Invasion of the Cat-People (novel): Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox Story | {{Infobox Story SMW | ||
|image = Ma-13.jpg | |image = Ma-13.jpg | ||
|series = [[Virgin Missing Adventures]] | |series = [[Virgin Missing Adventures]] | ||
|range = Virgin Missing Adventures | |range = Virgin Missing Adventures | ||
|number in range = 13 | |number in range = 13 | ||
|number = 13 | |number = 13 | ||
|doctor = Second Doctor | |doctor = Second Doctor | ||
|companions = [[Polly Wright|Polly]], [[Ben Jackson|Ben]] | |companions = [[Polly Wright|Polly]], [[Ben Jackson|Ben]] | ||
|enemy = [[ | |enemy = [[Godwanna]], [[Thorgarsuunela]], [[Atimkos]], [[Aysha|Queen Aysha]] | ||
|setting = [[Cumbria]] | |setting = {{il|[[Cumbria]], [[London]], [[Cat-People]] spaceship in [[Earth]] orbit, [[6 July|6]]-[[8 July]] [[1994]]|[[Baghdad]], 2000 years earlier|[[Sydney]], [[10 July]] [[1994]]|[[Hyper reality]]}} | ||
|writer = | |writer = Gary Russell | ||
|cover | |cover = [[Colin Howard]] | ||
|publisher = Virgin Books | |publisher = Virgin Books | ||
|release date = | |release date = 17 August 1995 | ||
|format = Paperback Book; 7 Chapters, 256 Pages | |format = Paperback Book; 7 Chapters, 256 Pages | ||
|isbn = ISBN 0-426-20440-9 | |isbn = ISBN 0-426-20440-9 | ||
|prev = The Sorcerer's Apprentice (novel) | |prev = The Sorcerer's Apprentice (novel) | ||
| Line 26: | Line 26: | ||
:"Oh dear, so it will. Pass on my apologies to the [[human]]s, won't you?" | :"Oh dear, so it will. Pass on my apologies to the [[human]]s, won't you?" | ||
[[Earth]] has been invaded. Twice. Thousands of | [[Earth]] has been invaded. Twice. Thousands of [[year]]s ago by a race searching for a new power source. More recently by the [[Galaxy|galactic]] marauders known as the [[Cat-Person|Cat-People]], who intend to continue the work done by the earlier visitors, with devastating results. | ||
The recently regenerated [[Second Doctor|Doctor]], along with | The recently [[Regeneration|regenerated]] [[Second Doctor|Doctor]], along with [[companion]]s [[Ben Jackson|Ben]] and [[Polly Wright|Polly]], teams up with a group of amateur [[ghost]]-hunters and a mysterious [[white witch]] on a journey that takes them from [[20th century|twentieth-century]] [[Cumbria]] to the [[Arabian]] [[desert]]s of folklore and [[Australia]] 40,000 years in the past. Can the Doctor stop the invaders and disarm the [[bomb]]s left buried beneath the planet's surface — or have the ancient [[Aborigine]]s of Australia sung the seeds of their own [[destruction]]? | ||
== Plot == | == Plot == | ||
| Line 34: | Line 34: | ||
== Characters == | == Characters == | ||
In brackets are the names Gary Russell lists as his preferred casting choices for if ''Invasion of the Cat-People'' had hypothetically been a TV story, and how he envisions each character's appearance. Not every character is assigned an actor. | In brackets are the names [[Gary Russell]] lists as his preferred casting choices for if ''Invasion of the Cat-People'' had hypothetically been a TV story, and how he envisions each character's appearance. Not every character is assigned an actor. | ||
=== TARDIS crew === | === TARDIS crew === | ||
| Line 47: | Line 47: | ||
* [[Jodi]] | * [[Jodi]] | ||
* [[Lotuss]] ([[Myra Frances]]) | * [[Lotuss]] ([[Myra Frances]]) | ||
* [[Jayde]] (Rowena Wallace) | * [[Jayde]] ({{w|Rowena Wallace}}) | ||
* [[Aall]] (Maggie Kirkpatrick) | * [[Aall]] ({{w|Maggie Kirkpatrick}}) | ||
* [[Nihmrod]] ([[Rosalind Lloyd]]) | * [[Nihmrod]] ([[Rosalind Lloyd]]) | ||
* [[Nypp]] ([[Lois Baxter]]) | * [[Nypp]] ([[Lois Baxter]]) | ||
* [[Tamora]] (Maggie Dence) | * [[Tamora]] ({{w|Maggie Dence}}) | ||
* [[Tensing]] (Julie T. Wallace) | * [[Tensing]] ({{w|Julie T. Wallace}}) | ||
* [[Tuq]] (Louise Silversen) | * [[Tuq]] ({{w|Louise Silversen}}) | ||
=== Euterpians === | === Euterpians === | ||
* [[ | * [[Thorgarsuunela]] ([[Carolyn Seymour]]) | ||
* [[Atimkos]] (Jude Law) | * [[Atimkos]] ({{w|Jude Law}}) | ||
