To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Doctor Who, poet James Wylder and artist Olivia Hinkel have teamed up to give you a complete episode guide to Doctor Who in the form of Poetry.

Every televised Doctor Who Episode From An Unearthly Child to The Time of the Doctor is covered in the form of poetry, with some accompanying 'whoodle' illustrations. But that's not all the book contains:

-  A complete illustrated poetic guide to Doctor Who.
-  A complete poetic guide to the Sarah Jane Adventures.
-  A complete poetic guide to Torchwood
-  A complete poetic guide to K9.
-  Poems about every Doctor, the companions, monsters, other spinoffs, and the Peter Cushing films!
-  A short story written in the spirit of the show.
-  A Doctor Who cookbook by Taylor Elliott.
-  Essays by James Wylder about The Doctor's Name, River Song's Timeline, Neil Gaiman/Stephen Moffat/Russel T. Davies/Lawrence Miles contributions to the show and Why Romana is the Best Companion.
-  Essays by Andrew Gilbertson about Dalek History, and Classic Series Special Effects.

Funded on Kickstarter by Doctor Who fans, An Eloquence of Time and Space is an extravaganza of celebration for our favorite lonely Time Lord in a big blue box.

Speaking about the book, James Wylder said:

"Writing a poem about every single story ever aired about Doctor Who was difficult-- especially for the episodes that don't exist! The reconstructions fans have made are masterful, but you know they can't be as inspirational as the real thing."

+  An Eloquence Of Time And Space is Out Now, priced £15.08 / $22.50.
+  ORDER NOW from Amazon.co.uk for just £12.91.
+  ORDER NOW from Amazon.com for just $22.50.   

[Source: James Wylder]

Dining With the Doctor: Regenerated just vworp vworped onto planet Kickstarter!

Our friend and fellow Doctor Who fan, Chris-Rachael Oseland of Kitchen Overlord is regenerating her bestselling Doctor Who cookbook. Dining With the Doctor: Regenerated serves up original recipes for all 116 episodes of the new series plus bonus chapters for cocktails, fish fingers & custard, and more!

Dining With the Doctor: Regenerated has 60 recipes from the 1st edition, as well as 60+ brand new recipes, artwork by Tom Gordon, and beautiful food photography - as well as awesome episode recaps and insights. Best of all, Dining With the Doctor: Regenerated helps you navigate most dietary restrictions, so anyone from vegans to the gluten free to those with food allergies can enjoy!

Before tackling the second edition, Chris-Rachael said she listened to fan feedback at conventions and has read reviews on Amazon and Good Reads. As a die-hard Doctor Who Fan, she wanted to create a one-of-a-kind cookbook that not only gave people a guide to delicious cuisine, but did it with all the flare and FUN of the rebooted TV Show.

Therefore, she’s cut the least popular recipes and is replacing them with new ones based on fan requests. She’s also expanding the chapter on Fish Fingers & Custard and moving the Cocktails to their own chapter to make things easier for families with little Whovians in training.

The revised & expanded 2nd edition includes:

-  60 recipes from the 1st edition (87 episodes, stories #157-224)
-  60+ brand new recipes (recipes for all 116 episodes, stories #157-253)
-  Brand new, high quality food photography
-  Interior artwork by Tom Gordon
-  Bonus chapters for both Cocktails and Fish Fingers & Custard
-  Index broken down by dietary restrictions & food allergies so you can easily feed all your friends 

Stretch goals include special recipes for:

-  The 8th Doctor
-  The War Doctor
-  An entire chapter for Dalek-tastic soufflees

To thank backers for their support, she’s also posting daily two minute geeky kitchen gadget reviews from now through June 1st. You can find them on YouTube or at Kitchen Overlord.

The first 10 days are all for Whovians. After that, there’s a Star Wars theme week starting May the 4th followed by theme weeks for Star Trek, Gamers, and other assorted geekery, all to help you sort the great kitchen gadgets from the garbage without wasting hundreds of dollars in the process.

Click here to check out the Kickstarter, and feel free to share this with your Doctor Who loving friends!  

[Source: Chris-Rachael Oseland]

BBC Books have sent DWO the covers and details for the July 2015, 4th Doctor novel 'The Drosten's Curse'.

The Drosten's Curse
by A.L. Kennedy

Isn’t life terrible? Isn’t it all going to end in tears? Won’t it be good to just give up and let something else run my mind, my life?

