Books – Page 3

Coming soon – three original Fifteenth Doctor novels

18 April 2024 admin Comments 0 Comment

DW Original Novels

BBC Books has announced three new Doctor Who novels will be published this year, featuring Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor and Millie Gibson’s Ruby Sunday.

Each book is an original, stand-alone adventure and will be published simultaneously in hardback and audiobook. Plus, the audiobook edition of DOCTOR WHO: RUBY RED will be narrated by Millie Gibson, who plays companion Ruby Sunday in the TV series.

Caged
BY UNA MCCORMACK

Are aliens ever abducted by aliens? And if they were, would anyone believe their story? When the Doctor and Ruby arrive on Cavia, they meet a gentle local who is certain that she has been taken for study by creatures from the stars. The Doctor is concerned to find mysterious meteors appearing in the sky, while strange robotic creatures crowd the forests, watching everything and waiting for…what? Who is interested in Cavia, and why? What is the sinister truth of the abductions? The Doctor and Ruby must discover the secrets of this mysterious world – and those who would seek to destroy it…

Una McCormack is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She has written many Doctor Who articles, scripts and novels, including THE KING’S DRAGON, THE WAY THROUGH THE WOODS, ROYAL BLOOD, MOLTEN HEART and TIME LORD VICTORIOUS: ALL FLESH IS GRASS, all from BBC Books.

CAGED is out in hardback Kindle and audio CD on 27th June. Pre-order here NOW!

Original Novels - Caged

Eden Rebellion
BY ABI FALASE

On the crystalline planet of Yewa, the Gardens of Kubuntu are a true Eden, said to be the most peaceful destination in the universe. At least, until the Doctor and Ruby arrive. Ancient rivalries between Yewa and its more prosperous sister world of Bia are being stirred by forces unknown, threatening to plunge its people into anarchy. With Ruby swept up in the fire of the Yewan rebellion, the Doctor finds dark secrets buried deep in the planet’s ancient history – and his hopes for a lasting peace hanging by a thread. For sinister guardians stalk the Gardens of Kubuntu, while an implacable enemy plots in the shadows – and in plain sight…

Abi Falase is a Black British writer and director, reimagining fundamental societal concepts in inventive new worlds. Abi has written and directed a number of plays, including THE VILLAGE and RUSH with the Almedia Theatre, as well as RIFT for Immediate Theatre and was shortlisted for the BBC Scriptworks A THOUSAND STORIES scriptwriting competition in 2021.

EDEN REBELLION is out in hardback Kindle and audio CD on 14th November. Pre-order here NOW!

Originals - Eden Rebellion

Ruby Red
BY GEORGIA COOK

April, 1242: the Doctor and Ruby answer a distress call sent from medieval Russia. The signal’s sender? Ranavere, an alien girl forced to take part in a barbaric conflict between the armies of Estonia and Novgorod on the frozen surface of Lake Peipus. Ranavere wants to escape, but her distress call has summoned her warmongering sisters, intent on preserving family tradition whatever the cost. And as human battle begins, the Doctor and Ruby must face a more devastating threat – a monstrous entity with plans of conquest, growing stronger beneath the icy lake…

Georgia Cook is an illustrator and writer from London. She has written for several sets in the Big Finish Doctor Who Audio range, including THE ELEVENTH DOCTOR CHRONICLES, GALLIFREY: WAR ROOM, and THE INTERLUDES. She has also contributed short stories to publications such as Baffling Magazine and Flame Tree Press, and is a frequent contributor to various horror anthology podcasts as a writer and voice over artist.

RUBY RED is out in hardback Kindle and audio CD on 13th June. Pre-order here NOW!

Originals - Ruby Red

Coming soon, the TARDIS’ memoirs

21 March 2024 admin Comments 0 Comment

I, TARDIS memoir

‘Did you ever wonder why I chose you all those years ago? I wanted to see the universe, so I stole a Time Lord and I ran away…’

The Doctor has a unique bond with their TARDIS. They’ve always loved the ‘old girl’ for the way she’s gone looking for trouble anywhere in the universe. The Doctor says they stole the TARDIS from Gallifrey. The TARDIS disagrees…she stole them. It hasn’t always taken the Doctor where they want to go, but it’s made sure to take them where they needed to be.

For the TARDIS is far more than just a time machine crossed with a spaceship. Its life reflects the Doctor’s life – a shared wanderlust and longing to explore. Now you can revisit the Doctor’s adventures as seen through the eyes – or the flashing rooftop light, at least – of the TARDIS. From the time the Doctor stole it from Gallifrey to its latest adventures with the Fifteenth Doctor, the TARDIS reflects wittily on its epic, incredible history – past, present and future!

