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{{Infobox Novel|
{{title dab away}}
novel name= The Dying Days|
{{real world}}
image= [[Image:NA061_thedyingdays.jpg|250px]] |
{{Infobox Story SMW
series=[[Doctor Who]] -<br/>[[Virgin New Adventures]] |
|image       = NA061 thedyingdays.jpg
number= 61 |
|series       = [[Virgin New Adventures]]
doctor=[[Eighth Doctor]] |
|range        = Virgin New Adventures
companions= [[Bernice Summerfield | Benny]], [[UNIT]] |
|number in range = 61
enemy= [[Xznaal]] |
|number      = 61
year= [[Earth]], [[England]], [[1997]] |
|doctor       = Eighth Doctor
writer= [[Lance Parkin]] |
|companions   = [[Bernice Summerfield|Benny]], [[Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart|the Brigadier]]
publisher= [[Virgin Books]] |
|featuring    = Winifred Bambera{{!}}Bambera
release date= |
|featuring2  = Doris Lethbridge-Stewart
format= Paperback Book, 298 Pages |
|enemy       = [[Xznaal]], [[Ice Warrior]]s
isbn= ISBN 0426205049 |  
|setting      = [[England]], [[6 May]] [[1997]]
previous story= [[NA]]: [[Lungbarrow]]<br>BBC: [[Doctor Who - The Novel of the Film]] |
|writer      = Lance Parkin
next story= RT: [[Dreadnought]] (for the Doctor) <br> [[Oh No It Isn't!]] (for Benny)}}
|cover        = [[Fred Gambino]]
'''The Dying Days''' was the final release of the [[Virgin New Adventures]] line of ''Doctor Who'' novels (however, see "Notes", below), and the only one featuring the [[Eighth Doctor]].
|publisher   = Virgin Books
|release date = 18 April 1997
|format       = Paperback Book; 16 Chapters, 298 Pages
|isbn         = ISBN 0-426-20504-9
|prev        = Lungbarrow (novel)
|next         = Oh No It Isn't! (novel)
}}{{prose stub}}
'''''The Dying Days''''' was a [[1997 (releases)|1997]] [[Virgin Books]] ''[[Virgin New Adventures|New Adventures]]'' novel written by [[Lance Parkin]].


==Publisher's Summary==
It was the final ''New Adventures'' novel published before Virgin lost the ''[[Doctor Who]]'' license to [[BBC Books]], and as such, it represented a shift in focus from [[the Doctor]] to [[Bernice Summerfield]]. It was the only story in the series to feature the [[Eighth Doctor]].
'''6 May 1997'''<br />
 
'''The Dying Days of the Twentieth Century'''
== Publisher's summary ==
''[[6 May]] [[1997]]''
 
''The Dying Days of the Twentieth Century''


On the [[Mare Sirenum]], [[British]] astronauts are walking on the surface of [[Mars]] for the first time in over twenty years. The [[National Space Museum]] in [[London]] is the venue for a spectacular event where the great and the good celebrate a unique British achievement.
On the [[Mare Sirenum]], [[British]] astronauts are walking on the surface of [[Mars]] for the first time in over twenty years. The [[National Space Museum]] in [[London]] is the venue for a spectacular event where the great and the good celebrate a unique British achievement.


In [[Adisham]], [[Kent]], the most dangerous man in Britain has escaped from custody while being transported by helicopter. In [[Whitehall]], the new [[Home Secretary]] is convinced that there is a plot brewing to overthrow the government. In west London, [[MI5]] agents shut down a publishing company that got too close to the top secret organisation known as [[UNIT]]. And, on a state visit to [[Washington, D.C.|Washington]], the [[Prime Minister]] prepares to make a crucial speech, totally unaware that dark forces are working against him.
In [[Adisham]], [[Kent]], [[Alexander Christian|the most dangerous man]] in Britain has escaped from custody while being transported by helicopter. In [[Whitehall]], the new [[Home Secretary]] is convinced that there is a plot brewing to overthrow the government. In west London, [[MI5]] agents shut down a publishing company that got too close to the top secret organisation known as [[UNIT]]. And, on a state visit to [[Washington DC|Washington]], the [[British Prime Minister]] prepares to make a crucial speech, totally unaware that dark forces are working against him.


As the [[eighth Doctor]] and Professor [[Bernice Summerfield]] discover, all these events are connected. However, soon all will be overshadowed.
As the [[Eighth Doctor]] and Professor [[Bernice Summerfield]] discover, all these events are connected. However, soon all will be overshadowed.


This time, the Doctor is already too late.
This time, the Doctor is already too late.


==Plot==
== Plot ==
 
''to be added''
 
May 1997 : Benny Summerfield is expecting the Doctor to show up at the house on Allen Road, but she isn't expecting him to be in his eighth incarnation. As she tries to come to terms with the fact that her Doctor is gone forever, a helicopter crashes near the house, and when they arrive they find the only survivor wounded and claiming that "Christian" has escaped. Two policemen arrive, but they seem more interested in reclaiming soil samples from the helicopter than helping the wounded man, and the Doctor realizes that they aren't real policemen. He steals one of the samples and analyses it in the TARDIS, where he discovers that it contains fertile Martian soil. Benny informs him that the first manned mission to Mars since the 1970s is to touch down today, and the Doctor decides to attend the press conference.
 
Alexander Christian has indeed escaped, and managed to contact his former commanding officer, Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart. Twenty years ago, while returning from the last Mars Probe mission, he slaughtered his fellow astronauts in a psychotic rage, and has been locked up incommunicado ever since; at least, that's the public story. In fact, the astronauts were killed by native Martians when their expedition stumbled across a civil war, and the British government covered up the truth and held him prisoner with no way of getting word to anyone. He finds the Brigadier more willing to listen to his story than he'd expected. Meanwhile, Home Secretary David Staines orders Veronica Halliwell of MI5 to shut down a publishing company which recently released an expose on UNIT, ''Who Killed Kennedy'', claiming that he has reason to believe a coup is being planned by traitorous elements in the British government.
 
The Doctor and Benny arrive at the press conference, where Todd, a young man from the Devesham Space Centre slips the Doctor a note asking him to meet later. The astronauts touch down on the surface of Mars, and the press clear the room to report to their bureaus. The Doctor and Benny, however, suspecting that something odd is going on, lag behind and catch a glimpse of a second transmission -- the astronauts have found an artificial gateway. They are expelled from the room before they can learn more, and since they have no way back in the Doctor decides to keep his appointment with Todd. Todd, however, has been murdered, and the Doctor and Benny flee steps ahead of the police, with a set of disks they found in Todd's apartment. They check the disks' contents at the local Internet Cafe, where they discover that the planned touchdown site was changed at the last minute -- and Benny realizes that, whereas the original landing site was in an unpopulated area, the new site is covered with the tombs of Martian warlords.
 
