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{{Infobox Novel|
{{title dab away}}
novel name= The Witch Hunters|
{{real world}}
image=[[ Image:Witch hunters bbcpdoc9.jpg]]  |
{{Infobox Story SMW
series=[[Doctor Who]] -<br/>[[BBC Past Doctor Adventures]] |
|image           = <gallery>
number= 9 |
Witch hunters bbcpdoc9.jpg|1998 edition
doctor=[[First Doctor]] |
DW-Witch-Hunters Large.jpg|2015 edition
companions= [[Susan]], [[Ian Chesterton|Ian]], [[Barbara Wright|Barbara]] |
</gallery>
enemy= Reverend [[Samuel Parris]] |
|range          = BBC Past Doctor Adventures
year = |
|number in range = 9
writer= [[Steve Lyons]] |
|series          = [[BBC Past Doctor Adventures]]
publisher= [[BBC Books]] |
|number         = 9
release date= |
|doctor         = First Doctor
format= Paperback Book, ? Pages |
|companions     = [[Susan Foreman|Susan]], [[Barbara Wright|Barbara]], [[Ian Chesterton|Ian]]
isbn= ISBN 0563405791 |
|enemy           = [[Samuel Parris]], [[Abigail Williams]]
previous story= [[Eye of Heaven]]|
|setting        = [[Salem Village]], [[Massachusetts]], [[1692]] and [[1693]]
next story= [[The Hollow Men]]}}
|writer          = Steve Lyons
|read by        = [[David Collings]]
|publisher      = BBC Books
|release date   = 2 March 1998
|format         = Paperback Book;<br/>19 Chapters, 279 Pages
|isbn           = ISBN 0-563-40579-1
|prev            = Eye of Heaven (novel)
|next           = The Hollow Men (novel)
}}{{prose stub}}
'''''{{StoryTitle}}''''' was the ninth novel in the [[BBC Past Doctor Adventures]] series. It was written by [[Steve Lyons]], released [[2 March (releases)|2 March]] [[1998 (releases)|1998]] and featured the [[First Doctor]], [[Ian Chesterton]], [[Barbara Wright]] and [[Susan Foreman]].


==Publisher's summary==
It was the first BBC Books novel to feature this line up of [[The Doctor|Doctor]]/[[companion]]s, and the first novel overall since [[Virgin Publishing]]'s novel ''[[The Sorcerer's Apprentice (novel)|The Sorcerer's Apprentice]]'' in [[1995 (releases)|1995]].
''The Reverend [[Samuel Parris]], Minister of Salem, follows three strangers in the forest beyond the village - a forest which is traditionally believed to be the source of much evil. He hears movement through the trees, steps forward and makes a terrible discovery. It is one which will change life in Salem forever.''


[[the Doctor's TARDIS|The TARDIS]] arrives in [[Salem Village]], [[Massachusetts]], [[1692]]. The Doctor wishes to effect repairs to his ship in peace and privacy, and so his companions - Ian, Barbara and Susan - decide to 'live history' for a week or so. But the friendships they make are abruptly broken when the Doctor ushers them away, wary of being overtaken by the tragic events he knows will occur.  
== Publisher's summary ==
=== 1998 BBC Books Edition ===
''The Reverend [[Samuel Parris]], Minister of Salem, follows three strangers in the [[forest]] beyond the village — a forest which is traditionally believed to be the source of much evil. He hears movement through the [[tree]]s, steps forward and makes a terrible discovery. It is one which will change life in Salem forever.''


Upon learning the terrible truth of the Salem witch trials, Susan is desperate to return - at any price. Her actions lead the TARDIS crew into terrible jeopardy, and her latent telepathy threatens to help the tragedy escalate way out of control...
[[the Doctor's TARDIS|The TARDIS]] arrives in [[Salem Village]], [[Massachusetts]], [[1692]]. [[First Doctor|The Doctor]] wishes to effect repairs to his ship in peace and privacy, and so his companions — [[Ian Chesterton|Ian]], [[Barbara Wright|Barbara]] and [[Susan Foreman|Susan]] — decide to "live history" for a week or so. But the friendships they make are abruptly broken when the Doctor ushers them away, wary of being overtaken by the tragic events he knows will occur.


==Characters==
Upon learning the terrible truth of the Salem witch trials, Susan is desperate to return — at any price. Her actions lead the TARDIS crew into terrible jeopardy, and her latent telepathy threatens to help the tragedy escalate way out of control...
*[[First Doctor|The Doctor]]


*[[Susan Foreman]]
=== 2015 BBC Books Edition ===
With the Doctor wanting to repair the TARDIS in peace and quiet, Barbara, Ian and Susan decide to get some experience of living in the nearby village of Salem. But the Doctor knows about the horrors destined to engulf the village and determines that they should leave.