I, TARDIS will be available in both hardback and audiobook (CD and Digital Download) from 11th July 2024.

PRE ORDER HERE (Kindle)

PRE ORDER HERE (Hardback)

PRE ORDER HERE (Audio CD)

THE BENTON FILES IV

4 March 2024 admin Comments 0 Comment

Candy Jar is pleased to announce The Benton Files IV, the latest in their series of quick-read books about everyone’s favourite UNIT sergeant. The book features two new stories by Hayden Gribble and Ian Ball.

The first story is Rotten to the Core, by Candy Jar newcomer, Hayden Gribble.

“Hayden was recommended to me, although we had already connected via social media,” says Range Editor Tim Gambrell. “He pitched a strong idea, and what he’s written is essentially that same pitch, only with a few minor tweaks around the involvement of the Brigadier.”

Hayden says:

‘It’s always been an ambition of mine to write Doctor Who fiction. So, when Tim and the good people at Candy Jar asked me to write for the Benton Files, I was over the moon! It didn’t take long for me to come up with the idea of the Hem and what kind of terror they would put Benton through – it’s a solo adventure that puts our beloved UNIT man at the heart of danger.”

Tim takes up the story again…

“Hayden’s aliens were such an interesting concept that it seemed a shame to only have them in one story. I asked Hayden and he was happy for another writer to pick them up. I then approached Ian Ball, a writer who’d previously contributed a story for The UNIT Files: Operation Wildcat, about the second story.

“I’m getting suspicious,’ says Ian. ‘It’s happened twice now, that Tim has come to me with a very specific story requirement and a tight deadline! I loved the imagery that Hayden had created with the Hem for his story and could immediately see more possibilities there. The challenge was to make it sufficiently the same and different, to give a sense of continuity and progression. What helped hugely was being able to set the story in the JB Motors period of Benton’s life.”

Ian’s story is called Scrapped Plans. Tim continues:

“This book is essentially telling a story across a long period of Benton’s life, and it’s allowed me to integrate the modern-day pub scenes a little more than in previous books. That was probably the final piece of the puzzle to fall into place.”

But what are the Hem? How does Benton become embroiled in their invasion? You’ll have to read the stories to find out…

The Benton Files IV will be issued free with the hardback edition of The Vaughn Identity by Tim Gambrell. It will also be available to buy on its own, exclusively from the Candy Jar website.

UNIT: THE VAUGHN IDENTITY

31 December 2023 admin Comments 0 Comment

2024 will see the launch of Candy Jar’s UNIT range with a series of original novels. The first book, The Vaughn Identity, is written by the range editor, Tim Gambrell, and picks up where the TV story The Invasion left off.

Tim says:

“There’s a lot left open at the end of The Invasion. Tobias Vaughn’s story – and the whole International Electromatics set-up – is very layered and detailed. We see repeatedly in Doctor Who that once the main threat is dealt with the Doctor is quick to leave”.

This new series of books now squarely focuses on UNIT and explores the fall-out from The Invasion, both on a personal and national level, and how the story would have been spun by the government and the press. As the title suggests, the story looks into the background of Tobias Vaughn.

Tim continues:

“As a character, he was in a class of his own – due very much to Kevin Stoney’s bravura performance, but also because of Derrick Sherwin’s script and Douglas Camfield’s direction. We know Vaughn was killed at the end of The Invasion, and left hanging over the railings. I wanted to find a way to get more from the character without pretending that he hadn’t really died on screen, which would have felt like a cop-out. I also wanted to work purely within the situations and concepts that Derrick Sherwin had created, to give my story the sense that it was finishing off, or tidying up any strands left hanging loose after the TV story had concluded.”

But as well as looking back to The Invasion, The Vaughn Identity also looks forward to the series of books that will follow.

Tim takes up the story again:

“We’ve got a wider cast of UNIT regulars to take our books forward. Readers have already been introduced to many of them in the two UNIT Files short story collections (Operation Wildcat, 2022, and Operation Fall-Out, 2023) but The Vaughn Identity allows us to see how they were impacted by the events of The Invasion, making it more of a shared experience. As the first novel of the range, it’s important to introduce and involve new regular characters in the action and the storyline and not simply as an info-dump roll call.”

