BBC New Series Adventures
The BBC New Series Adventures is a banner under which the series of novels published by BBC Books featuring the Ninth, Tenth and Eleventh Doctors have been collected since 2005. This line is the successor to BBC Books' prior Doctor Who fiction lines, the BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures and BBC Past Doctor Adventures.
Behind the chapter numbers in the books are symbols similar to the "Gallifreyan writing" seen in the series. The same symbols appear on the spines, and are referred to as Gallifreyan numbers by fans. The recurring patterns in the symbols suggest that Time Lords count in base seven, although a recurring error means that the symbol for 13 is accidentally replaced by the symbol for 11 every time it should appear. This system is not continuing beyond the Tenth Doctor novels.
To date, all NSA releases have utilized photographs of the lead actors as part of the cover design, returning to a practice last used by Target Books during the Peter Davison era.
Ninth Doctor
Launched in mid-2005, the New Series Adventures introduced a new format for Doctor Who fiction - paperback-sized hardcovers with smaller word count than the previous EDA and PDA lines. For a few months the "NSA" line coexisted with the EDA and PDA lines until they were retired at the end of 2005.
With this series of books, BBC Books also established a release pattern it has continued ever since of releasing the books in batches of three at least twice a year. The books are considered standalone and, thus, may be read in any order (at least among a particular set of three).
Unlike past fiction lines, there was some effort to tie the books more closely into television continuity, most notably the first-ever direct reference to a novel occurring in the episode DW: Boom Town, in which Rose Tyler referenced a location she and the Doctor had visited in the novel NSA: The Monsters Inside. Supporting characters Mickey Smith and Jackie Tyler also appeared in NSA: Winner Takes All.
The novels tended to reflect changes in the cast. The first three books featured the Ninth Doctor travelling with Rose, while the second set of three feature Rose and Jack Harkness as companions. The first three novels probably take place between DW: World War Three and The Empty Child, and the latter three (which feature Captain Jack) between The Doctor Dances and Boom Town.
This line of novels continued to be issued following Christopher Eccleston's departure from the series until the end of 2005, after which the series continued, featuring the Tenth Doctor in 2006.
Novels
Title | Author | ISBN | Image |
The Clockwise Man | Justin Richards | ISBN 0-563-48628-7 | |
The Monsters Inside | Stephen Cole | ISBN 0-563-48629-5 | |
Winner Takes All | Jacqueline Rayner | ISBN 0-563-48627-9 | |
The Deviant Strain | Justin Richards | ISBN 0-563-48637-6 | |
Only Human | Gareth Roberts | ISBN 0-563-48639-2 | |
The Stealers of Dreams | Steve Lyons | ISBN 0-563-48638-4 |
Cancelled Novel
- Rain of Terror by Mike Tucker was originally listed in the second batch of three novels, but was replaced by The Stealers of Dreams without explanation. As of 2010 this novel remains unreleased.
Tenth Doctor
With the coming of the Tenth Doctor era, BBC Books continued its New Series Adventures line in 2006 featuring the new incarnation. Once again, the books were published more-or-less in connection with a particular cast line-up in the series, with the first six books featuring Rose Tyler, after which Martha Jones was featured in 12 consecutive novels, the most of any companion to date. Donna Noble was then featured in only four books. Wilfred Mott appears in the final novel featuring Donna, NSA: Beautiful Chaos.
Following the events of DW: Journey's End, the books changed format somewhat, and beginning with NSA: The Eyeless, published in late 2008, the books featured the Doctor travelling alone, with no ongoing companions. Also published was NSA: The Story of Martha, a short story collection that returned Martha Jones to the NSA line for one book, and was the first NSA book to be a direct tie-in with a televised episode (it takes place during the events of DW: The Sound of Drums/Last of the Time Lords). All NSA novels issued during 2009 featured returning alien races and villains from the TV series.
The final three Tenth Doctor novels were published in September 2009.
Two new spin-off lines were introduced during the 2006-2009 period. Quick Reads, an annual series of paperback novellas intended to promote literacy, was launched in 2006 with NSA: I am a Dalek. This spin-off line featured the return of longtime Doctor Who novelist and scriptwriter Terrance Dicks to the world of Doctor Who fiction. A total of five Tenth Doctor novellas have been published in this line, with the last scheduled to be issued in March 2010.
