A Device of Death (novel): Difference between revisions

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{{title|''{{PAGENAME}}''}}
{{Infobox Story SMW
{{Infobox Novel
|image = Ma-31.jpg
 
|series = [[Virgin Missing Adventures]]
 
|range = Virgin Missing Adventures
 
|number in range = 31
|image = [[File:Ma-31.jpg|250px]]
|novel name = A Device of Death
|series = ''[[Doctor Who]]'' -<br />[[Virgin Missing Adventures]]
|number = 31
|number = 31
|doctor = [[Fourth Doctor]]
|doctor = Fourth Doctor
|companions = [[Sarah Jane Smith]]<br />[[Harry Sullivan]]
|companions = [[Sarah Jane Smith|Sarah]], [[Harry Sullivan|Harry]]
|enemy = [[Kambril]] [[The Oranos]]
|featuring = [[Brastall]]
|year = [[Adelphine Cluster]]
|enemy = [[Kambril]]
[[Gallifrey]]  
|setting = [[Adelphine Cluster]], [[Gallifrey]], [[Deepcity]], [[Oranos]]
[[Deepcity]]
|writer = Christopher Bulis
|writer = [[Christopher Bulis]]
|cover = [[Alister Pearson]]
|publisher = [[Virgin Publishing]]
|publisher = Virgin Books
|release date = [[February]] [[1997]]
|release date = 20 February 1997
|format = Paperback Book, 256 Pages
|format = Paperback Book; 29 Chapters, 259 Pages
|isbn = ISBN 0-426-20501-4
|isbn = ISBN 0-426-20501-4
|previous story = [[Burning Heart]]
|prev = Burning Heart (novel)
|next story = [[The Dark Path]]
|next = The Dark Path (novel)
}}{{prose stub}}
}}{{prose stub}}
'''''A Device of Death''''' was the thirty-first novel in the [[Virgin Missing Adventures]] series. It was written by [[Christopher Bulis]] and featured the [[Fourth Doctor]], [[Sarah Jane Smith]] and [[Harry Sullivan]].
This novel is set rather uniquely between ''[[Genesis of the Daleks (TV story)|Genesis of the Daleks]]'' and ''[[Revenge of the Cybermen (TV story)|Revenge of the Cybermen]]''; it takes place during their [[Time Ring]] travels just after ''Genesis of the Daleks''. Since the Doctor remains separated from [[The Doctor's TARDIS|his TARDIS]] from the beginning of former [[serial]] to the end of the latter serial, this story sees him borrowing [[TARDIS (A Device of Death)|another one]] temporarily.
It was not the only story to take place between the two serials. The ''[[Short Trips: How the Doctor Changed My Life|Short Trips]]'' entry ''[[The Last Thing You Ever See (short story)|The Last Thing You Ever See]]'' also saw the Doctor, Sarah and Harry travelling by time ring while trying to return to [[Nerva Beacon]]. Logically, that story chronologically follows this one.


== Publisher's summary ==
== Publisher's summary ==
''''As a member of an inferior race, you either work to serve the cause of [[Averon]], or die.''''
:"As a member of an inferior [[Species|race]], you either work to serve the cause of [[Averon]], or die."
 
[[Sarah Jane Smith|Sarah]] is marooned on a [[slave]] [[world]] where the only escape is [[death]]. [[Harry Sullivan|Harry]] is caught in the middle of an interplanetary [[invasion]], and has to combine [[medicine]] with a desperate mission. And the [[Fourth Doctor]] lands on a world so secret it does not even have a name.


[[Sarah Jane Smith|Sarah]] is marooned on a slave world where the only escape is death. [[Harry Sullivan|Harry]] is caught in the middle of an interplanetary invasion, and has to combine medicine with a desperate mission. And the [[Fourth Doctor]] lands on a world so secret it does not even have a name.
Why have [[the Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]] crew been scattered across the [[star]]s? What terrible accident could have wiped the Doctor's [[memory]]? And what could interest the [[Time Lord]]s in this [[war]]-torn sector of [[space]]?