*[[Barbara Wright]]
His friends are not impressed. His granddaughter Susan has her own ideas, and is desperate to return, whatever the cost. But perhaps the Doctor was right. Perhaps Susan's actions will lead them all into terrible danger and cause the tragedy that is already unfolding to escalate out of control.


*[[Ian Chesterton]]
''An adventure set in the [[17th century]] Salem Witch Trials, featuring the First Doctor as played by [[William Hartnell]] and his companions Susan, Ian, and Barbara.''


*[[Rebecca Nurse]]
== Plot ==
''to be added''


*[[John Proctor]]
== Characters ==
* [[First Doctor]]
* [[Susan Foreman]]
* [[Barbara Wright]]
* [[Ian Chesterton]]
* [[Rebecca Nurse]]
* [[Francis Nurse]]
* [[John Proctor]]
* [[Elizabeth Proctor]]
* [[Reverend]] [[Samuel Parris]]
* [[Tituba]]
* [[Abigail Williams]]
* [[Mary Warren]]
* [[Ann Putnam Senior]]
* [[Ann Putnam Junior]]
* [[Thomas Putnam]]
* [[Mary Williams]]
* [[Cotton Mather]]
* [[Fisk (The Witch Hunters)|Fisk]]
* Governor [[Phips]]


*[[Elizabeth Proctor]]
== Worldbuilding ==
=== Individuals ===
* While in Salem Village, Barbara and Susan pose as Ian's wife and daughter and claim to be from [[Boston]].
* The Doctor and Susan attend a performance of ''[[The Crucible]]'' by [[Arthur Miller]] in [[Bristol]] on [[9 November]] [[1954]].
* In 1954, Barbara was a student teacher in [[Cricklewood]], [[London]]. Ian recalls that [[Winston Churchill]] was the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]] at the time.
* Susan appears to have only one [[heart]].


*Reverend [[Samuel Parris]]
== Notes ==
* The [[Ian Chesterton: An Introduction (home video)|home video reconstruction segments]] of ''[[The Crusade (TV story)|The Crusade]]'', released [[1999 (releases)|one year]] after ''The Witch Hunters'', [[List of references to other DWU media in live-action BBC stories|make reference]] to the events of this story.
* The novel was reprinted as part of ''The History Collection'' in [[February (releases)|February]] [[2015 (releases)|2015]], with a new cover and introduction by Lyons.
* This story is set between ''[[The Reign of Terror (TV story)|The Reign of Terror]]'' and ''[[Planet of Giants (TV story)|Planet of Giants]]'', and after ''[[The Five Doctors (TV story)|The Five Doctors]]'' for the future First Doctor.
* This story is a "[[pure historical]]" featuring no science fiction elements apart from the presence of the Doctor, Susan, Ian, Barbara and the TARDIS.