* [[Udentkista]] ([[John Normington]]) | * [[Udentkista]] ([[John Normington]]) | ||
* [[Tarwildbaning]] (Stephanie Beacham) | * [[Tarwildbaning]] ({{w|Stephanie Beacham}}) | ||
* [[Godwanna]] ([[Jacqueline Pearce]]) | * [[Godwanna]] ([[Jacqueline Pearce]]) | ||
=== | === The Grange Estate === | ||
* [[Professor]] [[Nicholas Bridgeman]] ([[Alan David]]) | * [[Professor]] [[Nicholas Bridgeman]] ([[Alan David]]) | ||
* [[ | * [[Marten Kerbe]] ([[Maurice Roëves]]) | ||
* [[Peter Moore]] (Nathan Constance) | * [[Peter Moore]] ({{w|Nathan Constance}}) | ||
* [[Simon Griffiths]] (Simon Fenton) | * [[Simon Griffiths]] ({{w|Simon Fenton}}) | ||
* [[Carfrae Morgan]] (Siri Neal) | * [[Carfrae Morgan]] ({{w|Siri Neal}}) | ||
* [[George Smithers]] (Gerald James) | * [[George Smithers]] ({{w|Gerald James}}) | ||
* [[Charlie Coates]] ([[Colin Jeavons]]) | * [[Charlie Coates]] ([[Colin Jeavons]]) | ||
=== | === Other humans === | ||
* [[Nate Simms]] ([[Steven Mackintosh|Steven Macintosh]]) | |||
* [[Adoon]] | * [[Adoon]] | ||
* [[Martin Hickman]] | |||
* [[Martina (Invasion of the Cat-People)|Martina]] | |||
* [[Philip Jay]] | |||
== | == Worldbuilding == | ||
* When the Cat-People are searching around the [[Sol System]] they see signs of a lost civilisation. | * When the Cat-People are searching around the [[Sol System]], they see signs of a lost civilisation. | ||
* Ben and Polly read [[Brian J Robb]]'s biography ''[[River Phoenix: A Short Life]]'' about the actor [[River Phoenix]] at [[W H Smith]]. | |||
* The Doctor terms the concept that interfering with one's own history having drastic consequences as [[chrono-chaos theory]]. | |||
=== Culture === | |||
* [[High Lord]] [[Rhukk]] wrote ''[[An Even Briefer History of Time]]''. | |||
* [[Gregori Glasst|Glasst]], [[Proot]] and [[Lock (musical scholar)|Lock]] are noted musical scholars. | |||
* [[Atimkos]] hears two women discussing a "trendy [[Iceland]]ic [[Björk|pop singer]]". | |||
* Euterpians taught the [[Aborigine]] people about the [[dreamtime]] and the [[songline]]s. | * Euterpians taught the [[Aborigine]] people about the [[dreamtime]] and the [[songline]]s. | ||
=== Individuals === | === Individuals === | ||
| Line 90: | Line 93: | ||
* [[Karen Kuykendall]] created the [[Tarot of the Cat-People]] in [[1985]]. | * [[Karen Kuykendall]] created the [[Tarot of the Cat-People]] in [[1985]]. | ||
* George Smithers' son died of [[leukemia]] in [[1987]] while his wife died of [[Cancer|lung cancer]] in [[1991]]. | * George Smithers' son died of [[leukemia]] in [[1987]] while his wife died of [[Cancer|lung cancer]] in [[1991]]. | ||
* Polly mentions her friends [[Kitty (Invasion of the Cat-People)|Kitty]] and [[Brenda (Invasion of the Cat-People)|Brenda]], her cousin [[Bette (Invasion of the Cat-People)|Bette]] and her "old flame" [[Roger (Invasion of the Cat-People)|Roger]]. | |||
=== TARDIS === | === TARDIS === | ||
* The Doctor's [[regeneration]] caused the TARDIS to regenerate to some extent, shrinking fifteen [[centimetre]]s. The Doctor tells Ben that it will continue to shrink into his [[Fourth Doctor|fourth incarnation]]. The Doctor ties a knot in his hanky to remind himself to see about rectifiying the problem. | * The Doctor's [[regeneration]] caused [[The Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]] to regenerate to some extent, shrinking fifteen [[centimetre]]s. The Doctor tells Ben that it will continue to shrink into his [[Fourth Doctor|fourth incarnation]]. The Doctor ties a knot in his hanky to remind himself to see about rectifiying the problem. | ||
* Ben finds clothes in the [[TARDIS wardrobe]] which have pockets that are bigger on the inside, much like the Doctor's own coat pockets. | |||
=== Time Lords === | === Time Lords === | ||
* [[The War Chief|Magnus]] | * [[The War Chief|Magnus]] was unconcerned about wasting regenerations and never listened to the Doctor, who advised him not to waste them. | ||
