Winner Takes All was the third Ninth Doctor novel to be released.
Publisher's summary
Rose and the Doctor return to present-day Earth, and become intrigued by the latest craze -- the video game Death to Mantodeans. Is it as harmless as it seems? And why are so many local people going on holiday and never returning?
Meanwhile, on another world, an alien war is raging. The Quevvils need to find a new means of attacking the ruthless Mantodeans. Searching the galaxy for cunning, warlike but gullible allies, they find the ideal soldiers -- on Earth.
Will Rose be able to save her family and friends from the alien threat? And can the Doctor play the game to the end -- and win?
Characters
References
- Jackie gets mugged.
- Mickey talks about Playstations and X-boxes. He also has copies of games such as Grand Theft Auto, Gran Turismo and Sonic the Hedgehog.
- The Slitheen are mentioned.
Story notes
- The plot is similar to SJA: Warriors of Kudlak.
- Large sections of the story about Robert are an obvious reference to Harry Potter.
Continuity
- Much of the story takes place on the Powell Estate
- Encounters with the Slitheen are recalled. The Doctor and Rose enountered the Slitheen previously in DW: Aliens of London/World War Three and NSA: The Monsters Inside.
- Rose recalls her encounter with the Autons (DW: Rose)
Timeline
- Winner Takes All occurs after: NSA: The Monsters Inside
- Winner Takes All occurs before: DWA: The Masks of Makassar