Lord Greyhaven, the Science Minister whose support made the Mars 97 mission possible, is interviewed by American newscaster Eve Waugh. Impressed by his sophistication and charm, she agrees to meet with him later. Greyhaven then returns to the Space Museum, where he arrives just as the astronauts -- who have stumbled across the tombs of the legendary Ice Warriors -- are found and killed for their sacrilege. The airlocks of the Mars Orbiter then cycle open for no apparent reason, blowing the remaining astronauts out into space to their deaths. The Space Museum imposes a media blackout, and Greyhaven returns to his apartments, where he and Eve make love. Meanwhile, Eve's cameraman, Alan, is contacted by a British conspiracy buff named Oswald, who points out a discrepancy on the recording of the Mars landing; one of the astronauts' oxygen lines had come free from his backpack, and apparently he hadn't noticed. Oswald insists that this proves the Martian atmosphere is safe to breathe, but Alan concludes that the landings were faked.
 
The Doctor and Benny contact the Brigadier, and take Christian to UNIT HQ to warn Bambera to prepare for an invasion. The astronauts have trespassed in the tomb of an Ice Lord, and the Lord's clan will now be on their way to exact penalties from the clans of the United Kingdom. At that moment, a Martian ship arrives over London, and the Doctor realizes that they arrived far too quickly; they must have left Mars before the astronauts had even arrived in orbit. In accordance with Martian law, the entire United Kingdom is now under the rule of the Argyre clan and its leader, Lord Xznaal. The Prime Minister has just been shot by his own bodyguard while in Washington to deliver a speech, and Staines must enter the Martian ship with Britain's answer to the ultimatum. Lord Greyhaven accompanies him, and Staines, who had believed that the British astronauts were to scavenge alien technology from a dead world and use it to support his coup, realizes that Greyhaven intended to contact living Martians all along.
 
Greyhaven and Xznaal have been communicating secretly ever since Christian's expedition discovered the truth about the Martians. According to Martian law, Christian should have been returned to Mars for punishment, but since this was impossible he was held incommunicado for twenty years and further missions to Mars were abandoned. American probes to Mars were intercepted and their readings faked to make it appear that Mars was uninhabitable; in fact, the planet is dying, but not yet completely sterile. Now, with the help of Xznaal, Greyhaven has gained control of Britain, and he intends to export Martian technology to the world and make Britain great again. In exchange, human scientists have analysed the dead Martian soil, and found a way to refertilise it. Staines realizes that Greyhaven sabotaged the Mars Orbiter and killed the other astronauts, but Greyhaven refuses to explain why. He appears to have succeeded; only Christian, who was removed from prison to provide expert advice should the Mars 97 mission run into trouble, represents a threat to Greyhaven and Xznaal's plans.
 
The Doctor uses his sonic screwdriver to attract the Martians' attention, and he and Benny are taken aboard the ship. There, he offers to negotiate a trading agreement which takes all of Earth and Mars into account, rather than just the U.K. and the Argyre clan, but Xznaal has a deeper agenda and tries to kill the Doctor to stop him from interfering. The Doctor and Benny escape when UNIT troops begin shelling the Martian ship, and as the Martians destroy UNIT HQ with their sonic cannon, the Doctor, Benny and the Brigadier retreat to Allen Road. The Doctor contacts Eve Waugh, whom he met at the press conference, and tries to convince her of the truth so she can warn the rest of the world. Eve doesn't believe that Greyhaven is the traitor and killer the Doctor describes, and she thus informs Greyhaven of the Doctor's whereabouts and goes to Allen Road to keep the Doctor occupied. Xznaal is crowned King of England, and then takes Greyhaven and Staines to Kent to witness the attack on the Doctor's house; but Greyhaven realizes, too late, that Xznaal has not told his warriors to spare Eve's life.
 
The Doctor tries to convince Eve that although the Martian warship has cowed London into submission, the rest of the country has not accepted their rule, and England could soon be plunged into civil war. The Brigadier realizes that Eve is trying to string them along to buy time, and the Ice Warriors then attack the house. Benny manages to dispose of one Ice Warrior using a bottle of vodka and a lit match, and the Doctor uses his sonic screwdriver to counteract the other Warrior's sonic gun; it fires at him anyway, and shatters its own carapace. In response, Xznaal releases the Red Death, a deadly, intelligent gas cloud programmed to isolate the Doctor and kill him. The rich atmosphere of Earth sends the Red Death into a frenzy, however, and it attacks the town of Adisham, killing everyone it encounters. The Doctor sends Benny and the Brigadier to safety while he tries to lure the Red Death away, but when he pauses to save a cat the Red Death falls upon him.
 
Over the next week, Benny must come to terms with the Doctor's death while helping the Brigadier and Bambera to prepare for their counter-attack. The Martian warship destroys any signs of resistance, however, and the Brigadier realizes that the situation is rapidly becoming status quo. The immediate danger becomes apparent when a man named Raymond Heath contacts them, having escaped from a refinery near Birmingham; although they had originally been working on ways to restore life to the Martian soil, for the last week they have been manufacturing the Red Death, and Heath fled after realizing that the Martians were testing their gas on condemned criminals. The Brigadier realizes that his troops have no choice but to attack the Martians before they can use their gas. The lack of resources on Mars means that the entire invasion force consists of the warship above London; if they can destroy that ship, the invasion will be over.
 
Alexander Christian arrives in Greyhaven's office and forces him to watch a video containing evidence that the Martians have been conducting experiments upon British prisoners. Greyhaven realizes that Xznaal has violated their agreement and that he will be condemned by history for aiding a monster. He returns to the Space Museum to implement his "insurance policy", but Xznaal realizes that he is missing. Xznaal arrives too late to stop Greyhaven, who has triggered the Mars Orbiter's rockets by remote control; although Xznaal kills Greyhaven, he can then do nothing but watch helplessly as the Orbiter crashes on Mars and obliterates the entire Argyre clan.
 
Benny accompanies UNIT forces to the Birmingham refinery to destroy the Red Death, but while the soldiers are planting bombs in the storage tanks, she discovers that the gas has already been loaded aboard the Martian shuttle for transport to London. She smuggles herself aboard the shuttle and sends word to Martian High Command that Xznaal is planning to use the resources of Earth to conquer Mars, but before anything can be done, the explosion of the Orbiter renders moot any chance of Martian assistance. Benny is captured by Xznaal's science officer, Vrgnur, and taken back to London, where riots are breaking out as the Resistance moves in and the public rises up against the Provisional Government. The Brigadier is contacted by Oswald, who has been disseminating information to the world via the Internet Cafe, and who has learned that the Martians have transported the Red Death to London. The ship must be destroyed at once.
 