* There were [[book]]s coated in [[reverse tachyon-chronon]]s (RTC) on [[Gallifrey]], but the [[Time Lord]] leaders decided that they were too dangerous and got rid of them. | |||
=== Species === | === Species === | ||
| Line 106: | Line 112: | ||
* This is the first story to use Polly's surname, Wright, which originated from Polly's original character outline and audition scrips for ''[[The War Machines (TV story)|The War Machines]]'' ([[REF]]: ''[[Doctor Who The Handbook: The First Doctor|The First Doctor Handbook]]'') but was ultimately never given on-screen. The name became universally used for the character. It was carried over into the [[BBC New Series Adventures]] novels ''[[The Murder Game (novel)|The Murder Game]]'' and ''[[The Roundheads (novel)|The Roundheads]]'', and eventually made its way into the [[Big Finish Doctor Who audio stories|audio stories]] by [[Big Finish Productions]]. The [[2009 (releases)|2009]] [[The Companion Chronicles|Companion Chronicles]] release ''[[Resistance (audio story)|Resistance]]'' was the first audio story to use Polly's surname. It also explores her uncle, [[Randolph Wright]], who was also first mentioned in this story. | * This is the first story to use Polly's surname, Wright, which originated from Polly's original character outline and audition scrips for ''[[The War Machines (TV story)|The War Machines]]'' ([[REF]]: ''[[Doctor Who The Handbook: The First Doctor|The First Doctor Handbook]]'') but was ultimately never given on-screen. The name became universally used for the character. It was carried over into the [[BBC New Series Adventures]] novels ''[[The Murder Game (novel)|The Murder Game]]'' and ''[[The Roundheads (novel)|The Roundheads]]'', and eventually made its way into the [[Big Finish Doctor Who audio stories|audio stories]] by [[Big Finish Productions]]. The [[2009 (releases)|2009]] [[The Companion Chronicles|Companion Chronicles]] release ''[[Resistance (audio story)|Resistance]]'' was the first audio story to use Polly's surname. It also explores her uncle, [[Randolph Wright]], who was also first mentioned in this story. | ||
* When commenting on the Cat-People, the Doctor mentions they are related to races with names not previously mentioned in the ''[[Doctor Who Universe|Doctor Who]]'' [[Doctor Who Universe|Universe]]. These included: {{iw|flashgordon|Lion Men|Lion-Men of Mongo}} (''Flash Gordon''), {{iw|memory-alpha|Caitian|Caitians}} (''[[Star Trek (franchise)|Star Trek]]''), {{w|Kzin}}ti (Larry Niven's ''Known Space'' series) and agents of the {{iw|memory-beta|Aegis}} (''[[Star Trek]]''). He also references [[Mercenary|mercenaries]] from [[Gin-Seng]] and the natives of [[Vedela]] and [[Capella (planet)|Capella]]. | * When commenting on the Cat-People, the Doctor mentions they are related to races with names not previously mentioned in the ''[[Doctor Who Universe|Doctor Who]]'' [[Doctor Who Universe|Universe]]. These included: {{iw|flashgordon|Lion Men|Lion-Men of Mongo}} (''Flash Gordon''), {{iw|memory-alpha|Caitian|Caitians}} (''[[Star Trek (franchise)|Star Trek]]''), {{w|Kzin}}ti (Larry Niven's ''Known Space'' series) and agents of the {{iw|memory-beta|Aegis}} (''[[Star Trek]]''). He also references [[Mercenary|mercenaries]] from [[Gin-Seng]] and the natives of [[Vedela]] and [[Capella (planet)|Capella]]. | ||
* As well as listing his preferred casting choices for an imaginary televised version of the novel, Gary Russell also notes his preference of [[Graeme Harper]] as the [[director]], [[Mike Fillis]] and [ | * As well as listing his preferred casting choices for an imaginary televised version of the novel, Gary Russell also notes his preference of [[Graeme Harper]] as the [[Director (crew)|director]], [[Mike Fillis]] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrian_Jack Adrian Jack] working on the [[music]], and Michael Chapman as the [[producer]]. It would be a Virgin Films production. | ||