Why have the [[the Doctor's TARDIS|TARDIS]] crew been scattered across the stars? What terrible accident could have wiped the Doctor's memory? And what could interest the [[Time Lord]]s in this war-torn sector of space?
At the heart of a star-spanning [[conspiracy]] lies an ancient quest: people have been making [[weapon]]s since the dawn of [[time]] — but perhaps someone has finally discovered the ultimate device of death.


At the heart of a star-spanning conspiracy lies an ancient quest: people have been making weapons since the dawn of time — but perhaps someone has finally discovered the ultimate device of death.
== Plot ==
''to be added''


== Characters ==
== Characters ==
* [[Fourth Doctor|The Doctor]]
* [[Fourth Doctor]]
* [[Sarah Jane Smith]]
* [[Sarah Jane Smith]]
* [[Harry Sullivan]]
* [[Harry Sullivan]]
* [[Cara Tarron]]
* [[Andez]]
* [[Brin]]
* [[Arken'rek]]
* [[Director Kambril]]
* [[Backley]]
* [[Dekkilander Chellak]]
* [[Elyze Brant]]
* [[Brastall]]
* [[Callon'mal]]
* [[Chell'lak]]
* [[Crietz]]
* [[Martyn Daw]]
* [[Emberley]]
* [[Farris]]
* [[Baal Garikth-tal]]
* [[Gillsen]]
* [[Gillsen]]
* [[Adrimal Doring]]
* [[Hensall]]
* [[Kambril|Barris Kambril]]
* [[Lassiter (A Device of Death)|Lassiter]]
* [[Oliver Malf]]
* [[Oliver Malf]]
* [[Max Auxil]]
* [[Angelyn Marcavos]]
* [[The Oranos]]
* [[Max (A Device of Death)|Max]]
* [[Landor]]
* [[Morven]]
* [[Prander]]
* [[Nacroth'ves]]
* [[The Mogul Tralsammavar]]
* [[Naversen]]
* [[The Time Lord]]  
* [[Oban]]
*
* [[Orsang'tor]]
* [[Pascal]]
* [[Neels Prander]]
* [[Scout (A Device of Death)|Scout]]
* [[Cara Tarron]]
* [[Mattew Tarron]]
* [[Taxos]]
* [[Thurval]]
* [[Tramour'des]]
* [[Vane (A Device of Death)|Vane]]
* [[Brin Vender]]
* [[Max (A Device of Death)|Mogul of Tralsammavar]]
 
== Worldbuilding ==
=== The Doctor ===
* The [[Time Lord]]s give the Doctor another [[TARDIS (A Device of Death)|TARDIS]], one with a functioning [[chameleon circuit]], but he gives it back.
* The Doctor mentions adventures with the [[Dalek]]s, the [[Aztec]]s, [[Atlantean]]s, the [[London Underground]], the [[Peladon]] and the [[Minoan civilisation|Minoan]] [[labyrinth]] of [[Crete]].
* The Time Lords reactivate [[Fourth Doctor's Time Ring|the Doctor's Time Ring]], so the Doctor, Harry and Sarah Jane can resume their journey back to ''[[Nerva Beacon]]''.


== References ==
=== Time travel ===
* The Adelphine Cluster is outside of the Milky Way Galaxy. It contains the planets Jand, Averon and Landor
* After departing from [[Skaro]], the Doctor, Sarah and Harry are scattered across the Adelphine Cluster due to temporal disruption interfering with the [[Time Ring]].
* Jand is the home planet to the goat-like species that share the planet's name
* [[Chameleon circuit]]
* [[Dalek]]s
* [[Skaro]]
* [[Time Lord]]s
* [[Time ring]]
* Synth-troopers