Something distinctly odd is going on in Arbroath. It could be to do with golfers being dragged down into the bunkers at the Fetch Brothers’ Golf Spa Hotel, never to be seen again. It might be related to the strange twin grandchildren of the equally strange Mrs Fetch – owner of the hotel and fascinated with octopuses. It could be the fact that people in the surrounding area suddenly know what others are thinking, without anyone saying a word.

Whatever it is, the Doctor is most at home when faced with the distinctly odd. With the help of Fetch Brothers' Junior Receptionist Bryony, he’ll get to the bottom of things. Just so long as he does so in time to save Bryony from quite literally losing her mind, and the entire world from destruction. 

Because something huge, ancient and alien lies hidden beneath the ground – and it’s starting to wake up…

+  The Drosten's Curse is released on 16th July 2015, priced £16.99 [HB].
+  PREORDER The Drosten's Curse from Amazon.co.uk for just £12.91.   

[Source: BBC Books]

BBC Books have sent DWO the covers and details for the June 2015 book 'The Scientific Secrets Of Doctor Who'.

The Scientific Secrets Of Doctor Who
by Simon Guerrier & Dr Marek Kukula

The first official guide to the science of Doctor Who by acclaimed Doctor Who novelist Simon Guerrier and Dr Marek Kukula, the Public Astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich.

Doctor Who stories are many things: thrilling adventures, historical dramas, and science fiction tales. But how much of the science is real? And how much is fiction?

Weaving together authoritative scientific discussion with a series of new adventures by acclaimed Doctor Who writers including Jenny T Colgan, George Mann and Jacqueline Rayner, Simon Guerrier and Dr Marek Kukula explore the possibilities of time travel, life on other planets, artificial intelligence, parallel universes and more. From the dawn of astronomy and the discovery of gravity to the moon landings and string theory, the authors show how science has inspired Doctor Who, and how, on occasion, life has mirrored art, such as the 1989 discovery of ‘ice-canoes’ on Triton which were featured in the 1973 episode The Planet of the Daleks.

For example, did you know…

•  The creation of the Cybermen in The Tenth Planet in 1966 was prompted by two American neuroscientists who argued that astronauts’ bodies should be adapted to suit the conditions of space.
•  The failure of Beagle 2 to land on Mars on Christmas Day 2003 influenced the loss of Guinevere One at the start of The Christmas Invasion.
•  The many parallel universes that feature in Doctor Who, from Inferno to Rise of the Cybermen are inspired by a reaction to the Schrodinger’s Cat theory: that a new universe is created for each different outcome.
•  The startling resemblance between Amelia Pond and the Twelfth Doctor and two characters from The Fires of Pompeii isn’t simply due to the actors returning to the series: it might be grounded in science as well.
•  Time Lords aren’t the only beings able to regenerate – when the turritopsis dohrnii jellyfish gets ill, old, or faces danger, it can return to its childhood state as a polyp.

+  The Scientific Secrets Of Doctor Who is released on 4th June 2015, priced £16.99 [HB].
+  PREORDER The Scientific Secrets Of Doctor Who from Amazon.co.uk for just £14.98.   

[Source: BBC Books]

Publisher: Lulu.com

Written By: Darren M. Bane

RRP: £7.99

Release Date: 23rd January 2015

Reviewed by: Doctor Who Online

Review Posted: 7th March 2015

Every week we get a good number of Doctor Who related goodies dropping through the letterbox here at DWO Towers, but one particular goody piqued our interest this week, and it came in the form of Darren M. Bane’s new parody book ‘Dr U Who’.

Join Darren as he attempts to bring an answer to a very important question; “What really happened to prompt the mighty BBC to finally return our hero to prime-time television”?

In doing so, a whole barrage of amusing issues are tackled including the ‘truth’ behind the Missing Episodes and why aliens speak perfect English - to name just a couple!

You’re taken on an accidental journey backwards and forwards in time, with many side trips along the way that will have you sniggering uncontrollably and tittering left, right and centre! 

Through the parody, you will be surprised at how many childhood memories of the show you’ll have jogged, in what can only be described as a lovingly crafted, gentle prodding at the show and the powers that control it.

Clearly, the title isn’t aimed at the younger fan, but anyone who has followed both the classic and new series of Doctor Who will appreciate everything that has gone into Dr U Who.

Highly recommended!

+  Dr U Who is Out Now, priced £7.99.
+  Buy this book on Amazon.co.uk. 