* The [[Virgin Missing Adventures covers|front cover]] is the only one in the [[Virgin Missing Adventures]] to feature more than one other character alongside [[the Doctor]] on the left. In breaking this convention, it joins ''[[Time of Your Life (novel)|Time of Your Life]]'', which features the Doctor only. | |||
* The characters of [[Proot]] and [[Gregori Glasst|Glasst]] are mentioned, first appearing in ''[[Audio Visuals (fan work)|Audio Visuals]]'' fan productions. | |||
=== Errors === | |||
* It is repeatedly stated that the Euterpians arrived 40,000 years prior to [[1994]], however the chapter which depicted their arrive indicates a setting of 3978 BC. | |||
* It is suggested that Earth's contintents were significantly different 40,000 years ago, while in reality the geological timescales of [[continental drift]] are in the millions of years. | |||
* At [[Heathrow Airport]], [[Thorgarsuunela]] asks an attendant what the date is, and is given the date [[10 June]]. The story had previously established that the date was [[8 July]]. | |||
* In Baghdad, the Doctor claims at different times that they've travelled twenty-thousand and two-thousand years back in time. | |||
== Continuity == | == Continuity == | ||
* The [[Cat-Person|Cat-People]] are related to the [[Cheetah People]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Survival (TV story)|Survival]]'') | * The [[Cat-Person|Cat-People]] are related to the [[Cheetah People]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Survival (TV story)|Survival]]'') | ||
* An account of the Euterpians is present at the [[Braxiatel Collection]] ([[TV]]: ''[[City of Death (TV story)|City of Death]]'', [[PROSE]]: ''[[Theatre of War (novel)]], et al.) written by [[High Lord]] [[Rhukk]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Legacy (novel)|Legacy]]'') The book discusses the [[Galactic Federation]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Curse of Peladon (TV story)|The Curse of Peladon]]'') | |||
* The [[War Machine]]s and [[WOTAN]], ([[TV]]: ''[[The War Machines (TV story)|The War Machines]]'') the smugglers in [[Cornwall]], ([[TV]]: ''[[The Smugglers (TV story)|The Smugglers]]'') the [[Cyberman|Cybermen]] ([[TV]]: ''[[The Tenth Planet (TV story)|The Tenth Planet]]'') and the Daleks ([[TV]]: ''[[The Power of the Daleks (TV story)|The Power of the Daleks]]'') are all mentioned. | * The [[War Machine]]s and [[WOTAN]], ([[TV]]: ''[[The War Machines (TV story)|The War Machines]]'') the smugglers in [[Cornwall]], ([[TV]]: ''[[The Smugglers (TV story)|The Smugglers]]'') the [[Cyberman|Cybermen]] ([[TV]]: ''[[The Tenth Planet (TV story)|The Tenth Planet]]'') and the Daleks ([[TV]]: ''[[The Power of the Daleks (TV story)|The Power of the Daleks]]'') are all mentioned. | ||
* The Doctor has always told himself that he would like to buy himself [[Smithwood Manor|a little house in Kent]] to use as a home whenever he came to Earth. This wish was fulfilled by his [[Third Doctor|third incarnation]] ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Verdigris (novel)|Verdigris]]'') and used mostly by his [[Seventh Doctor|seventh incarnation]]. | * The Doctor has always told himself that he would like to buy himself [[Smithwood Manor|a little house in Kent]] to use as a home whenever he came to Earth. This wish was fulfilled by his [[Third Doctor|third incarnation]] ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Verdigris (novel)|Verdigris]]'') and used mostly by his [[Seventh Doctor|seventh incarnation]]. | ||
| Line 115: | Line 130: | ||
* The [[Time Vector Generator]] first appeared in [[TV]]: ''[[The Wheel in Space (TV story)|The Wheel in Space]]''. | * The [[Time Vector Generator]] first appeared in [[TV]]: ''[[The Wheel in Space (TV story)|The Wheel in Space]]''. | ||
* The Doctor says that he witnessed the [[Troy|Fall of Troy]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Myth Makers (TV story)|The Myth Makers]]'') | * The Doctor says that he witnessed the [[Troy|Fall of Troy]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Myth Makers (TV story)|The Myth Makers]]'') | ||