== Notes ==
== Notes ==
''to be added''
* The prologue of the novel contains explicit confirmation that the Doctor's mission in ''[[Genesis of the Daleks (TV story)|Genesis of the Daleks]]'' created a [[Alternate timeline|new timeline]]. The Time Lords actively monitor the changes as thousands of worlds are retroactively liberated from the [[Dalek Empire]], although millions more remain under [[Dalek]] rule. The concept of a second timeline in Dalek history branching off from ''Genesis'' was introduced in ''[[The Discontinuity Guide]]'', as reprinted on the [[BBC]] website.<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/dalekhistory2.shtml</ref> Similar revelations were later intended for inclusion in the audio story ''[[Return of the Cybermen (audio story)|Return of the Cybermen]]'' in [[2021 (releases)|2021]], linking the fallout of ''Genesis'' to the coming of the [[Last Great Time War]], as well as explaining many other [[narrative continuity]] discrepancies, but the scene was ultimately not recorded.<ref>[https://twitter.com/MrJohnDorney/status/1319930958179696640/ John Dorney on Twitter: Very, very silly...]</ref>
* According to the Time Lords, due to the Doctor's actions, a force of [[robot]]s will arise that will contribute to the fall of the Daleks. It is implied that these robots are the [[Movellan]]s.


== Continuity ==
== Continuity ==
* After departing from Skaro, the Doctor, Sarah Jane and Harry are scattered across the Adelphine Cluster due to a time zone interfering with the time ring.
* The Time Lords observe the fallout from the Doctor's mission to [[Skaro]] after he and his [[companion]]s depart via the [[Time Ring]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Genesis of the Daleks (TV story)|Genesis of the Daleks]]'')
* Sarah recalls [[J.P. Kettlewell|Professor J.P. Kettlewell]]'s [[K1]] robot when she interacts with Max. (''[[TV]]: [[Robot (TV story)|Robot]]'')
* When recovering her memories, Sarah mentions [[UNIT]] and [[Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart|Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Time Warrior (TV story)|The Time Warrior]]'')
* The Doctor recalls [[running]] up and down [[corridor]]s from [[Dalek]]s, ([[TV]]: ''[[The Daleks (TV story)|The Daleks]]'' et al) the [[Aztec]]s ([[TV]]: ''[[The Aztecs (TV story)|The Aztecs]]'') and [[Atlantean]]s ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Lost Ones (short story)|The Lost Ones]]'', [[TV]]: ''[[The Underwater Menace (TV story)|The Underwater Menace]]'', ''[[The Time Monster (TV story)|The Time Monster]]''), as well as around the [[London Underground]], ([[TV]]: ''[[The Web of Fear (TV story)|The Web of Fear]]'', ''[[Invasion of the Dinosaurs (TV story)|Invasion of the Dinosaurs]]'') and [[Peladon]] ([[TV]]: ''[[The Curse of Peladon (TV story)|The Curse of Peladon]]'', ''[[The Monster of Peladon (TV story)|The Monster of Peladon]]'')
* Harry compares the ship's [[medicine]]s to those on the [[Nerva Beacon|space station ''Nerva'']]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Ark in Space (TV story)|The Ark in Space]]'')
* The Doctor tells Harry that if he came into physical contact with another version of himself, the result would be "Bang!" ([[TV]]: ''[[Mawdryn Undead (TV story)|Mawdryn Undead]]'')


== [[Fourth Doctor - Timeline|Timeline]] ==
== Footnotes ==
* ''A Device of Death'' occurs after: [[DW]]: ''[[Genesis of the Daleks]]''
{{Reflist}}
* ''A Device of Death'' occurs before: [[DW]]: ''[[Revenge of the Cybermen]]''


== External links ==
== External links ==
* {{dwrefguide|who_ma31.htm|A Device of Death}}
{{dwrefguide|who_ma31.htm|A Device of Death}}
* {{whoniverse|MA31.php|A Device of Death}}
* {{whoniverse|ma31|A Device of Death}}
 
* [http://mysite.science.uottawa.ca/rsmith43/cloister/device.htm The Cloister Library: '''A Device of Death''']
{{MA}}
{{MA}}
{{TitleSort}}
{{TitleSort}}


