Brief Encounter: Difference between revisions
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* What if ''this'' villain met ''that'' monster? | * What if ''this'' villain met ''that'' monster? | ||
* What if we explored a tiny emotional beat in the life of a known character? | * What if we explored a tiny emotional beat in the life of a known character? | ||
Examples of stories resulting from asking these sorts of questions included [[Ships (short story)|a pedestrian collision]] between [[Sarah Jane Smith]] and [[Dodo Chaplet]], [[Games ( | Examples of stories resulting from asking these sorts of questions included [[Ships (short story)|a pedestrian collision]] between [[Sarah Jane Smith]] and [[Dodo Chaplet]], a [[four dimensional chess|four dimensional]] [[Games (short story)|chess match]] between [[the Toymaker]] and [[Fenric]], and [[A Romantic Evening (short story)|a wedding anniversary]] of [[the Brigadier]] and [[Doris Lethbridge-Stewart]]. | ||
This format was meant to challenge readers' perceptions of the then-fledgling "[[Doctor Who universe|''Doctor Who'' universe]]". At the time, original, professional ''[[Doctor Who]]'' prose fiction had only just begun to be published on a regular basis. However, its publication in the pages of a physical magazine posed obvious problems of access. As time went on, it was increasingly difficult for later writers to even ''read'' these vignettes — much less incorporate their content into later works. Some of the concepts were thus later contradicted. For instance, according to the ''Brief Encounter'' ''[[Down to Earth (short story)|Down to Earth]]'', [[Liz Shaw]]'s first trip in [[the TARDIS]] was with the [[Fourth Doctor]], who had deliberately found Liz to apologise for not saying goodbye to her. The later novel ''[[The Wages of Sin (novel)|The Wages of Sin]]'' clearly states the Third Doctor did indeed give Liz a trip in the TARDIS with [[Jo Grant]], removing the need for the Fourth Doctor's apology in ''Down to Earth''. | This format was meant to challenge readers' perceptions of the then-fledgling "[[Doctor Who universe|''Doctor Who'' universe]]". At the time, original, professional ''[[Doctor Who]]'' prose fiction had only just begun to be published on a regular basis. However, its publication in the pages of a physical magazine posed obvious problems of access. As time went on, it was increasingly difficult for later writers to even ''read'' these vignettes — much less incorporate their content into later works. Some of the concepts were thus later contradicted. For instance, according to the ''Brief Encounter'' ''[[Down to Earth (short story)|Down to Earth]]'', [[Liz Shaw]]'s first trip in [[the TARDIS]] was with the [[Fourth Doctor]], who had deliberately found Liz to apologise for not saying goodbye to her. The later novel ''[[The Wages of Sin (novel)|The Wages of Sin]]'' clearly states the Third Doctor did indeed give Liz a trip in the TARDIS with [[Jo Grant]], removing the need for the Fourth Doctor's apology in ''Down to Earth''. | ||
== Writers == | == Writers == | ||
The stories were quite often written by professional writers. They notably included the final work of television writer [[ | The stories were quite often written by professional writers. They notably included the final work of television writer [[John Lucarotti]] and the first of [[Paul Cornell]]. On at least one occasion in [[1991]], however, the series was the focus of a DWM competition, in which amateur writers were encouraged to submit their own "brief encounter" for possible publication. [[Andrew Cartmel]], the [[Seventh Doctor]]'s then-recently-disemployed [[script editor]], judged the competition. He pronounced [[Affirmative (short story)|a Seventh Doctor/K9 story]] the winner of the under-15 category and a [[An Unfulfilled Dream (short story)|poignant meeting]] between the Doctor and a six-year-old [[Katarina]] the winner of the all-age group. | ||
== History of the format == | == History of the format == | ||
The series began in [[DWM 167]] with a very deliberate nod to the anniversary of ''Doctor Who'': since the issue was the [[November (releases)|November]] [[1990 (releases)|1990]] edition, Brief Encounter launched with [[The Meeting (short story)|a story]] by [[ | The series began in [[DWM 167]] with a very deliberate nod to the anniversary of ''Doctor Who'': since the issue was the [[November (releases)|November]] [[1990 (releases)|1990]] edition, Brief Encounter launched with [[The Meeting (short story)|a story]] by [[John Lucarotti]], someone who had written during the [[First Doctor]]'s era. The one-page illustrated story became the norm for the series, clearly distinguishing it from other, longer stories that the magazine occasionally published, although some future instalments would sometimes include a second page. | ||
''Brief Encounter'' stories also appeared in a few of the [[Doctor Who Magazine (special issues)|DWM specials]] and the first editions of the ''Doctor Who Yearbook'' series. However, the series was over by July 1994 in ''DWM'' proper and it didn't extend past the [[DWMS Holiday 1992]] special issue and [[Doctor Who Yearbook 1993|the 1993 yearbook]]. | ''Brief Encounter'' stories also appeared in a few of the [[Doctor Who Magazine (special issues)|DWM specials]] and the first editions of the ''Doctor Who Yearbook'' series. However, the series was over by July 1994 in ''DWM'' proper and it didn't extend past the [[DWMS Holiday 1992]] special issue and [[Doctor Who Yearbook 1993|the 1993 yearbook]]. | ||
| Line 41: | Line 39: | ||
| [[DWM 167]] | | [[DWM 167]] | ||
| ''[[The Meeting (short story)|The Meeting]]'' | | ''[[The Meeting (short story)|The Meeting]]'' | ||
| [[ | | [[John Lucarotti]] | ||
| [[First Doctor]], [[John Lucarotti]] | | [[First Doctor]], [[John Lucarotti (The Meeting)|John Lucarotti]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[DWM 168]] | | [[DWM 168]] | ||
