Fear of the Dark (novel)

Fear of the Dark was the fifty-seventh novel in the BBC Past Doctor Adventures series. It was written by Trevor Baxendale, released 6 January 2003 and featured the Fifth Doctor, Nyssa and Tegan Jovanka.

This was only the second occurrence of this lineup (the first in the PDA range was Zeta Major, published in 1998). This was Baxendale's only contribution to the PDA range, but he has written several novels for other Doctors in novel and audio ranges.

Publisher's summary[[edit] | [edit source]]

2003 BBC Books edition[[edit] | [edit source]]

On the very edge of the galaxy lies Akoshemon: a putrefied world of legendary evil.

In the year 2382 archaeologists land on Akoshemon's only moon, searching for evidence of the planet's infamous past. But when the Doctor, Tegan and Nyssa are drawn into the lunar caverns they find more than a team of academics — and help uncover much more than ancient history.

Something is lying in wait, deep inside the labyrinth of caves: something that remembers the spiral of war, pestilence and deprivation that ruined Akoshemon. Something that rejoiced in every kind of horror and destruction.

An age-old terror is about to be reborn. But what is the hideous secret of the Bloodhunter? And why does Nyssa feel that her thoughts are no longer her own? Forced to confront his own worst fears, even the Doctor will be pushed to breaking point — and beyond.

2013 BBC Books edition[[edit] | [edit source]]

On a moon of the ruined planet Akoshemon, an age-old terror is about to be reborn. Something that remembers the spiral of war, pestilence and deprivation — and rejoices in it. The Fifth Doctor joins a team of archaeologists searching for evidence of the planet's infamous past, and uncovers more than just ancient history. Forced to confront his own worst fears, even the Doctor will be pushed to breaking point — and beyond.

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

to be added

Characters[[edit] | [edit source]]

• Fifth Doctor
• Tegan Jovanka
• Nyssa
• Jyl Stoker
• Vega Jaal
• Bunny Cheung
• Del Crook
• Jen Garondel
• Jim Boyd
• Captain Lawrence
• Nik
• Ravus Oldeman
• Silas Cadwell

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

• Nyssa doesn't know what either elephants or peashooters are.

Alcohol[[edit] | [edit source]]

• Kalazak brandy is exceptionally strong, giving you a burning sensation upon drinking it. Ogrons drink it in abundance.

Astronomical objects[[edit] | [edit source]]

• The Akoshemon system is located on the very edge of Mutter's Spiral.

Corporations[[edit] | [edit source]]

• Jyl Stoker mentions that her independent mining crew are rivals to the bigger mining corporations such as the Interplanetary Mining Corporation and the Consortium.

The Doctor[[edit] | [edit source]]

• The Doctor mentions his encounters with the Daleks, the Cybermen and is sure that the Black Guardian will catch up with him one day.
• The Doctor says that he has a gift for languages and given time should be able to decipher the hieroglyphs around the crypt housing the remains of the Dark.
• The Doctor has a cricket ball signed by Mike Gatting.
• When the Doctor is under the influence of the Dark, he sees a nightmare image of himself regenerating time and time again on a blood soaked altar, and sees himself regenerate into his Sixth and Seventh incarnations.

Galactic law[[edit] | [edit source]]

• Galactic Law states that consecrated planets, moons and asteroids cannot be subject to mining operations.

History[[edit] | [edit source]]

• Silus Cadwell says that "some people believe that, before our own universe, there were strange forces: gods if you like, from before our time".

Minerals[[edit] | [edit source]]

• Prozium is a valuable mineral, although not as highly prized as lexium.

Planets[[edit] | [edit source]]

• There is a reference to Kaltros Prime, Earth Colony E5150, and Denox.

Robots[[edit] | [edit source]]

• Mechanoids are no longer used by 2382, and have been put out of use for a while.

Ships[[edit] | [edit source]]

• The Adamantium responded to the subspace distress call sent by Bunny Cheung.

Toys[[edit] | [edit source]]

• Earth reptile dolls are available to children.

Solar systems[[edit] | [edit source]]

• The Karula Koza system transmits hyper waves round it.
• The Consortium had interests in the Antares system.
• Lawrence contrasts the "Betelgeuse run" with trips to "uncharted stars".

Species[[edit] | [edit source]]

• Vega Jaal is a Vegan.

Universities[[edit] | [edit source]]

• The University of Tyr specialises in temporal compression research.
• The Human Sciences Academy is located on Mars.

Weapons[[edit] | [edit source]]

• Silas Cadwell's gun fires bits of dwarf star alloy.

