Placebo Effect (novel): Difference between revisions

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{{real world}}
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{{Infobox Story
{{Infobox Story SMW
|image=Placebo Effect.jpg
|image = Placebo Effect.jpg
|series=[[BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures]]
|range= BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures
|number in range = 13
|series = [[BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures]]
|number= 13
|number= 13
|doctor=Eighth Doctor
|doctor = Eighth Doctor
|companions=[[Sam Jones|Sam]]
|companions=[[Sam Jones|Sam]]
|featuring = Stacy Townsend
|featuring2 = Ssard
|enemy= [[Wirrn]]
|enemy= [[Wirrn]]
|setting= [[Micawber's World]], [[July]] [[3999]]
|setting= [[Micawber's World]], [[July]] [[3999]]
|writer= [[Gary Russell]]
|writer= Gary Russell
|publisher= BBC Books
|publisher= BBC Books
|cover=[[Black Sheep]]
|cover = [[Black Sheep]]
|release date= [[6 July (releases)|6 July]] [[1998 (releases)|1998]]
|release date= 6 July 1998
|format= Paperback Book; 12 Chapters, 279 Pages
|format= Paperback Book; 12 Chapters, 279 Pages
|isbn= ISBN 0-563-40587-2
|isbn= ISBN 0-563-40587-2
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'''''Placebo Effect''''' was the thirteenth novel in the [[BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures]] series. It was written by [[Gary Russell]], released [[6 July (releases)|6 July]] [[1998 (releases)|1998]] and featured the [[Eighth Doctor]] and [[Sam Jones]].
'''''Placebo Effect''''' was the thirteenth novel in the [[BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures]] series. It was written by [[Gary Russell]], released [[6 July (releases)|6 July]] [[1998 (releases)|1998]] and featured the [[Eighth Doctor]] and [[Sam Jones]].


It also featured [[Stacy Townsend]] and [[Ssard]], a human and Ice Warrior respectively, who had travelled with the Doctor in the [[RT comic stories|''Radio Times'' comic stories]]. This novel therefore is the first BBC Books novel to feature a crossing of two different ranges.
It also featured [[Stacy Townsend]] and [[Ssard]], a human and Ice Warrior respectively, who had travelled with the Doctor in the [[RT comic stories|''Radio Times'' comic stories]]. This novel was the second BBC Books novel to feature a crossing of two different ranges, following the previous month's ''[[Mission: Impractical (novel)|Mission: Impractical]]''.


== Publisher's summary ==
== Publisher's summary ==
It is [[3999]]. An artificial planetoid, [[Micawber's World]], is hosting the [[Intergalactic Olympic Games]], and athletes from all the worlds in the [[Galactic Federation]] are coming to take part. But when the Doctor and Sam arrive, murders soon begin...
It is [[3999]]. An artificial planetoid, [[Micawber's World]], is hosting the [[Intergalactic Olympic Games]], and athletes from all the worlds in the [[Galactic Federation]] are coming to take part. But when [[Eighth Doctor|the Doctor]] and [[Sam Jones|Sam]] arrive, murders soon begin...


The Doctor finds himself drafted in to examine some bizarre new drugs that are said to enhance the natural potential of the competing athletes. But what is their real purpose? Why are members of the Security Forces disappearing randomly? And just why is [[Chase Carrington]], manufacturer of the drug, so protective of his company's secrets?
The Doctor finds himself drafted in to examine some bizarre new [[Drug|drugs]] that are said to enhance the natural potential of the competing athletes. But what is their real purpose? Why are members of the Security Forces disappearing randomly? And just why is [[Chase Carrington]], manufacturer of the drug, so protective of his company's secrets?