Benny realizes that Xznaal intends to kill the entire population of Earth to avenge the destruction of his clan. Before he can execute her, however, a giant hologram of the Doctor materializes above London, challenging Xznaal to a final confrontation. While Xznaal is distracted, Christian and Eve free Benny and take her to safety, explaining that the Doctor survived the Red Death by shutting down his body completely; he has spent the past week recuperating and rescuing prisoners from the Martian death camps. Xznaal returns to the warship to confront the Doctor, who has provided Vrgnur with proof that the Red Death will sterilise the entire Earth. Xznaal no longer cares, however, and when Vrgnur tries to stop him from releasing the gas, Xznaal kills him. The Doctor uses his holocamera to broadcast the entire confrontation to the people of London, and the Brigadier has no choice but to order an immediate air strike on the Martian ship.
 
Xznaal flings the Doctor out of the cargo bay, ten kilometres above London, just as the RAF bombers strafe the ship and destroy it. The Doctor manages to improvise a parachute out of random materials he's picked up and put in his pockets over the past few weeks, and survives his fall. The Provisional Government is disbanded, and the Doctor gives Benny his cat Wolsey and takes her to the 26th century to take up a position as professor of archaeology at St Oscar's University on the planet Dellah. The existence of the Martians is being dismissed as a hoax by people who believe they were invented as a distraction to enable the Provisional Government to keep control of the country. Britain will rebuild and go forward into the future, and for all of the Doctor's friends, the new adventures will continue.
 
==Characters==
*[[Eighth Doctor |The Doctor]]
**Refers to himself as the [[Eighth Man Bound]], the champion of Life and Time, The Bringer of Darkness to the Daleks and the Oncoming Storm to the Draconians. And the guy with two hearts.
**Is calm about dying after blowing up the Martian War Rocket.
**Is Capable of creating a balloon to cut the speed of his descent out of bin bag and a helium canister from the War Rocket.


*[[Bernice Summerfield]]
== Characters ==
**Benny excavated Mare Sirenum, [[Mars]] when she was 24, this established her reputation as an archaeologist.
* [[Eighth Doctor]]
**Benny's [[20th century]] knowledge speciality actually ranges from [[1963]] to [[1989]]
* [[Bernice Summerfield]]
**Can speak Martian.
* [[Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart]]
**Knows how to isolate electrics from the fuel supply of a 20th century helicopter.
* [[Alexander Christian]]
**Nicked parts of her diary describing events around the UNIT/Rebel assault on Martian held London from a "tattered old paperback with a creepy eye on the cover" (ie Lance Parkin's original A History of the Universe. Which ironically doesn't cover this period).
* [[Winifred Bambera]]
* [[Edward Greyhaven]]
* [[David Staines]]
* [[Xznaal]]
* [[Eve Waugh]]
* [[Alan (The Dying Days)|Alan]]
* [[Oswald (The Dying Days)|Oswald]]
* [[Raymond Heath]]
* [[Timothy Todd]]
* [[Vrgnur]]
* [[Seventh Doctor]] (dream sequence)
* [[Penelope Creighton-Ward]]
* [[Richard Dawkins (in-universe)|Richard Dawkins]]
* [[Lalla Ward (in-universe)|Lalla Ward]] (unnamed)


*[[Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart]]
== Worldbuilding ==
**Is made General by the end of this story.
=== The Doctor ===
**Keeps Bessie in mothballs for the Doctor (see also [[Battlefield]]) and waits for the Doctor in the UNIT parking bays for him with the car.
* The Doctor refers to himself as the [[Eighth Man Bound]] and "the guy with [[Binary cardiovascular system|two hearts]]".
**reminds Bambera that he is still, technically, retired despite being the figurehead of the anti-Martian/Greyhaven rebellion.
*[[Alexander Christian]]
**Knew Jo Grant when she was studying her A levels.
*[[Winifred Bambera]]
**Is married to Ancelyn, who has gone with the crown into exile, as befitting a Knight of the Realm.
*[[Edward Greyhaven]]


*[[David Staines]]
=== Religion ===
**Home secretary.
* When crowned, the British monarch agrees to serve [[Jesus Christ]]. Unaware of Christianity, an enraged Xznaal believes he's being offered joint sovereignty.


*[[Xznaal]]
=== Individuals ===
**Despite being an Ice Lord, doesn't wear the traditional armour, rather wearing the shell of a Warrior. This makes him rather eccentric and is an insight into his mindset according to Benny (he's militaristic and close-minded).
* Lord Greyhaven makes a deal with the [[Ice Warrior]]s which enables them to invade the United Kingdom.
* Bernice is staying at [[Smithwood Manor|the Doctor's house in Kent]] after getting a lift there with [[Kadiatu Lethbridge-Stewart]] and [[aM!xitsa]].
* [[Penelope Creighton-Ward|Lady Creighton-Ward]] lives not far from said house and Benny has often seen her being driven around the countryside.
* The Brigadier reminds Bambera that he is still technically [[retire]]d, despite being the figurehead of the anti-Martian/Greyhaven rebellion.
* At the Queen's re-coronation, the Brigadier points out the [[Fourth Doctor]], [[Romana II]], and [[K9]] to [[Doris Lethbridge-Stewart|Doris]].
* Bernice knows how to isolate electrics from the fuel supply of a 20th century [[helicopter]].
* Bernice excavated [[Mare Sirenum]] on [[Mars]] when she was twenty-four. This established her reputation as an archaeologist.
* Benny receives a letter from [[2593]] offering her the Edward Watkins chair of [[archaeology]] at [[St Oscar's University]], [[Dellah]].
* The Brigadier met the Eighth Doctor in [[Hong Kong]] in [[1988]] when they discovered the secret of the [[Embodiment of Gris]].
* Bernice's knowledge of the [[20th century]] ranges from [[1963]] to [[1989]].
* Veronica Halliwell is Director General of [[MI5]].
* Bernice can speak [[Martian]].


*[[Eve Waugh]]
=== Organisations ===
**An American news reporter.
* The [[United Nations]] is overseen by an Irish woman. (Lance Parkin had assumed {{w|Mary Robinson}} would be the next Secretary-General instead of {{w|Kofi Annan}}<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20041030140124/http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/doctorwho/ebooks/dyingdays/notes/page8.shtml Author's Notes chapter 6 (archived)]</ref>)
* [[UNIT]] has a branch in [[Paris]] called NUIT.
* UNIT in the past has dealt with attempted invasions by the [[Bandril]]s and [[Drahvin]]s without the Doctor's help. (Lance Parkin stated this was a joke at UNIT's expense that some aliens are "beneath the Doctor's dignity" to deal worth)<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20041025104222/http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/doctorwho/ebooks/dyingdays/notes/page7.shtml Author's Notes chapter 5 (archived)]</ref>
* The [[Martian Communicators Guild]] is an Ice Warrior organisation.


