The Murder Game (novel)

The novel was written by Lyons, who had previously written a number of Doctor Who books. It was published on 7 July 1997 as a paperback book. It saw the first appearance of the Selachians, a race which was first mentioned in Lyons' Virgin Missing Adventures novel Killing Ground.

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

The faded glamour of a hotel in space, spinning in an all-but-forgotten orbit round the Earth, is host to some unusual visitors this weekend — including a party that claim to travel in a battered blue police box...

It is the year 2136. Answering a distress call from the dilapidated Hotel Galaxian, the TARDIS crew discover a games enthusiast is using the hotel to host a murder-mystery weekend. But it seems someone from his motley group of guests is taking things a little too seriously.

While the Doctor, Ben and Polly find themselves joining in the shadowplay, it becomes clear that a real-life murderer is stalking the dark, disused corridors of the Galaxian. But worse than this: there's a sinister force waiting silently in space for events to unfold. A terrible secret is hidden on board the Galaxian, and if it is discovered nothing — least of all murder — will ever be the same again. If this is a game, the stakes just got higher.

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

to be added

Characters[[edit] | [edit source]]

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

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

In the Doctor's pockets are (amongst other things) a bag of jelly babies and a yo-yo.

Objects[[edit] | [edit source]]

Clockwork frogs are used as currency in the Alpha Mardis systems.

Species[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Doctor, Ben and Polly encountered Venusians, Draconians and Alpha Centaurans at a spaceport bar in an adventure preceding this one.
The Doctor offers a silent prayer to "the gods of his own people".

Other[[edit] | [edit source]]

Ben's bedroom has a cabinet and a dressing table, upon which he kept a bottle of aftershave before it smashed.
Thomas refers to six colony worlds which don't maintain computerised links to Earth.
Hayes and Matlock work for an agency with ties to the European government.
The TSF mention the First Galactic Treaty.

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

The cover image depicting the Doctor seems to actually be of Salamander, even though they were both portrayed by Patrick Troughton.
The back cover blurb incorrectly states that the story is set in 2146.
This story is set between The Power of the Daleks and The Highlanders.

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

T-Mat equipment is mentioned. (TV: The Seeds of Death)
Henry Mace sings a song "about business being business and always aiming to please". (STAGE: The Ultimate Adventure)
UNIT — and mentions of the Doctor in the organisation's files — are mentioned; however, the Doctor says he knows nothing of such an organisation. (TV: The Invasion, Spearhead from Space, et al.)
The Doctor refers to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle as an "old friend"; the Fourth Doctor suspects they may have met before. (PROSE: Evolution)
The Doctor can feel the space station moving, even though no one else can. (TV: Rose)
Among the alien menaces the Doctor has fought, Ben mentions the War Machines, (TV: The War Machines) the Daleks, (TV: The Power of the Daleks) and the Cybermen, (TV: The Tenth Planet) and is about to mention more (but is interrupted).
Polly recalls Professor X. (PROSE: No Future)
The Doctor creates a temporary sonic device, used to unlock a door, and resolves to begin work on a permanent version when he gets back to the TARDIS. (PROSE: Dreams of Empire, TV: Fury from the Deep)
Ben states that in his experience, computers do as they please. (TV: The War Machines)
When seeing an outfit found in the TARDIS wardrobe consisting of a colourful patchwork shirt clashing with yellow trousers, the Doctor thinks to himself that he would never wear such a thing. (TV: The Twin Dilemma)
Ben and Polly both refer to the attempted Cyberman invasion of Earth in December 1986. (TV: The Tenth Planet)
Terri mentions the green men of Mars to Ben. (TV: The Ice Warriors, The Seeds of Death, et al.)
Terri also tells Ben about an encounter between the Selachians and the colonists of Terra Alpha. Terra Alpha was the setting of TV: The Happiness Patrol.
The Cybermen stole a Selachian spaceship in 2191. (PROSE: Killing Ground)
Ben remembers hiding under a tarpaulin as a 14-year-old stowaway. (PROSE: Invasion of the Cat-People)
The Selachians are challenged by the Terran Security Forces. (PROSE: Time of Your Life)

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