Shada (novelisation): Difference between revisions

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m (Linking to release dates)
(What has Douglas Adams being a script editor got to do with the television story not getting filmed? T:BOLD, T:QUOTATION MARKS.)
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|number        = 2
|number        = 2
|doctor        = Fourth Doctor
|doctor        = Fourth Doctor
|companions    = [[Romana II]] <br /> [[K9 Mark II|K9]]
|companions    = [[Romana II]], [[K9 Mark II|K9]]
|enemy          = [[Skagra]]
|enemy          = [[Skagra]]
|setting          = [[Cambridge]], [[England]], [[1979]] <br /> [[Skagra]]'s Command Station, [[1979]]
|setting          = [[Cambridge]] and [[Skagra]]'s Command Station, [[1979]]
|writer        = [[Gareth Roberts]]
|writer        = [[Gareth Roberts]]
|publisher      = BBC Books
|publisher      = BBC Books
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|prev = Scream of the Shalka (novelisation)
|prev = Scream of the Shalka (novelisation)
|next =  
|next =  
}}'''''Shada''''' by [[Gareth Roberts]] was a novelisation of the [[Shada (TV story)|TV story of the same name]] written by [[Douglas Adams]], which was intended to conclude [[Season 17]] but never completed due to labour action at the BBC disrupting production (Adams was ''Doctor Who's'' script editor at the time). It was the first novelisation of a ''[[Doctor Who]]'' TV story since ''[[Doctor Who - The Novel of the Film]]'' in [[1996]], although many [[The Sarah Jane Adventures novelisations|''Sarah Jane Adventures'' novelisations]] were published between the two. [[Scream of the Shalka (novelisation)|A novelisation]] was also made for the [[2004]] webcast ''[[Scream of the Shalka (webcast)|Scream of the Shalka]]'', making it the last novelisation of an officially licensed story prior to the release of this one.
}}'''''Shada''''' by [[Gareth Roberts]] was a novelisation of the [[Shada (TV story)|TV story of the same name]] written by [[Douglas Adams]], which was intended to conclude [[Season 17]] but never completed due to labour action at the BBC disrupting production. It was the first novelisation of a ''[[Doctor Who]]'' TV story since ''[[Doctor Who - The Novel of the Film]]'' in [[1996]], although many [[The Sarah Jane Adventures novelisations|''Sarah Jane Adventures'' novelisations]] were published between the two. [[Scream of the Shalka (novelisation)|A novelisation]] was also made for the [[2004]] webcast ''[[Scream of the Shalka (webcast)|Scream of the Shalka]]'', making it the last novelisation of an officially licensed story prior to the release of this one.


== Publisher's summary ==
== Publisher's summary ==


=== Hardback ===
=== Hardback ===
''(back cover)''<br />
''(back cover)''
At the age of five, [[Skagra]] decided emphatically that God did not exist. This revelation tends to make most people in the universe who have it react in one of two ways — with relief or with despair. Only Skagra responded to it by thinking, ''''''Wait a second. That means there's a situation vacant.''''''


''(inside front cover)''<br />
At the age of five, [[Skagra]] decided emphatically that God did not exist. This revelation tends to make most people in the universe who have it react in one of two ways — with relief or with despair. Only Skagra responded to it by thinking, ''Wait a second. That means there's a situation vacant.''
'''From the unique mind of [[Douglas Adams]], the legendary 'lost' Doctor Who story completed at last!'''
 
''(inside front cover)''
 
: From the unique mind of [[Douglas Adams]], the legendary "lost" Doctor Who story completed at last!


The Doctor's old friend and fellow [[Time Lord]] [[Salyavin|Professor Chronotis]] has retired to [[Cambridge University]] — where nobody will notice if he lives for centuries. But now he needs help from [[Fourth Doctor|the Doctor]], [[Romana II|Romana]] and [[K9 Mark II|K9]]. When he left [[Gallifrey]] he took with him a few little souvenirs — most of them are harmless. But one of them is extremely dangerous.
The Doctor's old friend and fellow [[Time Lord]] [[Salyavin|Professor Chronotis]] has retired to [[Cambridge University]] — where nobody will notice if he lives for centuries. But now he needs help from [[Fourth Doctor|the Doctor]], [[Romana II|Romana]] and [[K9 Mark II|K9]]. When he left [[Gallifrey]] he took with him a few little souvenirs — most of them are harmless. But one of them is extremely dangerous.
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Based on the scripts for the original television series by the legendary Douglas Adams, ''Shada'' retells an adventure that never made it to the screen.
Based on the scripts for the original television series by the legendary Douglas Adams, ''Shada'' retells an adventure that never made it to the screen.