==References==
=== Planets ===
===[[:Category:Cultural references from the real world|Cultural references]]===
* [[Water]] is a source of great wealth on Mars.
*The whole [[Alien invasion|Martian invasion]] is viewed as a hoax by the public as a distraction to enable the Provisional Government to keep control of the country.
*Benny looks at a [[John Smith and the Common Men]] album when she and the Doctor are searching Todd's flat.
*Bruce Springsteen is the American President.


===[[:Category:Gallifrey|Gallifrey]]===
=== Objects ===
*Benny notices the [[Seal of Rassilon]] inside [[the Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]].
* The [[Sword of Tuburr]] is mentioned.
*The Doctor left [[Chris Cwej]] on [[Gallifrey]].
* Benny notices the [[Seal of Rassilon]] inside [[the Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]].


===[[:Category:Individuals|Individuals]]===
=== Technology ===
*Lord Greyhaven makes a deal with the [[Ice Warrior]]s which leads them to invade the United Kingdom.
* The Doctor uses [[The Doctor's sonic screwdriver|his sonic screwdriver]] to reflect an Ice Warrior's sonic blast.
*Bernice is staying at [[The Doctor's House]] in Kent after getting a lift there with [[Kadiatu Lethbridge-Stewart]] and [[aM!xitsa]].
* After being blown out of the Ice Warrior's War Rocket, the Doctor creates several balloons to slow his descent out of bin bags, curtain rings, and a canister of [[helium]].
* [[The Brigadier]] mentions debriefing [[Jo Grant]] after her 'adventures' with the Doctor, one involving the Ice Warriors and [[Peladon (planet)|Peladon]].
*At the Queen's re-coronation the Brigadier points out the [[Fourth Doctor]], [[Romana II|Romana]] and [[K-9]] to [[Doris Lethbridge-Stewart|Doris]].


===[[:Category:Organizations|Organizations]]===
=== Timeline ===
* [[UNIT]] is much better funded than it had been in the 1970s.
* The [[Arcturan]] Treaty of [[2085]] is the official date of peaceful [[first contact]] with aliens.
*UNIT has a branch in [[Paris]] (called NUIT).
* [[Mars Probe 13]] was launched over twenty years ago.
*[[UNIT]] in the past has dealt with the [[Bandril]] and [[Drahvin]] attempted invasions (without the Doctor's help).
* Benny Summerfield is unaware who are the current leaders in the US and UK as there's been elections within the last nine months.
*[[Veronica Halliwell]] is Director General of [[MI5]].


===[[:Category:Planets|Planets]]===
=== Vehicles ===
*[[Mars]] has a perfectly breathable (though a bit chilly) atmosphere, but the soil is almost completely infertile.
* The Brigadier kept [[Bessie]] in mothballs for the Doctor.
*[[Water]] is a source of great wealth on Mars.
*The [[Arturan]] Treaty of [[2085]] is the 'official' date of peaceful first contact with aliens.
*The [[Sword of Tuburr]] is mentioned.


===[[:Category:Technology|Technology]]===
=== Cultural references from the real world ===
*The Doctor uses his [[sonic screwdriver]] to reflect a Ice Warrior sonic blast.
* Benny looks at a [[John Smith and the Common Men]] album when she and the Doctor are searching Todd's flat.
* The BBC cancels ''[[The X-Files]]'' (a joke on the BBC cancelling shows that accidentally resemble a recent tragedy).
* Rebellious cities in the north are called Royalist


===[[:Category:Timeline|Timeline]]===
== Notes ==
*Benny receives a letter (from [[2593]]) offering her the Edward Watkins chair of archaeology at [[St. Oscar's University]], [[Dellah]].
* This is the Eighth Doctor's only appearance in the ''[[Virgin New Adventures|New Adventures]]'' book series, aside from a brief unidentified cameo in ''[[Damaged Goods (novel)|Damaged Goods]].''
*The Brigadier met the Eighth Doctor in [[Hong Kong]] in [[1988]] when they discovered the secret of the [[Embodiment of Gris]].
* Although this story was officially the final of Virgin's ''Doctor Who'' New Adventures, it was in fact not the last to be published: due to production delays, the [[Seventh Doctor]] novel ''[[So Vile a Sin (novel)|So Vile a Sin]]'', which had been planned for release several months earlier, was only published a month after ''The Dying Days''.
* Until the release of ''[[The Company of Friends (audio anthology)|The Company of Friends]]'' over ten years later, this novel held the distinction of being the only appearance of [[Bernice Summerfield]] alongside the [[Eighth Doctor]].
* After ''The Dying Days'', [[Virgin Books]] continued to release ''[[Virgin New Adventures|New Adventures]]'' novels centred around [[Bernice Summerfield]]. ''The Dying Days'' ends with Bernice going to her new home at the University of [[Dellah]].
* This novel was re-released by BBCi on the official Doctor Who website in ebook form, accompanied by extensive notes and commentary from author Lance Parkin and new illustrations by artist [[Allan Bednar]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20041023031505/http://www.bbc.co.uk:80/cult/doctorwho/ebooks/dyingdays/ Dying Days on BBCi, archived with The Internet Archive]</ref>
* At the Mars landing party there are a few notable guests: [[Jeremy Paxman]], [[Richard Dawkins (in-universe)|Richard Dawkins]], [[Chris Evans]], [[Gillian Anderson]], [[Richard Branson]], [[Alan Yentob]], [[Emma Knight]], and [[Lalla Ward (in-universe)|Lalla Ward]]. The real-world figures abruptly disappear when the invasion occurs, both to avoid calling anyone real a collaborator and because "there would have been something irredeemably camp about having [[Gazza]] or {{w|Mel B|Scary Spice}} joining the fight".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20041027204810/http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/doctorwho/ebooks/dyingdays/notes/page10.shtml Chapter 7 author's notes (archived)]</ref>
* Benny's knowledge specialty of the [[20th century]] ranges from [[1963]] to [[1989]], a reference to the period of the TV series' original run.
* Benny is unaware who the Prime Minister or President are. In his notes for BBCi, Parkin states this is to get around the fact there would be elections in both countries between him writing the book and Virgin publishing it.
* When Xznaal is seen from the point of view of Greyhaven, the Doctor, or Benny, the pronoun Parkin uses for Xznaal is "he". From anyone else's point of view, Parkin refers to Xznaal as "it". When viewed from the Ice Warrior's point of view, the human names are written in Ice Warrior pronunciation, such as Gerayhavun/Greyhaven, Xztaynz/Staines.
* [[Philip Segal]] reportedly stated that a big alien invasion couldn't be done on the TV movie's budget because of the cost of multiple prosthetic costumes and the cost of ''showing'' a full alien invasion. ''The Dying Days'' features an alien invasion with three Ice Warriors; there are never more than two Ice Warriors in a room together throughout the book.
* In his notes, Parkin says an original idea in the story was that the humans would routinely talk about how the Ice Warriors had a noble warrior culture but the Ice Warriors themselves would all be sadistic thugs.
* The book's concluding chapter ends with Benny initiating a [[sex|sexual encounter]] with the Doctor, a first for the franchise in any licensed media. The event was again referenced in the Big Finish audio drama ''[[Benny's Story (audio story)|Benny's Story]]''.
* The book did not feature the ''Doctor Who'' logo anywhere on its cover, spine, or interior. Since the Seventh Doctor's logo was thought to be inappropriate for an Eighth Doctor book, but [[BBC Books]] had exclusive rights to the new Eighth Doctor logo, the Virgin Publishing logo was used on the spine instead. In addition, the title ''Doctor Who'' appeared nowhere on the back cover or interior pages before the copyright page. There is also a brief mention on an acknowledgements page.
* The book concludes with an afterword, "The End and a new beginning", signed by the editors of the ''New Adventures'' line, acknowledging this as the final ''Doctor Who'' New Adventure and promoting the future [[Virgin Bernice Summerfield New Adventures]] releases.
* The novel's title was inspired by the lyrics of Gladys Knight's ''License to Kill''.
* Parkin's short stories ''Worm'' and ''Fishy Business'', published respectively in 1998's ''[[Perfect Timing]]'' and 1999's ''[[Perfect Timing 2]]'', followed this novel in depicting an alternate timeline where the Doctor and Benny became lovers and continued to travel together for years following the Martian invasion. Benny would be seen pregnant in the [[Infinity Doctor]]'s memories in Parkin's ''[[The Infinity Doctors (novel)|The Infinity Doctors]]''.


