The Story of Martha

[Emissary of the Prophets]

Martha Jones travelled across the world. From the ruins of New York, to the fusion mills of China, right across the radiation pits of Europe. And everywhere she went she saw people just like you, living as slaves! But if Martha Jones became a legend then that's wrong, because her name isn't important. There's someone else. The man who sent her out there, the man who told herto walk the Earth. And his name is The Doctor. He has saved your lives so many times and you never even knew he was there. He never stops. He never stays. He never asks to be thanked. But she'se seen him, she knows him... she loves him... And she knows what he can do.


The year that never was is now available from BBC books. I got my copy yesterday & I am 3/4 of the way through and loving it. When Dalek Caan predicted that the most faithful companion would die, I honesly thought thatt Martha would be the one that died. She sacrificed more for the Doctor and the planet than any other. She spent a year telling people about the Doctor and how he's saved so many lives.
The book is written by several authors and shows Martha's journey across teh Earth and is intercut with stories of her adventures with the Doctor. Probably the best New Who novel I've read.

 

[wamdue]

I bought this the other day, I am a couple of nights off finishing The Many Hours, and after that im going to read The Story of Martha, so I should have a comment on it soon

 

[Worf2DS9]

The Story of Martha comes out here early next month. I've been looking forward to this one, as I'm a big fan of M.J.

 

[wamdue]

right I will probaly start this book either tonight or tomorrow night

I think this bit from the back of the book is amusing

This is also a collection of the stories she tells- the stories of the adventures she had with the Doctor that we haven't heard about before

having just read

Sting of the Zygons
The Last Dodo
Wooden Heart
Forever Autumn
Sick Building
Wetworld
Wishing Well
The Pirate Loop
Peacemaker
Martha in the Mirror
Snowglobe 7
The Many Hands
Made of Steel
Revenge of the Judoon

I find it hard to believe there is any point in Marthas journey with the Doctor we have yet to see/read, to be frank I am amazed they have not launched a spin-off line of books, featuring Martha & UNIT.

 

[Worf2DS9]

^ Personally, I didn't enjoy UNIT-Martha as much as Companion-Martha, so such a line of books wouldn't appeal to me that much. One of the reasons I like "The Infinite Quest" so much is it's another Doctor/Martha adventure. Wheeee!

 

[wamdue]

I think we need to develop a cast of characters for a UNIT Martha series, and let it develop its own stories, rather than have them always come back to the Doctor, also possibly have the Brig show up

 

[Admiral_Young]

I've been contemplating getting this when it comes out in Canada...I've been wanting a UNIT series since we first saw a glimpse of them in series one of the new Who. I think it would be a great idea if they conducted their own operations outside of the Doctor much like Torchwood does but be inspired by him.

 

[wamdue]

I think having Martha in it, fills the "inspired by him" bit. We have seen some pretty interesting stuff about where UNIT is at the moment, any UNIT series would need a voice that speaks out against all of that. Martha just seems the most logical choice to me.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

to be frank I am amazed they have not launched a spin-off line of books, featuring Martha & UNIT.

Do we really need another contemporary-era Doctor Who spin-off? We have Torchwood, we have Sarah Jane Adventures. What more do we need? How would the adventures of Martha and UNIT be different?

I realize you're suggesting a series of novels, Wamdue, not an ongoing television series. I'm not opposed to more spin-offs, but they need to fill a different niche. Something far future like Abslom Daak, Dalek Killer would be cool. A costume drama like The Adventures of the Madam de Pompedour would be nifty. But another series, set in the present day? I'll pass.

 

[wamdue]

on this matter you are not wrong, I would like to see some spin-off stories be told in the NSA's Jenny is a strong possibility if they ever rule out her appearing in the TV show again. With the Doctor travelling alone and a total lack of episode, its this year the NSA could do something different. Of course it is maybe to late for that.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

With the Doctor travelling alone and a total lack of episode, its this year the NSA could do something different. Of course it is maybe to late for that.

It's not too late for that; BBC Books and Panini are already ahead of you.

The December trio of books are all different. There's The Story of Martha, which is the untold year between "The Sound of Drums" and "Last of the Time Lords." There's The Eyeless, which is a tenth Doctor solo book. There's Beautiful Chaos, which is a Ten/Donna book (and a sequel to a classic Tom Baker story, from what I understand). Then in the spring, there's a trio of books that have the tenth Doctor working on his own against Daleks, the Judoon, and the third Slitheen, which each book having a one-off companion as I understand it.

In Doctor Who Magazine, the Doctor has a new companion, Majenta (which I think I misspelled).

So now that the series is "resting," the multimedia are going in some different and original directions. I'm excited. It's not the return of the EDAs by any shot -- no books by Lawrence Miles, sadly -- but the comics and novels aren't as confined by the series at the moment, and they're taking advantage of that.

 

[wamdue]

I dont know about a new companion in the books, but I would like a series of books where the Doctor travels with someone from the TV series (Jenny or Jethro etc)

That said it is nice to see the books featuring TV series aliens, so far this is something the books have not featured alot (obviously the Quick Reads, The Monsters Inside & Sting of Zyongs, all feature TV series aliens) However I am unsure about the Daleks making an appearance in the book.

the 3 books in August 2009 are titled, The Taking of Chelsea 426, Autonomy, The Krillitane Storm. The 2nd two would also seem to feature aliens from the new series, not sure about the 1st.

Even if they do not do a series of Martha & UNIT books, I think one would be a good idea.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

I dont know about a new companion in the books, but I would like a series of books where the Doctor travels with someone from the TV series (Jenny or Jethro etc)

Actually, the Doctor's longest-serving companions are from the novels -- Benny and Fitz.

