Divided Loyalties (novel): Difference between revisions

{{Infobox Story

|image= Divided Loyalties.jpg  

|series=[[BBC Past Doctor Adventures]]  

|number= 26

|doctor=Fifth Doctor  

|companions= [[Adric]], [[Tegan Jovanka|Tegan]], [[Nyssa]]

|enemy= [[Celestial Toymaker]]

|setting=[[Dymok]], 2370s

[[Celestial Toyroom]]  

|writer= [[Gary Russell]]

|publisher= BBC Books  

|release date= [[4 October (releases)|4 October]] [[1999 (releases)|1999]]

|format= Paperback Book;<br/>22 Chapters, 252 Pages  

|isbn= ISBN 0-563-55578-5  

|prev=City at World's End (novel)  

|next=Corpse Marker (novel)

'''''{{StoryTitle}}''''' was the twenty-sixth novel in the [[BBC Past Doctor Adventures]] series. It was written by [[Gary Russell]], released [[4 October (releases)|4 October]] [[1999 (releases)|1999]] and featured the [[Fifth Doctor]], [[Adric]], [[Nyssa]] and [[Tegan Jovanka]].

This was the first Past Doctor Adventures novel to feature this line up of Doctor and companions and the first full length novel to do so since 1996's ''[[Cold Fusion (novel)|Cold Fusion]]''. This was the first, and {{As of|2020|lc=y}}, only full length novel to feature the [[Celestial Toymaker]].

Many years ago [[First Doctor|the Doctor]], a student at [[Time Lord Academy|the Academy]] on [[Gallifrey]], lost a friend to the mysterious and malevolent force known as the [[Celestial Toymaker]]. Now, in his fifth incarnation, [[Fifth Doctor|the Doctor]] receives a [[telepathic]] call from his long-lost classmate, begging for help.

* [[Drax]]

== References ==

Several aspects of this novel seem designed to spoof [[Virgin Books]] ''Doctor Who'' ranges.

* The book is set between the TV episodes ''[[The Visitation (TV story)|The Visitation]]'' and ''[[Black Orchid (TV story)|Black Orchid]]'', despite the fact that there is no gap between those two stories. For the Toymaker, it apparently leads into ''[[The Nightmare Fair (TV story)|The Nightmare Fair]]'', though it is incompatible with various elements of that story.

* Each character receives a lengthy "flashback" dream sequence full of unnecessary background information and references to previous episodes. Many of these contradict the very episodes they reference: for instance, the [[Rassilon Imprimatur]] is presented as a real thing that a person needs in order to travel through time, despite ''[[The Two Doctors (TV story)|The Two Doctors]]'' only including it as a lie and despite the on-screen evidence of the Doctor's many [[companion]]s. Similarly, [[the Master]] is called by the name "Koschei", despite that the [[Second Doctor]] didn't recognise him by that name in ''[[The Dark Path (novel)|The Dark Path]]''.

* Later, the dream sequences are revealed to have been created by the Celestial Toymaker to frustrate the Doctor and his companions. The Toymaker's statement that he was tormenting the Doctor "because I have the power to, and I can!" acts as commentary on the [[Virgin Books]] authors' attitudes toward adding backstory to characters from the ''[[Doctor Who]]'' television series.

* The [[First Doctor]], [[Steven Taylor]] and [[Dodo Chaplet]] previously encountered the [[Celestial Toymaker]] during their travels. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Celestial Toymaker (TV story)|The Celestial Toymaker]]'')

* [[Jelpax]] was part of the team who foresaw [[Dalek]] dominion over all life. ([[TV]]:''[[Genesis of the Daleks (TV story)|Genesis of the Daleks]]'') This is contradicted by [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Ascension (audio story)|Ascension]]'', in which [[Narvin]] orders [[Valyes]] to complete this task.

* In ''[[No Future]]'' it was stated that the Doctor and Mortimus didn't know each other on Gallifrey. Yet in ''Divided Loyalties'' they are good friends, and members of the same Deca gang. In addition, it is stated that Mortimus "gave atomic bazookas to the Normans". However, in ''[[The Time Meddler]]'' the Time Meddler's entire plot was to prevent the Norman Conquest of England. The Time Meddler had planned to use an atomic warhead to aid the Anglo-Saxons.

* This book is highly significant, as, during the dream sequence, it depicts two separate characters named ''Magnus'' and ''Koschei'' together on Gallifrey at the same time. ''Koschei'' was the name [[The Master]] used in ''[[The Dark Path]]''. whereas ''Magnus'' fantasises about working with the [[War Lords]], hinting that he is the same person as [[The War Chief]]. As such, many people take this as "proof" that 'The War Chief is not the same character as the Master'. However, this occurs during what is explicitly said to be a "strange dream", brought on by the [[Celestial Toymaker]]. In addition, time is mixed-up within the dream, as Type 30 TARDISes are still being invented one night, yet the next morning Type 35 TARDISes have already been used for some time. And characters who the Doctor only met long after his time at the Academy interact with him while he is at the Academy.

{{Celestial Toymaker stories}}

[[Category:Celestial Toymaker novels]]