| Line 94: | Line 92: | ||
| rowspan=4|[[Doctor Who Yearbook 1992]] | | rowspan=4|[[Doctor Who Yearbook 1992]] | ||
| ''[[The Meeting (short story)|The Meeting]]'' (reprint) | | ''[[The Meeting (short story)|The Meeting]]'' (reprint) | ||
| [[ | | [[John Lucarotti]] | ||
| [[First Doctor]], [[John Lucarotti]] | | [[First Doctor]], [[John Lucarotti (The Meeting)|John Lucarotti]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
| ''[[Future Imperfect (short story)|Future Imperfect]]'' | | ''[[Future Imperfect (short story)|Future Imperfect]]'' | ||
| Line 193: | Line 191: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[DWM 192]] | | [[DWM 192]] | ||
| ''[[Games ( | | ''[[Games (short story)|Games]]'' | ||
| [[Warwick Gray]] | | [[Warwick Gray]] | ||
| [[ | | [[The Mandarin]], [[the Entity (Games)|the Entity]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[DWM 193]] | | [[DWM 193]] | ||
| Line 265: | Line 263: | ||
| ''[[Roses (short story)|Roses]]'' | | ''[[Roses (short story)|Roses]]'' | ||
| [[Robert Mammone]] | | [[Robert Mammone]] | ||
| [[First Doctor | | [[First Doctor]] | ||
|} | |} | ||
| Line 272: | Line 270: | ||
{{Doctor Who Magazine}} | {{Doctor Who Magazine}} | ||
{{TitleSort}} | {{TitleSort}} | ||
[[Category:Prose fiction overviews]] | [[Category:Prose fiction overviews]] | ||
[[Category:Doctor Who Magazine]] | [[Category:Doctor Who Magazine]] | ||
[[Category:Tie-in book series]] | [[Category:Tie-in book series]] | ||
[[Category:Brief Encounter stories| ]] | [[Category:Brief Encounter stories| *]] | ||
[[Category:BE stories| ]] | [[Category:BE stories| *]] | ||
Latest revision as of 16:33, 21 October 2024
Brief Encounter was the umbrella title for an occasional series of vignettes that appeared in the Doctor Who Magazine family of publications from 1990 to 1994. The series focused on characterisation and mood more than plot, to this end often combining characters who had not been paired on television. While many of the stories featured the Doctor, a number did not, instead examining the lives of companions or villains at a time other than known adventures with the Doctor.
Overview[[edit] | [edit source]]
Brief Encounter's mandate was to ask "What if?" questions.
- What if this companion met that companion?
- What if this incarnation of the Doctor met another incarnation's assistant?
- What if this villain met that monster?
- What if we explored a tiny emotional beat in the life of a known character?
Examples of stories resulting from asking these sorts of questions included a pedestrian collision between Sarah Jane Smith and Dodo Chaplet, a four dimensional chess match between the Toymaker and Fenric, and a wedding anniversary of the Brigadier and Doris Lethbridge-Stewart.
This format was meant to challenge readers' perceptions of the then-fledgling "Doctor Who universe". At the time, original, professional Doctor Who prose fiction had only just begun to be published on a regular basis. However, its publication in the pages of a physical magazine posed obvious problems of access. As time went on, it was increasingly difficult for later writers to even read these vignettes — much less incorporate their content into later works. Some of the concepts were thus later contradicted. For instance, according to the Brief Encounter Down to Earth, Liz Shaw's first trip in the TARDIS was with the Fourth Doctor, who had deliberately found Liz to apologise for not saying goodbye to her. The later novel The Wages of Sin clearly states the Third Doctor did indeed give Liz a trip in the TARDIS with Jo Grant, removing the need for the Fourth Doctor's apology in Down to Earth.
Writers[[edit] | [edit source]]
The stories were quite often written by professional writers. They notably included the final work of television writer John Lucarotti and the first of Paul Cornell. On at least one occasion in 1991, however, the series was the focus of a DWM competition, in which amateur writers were encouraged to submit their own "brief encounter" for possible publication. Andrew Cartmel, the Seventh Doctor's then-recently-disemployed script editor, judged the competition. He pronounced a Seventh Doctor/K9 story the winner of the under-15 category and a poignant meeting between the Doctor and a six-year-old Katarina the winner of the all-age group.
History of the format[[edit] | [edit source]]
The series began in DWM 167 with a very deliberate nod to the anniversary of Doctor Who: since the issue was the November 1990 edition, Brief Encounter launched with a story by John Lucarotti, someone who had written during the First Doctor's era. The one-page illustrated story became the norm for the series, clearly distinguishing it from other, longer stories that the magazine occasionally published, although some future instalments would sometimes include a second page.
Brief Encounter stories also appeared in a few of the DWM specials and the first editions of the Doctor Who Yearbook series. However, the series was over by July 1994 in DWM proper and it didn't extend past the DWMS Holiday 1992 special issue and the 1993 yearbook.
Nevertheless, short stories by the same calibre of professional author continued in the Yearbook series well after Brief Encounter died. Therefore, some reference works have lumped stories in, for instance, the 1995 yearbook with the Brief Encounter series, despite the fact that they lacked the Brief Encounter masthead and were far longer the typical entry in the series — often extending to five or six pages. They also used combinations of characters that would be expected from watching the television series; they were just another adventure for a particular TARDIS crew. Indeed, short stories after the 1993 Yearbook had much more in common with stories in the 21st century annuals than they did with the Brief Encounter series.
List of stories[[edit] | [edit source]]
External links[[edit] | [edit source]]
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