Watching and waiting, at the very heart of Micawber's World, is a race of parasites the Doctor has fought before. The [[Wirrn]] have come to the [[Milky Way]] from [[Andromeda (galaxy)|Andromeda]], determined to spread their seed throughout a whole new galaxy, and it seems to Sam that the Doctor's hands are too full to pay their threat full attention...
Watching and waiting, at the very heart of Micawber's World, is a race of parasites the Doctor has fought before. The [[Wirrn]] have come to the [[Milky Way]] from [[Andromeda (galaxy)|Andromeda]], determined to spread their seed throughout a whole new galaxy, and it seems to Sam that the Doctor's hands are too full to pay their threat full attention...
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* [[Stacy Townsend]]
* [[Stacy Townsend]]
* [[Ssard]]
* [[Ssard]]
* [[Mary Townsend]]
* [[Christopher Townsend]]
* [[Susan Dallion]]
* [[Susan Dallion]]
* [[Chase Carrington]]
* [[Chase Carrington]]
* [[Susan Dallion]]
* [[Duchess of Auckland]]
* [[Duchess of Auckland]]
* [[Green Fingers (Placebo Effect)|Green Fingers]]
* [[Green Fingers (Placebo Effect)|Green Fingers]]
* [[Lukas (Placebo Effect)|Lukas]]
* [[Lukas (Placebo Effect)|Lukas]]
* [[Miles Mason]]
* [[Miles Mason]]
* [[Ritchie (Placebo Effect)|Ritchie]]
* [[Gary Ritchie]]
* [[Sox]]
* [[Sox]]
* [[Sumner]]
* [[Algernon Sumner]]
* [[Torin Chalfont]]
* [[Torin Chalfont]]
* [[Madox]]
* [[Madox]]
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* [[Jean-Paul Cartwright]]
* [[Jean-Paul Cartwright]]
* [[Ed Salt (Placebo Effect)|Ed Salt]]
* [[Ed Salt (Placebo Effect)|Ed Salt]]
* [[Rutherford (Placebo Effect)|Rutherford]]
* [[Ntumbe]]
* [[Matt Mason]]
* [[Labus]]
* [[Suki Raymond]]
* [[J. Garth Wilcox]]
* [[J. Garth Wilcox's wife]]
* [[Peter Clarke]]
* [[Klein (Placebo Effect)|Klein]]
* [[McCarrick (Placebo Effect)|McCarrick]]
* [[Carruthers (Placebo Effect)|Carruthers]]
* [[Morris (Placebo Effect)|Morris]]
* [[Steven Bailey]]
* [[John McGeoch]]
* [[Robbie Smith]]
* [[McKay (Placebo Effect)|McKay]]
* [[Marco Pirroni]]
* [[Andrew Raymond]]
* [[Fenton (Placebo Effect)|Fenton]]
* [[Bobby Franks]]
* [[Mrs Sumner (Placebo Effect)|Mrs Sumner]]
* [[Mrs Sumner's mother (Placebo Effect)|Mrs Sumner's mother]]
* [[Nikolas (Placebo Effect)|Nikolas]]
* [[Plato Aristotle]]
* [[Chwekitwpt|Krassix]]
* [[M'Rek'd]]
* [[P'Fer'd]]
* [[Frankie (Placebo Effect)|Frankie]]
* [[Maximilian Girard]]
* [[Veronique (Placebo Effect)|Veronique]]
* [[Marcus (Placebo Effect)|Marcus]]
* [[Eldritch (Placebo Effect)|Eldritch]]
* [[Typtpwtyp]]
* [[Ethelredd]]
* [[Aigburth (Placebo Effect)|Aigburth]]
* [[Gar (Placebo Effect)|Gar]]
* [[Edyth (Placebo Effect)|Edyth]]
* [[Cait (Placebo Effect)|Cait]]
* [[Artemis (Placebo Effect)|Artemis]]
* [[Garth (Placebo Effect)|Garth]]
* [[Bodicha]]
* [[De'Ath]]
* [[Hedges (Placebo Effect)|Hedges]]
* [[G'res'lx]]
* [[Jis Tok Nannarn]]
* [[Dev Jeol]]
* [[Mrs Jeol]]
* [[Receb]]
* [[Gielgud]]
* [[Zzano'pt'll]]
* [[Tarrant (Placebo Effect)|Tarrant]]
* [[Patriarch One]]
* [[Patriarch Two]]
* [[Patriarch Three]]
* [[Patriarch Four]]
* [[B'nel'ye't]]


== References ==
== Worldbuilding ==
 
=== The Doctor ===
* There are notes pertaining to the [[Seventh Doctor]] in the Galactic Federation database referring to [[Peladon]], the [[Diadem|Ancient Diadem]] and the planet [[Pakhar]].
 