*[[Tituba]]
== Continuity ==
 
* Barbara is still upset about her failure to save the [[Aztec]]s in [[Mexico]] in the [[15th century]] during [[TV]]: ''[[The Aztecs (TV story)|The Aztecs]]''.)
==References==
* The Doctor uses the alias "Doctor [[Aliases of the Doctor#John Smith|John Smith]]" twice: when asked his name by [[Rebecca Nurse]] (realising that a simple "Doctor" would not do), and when checking in at an inn. He had previously used the alias when living at [[76 Totter's Lane]], ([[TV]]: ''[[The Vampires of Venice (TV story)|The Vampires of Venice]]'') but now recalled it merely as a name of the lead singer of a [[20th century]] band, namely [[John Smith and the Common Men]], with whom Susan had been besotted. ([[TV]]: ''[[An Unearthly Child (TV story)|An Unearthly Child]]'')
''to be added''
* The Doctor has at least partially fixed the [[fast return switch]], due to the events of [[TV]]: ''[[The Edge of Destruction (TV story)|The Edge of Destruction]]''.
* Abigail Williams refers to Susan as "an unearthly child." ([[TV]]: ''[[An Unearthly Child (TV story)|An Unearthly Child]]'')
* While searching for Susan in the forest outside Salem Village, the Doctor tells Barbara that he is "not a mountain goat." ([[TV]]: ''[[The Time Meddler (TV story)|The Time Meddler]]'')
* The Doctor is afraid of breaking the [[Laws of Time|First Law of Time]] to the extent that he condemns Rebecca Nurse to death. This is a far cry from his later behaviour during [[TV]]: ''[[The Waters of Mars (TV story)|The Waters of Mars]]'' when he attempts to rewrite history by saving three people from certain death.
* The Doctor's fourth visit to Salem was granted to him by [[Rassilon]] after the events of [[TV]]: ''[[The Five Doctors (TV story)|The Five Doctors]]'' to allow him to deal with unfinished business before his first incarnation ended.
* Abigail Williams accurately predicts that Susan will marry a "[[David Campbell|fighting man]]." ([[TV]]: ''[[The Dalek Invasion of Earth (TV story)|The Dalek Invasion of Earth]]'', [[AUDIO]]: ''[[An Earthly Child (audio story)|An Earthly Child]]'')
* There are references to the [[Dalek]]s, [[Skaro]] and the TARDIS's [[fault locator]], ([[TV]]: ''[[The Daleks (TV story)|The Daleks]]'') [[Marinus]] and the [[Voord]], ([[TV]]: ''[[The Keys of Marinus (TV story)|The Keys of Marinus]]'') the [[Sense Sphere]], ([[TV]]: ''[[The Sensorites (TV story)|The Sensorites]]'') and Ian and Barbara's experiences during the [[French Revolution]] in [[1794]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Reign of Terror (TV story)|The Reign of Terror]]'')
* The older Doctor uses the alias "[[Ben Jackson|Benjamin Jackson]]", whom he first met in [[TV]]: ''[[The War Machines (TV story)|The War Machines]]''.
* The older Doctor recalls leaving Susan behind in the aftermath of the [[2150s Dalek invasion of Earth|Dalek occupation of Earth]] in the [[22nd century]] ([[TV]]: ''[[The Dalek Invasion of Earth (TV story)|The Dalek Invasion of Earth]]'') and Ian and Barbara's subsequent departure from the TARDIS during [[TV]]: ''[[The Chase (TV story)|The Chase]]''.
* Susan claims she has "attended religious ceremonies before, on several worlds", and at the best of them was "bolstered by the joy and love of the worshippers, even though she had not shared their faith." The [[Eleventh Doctor]] was familiar with the impressive religious ceremonies on [[Akhaten]], and during [[TV]]: ''[[The Rings of Akhaten (TV story)|The Rings of Akhaten]]'' he told [[Clara Oswald]] that he had not visited the planet since his trip with Susan.
* Susan's [[Telepathy|telepathic abilities]] gained from the [[Sensorite]]s ([[TV]]: ''[[The Sensorites (TV story)|The Sensorites]]'') continue to develop. This revelation was made to the TARDIS crew after they left the Sense Sphere and landed on the ''[[Endeavour]]'', bound to discover [[Australia]] in [[1770]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Transit of Venus (audio story)|The Transit of Venus]]'')


==Notes==
== Additional cover images ==
*[[Susan Foreman|Susan]] appears to have only one heart.
<gallery position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true">
DW-Witch-Hunters Large.jpg|2015 edition. Cover by [[Two Associates]].
</gallery>


== Audiobook ==
* This novel was released as an audiobook on [[7 January (releases)|7 January]] [[2016 (releases)|2016]] complete and unabridged by [[BBC Audio]] and read by [[David Collings]].


==Continuity==
<gallery position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true">
*[[First Doctor|The Doctor]] uses the alias 'Doctor [[Aliases of the Doctor|John Smith]]' twice: when asked his name by [[Rebecca Nurse]] (realising that a simple 'Doctor' would not do), and when checking in at an inn. He had previously used the alias when living at [[76 Totter's Lane]] ([[DW]]: ''[[The Vampires of Venice]]''), but now recalled it merely as a name of a twentieth century musician with whom [[Susan Foreman|Susan]] had been besotted.
The Witch Hunters audiobook.jpg|Audiobook cover
*The Doctor has at least partially fixed the [[Fast Return Switch]], previously broken in [[DW]]: ''[[The Edge of Destruction]]'', and Susan is able to succesfully use it to return to the same place, but approximately five months later. As a result, he decides to disable it permanantly.
</gallery>
*The Doctor is afraid of breaking the First Law of Time, to the extent that he condemns Rebecca Nurse to death. This is a far cry from his later behaviour in [[DW]]: ''[[The Waters of Mars]]'' when he attempts to rewrite history by saving three people from sure death.
*The Doctor's fourth visit to Salem was granted to him by [[Rassilon]], after the events of [[DW]]: ''[[The Five Doctors]]'', to allow him to deal with unfinished business before his first life ended.