That said it is nice to see the books featuring TV series aliens, so far this is something the books have not featured alot (obviously the Quick Reads, The Monsters Inside & Sting of Zygons, all feature TV series aliens)

Well, the Zygons would be unfamiliar to the new audience the new series has brought in; they haven't appeared on screen since, umm, 1974 I think.

In general, the reason the novels and other spin-offs have avoided monsters from the series is that the licensing can be a mess. The writers have a great deal of control (and in some cases, outright ownership) over their creations. It's easier -- and cheaper, since there's no royalty to be paid out to television writers or their estates -- to create an all-new antagonist.

However I am unsure about the Daleks making an appearance in the book.

I'm curious about Prisoner of the Daleks. The cover blurb suggests a plot rather reminiscent of John Peel's War of the Daleks.

the 3 books in August 2009 are titled, The Taking of Chelsea 426, Autonomy, The Krillitane Storm. The 2nd two would also seem to feature aliens from the new series, not sure about the 1st.

There's some question as to whether or not Autonomy features a return of the Autons. I've heard that it does, and I've heard that it doesn't and the title is simply a coincidence.

In some ways, with the series off the air, using returning monsters makes a great deal of sense. It's going to keep the casual buyer engaged. "Oh look, Daleks!" has a lot of appeal.

Even if they do not do a series of Martha & UNIT books, I think one would be a good idea.

One condition -- David McIntee writes it.

I'm not suggesting the idea is unworkable, but I also think that BBC Books doesn't want to dillute the brand. I think it's more likely we'd see a return of the past Doctors to the novels than we would see a Doctor-less spin-off novel.

 

[wamdue]

Actually, the Doctor's longest-serving companions are from the novels -- Benny and Fitz.

actually that does not surprise me, as the novels dont have actors & actress to keep happy, they dont have a real person associated with the character who wants to move on to other things. However I respect the NSA for sticking close to the TV series, it help makes them feel like a part of the TV show, if they go to far off track its going detract from that, which is why I suggest characters from the TV show. I think NSA is better off reusing characters & aliens from the TV series, Even the companion less books of next year are the same as the TV series. 1 off book characters are no more companions than Astrid was a companion, which she wasn't, only you could call a book character a companion is if they appeared in more than one book.

Well, the Zygons would be unfamiliar to the new audience the new series has brought in; they haven't appeared on screen since, umm, 1974 I think.

I dont know if you have read Sting of the Zygons, but it is a NSA book featuring the 10th Doctor & the Zygons.

Part of what I like about the Quick Reads is that they get to use the big names, and next year its the Sontarans

I'm curious about Prisoner of the Daleks. The cover blurb suggests a plot rather reminiscent of John Peel's War of the Daleks

im curious too, for starters we are back to the idea that there are no Daleks left, it would be easier to do a Dalek book if the Daleks were more common place.

In truth I would like a What If book that explores Dalek Secs plan had he not been killed. "Life on New Skaro" or something like that.

There's some question as to whether or not Autonomy features a return of the Autons. I've heard that it does,

im not sure if it does or not I tend to think yes it does feature the Autons but I could be proved wrong on this one.

It's going to keep the casual buyer engaged. "Oh look, Daleks!" has a lot of appeal.

I cant argue with that

One condition -- David McIntee writes it

I dont know your reason for thinking that, but I have yet to pick out a name who should write the book, provided they pick someone with experience, maybe someone who has written Martha before thats fine by me.

I think it's more likely we'd see a return of the past Doctors to the novels than we would see a Doctor-less spin-off novel.

I would love a 9th & 10th Doctor Two Doctors novel, that would just be very cool, maybe best leave that till after the regeneration however. A Time Crash sequel is always an option that was well received.

Basically I think the NSA should have at least one thing from the TV series in it, be it, the Doctor, or a companion. You have to have that well known face to put on the cover. The solo adventures have the TV aliens to make up for the lack of big name companion.

 

[timelord1010]

Isn't Martha Jones going to Torchwood since most of it's characters were killed off?

 

[Brendan Moody]

Not necessarily. She was going to be joining Torchwood at least for its third series, as was Mickey Smith, but plans changed, and now it isn't clear whether either of them will ever join the show.

 

[wamdue]

Isn't Martha Jones going to Torchwood since most of it's characters were killed off?

between the end of Last of The Time Lords & The Stolen Earth, there is room for a Martha adventure, maybe her first day at UNIT before The Sontaran Stratagem or Reset.

(which makes me wonder which came first The Sontaran Stratagem or Reset, im guessing Reset)

However you have a point, the end of Jounerys End it did seem like Martha was going to leave UNIT & join Torchwood, however its vague enough that she could go back to UNIT.

 

[ATimson]

(which makes me wonder which came first The Sontaran Stratagem or Reset, im guessing Reset)

No ring in "Reset", so I'm inclined to agree.

 

[HappyDayRiot]

Isn't Martha Jones going to Torchwood since most of it's characters were killed off?

Hopefully she won't be. She was in the Lost Souls audio play with Jack, Ianto and Gwen though - that was set post-series 2.

And I think it's clear Reset is before TSS. Martha is just a doctor in Reset but she's cleared moved up the ranks by the time she calls the Doctor in.

 

[wamdue]

Isn't Martha Jones going to Torchwood since most of it's characters were killed off?

And I think it's clear Reset is before TSS. Martha is just a doctor in Reset but she's cleared moved up the ranks by the time she calls the Doctor in.

very good point, however I dont think she was ever JUST a Doctor for UNIT, that may have been her job title, but im sure she did other stuff.

anyways "The Story of Martha" have to say am loving these 20 page Doctor & Martha storys, its like the episode cut back to their bare bones, and then put on speed.