==Notes==
=== Deleted scenes ===
* Alhough officially considered the last release of the Doctor Who New Adventures line, it was in fact not the last to be published. Due to production delays, a novel featuring the [[Seventh Doctor]] that had been intended for release several months earlier, ''[[So Vile a Sin]]'', was not published until a month ''after'' this novel came out, making it, technically, the final Doctor Who NA release.
* In an earlier draft, a short scene in chapter 9 included thinly-veiled cameos of {{w|Mulder and Scully}} from ''[[The X-Files]]''; this was removed due to editor [[Rebecca Levene]]'s fears that Virgin Books "might have our arses sued off."<ref name="Eulogy">[https://lanceparkin.wordpress.com/2013/08/26/eulogy-of-the-daleks/ Eulogy of the Daleks]</ref>
* This was the only New Adventures book to feature the Eighth Doctor, and is the last Doctor Who book to be published by Virgin.
* Parkin wrote several drafts of a scene in the epilogue designed to explain [[Jason Kane]]'s return to [[26th century]] [[Dellah]]. Each one contained information about the [[Final Dalek War]].<ref name="Eulogy" /> Later, Parkin made up names for each draft, "in true ''[[The Nth Doctor|Nth Doctor]]'' style".<ref name="Valeyard">[https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rec.arts.drwho/J7Uxt4H81o8/dCbbfwhIoHAJ Valeyard of the Daleks]</ref>
* Rather than using the McCoy era Doctor Who logo on the spine, or the later New Adventures logo intended for the Summerfield novels, ''The Dying Days'' uniquely features the Virgin Books logo on the spine.
** The first draft, ''Valeyard of the Daleks'', showed Kane being returned to Dellah by the [[old man (Beige Planet Mars)|42nd Doctor]] and his wife [[Teenage girl (Beige Planet Mars)|Iphegenia]] but, along the way, being attacked by a [[Dalek]] WAR-DIS. However, after observing the draft's unpopularity, Parkin scrapped it without sending it to an editor. He later published it on [[rec.arts.drwho]].<ref name="Valeyard" />
* For over ten years (before the release of [[The Company of Friends]]) this was the only appearance of Professor [[Bernice Summerfield]] with the Eighth Doctor.
** The second draft, ''Eulogy of the Daleks'', kept the premise of the 42nd Doctor and Iphegenia but was set after the end of the [[Final Dalek War]],<ref name="Eulogy" /> with the Doctor giving a eulogy for the last Dalek. It was printed in ''Matrix 54''.<ref name="Valeyard" />
* Virgin would continue to publish The New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield, The Dying Days ends leading Bernice to her new home at the University of [[Dellah]].
** The third, shorter draft,<ref name="Eulogy" /> ''Basically Eulogy of the Daleks'', was similar to ''Eulogy of the Daleks'', but with an old, unmarried [[Eighth Doctor]] rather than the 42nd Doctor.<ref name="Valeyard" />
*At the Mars landing party there are a few notable guests; Jeremy Paxman, Richard Dawkins, Chris Evans, Gillian Anderson, Richard Branson, Alan Yentob, Emma Peel and [[Lalla Ward]] (who appears as herself and 'in character' as Romana II at the end of the book).
** The fourth, shorter draft, ''Timewyrm: Apocripha'', was very different from the other three. It would have featured [[Chris Cwej]], the [[Timewyrm]], and [[Iranda]],<ref name="Valeyard" /> rather than the Daleks. Both the third and fourth drafts were sub-par, so Parkin cut the scene entirely.<ref name="Eulogy" />
*Benny's knowledge speciality of the 20th century actually ranges from [[1963]] to [[1989]] (which is the length of the TV series' original continuous run).
* A cameo appearance by [[Tom Baker (in-universe)|Tom Baker]] was also cut.<ref name="Eulogy"/> In the final draft, [[Lalla Ward (in-universe)|Lalla Ward]] appeared at the Mars landing party.
*When Xznaal is seen from the point of view of Greyhaven, the Doctor, or Benny, the pronoun Parkin uses for Xznaal is "he". From anyone eles's point of view Parkin refers to Xznaal as "it". As in, "Xznaal moved its scaly body".
*The human names are also written (when viewed from the Ice Warrior's point of view) as they would pronounce them ie: Gerayhavun/Greyhaven, Xztaynz/Staines.
*Supposedly Philip Segal stated that a big alien invasion couldn't be done on (the TV movie's budget) because of the cost of multiple prosthetic costumes and the cost of ''showing'' a full alien invasion. The Dying Days does an alien invasion with three Ice Warriors (there are never more than two Ice Warriors in a room together throughout the book). <ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/ebooks/dyingdays/notes/page10.shtml '''The Dying Days''' Lance Parkin Ebook Author Notes Chapter 7]</ref>
*The book's concluding chapter has been interpreted as showing Benny initiating a romantic encounter with the Doctor.
*This book is notable for not having the Doctor Who logo anywhere on the cover, spine or interior, due to Virgin not having the rights to the logo introduced for the Eighth Doctor (the rights to which were owned by BBC Books) and not wanting to use the Seventh Doctor's logo. Instead, Virgin Publishing's logo is used instead. In addition, the title "Doctor Who" appears nowhere on the back cover or interior pages until one gets to the copyright page. There is also a brief mention on an acknowledgements page.
*The book concludes with the afterword "The End and a new beginning", signed by the editors of the New Adventures line, acknowledging this as the final Doctor Who novel and promoting the start of the [[Virgin Bernice Summerfield New Adventures]] line.
*[[The Dying Days/The Dying Days Final Chapter|The Dying Days - Final Chapter]], this was a chapter released by Lance Parkin and posted on ''rec.arts.drwho'' sometime in 1997, it is the original epilogue / final chapter to ''The Dying Days''.


