The Empire of Glass (novel)
Publisher's Summary
'There is a old Venetian saying,' the Doctor murmured. 'The council of ten send you to the torture chamber; the council of three send you to the grave.'
A strange invitation brings the Doctor, Steven and Vicki to Venice in the year of our Lord 1609: a place of politics and poison, science and superstition, telescopes and terror. Galileo Galilei is there demonstrating his new invention to the Doge, and William Shakespeare is working as a spy for King James I. And there are other visitors too: inhuman ones that lurk in the shadows, watching - and killing.
Vicki is abducted to a flying island. Steven is accused of murder and challenged to a duel. The Doctor, meanwhile, finds himself at the centre of what looks like an attempted invasion. But who are the invaders? And why can’t they proceed without his help?
Characters
- The Doctor
- Vicki
- Steven
- Galileo Galilei
- Irving Braxiatel
- William Shakespeare
- Christopher Marlowe
- Cardinal Robert Bellarmine
References
- The Doctor is returned to the TARDIS after assisting them in the Omega affair, the Time Lords erased his memory of the events he encountered leaving him only vague memories of a dandy and a clown.
- Irving Braxiatel has set up a conference to create the Armageddon Convention.
- Braxiatel establishes the Library of Saint John the Beheaded.
- Braxiatel also obtains Shakespeare's "lost" plays Love's Labour's Won, The Birth of Merlin, and Sir John Oldcastle.
- It is vaguely suggested that the Doctor and Braxiatel are related.
- The Doctor's role in banning the use of miniscopes is known throughout nine galaxies.
- Steven gets drunk with Galileo Galilei.
- Braxiatel gives a drug to Shakespeare the removes his memory of the last 24 hours (which is very similar to the drug retcon).
- Shakespeare asks the Doctor if he has a younger brother with curly brown hair.
- The Sontaran Empire and the Rutan Host have representatives at the Armageddon Convention, but the Daleks and the Cybermen do not.
Notes
- One of the few releases in the Virgin Missing Adventures line to include original illustrations.
- Illustrations by Mike Nicholson.
Continuity
- The Armageddon Convention was first mentioned in DW: Revenge of the Cybermen. Braxiatel, or rather his Collection, was first mentioned by Romana in DW: City of Death.
- Irving Braxiatel first appeared in NA: Theatre of War.
- Shakespeare first met the Doctor in BFA: The Time of the Daleks (in the Doctor's future), DW: The Shakespeare Code, and has a drink with him in BFA: The Kingmaker.
- His play (which Braxiatel obtains a copy of) was lost in DW: The Shakespeare Code.
- Shakespeare mentions the Doctor's assistance with finishing Hamlet (mentioned in) DW: City of Death.
- It is further confirmed that the Doctor and Irving Braxiatel are related in BNA: Tears of the Oracle.
Timeline
- This story takes place after ST: The Schoolboy's Story
- This story takes place before DW: Galaxy 4 (TV story)
- Note: for the Doctor The Empire of Glass occurs after DW: The Three Doctors.
