Lethbridge-Stewart spinoff novels

[DrFrankhamstien]

I think Andy Frankham-Allen's Doctor Who short stories are among some of the worst pieces of prose ever committed, but I look forward to anything by Lonemagpie and Lance Parkin is always a guaranteed purchase!

As you continue to state. This is fine. You are under no obligation to buy into the series. I'm sure there's plenty of Who fans who will enjoy the early adventures of Lethbridge-Stewart on your behalf.

I'd also like to add, that it would be more beneficial to the thread if you joined in the discussion, instead of coming on just to slag off my prose (as you have done in other places, pretty much word for word). On top of that, these 'worst pieces of prose ever committed' were written over seven years ago, at least. Things change. I clearly must be doing something right to get this gig, and be able to bring to it people like David and Lance.

 

[DrFrankhamstien]

The reference in "The Snowmen" in the Doctor giving a map of the London Underground to the Great Intelligence would bit it at around 1968.

'The Snowmen' is an odd story, trying to serve as a prequel to 'Web of Fear', even though such a prequel already exists. Plus, it's set during the time the GI is in Tibet for 300 years. Never cared for the recent treatment of the GI... doesn't gel very well with the original concept of it.

 

[DrFrankhamstien]

I just have one question about these ... Will Doris make an appearance? I always wanted to see more of her, since the Brig spoke of her so often and so fondly.

Eventually, I hope, yes. It is a rights issue, of course, but that doesn't prevent it from maybe happening. Although she was named in 'Planet of Spiders', she appeared in 'Battlefield' as an actual character which makes her Ben Aaronavitch's. So, it's entirely possible.

 

[DrFrankhamstien]

Looks to me from the wording of the first article, they have licensed the colonel as he appears as a one-off character in the Web of Fear and nothing else ? So is he even called Alistair?

Edit: yes he was called Alistair in the Web of Fear so I guess that is in.

The name is kind of irrelevant. In 'Web' he was simply called Colonel Lethbridge-Stewart. Alistair Gordon did not come until later. Regardless, as proven by the credit on 'Enemy of the Bane', Haisman and Lincoln own Sir Alistair (as seen on screen in that episode, which shows that they own the character, and everything that was added to him by others along the way... Added, of course, out of copyright for almost all of his appearances since 'Web of Fear').

 

[DrFrankhamstien]

So that means we could be seeing more of Edward and Anne Travers as well? And I guess Harold Chorley and Evans, though I doubt anyone's clamoring for their return.

All will return at some point, for certain. We have plans for all four mentioned above.

 

[DrFrankhamstien]

You can also expect to see Travers in mine. Plus guest stars played (in my head) by Edward Woodward and Jeremy Brett.

In mine, too, David. Edward Woodward will forever be that character. Was a good call, I think.

 

[DrFrankhamstien]

Honestly, after seeing "The Web of Fear," I have little interest in seeing more of Edward Travers, not as the doddering blowhard he was at that point, anyway. Anne, on the other hand, would be nice to see again.

Without giving anything away, I think everybody will love what Lance is doing with Travers in 'Horror of Det-Sen'. And I know David's got some great things in store, too.

As for Anne. Have to confess, she was really fun to write for.

 

[DrFrankhamstien]

By the way, I noticed that "Web" seemed to be the first salvo in the UNIT dating controversy, as it were. It said that the events of "The Abominable Snowmen" were in 1935, but that Travers hadn't seen Jamie and Victoria in over 40 years, which would put the story sometime after 1975. But that's hard to reconcile even with "The Pyramids of Mars," where Sarah Jane says she's from 1980 but it's definitely more than 5 years later, let alone with "Mawdryn Undead"'s assumption that the Brigadier retired from UNIT in 1977. And the DW Wiki's entry for "Web" puts it in the 1960s, even while acknowledging the dialogue about the elapsed time.

Forgot to say. In terms of the dating nonsense of 'Mawdryn Undead', I know David and I are in agreement. Want to know what that is? Track down his 'Face of the Enemy' to find the answer.