* The Doctor mentions his friend [[The War Chief|Magnus]] from the [[Time Lord Academy]]. ([[ | * The Doctor mentions his friend [[The War Chief|Magnus]] from the [[Time Lord Academy]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Flashback (comic story)|Flashback]]'' | ||
* Ben and Polly refer to their trip to the [[Snowcap]] tracking base in [[Antarctica]] in [[December]] [[1986]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Tenth Planet (TV story)|The Tenth Planet]]'') | * Ben and Polly refer to their trip to the [[Snowcap]] tracking base in [[Antarctica]] in [[December]] [[1986]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Tenth Planet (TV story)|The Tenth Planet]]'') | ||
* Ben and Polly discuss the Doctor's recent [[regeneration]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Tenth Planet (TV story)|The Tenth Planet]]'', ''[[The Power of the Daleks (TV story)|The Power of the Daleks]]'') | * Ben and Polly discuss the Doctor's recent [[regeneration]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Tenth Planet (TV story)|The Tenth Planet]]'', ''[[The Power of the Daleks (TV story)|The Power of the Daleks]]'') | ||
* A woman claimed that Polly looks exactly like her friend [[Michelle Leupi]] in [[1966]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Faceless Ones (TV story)|The Faceless Ones]]'') | * A woman claimed that Polly looks exactly like her friend [[Michelle Leupi|Michelle]] in [[1966]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Faceless Ones (TV story)|The Faceless Ones]]'') | ||
* The Doctor would again encounter a humanoid species resembling cats in his [[tenth incarnation]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[New Earth (TV story)|New Earth]]'') | * The Doctor would again encounter a humanoid species resembling cats in his [[tenth incarnation]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[New Earth (TV story)|New Earth]]'') | ||
| Line 127: | Line 141: | ||
* [http://mysite.science.uottawa.ca/rsmith43/cloister/invascat.htm The Cloister Library: '''Invasion of the Cat-People'''] | * [http://mysite.science.uottawa.ca/rsmith43/cloister/invascat.htm The Cloister Library: '''Invasion of the Cat-People'''] | ||
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20021212055911/www.gary.dircon.co.uk/StrangeCat.html Gary Russell's Strange Matter: '''Invasion of the Cat-People''', notes on the writing of the novel] via [http://www.archive.org/web/web.php Internet Archive: Wayback Machine] | * [http://web.archive.org/web/20021212055911/www.gary.dircon.co.uk/StrangeCat.html Gary Russell's Strange Matter: '''Invasion of the Cat-People''', notes on the writing of the novel] via [http://www.archive.org/web/web.php Internet Archive: Wayback Machine] | ||
* [http://doctorwho.org.nz/archive/tsv51/garyrussell.html Gary Russell: From Peladon to Placebos by Jon Preddle, Paul Scoones (Interview) - TSV 51] | * [http://doctorwho.org.nz/archive/tsv51/garyrussell.html Gary Russell: From Peladon to Placebos by Jon Preddle, Paul Scoones (Interview) - TSV 51] | ||
{{MA}} | {{MA}} | ||
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[[Category:1995 novels]] | [[Category:1995 novels]] | ||
[[Category:Stories set in Cumbria]] | [[Category:Stories set in Cumbria]] | ||
[[Category:Stories set in London]] | |||
[[Category:Stories set in Sydney]] | |||
[[Category:Stories set in 1994]] | [[Category:Stories set in 1994]] | ||
[[Category:Stories set in | [[Category:Stories set in 1874]] | ||
[[Category:Novels set on the Braxiatel Collection]] | |||
[[Category:Stories set in 3978]] | |||
[[Category:Stories set in Baghdad]] | [[Category:Stories set in Baghdad]] | ||
[[Category:Stories set outside time and space]] | |||
Latest revision as of 10:18, 13 April 2024
Invasion of the Cat-People was the thirteenth novel in the Virgin Missing Adventures series. It was written by Gary Russell and featured the Second Doctor, Ben Jackson and Polly Wright.