Some other familiar faces are also appearing, besides the Brigadier and his TV team. “There are a few minor nods to the Lethbridge-Stewart range,’ Tim explains, ‘but nothing that would faze new readers. We want this to be a jumping-on point, a fresh start whilst also quietly acknowledging the achievement of the previous range.”

There will be another short Benton Files book, free with the hardback of The Vaughn Identity. More details of that will be available nearer the time.

Blurb for the The Vaughn Identity

BBC Books to publish novelisation of ‘The Church on Ruby Road’

15 December 2023 admin Comments 0 Comment

The Church on Ruby Road

Long ago on Christmas Eve, a baby was abandoned in the snow. Today, Ruby Sunday meets the Doctor, stolen babies, goblins and perhaps the secret of her birth…

BBC Books have announced the Target novelisation of THE CHURCH ON RUBY ROAD, the first full adventure featuring the Fifteenth Doctor, played by Ncuti Gatwa, and the introduction of his new best friend, Ruby Sunday played by Millie Gibson. Russell T Davies’ original script has been novelised by up-and-coming literary talent Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson.

Little is known about Ruby Sunday as she was abandoned on Christmas Eve as a baby. Now living with her mum, Carla and grandmother, Cherry her world is about to be turned upside when she encounters the Doctor and the two set off on their first adventure together…

Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson is a science-fantasy author and co-founder of the organisation Impact of Omission, as featured in the Guardian, Huffpost, and the Channel 4 Documentary ‘Where’s My History?’ with footballer and anti-racism campaigner Troy Deeney.

Winner of the inaugural Gollancz and Rivers of London BAME SFF Award in 2020, now known as the Future Worlds Prize, her writing is invariably about Black people dismantling space empires, travelling through time, and saving the world – often simultaneously.

THE CHURCH ON RUBY ROAD by Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson is out in hardback on 25th January 2024.

It is available to pre-order here.

THE LUCY WILSON MYSTERIES: 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS!

15 December 2023 admin Comments 0 Comment

Candy Jar Books is pleased to announce that twelve brand new Lucy Wilson festive short stories will be released for free in the run-up to Christmas.

The first Christmas-themed short story by Steven Walton is available to download right now. After this, a story will be released daily, with the concluding tale being released on Christmas Day.

Inspired by the carol The Twelve Days of Christmas, the first story is entitled ‘Twelve Drummers Drumming’ and each subsequent story is named after, and is loosely linked, to one of the twelve days.

Head of publishing at Candy Jar, Shaun Russell, says:

“We like to give something back at Christmas as a thank you for the support our readers have given us throughout the year. In the last few years, we’ve had some brilliant Christmas stories from our regular writer Chris Lynch. And with his Lucy Wilson book, The Best Christmas Ever being released in all good retailers this Christmas (please go and buy a copy if you can), we thought we’d give someone else a chance to celebrate the upcoming festivities”.

Enter Steven Walton…’

Steven previously wrote a short story for the Lethbridge-Stewart series, which led to the commission of a full-length Lucy Wilson novel entitled The Mystery of Lucy Wilson: Apocalypse Tomorrow, available exclusively via Candy Jar in the summer of 2023. Following its success, Apocalypse Tomorrow will be released officially through the Books Council of Wales, making it available at all good bookshops, in June 2024.

Publishing Co-ordinator at Candy Jar, Keren Williams, says:

“In my duties as part of the Lethbridge-Stewart and Lucy Wilson editorial team, I’ve found Steven to be a highly creative individual. It’s not easy writing twelve festive-themed short stories back-to-back, but Steven has succeeded and has even managed to bring the reader something different each day, which is a real triumph.”

And, with popular Beano artist Steve Beckett continuing at the helm of the series’ artwork, providing a front cover filled with Christmas chaos, this is a collection that won’t disappoint!

Available from the 14th of December until the 25th of December on the Candy Jar website. https://www.candy-jar.co.uk/books/thetwelvedaysofchristmas.html

Blurb for The Twelve Days of Christmas:

By now, Lucy Wilson shouldn’t have expected anything more than a holiday hamper full of monster mayhem at Christmas. But this time around, Lucy didn’t quite anticipate being attacked by her Christmas dinner.

Twelve festive stories featuring monsters in the pipes, a Christmas party gone wrong, and a trip around the world with Santa himself. Will Lucy be able to save the world just in time for the holidays?

The Lucy Wilson Mysteries is a Lethbridge-Stewart spin-off adventure and featured licensed characters created for Doctor Who by Mervyn Haisman and Henry Lincoln.

Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials novelisation covers revealed

5 November 2023 admin Comments 0 Comment

Doctor Who 60th Anniversary Target Book covers

BBC Books has released cover artwork for its Doctor Who Target range with three new 60th anniversary titles available January 2024

The collection are novelisations of the three 2023 Doctor Who specials, which will feature David Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor and Catherine Tate as Donna Noble. Each episode’s novelisation will also be available as an eBook.

Each book, The Star Beast by Gary Russell, Wild Blue Yonder by Mark Morris, and The Giggle by James Goss has specially commissioned cover artwork by Anthony Dry.

PRE ORDER NOW

UNIT: A LEGACY IN DOCTOR WHO DOWN IN THE LONDON UNDERGROUND

5 November 2023 admin Comments 0 Comment

“We deal with the odd… the unexplained. Anything on Earth… or beyond.”

Candy Jar Books is pleased to announce details of its second and third books celebrating 60 Years of Doctor Who.

UNIT: A Legacy in Doctor Who explores the rich history of the United Nations Intelligence Taskforce – and later Unified Intelligence Taskforce – from its inception under producer and writer Derrick Sherwin, through the UNIT family days of Jon Pertwee’s Doctor, all the way to the Kate and Osgood era of recent years. With UNIT featuring in numerous other media like Reeltime Productions, Big Finish audio, and the Lethbridge-Stewart range from Candy Jar Books, the legacy of UNIT – and its importance to Doctor Who extends beyond its television appearances.

UNIT is as much a part of the tapestry of Doctor Who as the Doctor, the TARDIS, or the Daleks. The organisation has been part of the show since the Cybermen first marched down the steps of St Paul’s Cathedral in 1968’s The Invasion, and continue to be one of the Doctor’s closest allies in the battle to save humanity from the galaxy’s greatest threats.

Author, Baz Greenland, believes that the UNIT stories really get to heart of what makes good Doctor Who. He says:

“I’ve had the honour to write stories in the Lethbridge-Stewart and Lucy Wilson ranges, but this was something quite special. I’m a huge fan of the Jon Pertwee era and UNIT is a key ingredient in that. Jon Pertwee, Roger Delgado, Nicholas Courtney, Caroline John, Katy Manning, Elisabeth Sladen, Richard Franklin and John Levene all bring such warmth and energy to the show and feature in some absolutely terrific episodes – not just Pertwee’s; The Invasion, Terror of the Zygons and Battlefield are all classics in my eye and UNIT are at the heart of that.”

Featuring a retro cover by 100 Objects of Dr Who artist Martin Baines, the book features exclusive interviews with writers and actors John Levene and Sophie Aldred, and explores the development of UNIT, its importance in the Doctor Who mythos and the actors that brought these iconic characters to life – from Nicholas Courtney’s stalwart Brigadier Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart to Jemma Redgrave’s courageous Kate Stewart.

Baz continues:

“It was quite a daunting task to delve into the mythos and creation of UNIT, but it’s been such a treat too. As a big Doctor Who fan, I feel I’ve learned more about the stories, the characters, and the actors that played them and I hope readers of the book will find something new too, that will only strengthen an appreciate for the Brig and UNIT – from 1968, all the way to the modern era as we head into the 60th anniversary of Doctor Who!”

Candy Jar’s other release propels the reader right back to the Brig’s first appearance in Doctor Who. Written by popular Lethbridge-Stewart, Lucy Wilson and children’s author George Ivanofff, Down in the London Underground takes a sidestep look at the Brig’s first story, The Web of Fear.

George explains:

“The idea struck me when I was browsing a copy of Darth Vader and Son, a Star Wars picture book. And I suddenly thought… Candy Jar could do something like this with the Doctor Who characters and creatures they have the rights to use. So, I wrote a pitch. And Shaun jumped at the chance. The book does not feature the Brig, but instead focuses on the Army as it battles the Yeti in the London Underground.”

Although aimed at young people, this picture book tries not to dodge the realities shown in The Web of Fear. Head of Candy Jar, Shaun Russell, says: “I am a big fan of the Doctor Who/Mr Men books by Adam Hargreaves and felt that this would be a great way to celebrate Doctor Who’s 60th birthday. This book, however, has a slightly darker side. Death is always present in Doctor Who, and just like Grimms’ Fairy Tales, this story attempts to be a true reflection of the world in which it is set. The Yeti are here to invade, and they take no prisoners.”

Down in the London Underground has been also been illustrated by Martin Baines. Martin says: “I’ve always loved illustrating the Yeti, but this assignment was slightly different. I thought it was very important for my cartoon-like artwork to offset the dark nature of the book. I added a few touches of my own and I hope children and adults will enjoy this chilling adventure.”