Also launched during this period, in conjunction with BBC Audio, were a series of original made-for-audio stories performed by cast members of the series. The first of these, Pest Control, was issued in 2008, and a total of seven Tenth Doctor stories were published in this form into 2010. David Tennant has performed most of these, with Catherine Tate and Michelle Ryan also performing some.
All of the Tenth Doctor novels (except for the Quick Reads series) have been released as audio books. The first three were read by David Tennant. After that, other actors from the series replaced Tennant, who did not reappear as narrator until the made-for-audio stories. The other actors include Freema Agyeman, Georgia Moffett, Anthony Head and Adjoa Andoh. Most of these audio books are abridged, however some of the most recent novels have been released as unabridged audio books that are only available for download.
The Tenth Doctor also appeared in The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith, a release in the BBC The Sarah Jane Adventures novelisations line. Although the cover art matches the format of the NSA line, the book, published by Penguin Character Books, is not considered part of the New Series Adventures.
Novels
Quick Reads
Title | Author | ISBN | Image |
I am a Dalek | Gareth Roberts | ISBN 0-563-48648-1 | |
Made of Steel | Terrance Dicks | ISBN 978-1-846-07204-8 | |
Revenge of the Judoon | Terrance Dicks | ISBN 1-84607-372-3 | |
The Sontaran Games | Jacqueline Rayner | ISBN 1-84607-643-9 | |
Code of the Krillitanes | Justin Richards | ISBN 978-1-846-07928-3 |
Audio Books
Title | Author | Narrator | ISBN | Image | |
Pest Control | Peter Anghelides | David Tennant | ISBN 978-1-405-67819-3 | ||
The Forever Trap | Dan Abnett | Catherine Tate | ISBN 978-1-408-40678-6 | ||
The Nemonite Invasion | David Roden | Catherine Tate | ISBN 978-1-408-40679-3 |
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The Rising Night | Scott Handcock | Michelle Ryan | ISBN 978-1408409381 | ||
The Day of the Troll | Simon Messingham | David Tennant | ISBN 978-1408409398 | ||
The Last Voyage | Dan Abnett | David Tennant | ISBN 978-1-408-40940-2 | ||
Dead Air | James Goss | David Tennant | ISBN 978-1408426807 |
Eleventh Doctor
The New Series Adventures line continued into 2010 with novels featuring the Eleventh Doctor and Amy Pond. The first set of three were released in April 2010, with more novels announced for later in the year.
The books had some design changes from past releases to incorporate the new Doctor Who logo that has been introduced for the new era. The most noticeable change is that the books are taller than those published for the Ninth and Tenth Doctors (closer in height to the Torchwood novels). They also no longer include the Gallifreyan numerical symbols that had appeared on the spine of the NSA books during the Eccleston and Tennant eras.
Three audio-exclusive stories have also been announced for release as of March 2010. Also as of March 2010 it has not been announced whether the Quick Reads line will continue; as the 2010 release is a Tenth Doctor story, the earliest an Eleventh Doctor Quick Reads is expected to appear is in 2011.
Novels
Title | Author | Audio book narrator | ISBN | Image |
Apollo 23 | Justin Richards | James Albecht | 978-1-84607-200-X | |
Night of the Humans | David Llewellyn | Arthur Darvill | 978-1-84607-969-1 | |
The Forgotten Army | Brian Minchin | Olivia Colman | 978-1-84607-987-X | |
The Glamour Chase | Gary Russell | TBC | Announced July 2010 | File:Glamour.jpg |
Nuclear Time | Oli Smith | TBC | 978-1-846-07989-4 | |
The King's Dragon | Una McCormack | TBC | 978-1-846-07990-0 |
Audio Books
Title | Author | Narrator | ISBN | Image |
The Hounds of Artemis | James Goss | Matt Smith Karen Gillan |
ISBN 978-1-408-42746-0 Announced April 2011 |
File:Hounds.PNG |
The Runaway Train | Oli Smith | Matt Smith | ISBN 978-1-408-42747-8 October 2010 |
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The Ring of Steel | Stephen Cole | Arthur Darvill | ISBN 978-1-408-4084-6751-0 | File:34092 1463348074399 1554413376 1132859 4557396 n.jpg |
The Jade Pyramid[1] | Martin Day | Matt Smith | ISBN 978-1408427491 announced January 2011 |
Notes
- Although announced for retail release in February 2011, The Runaway Train was released as a special promotion with copies of The Daily Telegraph on 24 April 2010.
External links
- http://www.timelash.com/tardis/ A database of Doctor Who books, DVDs and Audios
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