+  Follow DazzaBane on Twitter.
+  Follow DrWhoOnline on Twitter.

Check out the new Doctor Who parody from former journalist and long-time Whovian Darren M Bane.

Dr U Who, available as both a paperback and ebook, is the ‘true’ story – or at least, one timeline’s version of it – of Doctor Who’s triumphant return to prime time television, and subsequent world domination. It reveals the ‘real’ reason behind the BBC’s historic decision to bring Doctor Who back from Hiatus, and put an end to those long wilderness years.

Inspired by the Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol, this affectionate parody provides ‘definitive’ answers to a number of questions raised by the long-running series over the years, including the “real” reason why so many alien races speak English; the truth behind the ‘missing episodes’; the real cause of the dinosaurs becoming extinct (the cyber ship with Adric on board merely scratched the surface), the unfortunate typo which prevented the tenth Doctor from properly heeding a warning which could have prolonged his life, the reason why anti-matter is called anti-matter, why sci-fi fans are sometimes called anoraks - and plenty more. Just remember, when Cap’n Jack The Lad Harmless is about, then, whatever you do, don’t wink.

Dr U Who was originally published, briefly, exclusively on Kindle until the author discovered www.lulu.com, and the means to make it available as a paperback and on a wide range of ebook sellers, without breaking the bank.

But during that initial brief time on Kindle, it was downloaded 203 times, and attracted six reviews, two of which were five-star,  three were four-star and one was three-star.

Comments from reviewers included: “Well written, affectionate, Dr Who parody. The author has a nice way with words, making this an easy read, with plenty of giggles”, “a right reveting read, clearly written by a true fan of Dr Who”, “his love for, and knowledge of, the franchise shines through in an affectionate parody,” and “the best Doctor Who parody, great satire humour.”

Darren M Bane is a middle-aged kid whose earliest memory of Doctor Who was watching Jon Pertwee in hand-to-hand combat with a Sontaran in The Time Warrior; and he’s been in love with the show ever since. While working as a journalist, he reported on, and then became a member of the crew of, a low-budget fan-made film, Soul’s Ark, which starred Colin Baker, Wendy Padbury and Carole Ann Ford.

Dr U Who is available as a paperback from www.lulu.com, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Waterstones and others, for £7.99.

It’s available as an ebook from www.lulu.com from 99p, and should soon be available through all the major ebook retailers including Nook, Kobo, Kindle and the iBookstore.

For more information about the author, and other books he has written and is planning to, visit his website at www.dazzab.co.uk.

[Source: Dazza B]

BBC Books have released the cover art and details for their forthcoming 12th Doctor novel, The Blood Cell.

The Blood Cell
By James Goss

"Release The Doctor - or the killing will start." 

An asteroid in the furthest reaches of space - the most secure prison for the most dangerous of criminals. The Governor is responsible for the worst fraudsters and the cruellest murderers. So he's certainly not impressed by the arrival of the man they're calling the most dangerous criminal in the quadrant. Or, as he prefers to be known, the Doctor. 

What does impress the Governor is the way the new prisoner immediately sets about trying to escape. And keeps trying. Finally, he sends for the Doctor and asks him why? But the answer surprises even the Governor. And then there's the threat - unless the Governor listens to the Doctor, a lot of people will die. 

Who is the Doctor and what's he really doing here? Why does he want to help the Governor? And who is the young woman who comes every day to visit him, only to be turned away by the guards? 

When the killing finally starts, the Governor begins to get his answers...

+  The Blood Cell is released on 11th September 2014, priced £6.99.
+  Preorder via Amazon.co.uk for just £5.24. 

[Source: BBC Books]

BBC Books have released the cover art and details for their forthcoming 12th Doctor novel, The Crawling Terror.

The Crawling Terror
By Mike Tucker

"Well, I doubt you'll ever see a bigger insect."

Gabby Nichols is putting her son to bed when she hears her daughter cry out. 'Mummy there's a daddy longlegs in my room!' Then the screaming starts... Alan Travers is heading home from the pub when something rushes his face - a spider's web. Then something huge and deadly lumbers from the shadows... Kevin Alperton is on his way to school when he is attacked by a mosquito. A big one. Then things get dangerous.

But it isn't the dead man cocooned inside a huge mass of web that worries the Doctor. It isn't the swarming, mutated insects that make him nervous. It isn't an old man's garbled memories of past dangers that intrigue him. 