=== Individuals ===
=== Individuals ===
* There is a bust of [[Rassilon]] in the TARDIS.
* There is a bust of [[Rassilon]] in the TARDIS.
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=== Planets ===
=== Planets ===
:* [[Livista]], [[Tyrexus]], the [[Phylox]] system, [[Coscos]], [[Salostopus]], the [[rimworlds]] of [[Golos]] and [[Vysp]] are all part of the Andromedan Galaxy.
* [[Livista]], [[Tyrexus]], the [[Phylox]] system, [[Coscos]], [[Salostopus]], the [[rimworlds]] of [[Golos]] and [[Vysp]] are all part of the Andromedan Galaxy.
* [[Earth]] is the centre of the [[Galactic Federation]].
* [[Earth]] is the centre of the [[Galactic Federation]].
* Terrorists and criminals are imprisoned on the planet [[Desperus]].
* Terrorists and criminals are imprisoned on the planet [[Desperus]].
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* In his introduction Gary Russell notes that the Wirrrn were spelt with three Rs in the novelisation of ''[[The Ark in Space (TV story)|The Ark in Space]]'', and continues the tradition throughout this novel.
* In his introduction Gary Russell notes that the Wirrrn were spelt with three Rs in the novelisation of ''[[The Ark in Space (TV story)|The Ark in Space]]'', and continues the tradition throughout this novel.
* There were at least two alternate covers for this novel:
* There were at least two alternate covers for this novel:
<gallery position=center captionalign=center hideaddbutton="true" >
<gallery position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true">
File:Placebo Effect Alt cover1.jpg
File:Placebo Effect Alt cover1.jpg
File:Placebo Effect Alt cover2.jpg
File:Placebo Effect Alt cover2.jpg
</gallery>
</gallery>
* The name Room 101 is a reference to {{w|Room 101|a room of the same name}} from [[George Orwell]]'s {{wi|Nineteen-Eighty Four}}. In fact one line in the novel states "Room 101.1984".
* The name Room 101 is a reference to {{w|Room 101|a room of the same name}} from [[George Orwell]]'s ''[[Nineteen Eighty-Four]]''. In fact one line in the novel states "Room 101.1984".


== Continuity ==
== Continuity ==
* The Doctor last encountered Ice Warriors en masse in [[PROSE]]: ''[[The Dying Days]]''.
* The Doctor last encountered Ice Warriors en masse in [[PROSE]]: ''[[The Dying Days (novel)|The Dying Days]]''.
* There are notes pertaining to the [[Seventh Doctor]] in the Galactic Federation database referring to [[Peladon]], the [[Diadem|Ancient Diadem]] and the planet [[Pakhar]] - events shown in [[PROSE]]: ''[[Legacy (novel)|Legacy]].''
* The Wirrn first appeared in [[TV]]: ''[[The Ark in Space (TV story)|The Ark in Space]]''.
* The Wirrn first appeared in [[TV]]: ''[[The Ark in Space (TV story)|The Ark in Space]]''.
* The Foamasi first appeared in [[TV]]: ''[[The Leisure Hive (TV story)|The Leisure Hive]]''.
* The Foamasi first appeared in [[TV]]: ''[[The Leisure Hive (TV story)|The Leisure Hive]]''.
* The planet [[Golos]] is mentioned in [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Bang-Bang-a-Boom!]]''.
* The planet [[Golos]] is mentioned in [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Bang-Bang-a-Boom! (audio story)|Bang-Bang-a-Boom!]]''.
* Sam mentions, "Only magicians could take me to Victorian London ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Bodysnatchers]]'') or twenty-second century Borneo". ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Alien Bodies]]'')
* Sam mentions, "Only magicians could take me to Victorian London ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Bodysnatchers (novel)|The Bodysnatchers]]'') or twenty-second century Borneo". ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Alien Bodies (novel)|Alien Bodies]]'')
* The Doctor states, "I've never had a faith, as such. I had a House. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Lungbarrow (novel)|Lungbarrow]]'') And a birthsign. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Creature from the Pit (TV story)|The Creature from the Pit]]'') And a Chapter to be loyal to." ([[TV]]: ''[[The Deadly Assassin (TV story)|The Deadly Assassin]]'')
* The Doctor states, "I've never had a faith, as such. I had a House. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Lungbarrow (novel)|Lungbarrow]]'') And a birthsign. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Creature from the Pit (TV story)|The Creature from the Pit]]'') And a Chapter to be loyal to." ([[TV]]: ''[[The Deadly Assassin (TV story)|The Deadly Assassin]]'')
* Sam recalls leaving the Doctor in [[PROSE]]: ''[[Longest Day]]'' and seeing him again in [[PROSE]]: ''[[Dreamstone Moon (novel)|Dreamstone Moon]]'', and her time spent away from him in [[PROSE]]: ''[[Seeing I]]''.
* Sam recalls leaving the Doctor in [[PROSE]]: ''[[Longest Day (novel)|The Longest Day]]'' and seeing him again in [[PROSE]]: ''[[Dreamstone Moon (novel)|Dreamstone Moon]]'', and her time spent away from him in [[PROSE]]: ''[[Seeing I (novel)|Seeing I]]''.
* The Doctor states he saw the birth of mankind as single celled [[amoeba]], which is probably [[TV]]: ''[[City of Death (TV story)|City of Death]]''.
* The Doctor states he saw the birth of mankind as single celled [[amoeba]], which is probably [[TV]]: ''[[City of Death (TV story)|City of Death]]''.
* The Galactic Federation, Space Security Service and Guardian of the Solar System all first appeared in [[TV]]: ''[[The Daleks' Master Plan (TV story)|The Daleks' Master Plan]]''.
* The Galactic Federation, Space Security Service and Guardian of the Solar System all first appeared in [[TV]]: ''[[The Daleks' Master Plan (TV story)|The Daleks' Master Plan]]''.
* Sam has encountered [[Psionovore]]s. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Minuet in Hell]]'')
* Sam has encountered [[Psionovore]]s. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Minuet in Hell (audio story)|Minuet in Hell]]'')
* The Doctor mentions [[Victoria Waterfield|Victoria]] and [[Tegan Jovanka|Tegan]] as previous companions.
* Doctor Mason sees several species at the Games which first appeared in ''[[The Dr Who Annual 1969]]'' stories. He sees [[Saurian (Lords of the Galaxy)|Saurians]] from ''[[Lords of the Galaxy (short story)|Lords of the Galaxy]]'', a [[bird-like species (Valley of Dragons)|species with red rooster combs on their heads]] from ''[[Valley of Dragons (short story)|Valley of Dragons]]'', [[Morog]]s and [[Cogwen|Cogwegs]] from ''[[World of Ice (short story)|World of Ice]]'', and [[Hiind]]s as mentioned in ''[[Death to Mufl (short story)|Death to Mufl]]''.