 

[Lonemagpie]

Anne is FTW right from that bit in Web where one of the soldiers asks what a girl like her is doing there... and she says "When I was a little girl I decided I wanted to be a scientist when I grew up. So I became one." Ahead of her time in the smackdown stakes, that one.

 

[DrFrankhamstien]

There, I think I've answered every enquiry in this thread. Any more, feel free to ask, and I'll answer as best I can (or am allowed, rather).

 

[Lonemagpie]

Forgot to say. In terms of the dating nonsense of 'Mawdryn Undead', I know David and I are in agreement. Want to know what that is? Track down his 'Face of the Enemy' to find the answer.

I may just reuse that line from FOTE, actually.

The thing about Mawdryn is that was originally intended to feature Ian Chesterton, which would have dodged the problem entirely... It also actually has Benton leaving the army *before* at least Android Invasion (which he's still in), so the whole thing's fucked anyway...

 

[DrFrankhamstien]

Anne is FTW right from that bit in Web where one of the soldiers asks what a girl like her is doing there... and she says "When I was a little girl I decided I wanted to be a scientist when I grew up. So I became one." Ahead of her time in the smackdown stakes, that one.

Absolutely. I played a riff on that line in her first scene in my book. She's going to be a great asset to the series.

 

[DrFrankhamstien]

Forgot to say. In terms of the dating nonsense of 'Mawdryn Undead', I know David and I are in agreement. Want to know what that is? Track down his 'Face of the Enemy' to find the answer.

I may just reuse that line from FOTE, actually.

We may be thinking about a different thing now. I am referring to your introduction...

 

[DrFrankhamstien]

The thing about Mawdryn is that was originally intended to feature Ian Chesterton, which would have dodged the problem entirely... It also actually has Benton leaving the army *before* at least Android Invasion (which he's still in), so the whole thing's fucked anyway...

All I will say is 'sideways'...

 

[Lonemagpie]

Forgot to say. In terms of the dating nonsense of 'Mawdryn Undead', I know David and I are in agreement. Want to know what that is? Track down his 'Face of the Enemy' to find the answer.

I may just reuse that line from FOTE, actually.

We may be thinking about a different thing now. I am referring to your introduction...

Oh, I was thinking of that line about being so mangled and dizzy "I probably couldn't even tell you what year it is."

 

[Lonemagpie]

The thing about Mawdryn is that was originally intended to feature Ian Chesterton, which would have dodged the problem entirely... It also actually has Benton leaving the army *before* at least Android Invasion (which he's still in), so the whole thing's fucked anyway...

All I will say is 'sideways'...

With a cattle-prod.

Incidentally, since you've been doing a Voyager rewatch recently, you should definitely check out that department here on the BBS.

 

[DrFrankhamstien]

Oh, I was thinking of that line about being so mangled and dizzy "I probably couldn't even tell you what year it is."

Ah yes. That would still fit your new book very well. Nice nod for those who get it (those not reading this, that is).

 

[DrFrankhamstien]

Incidentally, since you've been doing a Voyager rewatch recently, you should definitely check out that department here on the BBS.

I've been doing all of Trek, since about this time last year. Now on VOY 4 and DS9 6. VOY is so hard going. DS 9 - love it, for the most part. Looking forward to getting to ENT again (only watched it all once before), but before that I need to get to the ghastly Next Gen finale that is 'Nemesis'.

 

[Christopher]

Thanks for the answers, DrFrankhamstien, but for future reference, the moderators hereabouts don't like it when one person makes multiple posts in a row. You can use the "MultiQuote" button in the lower right corner of each post you want to respond to, then click the "Post Reply" button in the lower left, and you'll be able to respond to multiple different posts within a single reply.

 

[DrFrankhamstien]

Thanks for the answers, DrFrankhamstien, but for future reference, the moderators hereabouts don't like it when one person makes multiple posts in a row. You can use the "MultiQuote" button in the lower right corner of each post you want to respond to, then click the "Post Reply" button in the lower left, and you'll be able to respond to multiple different posts within a single reply.

Ah yes. Coolio. Noted, should I need it again.