With the village cut off from the outside world, and the insects becoming more and more dangerous, the Doctor knows that no one is safe. Not unless he can decode the strange symbols engraved on an ancient stone circle, and unravel a mystery dating back to the Second World War.

+  The Crawling Terror is released on 11th September 2014, priced £6.99.
+  Preorder via Amazon.co.uk for just £5.24. 

[Source: BBC Books]

BBC Books have released the cover art and details for their forthcoming 12th Doctor novel, Silhouette.

Silhouette
By Justin Richards

"Vastra and Strax and Jenny? Oh no, we don't need to bother them. Trust me." 

Marlowe Hapworth is found dead in his locked study, killed by an unknown assailant. This is a case for the Great Detective, Madame Vastra. 

Rick Bellamy, bare-knuckle boxer, has the life drawn out of him by a figure dressed as an undertaker. This angers Strax the Sontaran. 

The Carnival of Curiosities, a collection of bizarre and fascinating sideshows and performers. This is where Jenny Flint looks for answers. 

How are these things connected? And what does Orestes Milton, rich industrialist, have to do with it all? This is where the Doctor and Clara come in. The Doctor and his friends find themselves thrust into a world where nothing and no one are what they seem. Can they unravel the truth before the most dangerous weapon ever developed is unleashed on London?

+  Silhouette is released on 11th September 2014, priced £6.99.
+  Preorder via Amazon.co.uk for just £5.24. 

[Source: BBC Books]

Publisher: Race Point Publishing

Written By: Cameron K. McEwan

RRP: £18.99

Release Date: 9th January 2014

Reviewed by: Doctor Who Online

Review Posted: 20th February 2014

Now, it’s no secret that we’re good buddies with Blogtor Who owner, Cameron K. McEwan, and when we heard he was coming out with a Doctor Who book that would act as "a whovian guide to friends, foes, villains, monsters and companions", we were very excited indeed - especially considering his vast knowledge and love for the show.

Once you finally get over adoring the beautifully embossed ‘Doctor Who’ lettering on the cover, which also features The 10th, 11th and 12th Doctors (yes that is the correct numbering), you are presented with the simple, yet effective contents page that typifies this straight-up, no-nonsense guide which does exactly what it says on the proverbial tin.

The various sections within the book (The Doctors, The Companions, Friends & Allies, Robots, Time Lords & Ladies, Villains and Aliens & Monsters) are laid out beautifully and clearly in alphabetical order to easily find who you want.

As you thumb through pages and pages of character breakdowns, coupled with pictures and illustrations gloriously brought to life by Andrew Skilleter, you realise just how concise the book is. With over 50 years to draw from you will find information about characters you have long since forgotten (Rita from The God Complex), or even facts about the ones you thought you knew everything about.

The Who's Who Of Doctor Who is essential reading for anyone wanting to know anything from 'Ace' to 'The Zygons', and with over 300 entries to explore, you’ll be reaching for it time and time again.

+  The Who's Who Of Doctor Who is Out Now, priced £18.99.
+  Buy this book on Amazon.co.uk for just £15.77. 

+  Follow BlogtorWho on Twitter.
+  Follow DrWhoOnline on Twitter. 

BBC Digital have released the cover art and details for their forthcoming Doctor Who eBook, Tales Of Trenzalore.

As it had been foretold, the armies of the Universe gathered at Trenzalore. Only one thing stood between the planet and destruction – the Doctor. For nine hundred years, he defended the planet, and the tiny town of Christmas, against the forces that would destroy it. 

He never knew how long he could keep the peace. He never knew what creatures would emerge from the snowy night to threaten him next. He knew only that at the end he would die on Trenzalore.

Some of what happened during those terrible years is well documented. But most of it remains shrouded in mystery and darkness.

Until now. 

This is a glimpse of just some of the terrors the people faced, the monstrous threats the Doctor defeated. These are the tales of the monsters who found themselves afraid - and of the one man who was not. 

Tales of Trenzalore documents four of the Doctor’s adventures from different periods during the Siege of Trenzalore and the ensuing battle: 

Let it Snow – by Justin Richards
An Apple a Day – by George Mann
Strangers in the Outland – by Paul Finch
The Dreaming – by Mark Morris

+  Tales Of Trenzalore is released on 27th February 2014, priced £2.99.
+  Preorder via Amazon.co.uk for just £2.49. 

[Source: BBC Digital]

Our friends over at Puffin Books have sent DWO some more details on the anthology of eleven stories by some of the most exciting names in children's fiction!