Publisher's summary[[edit] | [edit source]]
- "Explode the buoys? But that will destroy the Earth!"
- "Oh dear, so it will. Pass on my apologies to the humans, won't you?"
Earth has been invaded. Twice. Thousands of years ago by a race searching for a new power source. More recently by the galactic marauders known as the Cat-People, who intend to continue the work done by the earlier visitors, with devastating results.
The recently regenerated Doctor, along with companions Ben and Polly, teams up with a group of amateur ghost-hunters and a mysterious white witch on a journey that takes them from twentieth-century Cumbria to the Arabian deserts of folklore and Australia 40,000 years in the past. Can the Doctor stop the invaders and disarm the bombs left buried beneath the planet's surface — or have the ancient Aborigines of Australia sung the seeds of their own destruction?
Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]
to be added
Characters[[edit] | [edit source]]
In brackets are the names Gary Russell lists as his preferred casting choices for if Invasion of the Cat-People had hypothetically been a TV story, and how he envisions each character's appearance. Not every character is assigned an actor.
TARDIS crew[[edit] | [edit source]]
Cat-People[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Queen Aysha (Susan Engel)
- Pride Mother (Cynthia Grenville)
- Chosan (Patricia Maynard)
- Jodi
- Lotuss (Myra Frances)
- Jayde (Rowena Wallace)
- Aall (Maggie Kirkpatrick)
- Nihmrod (Rosalind Lloyd)
- Nypp (Lois Baxter)
- Tamora (Maggie Dence)
- Tensing (Julie T. Wallace)
- Tuq (Louise Silversen)
Euterpians[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Thorgarsuunela (Carolyn Seymour)
- Atimkos (Jude Law)
- Udentkista (John Normington)
- Tarwildbaning (Stephanie Beacham)
- Godwanna (Jacqueline Pearce)
The Grange Estate[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Professor Nicholas Bridgeman (Alan David)
- Marten Kerbe (Maurice Roëves)
- Peter Moore (Nathan Constance)
- Simon Griffiths (Simon Fenton)
- Carfrae Morgan (Siri Neal)
- George Smithers (Gerald James)
- Charlie Coates (Colin Jeavons)
Other humans[[edit] | [edit source]]
Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]
- When the Cat-People are searching around the Sol System, they see signs of a lost civilisation.
- Ben and Polly read Brian J Robb's biography River Phoenix: A Short Life about the actor River Phoenix at W H Smith.
- The Doctor terms the concept that interfering with one's own history having drastic consequences as chrono-chaos theory.
Culture[[edit] | [edit source]]
- High Lord Rhukk wrote An Even Briefer History of Time.
- Glasst, Proot and Lock are noted musical scholars.
- Atimkos hears two women discussing a "trendy Icelandic pop singer".
- Euterpians taught the Aborigine people about the dreamtime and the songlines.
Individuals[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Polly's uncle, Randolph Wright, died during World War II. His brother, Polly's uncle Charles Wright, was a supporter of Professor Brett and WOTAN, and got Polly her job at the Post Office Tower.
- Karen Kuykendall created the Tarot of the Cat-People in 1985.
- George Smithers' son died of leukemia in 1987 while his wife died of lung cancer in 1991.
- Polly mentions her friends Kitty and Brenda, her cousin Bette and her "old flame" Roger.
TARDIS[[edit] | [edit source]]
- The Doctor's regeneration caused the TARDIS to regenerate to some extent, shrinking fifteen centimetres. The Doctor tells Ben that it will continue to shrink into his fourth incarnation. The Doctor ties a knot in his hanky to remind himself to see about rectifiying the problem.
- Ben finds clothes in the TARDIS wardrobe which have pockets that are bigger on the inside, much like the Doctor's own coat pockets.
Time Lords[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Magnus was unconcerned about wasting regenerations and never listened to the Doctor, who advised him not to waste them.
- There were books coated in reverse tachyon-chronons (RTC) on Gallifrey, but the Time Lord leaders decided that they were too dangerous and got rid of them.
Species[[edit] | [edit source]]
- The Doctor suggests that a Cat-Person could be one of the Kzinti warriors.
Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]
- The novel is six "episodes" long, plus a prologue, to emulate a classic series TV serial.