==Continuity==
=== E-Book illustrations ===
* The Doctor regenerated in [[DW]]: ''[[Doctor Who (1996)|Doctor Who]]''.
<gallery position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true">
* The Doctor delivers Benny to [[Dellah]] for the start of the [[Virgin Bernice Summerfield New Adventures]] ''[[Oh No It Isn't!]]''.
The Dying Days 01.jpg|The Eighth Doctor
* The Brigadier refers to debriefing Jo Grant after the events of [[DW]]: ''[[The Curse of Peladon]]''.
The Dying Days 02.jpg|Bernice Summerfield
*Kadiatu and aM!xitsa last appeared in [[NA]]: ''[[Happy Endings]]''.
Dying days005.jpg|The Mars 97 Orbiter
*Benny asks how Martians can invade Britian now, but she also has Martians at her wedding. ([[NA]]: ''[[Happy Endings]]'').
The Dying Days 04.jpg|The Martian Caves
*In [[DW]]: ''[[The Christmas Invasion]]'' there is question of whether or not aliens are Martians and confirmed not to be the case.
The Dying Days 05.jpg|The Brigadier
*Benny previously met the Brigadier in [[NA]]: ''[[No Future]]'' and he attended her wedding in ''[[Happy Endings]]'' (which is subjectively in the future for the Brigadier).
The Dying Days 06.jpg|Lord Greyhaven
*The previous Mars missions are mentioned including the meeting of the Ambassadors ([[DW]]: ''[[The Ambassadors of Death]]'').
Dying days002.jpg|The Martian ship over London
*The Doctor left Chris on Gallifrey in [[NA]]: ''[[Lungbarrow]]''.
The Dying Days 08.jpg|The Ice Warriors
*Chris Cwej returns in [[BNA]]: ''[[Deadfall]]''.
The Dying Days 09.jpg|The Doctor and Benny
*Bambera first met [[Seventh Doctor|the Doctor]] in [[DW]]: ''[[Battlefield]]''.
The Dying Days 10.jpg|The Brig surveys London
*[[MA]]: ''[[Who Killed Kennedy]]'' is mentioned, as is co-author [[James Stevens]] (supposedly UNIT altered the dates within the book to change them from the ''actual'' dates).
Dying days003.jpg|The Doctor attacks
*In [[DW]]: ''[[Aliens of London]]'' / ''[[World War Three]]'' the public are again given practically unquestionable knowledge of aliens existing and (again) it is seen as a hoax.
The dying Days illistration 5.jpg|More Ice Warriors
*The Doctor's House first appeared in [[NA]]: ''[[Cat's Cradle: Warhead]]''.
The Dying Days 13.jpg|Greyhaven's death
*Veronica Halliwell originally appeared (and died) in [[MA]]: ''[[System Shock]]''.
The Dying Days 14.jpg|On the green
*Susan was listening to John Smith and the Common Men in [[DW]]: ''[[An Unearthly Child]]''.
The Dying Days 15.jpg|Freefall
*[[NA]]: ''[[Christmas on a Rational Planet]]'' is the first novel to mention a re-coronation of the Queen. But this was actually [[Lawrence Miles]] explaining a continuity problem in [[DW]]: ''[[Battlefield]]'' (a throwaway line of there being a King). <ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/ebooks/dyingdays/notes/page13.shtml '''The Dying Days''' Lance Parkin Ebook Author Notes Chapter 10]</ref>
Dying days004.jpg|The Dying Days
*The Doctor tells Benny that she is his longest-serving companion as of that time.
</gallery>


==External Links==
== Continuity ==
*[http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/ebooks/dyingdays/index.shtml Official BBC Ebook of '''The Dying Days''']
* The Doctor [[Regeneration|regenerated]] in [[TV]]: {{cs|Doctor Who (TV story)}}.
* [http://www.drwhoguide.com/who_na61.htm The Doctor Who Reference Guide detailed synopsis of '''The Dying Days''']
* The Doctor delivers Benny to [[Dellah]], setting up the events of [[PROSE]]: ''[[Oh No It Isn't! (novel)|Oh No It Isn't!]]''.
*{{whoniverse|NA61.php|The Dying Days}}
* The Brigadier refers to debriefing Jo Grant after the events of [[TV]]: {{cs|The Curse of Peladon (TV story)}}.
* The Doctor remembers having worn a [[tricorn]] hat "ages ago", back when he first regularly used the [[TARDIS control room|second control room]] as his go-to control room in [[TV]]: {{cs|The Brain of Morbius (TV story)}}
* Kadiatu and aM!xitsa last appeared in [[PROSE]]: ''[[Happy Endings (novel)|Happy Endings]]''.
* Benny asks how Martians can invade Britain now while she also has Martians at her wedding. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Happy Endings (novel)|Happy Endings]]'')
* In [[TV]]: {{cs|The Christmas Invasion (TV story)}} there is question of whether or not aliens are Martians and confirmed not to be the case.
* Benny previously met the Brigadier in [[PROSE]]: ''[[No Future (novel)|No Future]]'', and, from his perspective, would later attend her wedding in ''[[Happy Endings (novel)|Happy Endings]]''.
* Previous Mars missions are mentioned, including the meeting of the Ambassadors, as depicted in [[TV]]: {{cs|The Ambassadors of Death (TV story)}}.
* The Doctor states that he left Chris on Gallifrey. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Lungbarrow (novel)|Lungbarrow]]'')
* Chris Cwej returns in [[PROSE]]: ''[[Deadfall (novel)|Deadfall]]''.
* Bambera first met the Doctor in [[TV]]: {{cs|Battlefield (TV story)}}.
* The fictional book-within-a-book ''[[Who Killed Kennedy (novel)|Who Killed Kennedy]]'' is mentioned, as are its authors [[James Stevens]] and [[David Bishop]]. Supposedly, UNIT altered the dates within the book to change them from the ''actual'' dates. Stevens is said to have "gone to ground", referring to his disappearance in [[January]] [[1996]]. On that occasion, he travelled back in time to [[Dallas]], [[Texas]] on [[22 November]] [[1963]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Who Killed Kennedy (novel)|Who Killed Kennedy]]'') On the other hand, Bishop is mentioned as still being in London.
* In [[TV]]: {{cs|Aliens of London (TV story)}}/{{cs|World War Three (TV story)}}, the public are again given practically unquestionable knowledge of aliens existing and view the landing as a hoax.
* [[The Doctor's house]] first appeared in [[PROSE]]: ''[[Cat's Cradle: Warhead (novel)|Cat's Cradle: Warhead]]''.
* Veronica Halliwell originally appeared (and died) in [[PROSE]]: ''[[System Shock (novel)|System Shock]]''.
* Susan was listening to John Smith and the Common Men in [[TV]]: {{cs|An Unearthly Child (TV story)}}.
* [[The Master]] previously stole the [[Nestene]] energy unit from the [[National Space Museum]] in the story [[TV]]: {{cs|Terror of the Autons (TV story)}}
* [[Ashley Chapel Logistics]] ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Millennial Rites (novel)|Millennial Rites]]'') and [[I²]] ([[PROSE]]: ''[[System Shock (novel)|System Shock]]'') are amongst the companies that supplied parts for the Mars Probe.
* Christian attempted to get in touch with the Brigadier via his daughter, [[Kate Lethbridge-Stewart]], as shown in [[HOMEVID]]: ''[[Downtime (home video)|Downtime]]'' and [[TV]]: {{cs|The Power of Three (TV story)}}.
* [[PROSE]]: ''[[Christmas on a Rational Planet (novel)|Christmas on a Rational Planet]]'' is the first novel to mention a re-coronation of the Queen. However, this was actually a reference to the presence of a King in [[TV]]: {{cs|Battlefield (TV story)}} and the [[Golden Jubilee]] of a Queen in [[PROSE]]: ''[[Head Games (novel)|Head Games]]''.
* [[Major]] [[A Highway]] would later reorganise UNIT's "pan-territorial activities" (UNIT ONE and UNIT THREE) into a single operation, ([[PROSE]]: ''[[UNIT's New York Operation Expansion (short story)|UNIT's New York Operation Expansion]]'') the [[UNIT New York City Base]], as shown in [[TV]]: {{cs|The Stolen Earth (TV story)}}


