Perfect Timing

From Tardis Wiki, the free Doctor Who reference
RealWorld.png

Perfect Timing was a series of two unofficial Doctor Who charity anthologies released in 1998 and 1999. The anthologies were privately printed and distributed by the editors in return for donations to the Foundation for the Study of Infant Death. As the anthologies featured contributions from many authors of official Doctor Who universe material, they are notable to this wiki.

Releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

Perfect Timing[[edit] | [edit source]]

Perfect Timing was published in November 1998 to celebrate Doctor Who's 35th anniversary. It was edited by Mark Phippen and Helen Fayle with help from Jay Eales. It was reprinted in 1999 with two additional stories. The Chairman of the Foundation for the Study of Infant Death, Colin Baker, wrote the introduction to the collection.

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

For 35 years the Doctor's adventures have been showcased on television, in comics, novels, videos, cereal packets and more recently on the internet.

This project, timed to be released to celebrate this anniversary, has brought together some of the very best "Who" writers. Some names may already be familiar to you, some should hopefully become so in the near future!

For this collection, they have all kindly donated original stories, poems and drabbles featuring the Doctor, his companions, and his world, from all eras of the show, and from the books - stories from the Doctor's past, present (and future!)

35 pieces to celebrates 35 years of time travel -- including:

  • A brief encounter for the First Doctor and Susan - but what about those they leave behind?
  • The Second Doctor pays a return visit to Venus for some Martial Arts instruction.
  • Iris Wildthyme: The U.N.I.T. years...
  • H. P. Lovecraft finds out that life can be stranger than fiction...
  • Europa, the 32nd century. Miles Dahwood is having a spot of bother with his fiancée and Count Dracula...
  • The Fourth Doctor and Romana II find that fiction can be stranger than reality... and the truth behind those missing Professor X episodes is finally revealed...!
  • What is that has been hiding in the TARDIS -- and from the minds of the Fifth Doctor and his companions?
  • The Sixth Doctor and Grant find themselves dealing with one of the deadliest menaces to Earth -- a psychotic, theme park Santa Claus!
  • The Seventh Doctor and Chris find something nasty lurking in the semingly peaceful, cloistered heart of In'sav'aar...
  • The Eighth Doctor visits some old friends, and pays a return visit to Tombstone, Arizona...
  • A Future Doctor faces an old enemy -- and a personal pain...

Stories[[edit] | [edit source]]

Title Writer Notes
Introduction Colin Baker
The Use of the Myth Paul Cornell
Bear Paw Adventures David J. Howe
Always Let the Conscious Be Your Guide Mark Clapham and Jim Smith
Birth Pains Damon Cavalchini
Venusian Sunset Paul Leonard A tie-in to his novel Venusian Lullaby.
From the Cutting Room Floor David A. McIntee Deleted scenes from his novel The Dark Path.
Thicket of Thieves Kathryn Sullivan
The UNIT Things Peter Anghelides
Entertaining Mr. O Paul Magrs Featured licensed use of Iris Wildthyme and introduces her companion Tom. Reprinted in Bafflement and Devotion. Received a partial continuation in Talented Witches.
Masters of Terror James Ambuehi and Laurence J. Cornford
Baron (Count) Dracula and Count (Baron) Frankenstein Stephen Marley Features licensed use of Miles Dashing and Crocker.
The Aurelius Gambit Helen Fayle
Not Necessarily in That Order... Paul Ebbs A short tale with a non-linear style featuring the Fourth Doctor and an unknown incarnation of Romana
Child of Darkness Daniel Blythe
The Zargathon Menace Jonathan Morris Introduces the Zargathons, a member of this species would later appear in Death to the Doctor!.
One Perfect Twilight Craig Hinton
Ghost in the Machine Trina L. Short
The 6th Doctor Sends A Letter Charles Daniels
The Great Journey of Life Ends Here Gary Russell
Wish Upon a Star Beast Steve Lyons Features licensed use of Grant Markham. Lyons later used the Sixth Doctor and the Meeps again in The Ratings War.
Schrödinger's Botanist Ian McIntire Introduces Carmen Yeh, who would later appear in The Book of the War. Also features licenced use of Grant Markham.
Second Hand Rob Stradling
Doing It Right Alan Taylor
Cheeky Things Erin Tumilty
Chain Male Keith Topping Introduces Johnny Chess as an ex-husband of Tegan Jovanka, before his first appearance in Topping's novel Byzantium!.
Ascension Stephen Graves
Caveat Emptor Susannah Tiller
Doctor Patient Relationship Kate Orman and Jon Blum The original first chapter of Vampire Science, which featured Grace rather than Carolyn McConnell.
Worm Lance Parkin
The Ravages of Time Mags L. Halliday
Emerald Green Mark Phippen
Sad Professor Nick Walters
Transitions Daniel Ben-Zvi
Nightmare Nathan Skreslet
Dark Paragon Jon Andersen
Time Ruins[1] Sarah Hadley
What If We Went to Italy[1] Tom Beck

