Love and War is the ninth novel in the Virgin New Adventures series. It was written by Paul Cornell, and features the Seventh Doctor and Ace, as well as introducing Professor Bernice Summerfield.
Publisher's summary
On a planet called Heaven, all hell is breaking loose.
Heaven is a paradise for both humans and Draconians - a place of rest in more ways than one. The Doctor comes here on a trivial mission - to find a book, or so he says - and Ace, wandering alone in the city, becomes involved with a charismatic Traveller called Jan.
But the Doctor is strenuously opposed to the romance. What is he trying to prevent? Is he planning some more deadly game connected with the mysterious objects causing the military forces of Heaven such concern?
Archaeologist Bernice Summerfield thinks so. Her destiny is inextricably linked with that of the Doctor, but even she may not be able to save Ace from the Time Lord's plans.
This time, has the Doctor gone too far?
Characters
- The Doctor
- Is known as Karshtakavaar - the Oncoming Storm, by the Draconians.
- This is the first time the Doctor is mentioned as Time's Champion.
- He can blow fire using an oil lamp.
- Deliberately 'killed' his sixth incarnation (though he was unborn at the time), knowing that Time would need a champion.
"Death laughed, and raised a soft finger between the Doctor's eyes. "Don't lie to me! You sacrificed the colourful jester because you needed to be born! Time would have her champion and he was just the compost for your blooming. You ran your TARDIS into the Rani's beam joyfully. Hah! Your sixth self hates you for that, he will become Valeyard for that -"[1]
- Ace
- Is formerly engaged to Jan by Máire.
- Leaves in shock from losing Jan (among other things).
- She leaves the Doctor's company.
- Julian was a friend of Ace's while she was growing up, when he died he was absorbed into the Hoothi consciousness.
- Bernice Summerfield
- Is 30 years old.
- She was raised on Beta Caprisis.
- The 20th century is her favorite era.
- Has only ever had three boyfriends.
- Surprise is her middle name.
- Benny joins the Doctor.
- Jan Rydd
- Has pyrokinetic powers.
- His secret name is Aradath.
- Christopher
- Is sexless due to military experiments, he has extensive mental powers.
References
- The Doctor goes to Joycetown library on Heaven to get a book to take to the Monks of Felsecar.
- Ace learnt to ride a horse in Adelaide in 1967.
- The Travellers are a group of people who originated on Earth as anarchists and unhappy people, currently there are 30 Travellers on Heaven.
- They use Puterspace instead of drugs to attain higher states of consciousness.
- Dalek eyestalks are worth 20 decacredits in bounty at an imperial base.
- Heaven is a planet on the edge of both Human and Draconian space and is considered neutral ground.
- It was settled after the Dragon Wars.
- Cruk is a swear word is mentioned and used in conversation for the first time.
Theories and Concepts
- The First Law of Time is a moral law as well as a legal one.
Individuals
- Máire mentions Abslom Daak, a Dalek Killer who has also met the Doctor.
- Chad Boyle suddenly started mailing everyone (from his school days) Christmas cards.
- Whilst in the escape pod Ace is visited by The Trickster (in a clown costume) who tells her Jan is one of his. However, within the context of the story, this could be seen as a vision of the Doctor and his manipulative nature and his plans that involve Jan rather then the modern Trickster.
Organisations
- The Vacuum Church (also called Church of the Vacuum and Church of Vacuum) believes only death and suicide can relieve the pain of life.
Races and species
- Earth Reptile is the politically correct term for Silurian.
- The Hoothi are fungoid creatures which can exist as spores or as a planet-sized gas-filled sphere travelling through space. They live off decaying organic matter. They know of the Time Lords and the Doctor.
- The Sontarans are currently 'busy' in the Magellanic Cloud.
Notes
- This novel introduced the character of Bernice Summerfield, who was the subject of a promotional campaign involving Doctor Who Magazine as the first companion created for the literary field (she is not, however, the first non-TV companion, as the Doctor travelled with several original companions in the various comic strips dating back to the 1960s). Summerfield would ultimately take over the New Adventures book line when Virgin lost its Doctor Who licence, and continues to be featured in books and audios produced by Big Finish Productions.
- This novel had a working title of; Heaven. [2]
- A prequel to this novel was published in DWM 192.
Continuity
- Chad Boyle first appeared in NA: Timewyrm: Revelation which also explains why he suddenly starts sending Christmas cards.
- Dalek Killers were first mentioned in DWM: Abslom Daak... Dalek Killer.
- The Draconians first appeared in DW: Frontier in Space.
- IMC is on Heaven, they were first mentioned in DW: Colony in Space.
- The Hoothi were first mentioned in DW: The Brain of Morbius.
- Further Spacefleet experiments on people are revealed in NA: Return of the Living Dad.
- Ace returns in NA: Deceit.
- The origins of the work Cruk are explained in BFBS: Death and the Daleks.
- Bernice returns to Heaven in BFBS: Death and the Daleks.
- There is a prequel to this story in BFBS: Missing Adventures.
- The Draconians refer to the Doctor as "The Oncoming Storm". This name was later used as a term the Daleks used for the Doctor in DW: The Parting of the Ways.
- Felsecar Abbey (first mentioned in this novel) is visited by the Doctor in BFA: Seasons of Fear.
- The Travellers reappear in NA: Happy Endings.
Timeline
- This story occurs after DWM: Metamorphosis
- This story occurs before DWM: Affirmative