The Tomorrow Windows (novel)
The Tomorrow Windows was the sixty-ninth novel in the BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures series. It was written by Jonathan Morris, released 7 June 2004 and featured the Eighth Doctor, Fitz Kreiner and Trix MacMillan.
It was notable for referencing many past stories, both televised and from other media.
Publisher's summary[[edit] | [edit source]]
There's a new exhibition at Tate Modern — "The Tomorrow Windows".
The concept is simple: look through a Tomorrow Window and you'll see into the future. You'll get "the Gist of Things to Come". According to the press pack, the Tomorrow Windows exhibition will bring about an end to war and suffering.
Which is why someone decides to blow it up.
Investigating this act of wanton vandalism, the Doctor, Fitz and Trix visit an Astral Flower, the show-world of Utopia and Gadrahadradon — the most haunted planet in the galaxy. They face the sinister Ceccecs, the gratuitously violent Vorshagg, the miniscule Micron and the enigmatic Poozle. And they encounter the doomsday monks of Shardybarn, the warmongers of Valuensis, the politicians of Minuea and the killer cars of Estebol.
They also spend about half an hour in Lewisham.
Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]
to be added
Characters[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Eighth Doctor
- Fitz Kreiner
- Trix
- Poozle of the Varble
- Astrabel Zar
- Brimble Wantige
- Charlton Mackerel
- Dittero Shandy
- Dreylon Pewt
- Fim
- Galvakis
- Grigbsy
- Jadrack
- Jarkle Winkitt
- Ken Livingstone
- Kera
- Martin
- Nimbit
- Prubert Gastridge
- Sheabley McMung
- Tadek
- Tunt
- Welwyn Borr
- Zoberly Chesterfield
- Pigboy Caroon
- Emmanuel Bloater
- Moop
- Question Innotation
Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Planets mentioned in this novel are: Acfarr, Aighin, Anima Persis, Arethro, Arkmic, Biblios, Centros, Dido, Diqdarl, Ellteeda, Ertshea, Exxilon, Flamvolt, Hambas, Ijij, Iwa, Kambalana Minor, Kootanoot, Monbel, Oelid, Perfugium, Pergoss, Phoenix, Prum, Puxatornee, Quarxis, Rethgil, Ryrus, Terangh, Terjowar, Tigus, Tinric, Tonhic, Tyza, Ukorn, Ulclat, Unlyo, Veln, Verd, Varb, Venfou, Venmof, Vidow, Vona, Vymto, Wabbab, Zazz, Zom and Gallifraxion Four.
- Guests at the opening of the Tomorrow Windows Gala Opening include Blur, Stephen Hawking, Jeremy Paxman, Ian Hislop, Michael Grade, Salman Rushdie, Ricky Gervais, Joanne Rowling, Bill Bailey, Stephen Fry, Richard Curtis and Ben Elton.
- Martin mentions K9 to Trix. Trix has never heard of K9.
- The Doctor says he met Shakespeare and helped him write Hamlet. However, his version got twisted and included a girl called Vicki, possibly a reference to the companion of the First Doctor.
- An electron bomb destroyed Tate Modern in June 2004.
- The Micron are a tiny race that are trying to conquer the universe by buying planets. Their government is called the Domination Council.
- The Vorshagg are tall, thickly built lizards with serrated teeth and dagger-like horns.
- The Doctor sees several possible ninth incarnations.
Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Many celebrities make cameo appearances in this novel including Ken Livingstone, J. K. Rowling, Jeremy Paxman, Ian Hislop, Stephen Fry and Huw Edwards.
- The man who would be the true Ninth Doctor was described as being "A wiry man with a gaunt, hawklike face, piercing, pale grey-blue eyes and a thin, prominent nose [with] lips [that were] set into an almost cruel, almost arrogant smile." The novel was written before Christopher Eccleston was announced, but in interview, Jonathan Morris said that the lateness of the book allowed him to include the "first appearance" of Christopher Eccleston's Doctor:[1]
It swells me with immense pride to think that the unforgivable lateness of my book allowed me to include a cameo by the new Doctor Who. I think it is crucially important that everyone buys my book in order to see Christopher Eccleston's first appearance as the Doctor. If you want a complete set of books featuring the Ninth Doctor, you should start with The Tomorrow Windows! Indeed, I think The Tomorrow Windows may prove essential reading to viewers of the new series... Buy my book!
Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Ken Livingstone mentions events of TV: The Web of Fear, TV: Spearhead from Space, TV: Invasion of the Dinosaurs and PROSE: The Dying Days.
- Darp, Gidi, Ranx, Vij and Zil are all planets stored on Tryst's CET machine in TV: Nightmare of Eden.
- The Doctor recalls meeting the Kandyman, from TV: The Happiness Patrol.
- The events of PROSE: Halflife are mentioned, specifically the fact that Trix was possessed by Reo and the Doctor and Fitz are wondering if she has been possessed by Martin.
- In one of the Doctor's pockets is an A-Z of Hitchemus, which he visited in PROSE: The Year of Intelligent Tigers.
- Prubert Gastridge once voiced Zagreus in a cartoon. (AUDIO: Zagreus)
- When looking through the Tomorrow Windows, the Doctor sees the Time Lords standing in a cathedral of turqouise, revealing that the Doctor restores the Time Lords, which is also indicated in PROSE: The Gallifrey Chronicles.
- Looking through the Tomorrow Windows into his future, the Doctor sees a Nimon emerge from a sphere, and the Eighth Doctor encountered them in AUDIO: Seasons of Fear.
- The Doctor sees various possible future incarnations of himself in the Tomorrow Windows. All the possible Ninth Doctors seen in the Tomorrow Windows eventually merge into one definitive Ninth Doctor, who is shown giving his enemies a menacing glance, who is first seen in TV: Rose.
- When the Doctor looks into the Tomorrow Windows, he sees images from his future, most notably a ruined city with buildings on fire with saucers crashed into the ground and metal pots with eyestalks wandering the ruins. This could be a reference the Last Great Time War, with a similar scene depicted in TV: The Day of the Doctor.
- Though the man shown to the Eighth Doctor in the Tomorrow Windows is hinted to be the Ninth Doctor and his successor, it is not his next incarnation. His true successor, the War Doctor, would renounce the name and identity of the Doctor, which may explain why he did not appear in the Windows, as the War Doctor did not consider himself the same as his past selves who called themselves the Doctor, and the Eighth Doctor expected to see a future version of the Doctor, not the warrior who he would actually become. (TV: The Night of the Doctor)
External links[[edit] | [edit source]]
- The Tomorrow Windows at the Doctor Who Reference Guide
- The Discontinuity Guide to: The Tomorrow Windows at The Whoniverse
- The Cloister Library: The Tomorrow Windows
- Interview: The Tomorrow Windows