UNIT: A Legacy in Doctor Who is available to pre-order from HERE

Down in the London Underground is available to pre-order from HERE

ADVENTURES IN TYPE AND SPACE

9 October 2023 admin Comments 0 Comment

Adventures in Type and Space: A Celebration of Classic Doctor Who Title Sequences

Adventures in Type and Space is a charity bookazine published by Ten Acre Films exploring the title sequences of classic Doctor Who from 1963-1989, released to mark 50 years of the beloved ‘diamond’ logo.

Highlights include new in-depth interviews with Bernard Lodge (title designer 1963-1979), Peter Govey (special cameraman 1970-1979), Gareth Edwards (titles animator 1987-1989), along with contributions from Sid Sutton (title designer 1980-1986) and the family of Oliver Elmes (title designer 1987-1989).

Illustrated throughout with rare and unseen imagery, Adventures in Type and Space is a celebration of the artistry and ingenuity that went into creating Doctor Who’s extraordinary title sequences, told by the people who made them, and includes a foreword by Mark Gatiss.

Proceeds will benefit Unicef, Bernard Lodge’s chosen charity.

Created by Graham Kibble-White, Jack Kibble-White and Stuart Manning.
Format: 124 pages; full colour, 21cm x 21cm, perfect-bound

All pre-orders will be entered into a prize draw to win a one-of-kind print of the diamond logo, taken from the original metal-block master used to create the actual TV graphic, personally printed and signed by Bernard Lodge.

RELEASE DATE – DECEMBER 11 2023

Doctor Who – The Art of the Audio Adventures

2 October 2023 admin Comments 0 Comment

Big Finish has been producing original Doctor Who audio dramas since 1999 and, for many listeners, one of the great delights of each new adventure is seeing the cover artwork for the first time.

As Doctor Who celebrates its 60th anniversary on television, a selection of the finest cover illustrations from a range of artists has been compiled into a lavish new coffee table book, The Art of the Audio Adventures.

Featuring contributions from Ryan Aplin, Lee Binding, Anthony Dry, Claudia Gironi, Clayton Hickman, Simon Holub, Lee Johnson, Anthony Lamb, Sean Longmore, Alex Mallinson, Christopher Naylor, Mark Plastow, Jim Sangster, Caroline Tankersley, Chris Thompson, Rafe Wallbank, and Tom Webster, plus commentary by the artists – as well as actors Colin Baker, Paul McGann, Jon Culshaw and Tim Treloar – this book is a 208-page visual feast.

Doctor Who – The Art of the Audio Adventures is now available to pre-order for just £39.99 (plus postage & packing) exclusively here.

Doctor Who - The Art of the Audio Adventures

Big Finish founder and chairman, Jason Haigh-Ellery said: “Over the past 25 years I have often been asked by fans of the Doctor Who audio dramas whether we would ever do a book featuring some of our best covers.

“I am always amazed at the works of art that are created by the cover artists that work with Big Finish. Whether they are depicting a dystopian future, providing a glimpse of the past or strange and wonderful new worlds, they capture a moment contained within the audio drama and provide it as an invitation to come and join the Doctor and his companions on their adventures. This book pays tribute to these artists and to the productions they are depicting.”

Big Finish creative director and executive producer, Nicholas Briggs, added: “The cover artwork is the first encounter our listeners have with our stories, before they’ve even started listening to them. So, the artists who create them must capture the essence of what each particular story is, or, more importantly, the essence of it that we want to convey.

“The covers must engage the imagination of the audience, and to do that they must also first engage the imagination of the producers. I’ve had some of my most interesting creative discussions at Big Finish with cover artists. We’ve been blessed with many brilliant artists who have the gift of bringing the essence of Doctor Who to life.

“Recently, I’ve particularly enjoyed commissioning far simpler, but arguably even more evocative pieces which instantly sum up an era of Doctor Who. It’s where the audio inspires the visual, creating a gallery of imagination.”

All the above prices include the special pre-order discount and are subject to change after publication.

Caged BY UNA MCCORMACK

Eden Rebellion BY ABI FALASE

Ruby Red BY GEORGIA COOK

It is available to pre-order here.

“We deal with the odd… the unexplained. Anything on Earth… or beyond.”

Caged
BY UNA MCCORMACK

Eden Rebellion
BY ABI FALASE

Ruby Red
BY GEORGIA COOK