The print edition of '11 Doctors, 11 Stories' is the culmination of a year-long series of eBooks to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Doctor Who.

Eleven stories, eleven authors, eleven unique interpretations of the Doctor: his terrifying alien enemies and his time-travelling adventures.

The authors involved in this exciting project are Eoin Colfer, Michael Scott, Marcus Sedgwick, Philip Reeve, Patrick Ness, Richelle Mead, Malorie Blackman, Alex Scarrow, Charlie Higson, Derek Landy and Neil Gaiman. 

+  11 Doctors, 11 Stories is Out Now, priced £12.99.

+  Order your copy now via Amazon: http://amzn.to/1eP9Pdl

[Source: Puffin Books]

BBC Books have sent DWO some further information and covers for their new Doctor Who: Time Trips series.

Jake Arnott, Cecelia Ahern and Joanne Harris have today been confirmed to write for BBC Books' Doctor Who: Time Trips. They join award-winning writers AL Kennedy, Jenny Colgan, Nick Harkaway and Trudi Canavan for new Doctor Who digital shorts series.

The series will launch on 5th December with The Death Pit, a Fourth Doctor adventure by AL Kennedy. It then publishes monthly throughout 2014: the spring’s selections include Jenny Colgan’s Eleventh Doctor adventure, Into the Nowhere (Jan); Nick Harkaway’s take on the Tenth Doctor, Keeping Up with the Joneses (Feb); Trudi Canavan’s tribute to the Third Doctor, Salt of the Earth (Mar); and Jake Arnott’s Sixth Doctor adventure in April. Cecelia Ahern’s and Joanne Harris’s stories will publish later in the year.

Cecelia Aherne said:

"I’m so excited to have written a story for the Time Trips series and I enjoyed writing every word. Doctor Who is an institution and to be involved in the 50th anniversary is beyond a dream – it is an honour’"

Jake Arnott adds:

"Writing for the Time Trips series really was a trip – the chance to jump around in time, space and genre, to play around with a classic of popular culture and try to find a place in its vast universe – but most of all it was an opportunity to travel back all those light years ago when I was a kid, full of wonder, watching Doctor Who for the first time"

Joanne Harris says:

"I remember watching Doctor Who from a very early age, from a cushion fort behind the sofa. As I grew older I began to really understand and appreciate the show. When the series was revived I was thrilled to watch its transition into the 21st Century, just as I’m thrilled now to be contributing to this series of stories. Fifty is no great age (I tell myself this as my own fiftieth approaches!) and you’re never too old for stories. Happy Birthday Doctor Who. May your candles never go out"

AL Kennedy said:

"I was first introduced to Doctor Who when I was three or four and he has been a happy part of my life ever since. I am delighted to become in any way a part of his stories"

Jenny Colgan, also a lifelong Doctor Who fan, said:

"It is such an honour to be part of the prestigous Time Trips line-up, with so many excitingly fresh perspectives on the Doctor's life and adventures"

Nick Harkaway added:

"There is a list of calls you want and know you’ll never get. Joel Rubichon invites you to eat any time; Penelope Cruz needs a tango partner…and then someone calls and asks you if you want to write a story for a new BBC Books’ Doctor Who digital series. And that is the real thing and it feels every bit as fantastic as you would imagine. I’m sure the tango would be good too, mind you."

Publishing Schedule:

Doctor Who: The Death Pit
A.L. Kennedy
Published: 5th December 2013
+  PREORDER from Amazon.co.uk for £1.37! 

Doctor Who: Into the Nowhere
Published: 9th January 2014
Jenny T. Colgan
+  PREORDER from Amazon.co.uk for £1.37! 

Doctor Who: Keeping Up with the Joneses 
Nick Harkaway
Published: 6th February 2014
+  PREORDER from Amazon.co.uk for £1.37!

Doctor Who: Salt of the Earth
Trudi Canavan
Published: 6th March 2014
+  PREORDER from Amazon.co.uk for £1.37!

Doctor Who: A Handful of Stardust
by Jake Arnott
Published: 3rd April 2014

+  Time Trips launches from 5th December 2013 from BBC Digital and publishes monthly throughout 2014, priced £1.99 each.

[Source: BBC Books]

Doctor Who Online is pleased to announce the publication of Will Brooks’ 50 Year Diary1963 - 1969.

Doctor Who Online is pleased to announce the publication of Will Brooks’ 50 Year Diary: Volume 1 1963-1969.