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

• A comic preview of this novel was printed in DWM 325.
• The year this novel is set in is inconsistent:
  • Jim Boyd gives the year as 2382. This is supported by the back cover and Tegan referring to the time period as 400 years after 1982.
  • A computer display is dated "2319.01.12.", only 63 years before 2382. However, Tegan refers to this as being "over one hundred and fifty years ago." The Doctor later says that Ravus Oldeman has been in stasis "for over one hundred and sixty years." Jyl Stoker, Nyssa, and Oldeman use "one hundred and sixty years" at points in the novel.
  • Tegan thinks that Oldeman "may have been pushing two hundred and thirty" after being in stasis, putting his age as a minimum of 70 when he entered stasis. Oldeman he claimed to be "young and fit" before he entered stasis.
  • The Doctor says Oldeman is "extremely fit for two hundred and sixty-five." This would make Ravus Oldeman a minimum of ~105 years old when he went into stasis. The Doctor later says Oldeman is "pushing three hundred years old."
• This novel was reprinted with a brand new cover on 7 March 2013 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who.

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

• Tegan is having dreams of snakes. (TV: Snakedance)
• The Doctor and Tegan discuss their visit to Deva Loka. (TV: Kinda)
• The Doctor, Tegan and Nyssa all refer to Adric's death in 2526. (TV: Earthshock)
• The Doctor mentions playing cricket at Cranleigh Hall in Buckinghamshire on 11 June 1925. (TV: Black Orchid)
• Tegan refers to her cousin Colin Frazer. (TV: Arc of Infinity)
• The Doctor recalls visiting caves on Solos (TV: The Mutants) and Voga. (TV: Revenge of the Cybermen)
• Nyssa is familiar with the Fault locator. (TV: The Daleks), (TV: The Edge of Destruction)
• The Doctor is concerned that the Time Lords, especially Maxil, interfered with his TARDIS when he was last on Gallifrey; (TV: Arc of Infinity) it was later revealed that his suspicions were right. (AUDIO: No Place Like Home)

Additional cover images[[edit] | [edit source]]

• 

  2013 edition. Cover by Two Associates.

External links[[edit] | [edit source]]

• Official Fear of the Dark page at Penguin Books
• Fear of the Dark at the Doctor Who Reference Guide
• The Discontinuity Guide to: Fear of the Dark at The Whoniverse
• The Cloister Library: Fear of the Dark
• Interview: Trevor Baxendale

v • e BBC Past Doctor Adventures   First Doctor Susan, Ian, Barbara The Witch Hunters • City at World's End • The Time Travellers Ian, Barbara, Vicki Byzantium! • The Eleventh Tiger Steven, Dodo Salvation • Bunker Soldiers Ben, Polly Ten Little Aliens   Second Doctor Ben, Polly The Murder Game • Dying in the Sun Ben, Polly, Jamie The Roundheads Jamie, Victoria Dreams of Empire • Combat Rock • Heart of TARDIS Jamie, Zoe The Final Sanction • The Colony of Lies • The Indestructible Man Serena World Game   Third Doctor Liz, UNIT The Devil Goblins from Neptune Jo, UNIT Last of the Gaderene • Rags • Deadly Reunion Jo, Liz The Wages of Sin Jo Catastrophea • Verdigris • The Suns of Caresh Sarah Amorality Tale • Island of Death   Fourth Doctor Sarah, Harry Wolfsbane Harry Millennium Shock Leela Eye of Heaven • Last Man Running • Corpse Marker • Psi-ence Fiction • Drift • Match of the Day Romana I Tomb of Valdemar • Heart of TARDIS Romana II, K9 Festival of Death Nyssa Asylum   Fifth Doctor Adric, Nyssa, Tegan Divided Loyalties Nyssa Empire of Death Nyssa, Tegan Zeta Major • Fear of the Dark Tegan, Turlough Deep Blue • The King of Terror Turlough, Kamelion Imperial Moon Peri The Ultimate Treasure • Superior Beings • Warmonger   Sixth Doctor Peri Players • Grave Matter • Palace of the Red Sun • Blue Box • Synthespians™ Frobisher Mission: Impractical Mel Business Unusual • The Quantum Archangel • Spiral Scratch Mel, Evelyn Instruments of Darkness The Brigadier The Shadow in the Glass   Seventh Doctor Ace Illegal Alien • The Hollow Men • Matrix • Storm Harvest • Prime Time • Independence Day • Relative Dementias • Heritage • Loving the Alien • The Algebra of Ice • Atom Bomb Blues Solo travels Bullet Time   Eighth Doctor Solo travels Wolfsbane Fitz, Anji Fear Itself   Other novels The Master, Ian, Barbara The Face of the Enemy "Infinity Doctor" The Infinity Doctors Shalka Doctor, Shalka Master, Alison Scream of the Shalka