The Blood Cell (novel)

The Blood Cell
Doctor:	Twelfth Doctor
Companion(s):	Clara
Main enemy:	The Judge
Main setting:	The Prison
Key crew
Publisher:	BBC Books
Writer:	James Goss
Read by:	Colin McFarlane
Release details
Release date:	11 September 2014
Format:	Hardback (UK) Paperback (US)
ISBN:	ISBN 978-1-84990-774-3
BBC New Series Adventures
← Previous	Engines of War
Next →	Silhouette

The Blood Cell was one of three Twelfth Doctor novels published in September 2014.

Publisher's summary

"Release the Doctor — or the killing will start."

An asteroid in the furthest reaches of space — the most secure prison for the most dangerous of criminals. The Governor is responsible for the worst fraudsters and the cruellest murderers. So he's certainly not impressed by the arrival of the man they're calling the most dangerous criminal in the quadrant. Or, as he prefers to be known, the Doctor.

What does impress the Governor is the way the new prisoner immediately sets about trying to escape. And keeps trying. Finally, he sends for the Doctor and asks him why? But the answer surprises even the Governor. And then there's the threat — unless the Governor listens to the Doctor, a lot of people will die.

Who is the Doctor and what's he really doing here? Why does he want to help the Governor? And who is the young woman who comes every day to visit him, only to be turned away by the guards?

When the killing finally starts, the Governor begins to get his answers...

Plot

to be added

Characters

• The Governor
• Twelfth Doctor
• Clara Oswald
• Guardian Bentley
• Marianne Globus
• Lafcardio
• The Oracle
• Abesse
• The Judge
• Guardian Gillian Donaldson
• Guardian Chandress
• Helen
• Marla

References

• Clara suggests that the Doctor regenerate to fix his broken toe. The Doctor views this as a waste of a life.
• The Doctor says if the Governor hadn't destroyed Clara's mobile phone he would have used it to show him how annoying Candy Crush was.
• The Doctor states that the Dalek Emperor is nothing compared to an average mobile phone salesperson.
• The Prison library contained The Da Vinci Code, The Woman in White, and Shall We Tell the President?
• Lafcardio finds a copy of The Barber of Seville.
• The Doctor mentions the show Call the Midwife, which was apparently about babies and bicycles.
• The Doctor mentions that he's in his early 1000s.

Notes

• This novel is written entirely in the first-person from the perspective of the unnamed Governor.

Continuity

• Clara gives the Doctor's birthday cake to Danny Pink for being nice, and also borrows a broom off him. (TV: Into the Dalek)
• Due to the Govenor's ignoranace, the sonic screwdriver is destroyed (again). Though Clara tries to sneak a new one in by trying to pass it off as a birthday candle. (TV: The Visitation, Smith and Jones, The Eleventh Hour, The Rebel Flesh)
• The Doctor uses Venusian aikido to defend himself from Abesse. (TV: Inferno, Robot of Sherwood, PROSE: The Eight Doctors, AUDIO: Voyage to Venus, Faith Stealer)
• The Doctor and Clara refer to the TARDIS's initial dislike of Clara and how the ship mostly tolerates her now. (TV: The Rings of Akhaten, Hide, The Day of the Doctor, HOMEVID: Clara and the TARDIS')
• The Doctor alludes to his previous guilt of destroying Gallifrey. (TV: The Day of the Doctor)
• The Twelfth Doctor maintains the dislike the Sixth and Tenth Doctors displayed for Jeffrey Archer. (PROSE: Telling Tales, COMIC: Cats and Dogs)
• The Governor's pompous attitude reminded Clara of her headmaster. It is not clear whether this refers to W. Coburn (TV: The Day of the Doctor) or Armitage. (The Caretaker)
• The Doctor acknowledges that, for reasons unknown, his current incarnation cannot tolerate soldiers. (TV: Into the Dalek, The Caretaker)
• The Doctor once again states his current self doesn't like hugs. Though he suggests it's a good way to smell shampoo. (TV: Deep Breath, et al)
• The Doctor is blamed for things he didn't do. (TV: Midnight, Planet of the Dead, The Pandorica Opens, Cold War, et al)

Audio release

Audiobook cover

• An audio reading by Colin McFarlane was released by BBC Physical Audio on 13 November 2014. This was the first new series audio to be released since AudioGo went into administration in 2013.

External links

to be added