==[[First Doctor - Timeline|Timeline]]==
== External links ==
*This story occurs after: [[PDA]]: ''[[City at World's End]]''
* {{Penguin|1073302/doctor-who--witch-hunters/}}
*This story occurs before [[ST]]: ''[[The Thief of Sherwood]]''
{{dwrefguide|whobbk09.htm|The Witch Hunters}}
::''The Thief of Sherwood'' ends with the Doctor detecting a build up of space pressure, as this book's rear cover states it takes place between the television stories [[DW]]: ''[[The Reign of Terror]]'' and ''[[Planet of Giants]]'' which has themes of pressure changes in pressure in relation to the TARDIS this is a logical placement.
* {{whoniverse|pd09|The Witch Hunters}}
* [http://mysite.science.uottawa.ca/rsmith43/cloister/witch.htm The Cloister Library: '''The Witch Hunters''']


==External links==
{{PDA}}
*{{dwrefguide|whobbk09.htm|The Witch Hunters}}
{{TitleSort}}
*{{whoniverse|PD09.php|The Witch Hunters}}


{{prose stub}}
[[Category:First Doctor novels]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Witch Hunters, The}}
[[Category:PDA novels]]
[[Category:First Doctor novels|Witch Hunters, The]]
[[Category:1998 novels]]
[[Category:BBC Past Doctor Adventures|Witch Hunters, The]]
[[Category:1998 novels|Witch Hunters, The]]
[[Category:Stories set in 1692]]
[[Category:Stories set in 1692]]
[[Category:Stories set in North America]]
[[Category:Stories set in 1693]]
[[Category:Stories set in 1742]]
[[Category:Stories set in 1954]]
[[Category:Stories set in Bristol]]
[[Category:Novels set in the United States]]
[[Category:E-books]]
[[Category:PDA novels with audiobook readings]]
[[Category:Stories set in the 1990s]]

Latest revision as of 20:21, 3 November 2024

RealWorld.png

prose stub

The Witch Hunters was the ninth novel in the BBC Past Doctor Adventures series. It was written by Steve Lyons, released 2 March 1998 and featured the First Doctor, Ian Chesterton, Barbara Wright and Susan Foreman.

It was the first BBC Books novel to feature this line up of Doctor/companions, and the first novel overall since Virgin Publishing's novel The Sorcerer's Apprentice in 1995.

Publisher's summary[[edit]]

1998 BBC Books Edition[[edit]]

The Reverend Samuel Parris, Minister of Salem, follows three strangers in the forest beyond the village — a forest which is traditionally believed to be the source of much evil. He hears movement through the trees, steps forward and makes a terrible discovery. It is one which will change life in Salem forever.

The TARDIS arrives in Salem Village, Massachusetts, 1692. The Doctor wishes to effect repairs to his ship in peace and privacy, and so his companions — Ian, Barbara and Susan — decide to "live history" for a week or so. But the friendships they make are abruptly broken when the Doctor ushers them away, wary of being overtaken by the tragic events he knows will occur.

Upon learning the terrible truth of the Salem witch trials, Susan is desperate to return — at any price. Her actions lead the TARDIS crew into terrible jeopardy, and her latent telepathy threatens to help the tragedy escalate way out of control...

2015 BBC Books Edition[[edit]]

With the Doctor wanting to repair the TARDIS in peace and quiet, Barbara, Ian and Susan decide to get some experience of living in the nearby village of Salem. But the Doctor knows about the horrors destined to engulf the village and determines that they should leave.

His friends are not impressed. His granddaughter Susan has her own ideas, and is desperate to return, whatever the cost. But perhaps the Doctor was right. Perhaps Susan's actions will lead them all into terrible danger and cause the tragedy that is already unfolding to escalate out of control.

An adventure set in the 17th century Salem Witch Trials, featuring the First Doctor as played by William Hartnell and his companions Susan, Ian, and Barbara.

Plot[[edit]]

to be added

Characters[[edit]]

Worldbuilding[[edit]]

Individuals[[edit]]

Notes[[edit]]

Continuity[[edit]]

Additional cover images[[edit]]

Audiobook[[edit]]

  • Audiobook cover

    Audiobook cover

External links[[edit]]

v • e
BBC Past Doctor Adventures
 
First Doctor
Susan, Ian, Barbara
Ian, Barbara, Vicki
Steven, Dodo
Ben, Polly
 
Second Doctor
Ben, Polly
Ben, Polly, Jamie
Jamie, Victoria
Jamie, Zoe
Serena
 
Third Doctor
Liz, UNIT
Jo, UNIT
Jo, Liz
Jo
Sarah
 
Fourth Doctor
Sarah, Harry
Harry
Leela
Romana I
Romana II, K9
Nyssa
 
Fifth Doctor
Adric, Nyssa, Tegan
Nyssa
Nyssa, Tegan
Tegan, Turlough
Turlough, Kamelion
Peri
 
Sixth Doctor
Peri
Frobisher
Mel
Mel, Evelyn
The Brigadier
 
Seventh Doctor
Ace
Solo travels
 
Eighth Doctor
Solo travels
Fitz, Anji
 
Other novels
The Master, Ian, Barbara
"Infinity Doctor"
Shalka Doctor, Shalka Master, Alison
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