== External links ==
== External links ==
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* [http://mysite.science.uottawa.ca/rsmith43/cloister/plac.htm The Cloister Library: '''Placebo Effect''']
* [http://mysite.science.uottawa.ca/rsmith43/cloister/plac.htm The Cloister Library: '''Placebo Effect''']
{{EDA}}
{{EDA}}
{{Wirrn stories}}
{{TitleSort}}
{{TitleSort}}
[[Category:EDA novels]]
[[Category:EDA novels]]
[[Category:1998 novels]]
[[Category:1998 novels]]

Latest revision as of 13:57, 9 November 2024

RealWorld.png

prose stub

Placebo Effect was the thirteenth novel in the BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures series. It was written by Gary Russell, released 6 July 1998 and featured the Eighth Doctor and Sam Jones.

It also featured Stacy Townsend and Ssard, a human and Ice Warrior respectively, who had travelled with the Doctor in the Radio Times comic stories. This novel was the second BBC Books novel to feature a crossing of two different ranges, following the previous month's Mission: Impractical.

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

It is 3999. An artificial planetoid, Micawber's World, is hosting the Intergalactic Olympic Games, and athletes from all the worlds in the Galactic Federation are coming to take part. But when the Doctor and Sam arrive, murders soon begin...

The Doctor finds himself drafted in to examine some bizarre new drugs that are said to enhance the natural potential of the competing athletes. But what is their real purpose? Why are members of the Security Forces disappearing randomly? And just why is Chase Carrington, manufacturer of the drug, so protective of his company's secrets?

Watching and waiting, at the very heart of Micawber's World, is a race of parasites the Doctor has fought before. The Wirrn have come to the Milky Way from Andromeda, determined to spread their seed throughout a whole new galaxy, and it seems to Sam that the Doctor's hands are too full to pay their threat full attention...

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

to be added

Characters[[edit] | [edit source]]

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

Individuals[[edit] | [edit source]]

Organisations[[edit] | [edit source]]

Planets[[edit] | [edit source]]

Religion[[edit] | [edit source]]

Species[[edit] | [edit source]]

Titles and offices[[edit] | [edit source]]

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • This is the first "crossover" novel of the EDAs, crossing characters from the Radio Times comic strip with novel characters and events.
  • In his introduction Gary Russell notes that the Wirrrn were spelt with three Rs in the novelisation of The Ark in Space, and continues the tradition throughout this novel.
  • There were at least two alternate covers for this novel:
  • Placebo Effect Alt cover1.jpg
  • Placebo Effect Alt cover2.jpg

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

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

v • e
BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures
Sam
Susan
Sam
Fitz, Sam
Sam, Fitz, Compassion
Third Doctor, Sarah
Fitz, Compassion
Solo travels
Anji, Fitz
Anji, Fitz, Trix
Fitz, Trix
v • e
Wirrn stories
For the purposes of this list, a "Wirrn story" is one in which one living, authentic Wirrn plays a part within the confines of the story, outside of flashbacks to previous stories and cliffhangers that lead into the following story.
Television
Audio
Prose
Complete list of appearances
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