- The story takes place between The Power of the Daleks and The Highlanders.
- At the beginning of this story, three weeks have passed since the Doctor's regeneration.
- This is the first story to use Polly's surname, Wright, which originated from Polly's original character outline and audition scrips for The War Machines (REF: The First Doctor Handbook) but was ultimately never given on-screen. The name became universally used for the character. It was carried over into the BBC New Series Adventures novels The Murder Game and The Roundheads, and eventually made its way into the audio stories by Big Finish Productions. The 2009 Companion Chronicles release Resistance was the first audio story to use Polly's surname. It also explores her uncle, Randolph Wright, who was also first mentioned in this story.
- When commenting on the Cat-People, the Doctor mentions they are related to races with names not previously mentioned in the Doctor Who Universe. These included: Lion-Men of Mongo (Flash Gordon), Caitians (Star Trek), Kzinti (Larry Niven's Known Space series) and agents of the Aegis (Star Trek). He also references mercenaries from Gin-Seng and the natives of Vedela and Capella.
- As well as listing his preferred casting choices for an imaginary televised version of the novel, Gary Russell also notes his preference of Graeme Harper as the director, Mike Fillis and Adrian Jack working on the music, and Michael Chapman as the producer. It would be a Virgin Films production.
- The front cover is the only one in the Virgin Missing Adventures to feature more than one other character alongside the Doctor on the left. In breaking this convention, it joins Time of Your Life, which features the Doctor only.
- The characters of Proot and Glasst are mentioned, first appearing in Audio Visuals fan productions.
Errors[[edit] | [edit source]]
- It is repeatedly stated that the Euterpians arrived 40,000 years prior to 1994, however the chapter which depicted their arrive indicates a setting of 3978 BC.
- It is suggested that Earth's contintents were significantly different 40,000 years ago, while in reality the geological timescales of continental drift are in the millions of years.
- At Heathrow Airport, Thorgarsuunela asks an attendant what the date is, and is given the date 10 June. The story had previously established that the date was 8 July.
- In Baghdad, the Doctor claims at different times that they've travelled twenty-thousand and two-thousand years back in time.
Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]
- The Cat-People are related to the Cheetah People. (TV: Survival)
- An account of the Euterpians is present at the Braxiatel Collection (TV: City of Death, PROSE: Theatre of War (novel), et al.) written by High Lord Rhukk. (PROSE: Legacy) The book discusses the Galactic Federation. (TV: The Curse of Peladon)
- The War Machines and WOTAN, (TV: The War Machines) the smugglers in Cornwall, (TV: The Smugglers) the Cybermen (TV: The Tenth Planet) and the Daleks (TV: The Power of the Daleks) are all mentioned.
- The Doctor has always told himself that he would like to buy himself a little house in Kent to use as a home whenever he came to Earth. This wish was fulfilled by his third incarnation (PROSE: Verdigris) and used mostly by his seventh incarnation.
- The Doctor mentions several misdeeds of his previous incarnation, suggesting that Ben ask Ian and Barbara about the caveman Za, whom he almost killed with a rock (TV: An Unearthly Child) and mention the name "Anne Chaplet" to Steven (TV: The Massacre) and that even Dodo would have some stories to tell.
- The Time Vector Generator first appeared in TV: The Wheel in Space.
- The Doctor says that he witnessed the Fall of Troy. (TV: The Myth Makers)
- The Doctor mentions his friend Magnus from the Time Lord Academy. (PROSE: Flashback
- Ben and Polly refer to their trip to the Snowcap tracking base in Antarctica in December 1986. (TV: The Tenth Planet)
- Ben and Polly discuss the Doctor's recent regeneration. (TV: The Tenth Planet, The Power of the Daleks)
- A woman claimed that Polly looks exactly like her friend Michelle in 1966. (TV: The Faceless Ones)
- The Doctor would again encounter a humanoid species resembling cats in his tenth incarnation. (TV: New Earth)
External links[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Invasion of the Cat-People at the Doctor Who Reference Guide
- The Discontinuity Guide to: Invasion of the Cat-People at The Whoniverse
- The Cloister Library: Invasion of the Cat-People
- Gary Russell's Strange Matter: Invasion of the Cat-People, notes on the writing of the novel via Internet Archive: Wayback Machine
- Gary Russell: From Peladon to Placebos by Jon Preddle, Paul Scoones (Interview) - TSV 51
