The Time Machine
- You may be looking for the audio story known as Exploration Earth, also called "The Time Machine".
The Time Machine was a short science fiction novel by H. G. Wells, which may have been inspired by Wells' adventure with the Sixth Doctor (DW: Timelash) and his subsequent encounter with the Tenth Doctor (IDW: The Time Machination), or possibly by Wells' friend Theophilus Tolliver. (TVA: The Eternal Present)
The First Doctor's companion Oliver Harper had seen the film adaptation of the novel. He initially thought that the TARDIS, like the time machine in the film, would be able to move in time but not space. He was therefore expecting to see Shoreditch in the "time of the dinosaurs" or the 21st century. (CC: The Cold Equations)
Professor Chronotis read a paperback copy of this story following a visit by the Fourth Doctor. (DW: Shada)
The Seventh Doctor relaxed by reading a copy of this book during his aborted mission to return the Master's remains to Gallifrey. A skipping record interrupted him, followed by the escape of the Master's Deathworm and the TARDIS crash-landing in San Francisco. (DW: Doctor Who)
Following his regeneration, the Eighth Doctor once more attempted to read the novel where his previous self had left off; again, a skipping record interrupted him. (DW: Doctor Who) He eventually finished it some time after. (EDA: The Eight Doctors) He tried to read the novel at least once in every regeneration, and was amazed by how different it looked each time. (EDA: Interference - Book Two) He told Forster he would recommend the book to anyone looking for "original and stimulating reading matter" and noted the concept to be "quite enthralling". (EDA: Casualties of War)
Behind the scenes
- Doctor Who owes a great debt to H. G. Wells in general and to The Time Machine. The 1960 film version in particular, combined with Wells' The War of the Worlds, quite possibly inspired The Daleks.
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