==Footnotes==
== External links ==
{{dwrefguide|who_na61.htm|The Dying Days}}
* {{whoniverse|na61|The Dying Days}}
* [http://mysite.science.uottawa.ca/rsmith43/cloister/dyin.htm The Cloister Library: '''The Dying Days''']
== Footnotes ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
{{NA}}
{{Ice Warrior stories}}
{{TitleSort}}
[[es:The Dying Days (novela)]]


{{Virgin New Adventure Series Box | before = [[Lungbarrow]] | after = [[Oh No It Isn't!]]}}
[[Category:Bernice Summerfield sources]]
[[Category:Eighth Doctor novels|Dying Days, The]]
[[Category:Eighth Doctor novels]]
[[Category:E-books|Dying Days, The]]
[[Category:E-books]]
[[Category:Ice Warriors novels|Dying Days, The]]
[[Category:Ice Warrior novels]]
[[Category:UNIT novels|Dying Days, The]]
[[Category:UNIT novels]]
[[Category:Virgin New Adventure Novels|Dying Days, The]]
[[Category:NA novels]]
[[Category:1997 novels|Dying Days, The]]
[[Category:1997 novels]]
[[Category:Bernice Summerfield stories|Dying Days, The]]
[[Category:NA novels with Bernice Summerfield]]
[[Category:Stories set in England]]
[[Category:Stories set in 1997]]
[[Category:Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart novels]]
[[Category:Novels set on Mars]]
[[Category:Fourth Doctor novels]]
[[Category:K9 novels]]
[[Category:Multi-Doctor novels]]
[[Category:Stories set in Kent]]
[[Category:Stories set in London]]
[[Category:Stories set in Birmingham]]
[[Category:Romana II novels]]
[[Category:Novels set on Dellah]]
[[Category:Stories that crossover with non-DWU series]]

Latest revision as of 20:22, 3 November 2024

RealWorld.png

prose stub

The Dying Days was a 1997 Virgin Books New Adventures novel written by Lance Parkin.

It was the final New Adventures novel published before Virgin lost the Doctor Who license to BBC Books, and as such, it represented a shift in focus from the Doctor to Bernice Summerfield. It was the only story in the series to feature the Eighth Doctor.

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

6 May 1997

The Dying Days of the Twentieth Century

On the Mare Sirenum, British astronauts are walking on the surface of Mars for the first time in over twenty years. The National Space Museum in London is the venue for a spectacular event where the great and the good celebrate a unique British achievement.

In Adisham, Kent, the most dangerous man in Britain has escaped from custody while being transported by helicopter. In Whitehall, the new Home Secretary is convinced that there is a plot brewing to overthrow the government. In west London, MI5 agents shut down a publishing company that got too close to the top secret organisation known as UNIT. And, on a state visit to Washington, the British Prime Minister prepares to make a crucial speech, totally unaware that dark forces are working against him.

As the Eighth Doctor and Professor Bernice Summerfield discover, all these events are connected. However, soon all will be overshadowed.

This time, the Doctor is already too late.

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

to be added

Characters[[edit] | [edit source]]

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Doctor[[edit] | [edit source]]

Religion[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • When crowned, the British monarch agrees to serve Jesus Christ. Unaware of Christianity, an enraged Xznaal believes he's being offered joint sovereignty.

Individuals[[edit] | [edit source]]

Organisations[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The United Nations is overseen by an Irish woman. (Lance Parkin had assumed Mary Robinson would be the next Secretary-General instead of Kofi Annan[1])
  • UNIT has a branch in Paris called NUIT.
  • UNIT in the past has dealt with attempted invasions by the Bandrils and Drahvins without the Doctor's help. (Lance Parkin stated this was a joke at UNIT's expense that some aliens are "beneath the Doctor's dignity" to deal worth)[2]
  • The Martian Communicators Guild is an Ice Warrior organisation.

Planets[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Water is a source of great wealth on Mars.

Objects[[edit] | [edit source]]

Technology[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The Doctor uses his sonic screwdriver to reflect an Ice Warrior's sonic blast.
  • After being blown out of the Ice Warrior's War Rocket, the Doctor creates several balloons to slow his descent out of bin bags, curtain rings, and a canister of helium.

Timeline[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The Arcturan Treaty of 2085 is the official date of peaceful first contact with aliens.
  • Mars Probe 13 was launched over twenty years ago.
  • Benny Summerfield is unaware who are the current leaders in the US and UK as there's been elections within the last nine months.

Vehicles[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The Brigadier kept Bessie in mothballs for the Doctor.