''This epic 'lost' adventure from 1979 features the [[Fourth Doctor]] and [[Romana]] as played by [[Tom Baker]] and [[Lalla Ward]], written by ''Doctor Who''{{'}}s then script editor Douglas Adams.''
''This epic "lost" adventure from 1979 features the [[Fourth Doctor]] and [[Romana]] as played by [[Tom Baker]] and [[Lalla Ward]], written by ''Doctor Who''{{'}}s then script editor Douglas Adams.''


=== Paperback ===
=== Paperback ===
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Skagra — who believes he should be God and permits himself only two smiles per day — most definitely has the wrong hands.
Skagra — who believes he should be God and permits himself only two smiles per day — most definitely has the wrong hands.


'''Beware Skagra. Beware the Sphere. Beware Shada.'''
Beware Skagra. Beware the Sphere. Beware Shada.


== Characters ==
== Characters ==

Revision as of 15:04, 8 March 2014

RealWorld.png

Shada by Gareth Roberts was a novelisation of the TV story of the same name written by Douglas Adams, which was intended to conclude Season 17 but never completed due to labour action at the BBC disrupting production. It was the first novelisation of a Doctor Who TV story since Doctor Who - The Novel of the Film in 1996, although many Sarah Jane Adventures novelisations were published between the two. A novelisation was also made for the 2004 webcast Scream of the Shalka, making it the last novelisation of an officially licensed story prior to the release of this one.

Publisher's summary

Hardback

(back cover)

At the age of five, Skagra decided emphatically that God did not exist. This revelation tends to make most people in the universe who have it react in one of two ways — with relief or with despair. Only Skagra responded to it by thinking, Wait a second. That means there's a situation vacant.

(inside front cover)

From the unique mind of Douglas Adams, the legendary "lost" Doctor Who story completed at last!

The Doctor's old friend and fellow Time Lord Professor Chronotis has retired to Cambridge University — where nobody will notice if he lives for centuries. But now he needs help from the Doctor, Romana and K9. When he left Gallifrey he took with him a few little souvenirs — most of them are harmless. But one of them is extremely dangerous.

The Worshipful and Ancient Law of Gallifrey isn't a book for Time Tots. It is one of the Artefacts, dating from the dark days of Rassilon. It must not be allowed to fall into the wrong hands. The sinister Skagra most definitely has the wrong hands. He wants the book. He wants to discover the truth behind Shada. And he wants the Doctor's mind...

Based on the scripts for the original television series by the legendary Douglas Adams, Shada retells an adventure that never made it to the screen.

This epic "lost" adventure from 1979 features the Fourth Doctor and Romana as played by Tom Baker and Lalla Ward, written by Doctor Who's then script editor Douglas Adams.

Paperback

Inside this book is another book — the strangest, most important and most dangerous book in the entire universe.

The Worshipful and Ancient Law of Gallifrey is one of the artefacts, dating from dark days of Rassilon. It wields enormous power, and it must not be allowed to fall into the wrong hands.

Skagra — who believes he should be God and permits himself only two smiles per day — most definitely has the wrong hands.

Beware Skagra. Beware the Sphere. Beware Shada.

Characters

References

Notes

  • None of Douglas Adams's three Doctor Who stories have previously appeared in book form for a variety of legal reasons.
  • Although Douglas Adams had said he would like to novelise his other two Doctor Who stories, The Pirate Planet and City of Death, when he had "run out of things to do" and didn't want another author writing them, as far as he was concerned Shada would never see print as he felt it was "just not up to much".
  • This is the first official novelisation of Shada.
  • This story was also released as an ebook available from the Amazon Kindle store.

Continuity

Author Gareth Roberts inserted a few references to earlier and later Doctor Who stories in this novelisation. These include:

External links

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