Perfect Timing 2[[edit] | [edit source]]

Perfect Timing 2 was released in December 1999. It was edited by Helen Fayle and Julian Eales.

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

Once again bringing you a selection of short stories and artwork by both fans and professional writers and artists, distributed in support of the Foundation for the Study of Infant Death, and featuring TV's favourite time traveller.

Stories[[edit] | [edit source]]

Title Writer Notes
Introduction Colin Baker
Foreword Dez Skinn
Alien Nation Peter Anghelides
I'll Name That Tune In One
"Past" Lawrence Miles
Darkness Before Me Jim Campbell
Identity Crisis Nathan Skeslet
Genesis of the Dustbins: A Report by Zoe Heriot Charles Daniels
A Handful of Silver Mags L. Halliday
Invasion of the Dinosaurs by Sarah Jane Smith Mike Sivier
Knitworld Stephen Marley Features the Fourth Doctor, (for a brief moment) Sarah Jane Smith, and features the origins of The Doctor's scarf as a plot point.
Goodbye Rembrandt David J. Howe
The Giving Invasion Paul Leonard
A Cup of Coffee Daniel Ben-Zvi
Kyreth Kimberly Yale and John Ostrander
The Effect of Dimensional Transcendence on Mozzarella Cheese[1] Diane Duane
Nameless David Bickley
Painting History Damon Cavalchini
"Present" Lawrence Miles
Black Snow David Bishop Features the Seventh Doctor, Ace, and the Brigadier
Safe in the Knowledge Mark Phippen
Adjudicator's Holiday Kathryn Sullivan
Past Time Catching Dave Stone
Pulp Cutaway David A. McIntee
Isolation Gareth Humphreys
Quicksilver Bees Martin Day
First Person[2] Philip Purser-Hallard
Fishy Business Lance Parkin Features licensed use of Saldaamir and mentions Last Contact.
Empty Nest Jon de Burgh Miller
Cause and Effect Rebecca Dowgiert
The Hand of the Goddess Susannah Tiller
Unseen Rooms Imran Inyat
This Hollywood Life Jonathan Dennis
Fangrrl Life Phil Pascoe
"Future" Lawrence Miles
Mysterious Ways Julian Eales
Memories to Forget Barry Williams
Touching Indigo R.J. Anderson
Grey Jon Andersen
Apocalypse Angel Finn Clark
"Oblique" Lawrence Miles
The Next Universe but One Dave Owen
A Tapestry of Shadows Alan Taylor
It's Raining Again Paul Magrs and Stewart Sheargold Features licensed use of Iris Wildthyme. Reprinted in Bafflement and Devotion.
Unlimited Ian McIntire
Aria for the Broken Hearted Richard Prekodravac
From the Cutting Room Floor, Take 2 Craig Hinton Cut scenes from The Crystal Bucephalus.
Here Be Dragons Helen Fayle
"Absolute" Lawrence Miles
Toy Story Set during Interference. Introduces Lolita, who would later appear throughout the Faction Paradox series. Later published by Mad Norwegian Press in their edition of Dead Romance.
Afterward Gary Gillatt

Gallery[[edit] | [edit source]]

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

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Only included in the 1999 second edition.