Cultural references from the real world[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Benny looks at a John Smith and the Common Men album when she and the Doctor are searching Todd's flat.
  • The BBC cancels The X-Files (a joke on the BBC cancelling shows that accidentally resemble a recent tragedy).
  • Rebellious cities in the north are called Royalist

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • This is the Eighth Doctor's only appearance in the New Adventures book series, aside from a brief unidentified cameo in Damaged Goods.
  • Although this story was officially the final of Virgin's Doctor Who New Adventures, it was in fact not the last to be published: due to production delays, the Seventh Doctor novel So Vile a Sin, which had been planned for release several months earlier, was only published a month after The Dying Days.
  • Until the release of The Company of Friends over ten years later, this novel held the distinction of being the only appearance of Bernice Summerfield alongside the Eighth Doctor.
  • After The Dying Days, Virgin Books continued to release New Adventures novels centred around Bernice Summerfield. The Dying Days ends with Bernice going to her new home at the University of Dellah.
  • This novel was re-released by BBCi on the official Doctor Who website in ebook form, accompanied by extensive notes and commentary from author Lance Parkin and new illustrations by artist Allan Bednar.[3]
  • At the Mars landing party there are a few notable guests: Jeremy Paxman, Richard Dawkins, Chris Evans, Gillian Anderson, Richard Branson, Alan Yentob, Emma Knight, and Lalla Ward. The real-world figures abruptly disappear when the invasion occurs, both to avoid calling anyone real a collaborator and because "there would have been something irredeemably camp about having Gazza or Scary Spice joining the fight".[4]
  • Benny's knowledge specialty of the 20th century ranges from 1963 to 1989, a reference to the period of the TV series' original run.
  • Benny is unaware who the Prime Minister or President are. In his notes for BBCi, Parkin states this is to get around the fact there would be elections in both countries between him writing the book and Virgin publishing it.
  • When Xznaal is seen from the point of view of Greyhaven, the Doctor, or Benny, the pronoun Parkin uses for Xznaal is "he". From anyone else's point of view, Parkin refers to Xznaal as "it". When viewed from the Ice Warrior's point of view, the human names are written in Ice Warrior pronunciation, such as Gerayhavun/Greyhaven, Xztaynz/Staines.
  • Philip Segal reportedly stated that a big alien invasion couldn't be done on the TV movie's budget because of the cost of multiple prosthetic costumes and the cost of showing a full alien invasion. The Dying Days features an alien invasion with three Ice Warriors; there are never more than two Ice Warriors in a room together throughout the book.
  • In his notes, Parkin says an original idea in the story was that the humans would routinely talk about how the Ice Warriors had a noble warrior culture but the Ice Warriors themselves would all be sadistic thugs.
  • The book's concluding chapter ends with Benny initiating a sexual encounter with the Doctor, a first for the franchise in any licensed media. The event was again referenced in the Big Finish audio drama Benny's Story.
  • The book did not feature the Doctor Who logo anywhere on its cover, spine, or interior. Since the Seventh Doctor's logo was thought to be inappropriate for an Eighth Doctor book, but BBC Books had exclusive rights to the new Eighth Doctor logo, the Virgin Publishing logo was used on the spine instead. In addition, the title Doctor Who appeared nowhere on the back cover or interior pages before the copyright page. There is also a brief mention on an acknowledgements page.
  • The book concludes with an afterword, "The End and a new beginning", signed by the editors of the New Adventures line, acknowledging this as the final Doctor Who New Adventure and promoting the future Virgin Bernice Summerfield New Adventures releases.
  • The novel's title was inspired by the lyrics of Gladys Knight's License to Kill.
  • Parkin's short stories Worm and Fishy Business, published respectively in 1998's Perfect Timing and 1999's Perfect Timing 2, followed this novel in depicting an alternate timeline where the Doctor and Benny became lovers and continued to travel together for years following the Martian invasion. Benny would be seen pregnant in the Infinity Doctor's memories in Parkin's The Infinity Doctors.

Deleted scenes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • In an earlier draft, a short scene in chapter 9 included thinly-veiled cameos of Mulder and Scully from The X-Files; this was removed due to editor Rebecca Levene's fears that Virgin Books "might have our arses sued off."[5]
  • Parkin wrote several drafts of a scene in the epilogue designed to explain Jason Kane's return to 26th century Dellah. Each one contained information about the Final Dalek War.[5] Later, Parkin made up names for each draft, "in true Nth Doctor style".[6]
    • The first draft, Valeyard of the Daleks, showed Kane being returned to Dellah by the 42nd Doctor and his wife Iphegenia but, along the way, being attacked by a Dalek WAR-DIS. However, after observing the draft's unpopularity, Parkin scrapped it without sending it to an editor. He later published it on rec.arts.drwho.[6]
    • The second draft, Eulogy of the Daleks, kept the premise of the 42nd Doctor and Iphegenia but was set after the end of the Final Dalek War,[5] with the Doctor giving a eulogy for the last Dalek. It was printed in Matrix 54.[6]
    • The third, shorter draft,[5] Basically Eulogy of the Daleks, was similar to Eulogy of the Daleks, but with an old, unmarried Eighth Doctor rather than the 42nd Doctor.[6]
    • The fourth, shorter draft, Timewyrm: Apocripha, was very different from the other three. It would have featured Chris Cwej, the Timewyrm, and Iranda,[6] rather than the Daleks. Both the third and fourth drafts were sub-par, so Parkin cut the scene entirely.[5]
  • A cameo appearance by Tom Baker was also cut.[5] In the final draft, Lalla Ward appeared at the Mars landing party.

E-Book illustrations[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The Eighth Doctor

    The Eighth Doctor

  • Bernice Summerfield

    Bernice Summerfield

  • The Mars 97 Orbiter

    The Mars 97 Orbiter

  • The Martian Caves

    The Martian Caves

  • The Brigadier

    The Brigadier

  • Lord Greyhaven

    Lord Greyhaven

  • The Martian ship over London

    The Martian ship over London

  • The Ice Warriors

    The Ice Warriors

  • The Doctor and Benny

    The Doctor and Benny

  • The Brig surveys London

    The Brig surveys London

  • The Doctor attacks

    The Doctor attacks

  • More Ice Warriors

    More Ice Warriors

  • Greyhaven's death

    Greyhaven's death

  • On the green

    On the green

  • Freefall

    Freefall

  • The Dying Days

    The Dying Days

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

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

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  1. ↑ Author's Notes chapter 6 (archived)
  2. ↑ Author's Notes chapter 5 (archived)
  3. ↑ Dying Days on BBCi, archived with The Internet Archive
  4. ↑ Chapter 7 author's notes (archived)
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Eulogy of the Daleks
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Valeyard of the Daleks
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