.
* Includes seventeen illustrations from the e-book by [[Daryl Joyce]], originally published on the BBC's website.
<gallery position=center captionalign=center hideaddbutton="true" >
<gallery position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true">
File:Human Nature prelude.jpg|(Prelude)
File:Human Nature prelude.jpg|(Prelude)
File:Human Nature prologue.jpg|(Prologue)
File:Human Nature prologue.jpg|(Prologue)
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<gallery position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true">
<gallery position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true">
Human Nature e-book cover.jpg|E-Book cover, designed to resemble the Past Doctor Adventures. Artwork by Daryl Joyce.
Human Nature e-book cover.jpg|E-Book cover, designed to resemble the Past Doctor Adventures. Artwork by Daryl Joyce.
DW-Human-Nature Large.jpg|''[[The History Collection]]'' cover
DW-Human-Nature Large.jpg|2015 edition. Cover by [[Two Associates]].
</gallery>
 
== Audiobook ==
* This novel was released as an audiobook on [[20 August (releases)|20 August]] [[2015 (releases)|2015]] complete and unabridged by [[BBC Audio]] and read by [[Lisa Bowerman]].
 
<gallery position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true">
Human Nature audiobook.jpg|Audiobook cover
</gallery>
</gallery>


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* {{whoniverse|na38|Human Nature}}
* {{whoniverse|na38|Human Nature}}
* [http://mysite.science.uottawa.ca/rsmith43/cloister/huma.htm The Cloister Library: '''Human Nature''']
* [http://mysite.science.uottawa.ca/rsmith43/cloister/huma.htm The Cloister Library: '''Human Nature''']
* [http://www.drwhoguide.com/whona38p.htm Prelude to '''Human Nature''' as published in DWM #226]
* [https://doctorwho.guide/whona38p.htm Prelude to '''Human Nature''' as published in DWM #226]


* [http://doctorwho.org.nz/archive/tsv48/paulcornell.html Paul Cornell by Paul Scoones (Interview) - TSV 48]
* [http://doctorwho.org.nz/archive/tsv48/paulcornell.html Paul Cornell by Paul Scoones (Interview) - TSV 48]
{{NA}}
{{NA}}
{{TitleSort}}
{{TitleSort}}
[[es:Human nature]]


 
[[Category:Bernice Summerfield sources]]
[[es:Human nature]]
[[Category:Bernice Summerfield stories]]
[[Category:E-books]]
[[Category:E-books]]
[[Category:Stories set in 1914]]
[[Category:Stories set in 1914]]
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[[Category:1995 novels]]
[[Category:1995 novels]]
[[Category:Stories set in Norfolk]]
[[Category:Stories set in Norfolk]]
[[Category:Novels with audiobook readings]]

Latest revision as of 20:21, 3 November 2024

RealWorld.png

prose stub
You may be looking for its TV adaptation.

Human Nature was the thirty-eighth novel in the Virgin New Adventures series. It was released as an ebook on the BBC's website in November 2002. One of the most highly regarded New Adventures, it formed the basis of Paul Cornell's two part story Human Nature / The Family of Blood for the third series of BBC Wales' Doctor Who.

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

1995 Virgin Books Edition[[edit] | [edit source]]

"Who's going to save us this time?"

April, 1914. The inhabitants of the little Norfolk town of Farringham are enjoying an early summer, unaware that war is on the way. Amongst them is Dr John Smith, a short, middle-aged history teacher from Aberdeen. He's having a hard time with his new post as house master at Hulton College, a school dedicated to producing military officers.

Bernice Summerfield is enjoying her holiday in the town, getting over the terrible events that befell her in France. But then she meets a future Doctor, and things start to get dangerous very quickly. With the Doctor she knows gone, and only a suffragette and an elderly rake for company, can Benny fight off a vicious alien attack? And will Dr Smith be able to save the day?

2015 BBC Books Edition[[edit] | [edit source]]

Hulton College in Norfolk is a school dedicated to producing military officers. With the First World War about to start, the boys of the school will soon be on the front line. But no one expects a war – not even Dr John Smith, the college's new house master...

The Doctor's friend Benny is enjoying her holiday in the same town. But then she meets a future version of the Doctor, and things start to get dangerous very quickly. With the Doctor she knows gone, and only a suffragette and an elderly rake for company, can Benny fight off a vicious alien attack? And will Dr Smith be able to save the day?

An adventure set in Britain on the eve of the First World War, featuring the Seventh Doctor as played by Sylvester McCoy and his companion Bernice Summerfield. This book was the basis for the Tenth Doctor television story Human Nature / The Family of Blood starring David Tennant.

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

to be added

Characters[[edit] | [edit source]]

Main characters[[edit] | [edit source]]

Other characters[[edit] | [edit source]]

Aubertides

In the beer tent

The boys at Hulton Academy

People of Farringham

School teachers

Soldiers outside the time barrier

Time Lords in a possible future of Gallifrey

Seen orbiting the planet

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

Astronomical objects[[edit] | [edit source]]

Biology[[edit] | [edit source]]

Foods and beverages[[edit] | [edit source]]

Individuals[[edit] | [edit source]]

Influences[[edit] | [edit source]]

Languages[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Cruk is a profanity which Greeneye and Benny often use.

Literature[[edit] | [edit source]]

Occupations[[edit] | [edit source]]

Organisations[[edit] | [edit source]]

Personifications of concepts[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Death collects Smith as a life owed by the Doctor.

Species[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The Aubertides are from the planet Aubris. They are shape-shifters, and reproduce asexually via buds on their backs.
  • The Doctor has created a clay model of a Zygon.

Time Lords[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The Doctor claims that Time Lords dream of what it is to be able to fly, be a different sex or to have a child.

Titles[[edit] | [edit source]]

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • A television adaptation of this story appeared in the 2007 series of Doctor Who, entitled Human Nature/The Family of Blood, with several changes in the story.
  • A prelude to this novel was published in DWM 226.
  • The novel features a sequence where Greeneye meets Bernice whilst pretending to be the tenth incarnation of the Doctor. Coincidentally, the television adaptation featured the Tenth Doctor as portrayed by David Tennant.
  • This novel was the second to be re-released by BBCi on the official Doctor Who website in ebook form, in November 2002. It was accompanied by extensive notes and commentary from author Paul Cornell and new illustrations from artist Daryl Joyce. The ebook featured minor differences from the original text, most notably the censorship of Joan's use of the N-word. It became inaccessible in 2010.
  • The novel was reprinted as part of The History Collection in February 2015, with a new cover and introduction by Cornell.
  • This novel marks the first time the Doctor is shown to kiss someone romantically, though he is someone else at the time. The Doctor would not be shown to kiss someone on screen until the following year when the Eighth Doctor kisses Grace in the TV movie.

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

Illustrations[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Includes seventeen illustrations from the e-book by Daryl Joyce, originally published on the BBC's website.

Additional cover images[[edit] | [edit source]]

Audiobook[[edit] | [edit source]]

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