Brian Aldiss wrote a Doctor Who story!

[23skidoo]

I know this is probably mentioned in the Brilliant Book 2011 thread - or if not, it should have been - but I think it's worthy of its own discussion.

While much attention was placed on Michael Moorcock's Doctor Who novel, it seems virtually no one noticed that the recently released Doctor Who Brilliant Book 2011 contains a Doctor Who short story by none other than Brian Aldiss, the award winning British SF writer.

With a writing career dating back to his first book published in 1942, Aldiss I think can claim the title of Doctor Who writer with the longest career. One of his stories formed the basis of the Kubrick/Spielberg film AI, too.

The story is called Umwelts for Hire.

Moorcock, Aldiss, apparently Baxter as well, not to mention Gaiman - Doctor Who is certainly building up the literary cred lately!

Alex

 

[DimesDan]

I've got the book, saw there was a short story or two in the book but can't say I'm that inclined to read them, nor be overly enthusiastic about it.

 

[23skidoo]

I've got the book, saw there was a short story or two in the book but can't say I'm that inclined to read them, nor be overly enthusiastic about it.

Fair enough, but the presence of one of the people who inspired the BBC to commission a science fiction series back in 1962-63 is I think worth a gander. I only just discovered that when I was doing some reading up on Aldiss. The BBC archive of the BBC Survey Group report that led to the creation of Doctor Who cites Aldiss as a potential consultant for the yet-to-be-determined series.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/doctorwho/6400.shtml?page=1

(It's on Page 4). Pretty cool!

I think it's possible Aldiss might have the longest writing career of any Doctor Who contributor, but don't quote me on that.

Alex

 

[Andrew_Kearley]

Well, it was the first thing I read in The Brilliant Book. I mean, Brian Aldiss writing for Doctor Who! Got to be the first thing you check out. Pretty good story too, I thought.