Mary Shelley

Mary Shelley
Species:	[[species::Human|Human]]
Place of origin:	Earth
Appearances:	DWBIT: The Creative Spark BFA: Mary's Story BFA: The Silver Turk BFA: The Witch from the Well BFA: Army of Death
Main actor:	[[actor::Julie Cox|Julie Cox]]

Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin Shelley (born 1797) was a 19th century English writer who pioneered what later became known as science fiction, composing the science-based horror story Frankenstein, or, The Modern Prometheus, and the future history, The Last Man. Shelley's circle of friends included poet Lord Byron and John Polidori, who was one of the first to write about vampires. She was married to Byron's close friend and fellow Romantic poet Percy Shelley.

Biography

The Eighth Doctor mentioned that he spent time on a lake with Byron and Mary Shelley while talking to Professor Chronotis. (WC: Shada, BFA: Shada) He again mentioned that he spent time with Lord Byron and Mary Shelley when re-awakening following an encounter in the Matrix. (BFA: Neverland)

In June 1816, Shelley encountered the Eighth Doctor and witnessed him apparently coming back to life after being dead, providing inspiration for Frankenstein. Shelley then left with the Doctor and travelled with him for an unknown period of time. (BFA: Mary's Story)

Hours after leaving Lake Geneva, the Doctor took Mary to Vienna on 11 September 1873, where they encountered two Cybermen. (BFA: The Silver Turk)

During her travels with the Doctor, Mary met Axons and King Harold at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. (BFA: Mary's Story)

After her encounter with the Bone Lord, Mary decided to leave the Doctor's company as she feared his other companion, death. (BFA: Army of Death)

Also in 1816, Shelley encountered the Tenth Doctor later in his timeline as Zzazik, an alien creature wrapped in bandages, was absorbing bolts of energy. This sight provided Shelley with inspiration for a scene in Frankenstein. The Doctor mentioned that Shelley looked familiar, but did not comment further. (DWBIT: The Creative Spark)

The chronological order of Mary's encounters with the Doctor in 1816 from her point of view is not known.

The Eighth Doctor had a copy of Shelley's Frankenstein in his TARDIS library, inscribed to him by her. The Doctor read the preface aloud, and mentioned that what Shelley wrote wasn't the entire truth about what happened. (BFA: Storm Warning)

Other information

• A Reprise of Shelley lived in Europa and fought alongside the Fourth Doctor. (MA: Managra)

Behind the scenes

• A few years after writing Frankenstein, Shelley wrote a little known science fiction novel called The Last Man, which takes place at the end of the 21st century. In the context of the Whoniverse, and the recent revelation that she travelled with the Doctor, it is possible that her writing of this book (and, possibly, of Frankenstein) may have been influenced by her experiences with the Doctor.
• Although Percy and Mary Shelley were depicted as husband and wife in June 1816 in BFA: Mary's Story, they did not actually get married until 30 December of that year.