[[Category:Fourth Doctor novels|Device of Death, A]]
[[Category:Fourth Doctor novels]]
[[Category:Sarah Jane Smith novels|Device of Death, A]]
[[Category:Sarah Jane Smith novels]]
[[Category:MA novels|Device of Death, A]]
[[Category:MA novels]]
[[Category:1997 novels|Device of Death, A]]
[[Category:1997 novels]]
[[Category:Stories set on Gallifrey]]
[[Category:Novels set on Gallifrey]]
[[Category:Novels in which the Doctor is on a mission for the Time Lords]]
[[Category:Stories set in the Rassilon Era]]
[[Category:Time Lord novels]]

Latest revision as of 14:34, 4 November 2024

RealWorld.png

prose stub

A Device of Death was the thirty-first novel in the Virgin Missing Adventures series. It was written by Christopher Bulis and featured the Fourth Doctor, Sarah Jane Smith and Harry Sullivan.

This novel is set rather uniquely between Genesis of the Daleks and Revenge of the Cybermen; it takes place during their Time Ring travels just after Genesis of the Daleks. Since the Doctor remains separated from his TARDIS from the beginning of former serial to the end of the latter serial, this story sees him borrowing another one temporarily.

It was not the only story to take place between the two serials. The Short Trips entry The Last Thing You Ever See also saw the Doctor, Sarah and Harry travelling by time ring while trying to return to Nerva Beacon. Logically, that story chronologically follows this one.

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

"As a member of an inferior race, you either work to serve the cause of Averon, or die."

Sarah is marooned on a slave world where the only escape is death. Harry is caught in the middle of an interplanetary invasion, and has to combine medicine with a desperate mission. And the Fourth Doctor lands on a world so secret it does not even have a name.

Why have the TARDIS crew been scattered across the stars? What terrible accident could have wiped the Doctor's memory? And what could interest the Time Lords in this war-torn sector of space?

At the heart of a star-spanning conspiracy lies an ancient quest: people have been making weapons since the dawn of time — but perhaps someone has finally discovered the ultimate device of death.

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

to be added

Characters[[edit] | [edit source]]

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

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

Time travel[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • After departing from Skaro, the Doctor, Sarah and Harry are scattered across the Adelphine Cluster due to temporal disruption interfering with the Time Ring.

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The prologue of the novel contains explicit confirmation that the Doctor's mission in Genesis of the Daleks created a new timeline. The Time Lords actively monitor the changes as thousands of worlds are retroactively liberated from the Dalek Empire, although millions more remain under Dalek rule. The concept of a second timeline in Dalek history branching off from Genesis was introduced in The Discontinuity Guide, as reprinted on the BBC website.[1] Similar revelations were later intended for inclusion in the audio story Return of the Cybermen in 2021, linking the fallout of Genesis to the coming of the Last Great Time War, as well as explaining many other narrative continuity discrepancies, but the scene was ultimately not recorded.[2]
  • According to the Time Lords, due to the Doctor's actions, a force of robots will arise that will contribute to the fall of the Daleks. It is implied that these robots are the Movellans.

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  1. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/dalekhistory2.shtml
  2. ↑ John Dorney on Twitter: Very, very silly...

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

v • e
Virgin Missing Adventures
First Doctor
Susan, Ian, Barbara
Ian, Barbara
Ian, Barbara, Vicki
Vicki, Steven
Dodo
Second Doctor
Ben, Polly
Jamie, Victoria
Jamie, Zoe
Third Doctor
Liz, UNIT
Jo, UNIT
Jo, Yates
Sarah, Jeremy,
The Brig
Fourth Doctor
Sarah, Harry
Sarah
Romana I, K9
Romana II, K9
Fifth Doctor
Adric, Nyssa, Tegan
Nyssa, Tegan
Tegan, Turlough, Kamelion
Turlough
Sixth Doctor
Peri
Grant
Mel
Seventh Doctor
Chris, Roz
Other
Victoria, Sarah, The Brig
Second, Third, Seventh Doctors
with Dodo and UNIT
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