In celebration of Doctor Who’s 50th anniversary, Will Brooks sits down to watch every episode of the programme made between 1963 - 2013 at the strict pace of one per day.

Having watched each episode, Will records his thoughts in a daily blog for Doctor Who Online, and scores the episode out of ten, on a scale ranging from ‘Perfect, the absolute pinnacle’ to ‘Why am I doing this again?’

Will Brooks’ 50 Year Diary: 1963 - 1969 collects together more than 260 entries of the popular blog, covering the complete eras of the First and Second Doctors (William Hartnell and Patrick Troughton), and also includes exclusive entries for the two 1960s Dalek feature films starring Peter Cushing, and a foreword by Doctor Who writer Gareth Roberts.

Speaking about the publication of the book, Will told DWO:

“I’m still a bit surprised that I’ve actually made it far enough to collect entries together! I’m usually really fickle with things, and I’m bored very quickly. Even when I first started out on the marathon - slipping the DVD of An Unearthly Child into the player - I had a sneaking suspicion that I’d probably give up by the end of that first season.

What’s kept me going is just how brilliant Doctor Who is! Not everything is perfect, and there’s one or two stories from the 1960s that I’m not likely to ever watch again, but it’s an era of the programme that’s constantly evolving, and it’s been a fantastic journey to experience it all in context.

Putting together the book has given me a chance to go back and update a few entries - just small changes here and there where I felt things could read a little better! - and it’s also been a chance to look back over the first six years of the programme as I prepare to move onwards into colour and get started on the 1970s...”

In his foreword for the book, Gareth Roberts describes The 50 Year Diary:

“[Will’s] observations are fresh and often startling - his is a unique perspective on Doctor Who. I thought I knew all this stuff back-to-front but Will's jumping-bean prose snaps me out of my jadedness and I see it with new eyes.”

+  You can pre-order the paperback version of Will Brooks’ 50 Year Diary 1963 - 1969 now from Pageturner Publishing for £14.99.

+  The Kindle edition of the book is out now, and can be purchased from Amazon UK and US. 

[Source: Doctor Who Online, Pageturner Publishing]

The ninth instalment in a sensational series of stories celebrating the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who is written by Charlie Higson, actor, comedian and author of the phenomenally successful Young Bond books and the cult thriller series, The Enemy.

Following on from short stories by Eoin Colfer, Michael Scott, Marcus Sedgwick, Philip Reeve, Patrick Ness, Richelle Mead, Malorie Blackman and Alex Scarrow, Charlie Higson has written the ninth adventure in the series, based on the Ninth Doctor played by Christopher Eccleston. Higson commented:

“I grew up with Doctor Who and have always been a massive fan so it's a great honour to be involved in this anniversary celebration. Russell T Davies did a great job of rebooting the series with Christopher Eccleston so to be able to write the Ninth Doctor story was a great opportunity to say thanks to the Doctor and thanks to Russell.”

Synopsis:

When a girl called Ali pockets a silver orb that falls from the sky, little does she realise it’s her ticket to seeing the universe!

Desperate to retrieve the mysterious object, the Ninth Doctor agrees to let her join him on a dangerous trip to ancient Babylon.

Together they must join forces to stop a giant Starman from destroying Earth before it’s too late! 

Eleven Doctors, eleven months, eleven stories: a year-long celebration of Doctor Who! The most exciting names in children's fiction each create their own unique adventure about the time-travelling Time Lord.

About the author:

Charlie Higson is a successful author, actor, comedian and writer for television and radio. He wrote the phenomenally successful Young Bond series which has sold over a million copies in the UK alone and been translated into over 24 languages. The first novel in his bestselling cult thriller series, The Enemy, was published to critical acclaim in 2009. It was followed by The Dead (2010), The Fear (2011) and The Sacrifice (2012). Charlie is a huge fan of horror films and books and even studied gothic literature at university.

Higson started writing when he was ten years old but it was a long time before he got paid for doing it. On leaving university he was the singer in a pop group (The Higsons) before giving it up to become a painter and decorator. It was around this time that he started writing for television on Saturday Night Live. In partnership with Paul Whitehouse, he went on to create hugely successful comedy series The Fast Show, in which he also appeared. Other TV works include The Harry Enfield Television Programme, The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer, Shooting Stars, Randall and Hopkirk Deceased, the film Suite 16 and Swiss Toni.   

His work for radio includes the award-winning spoof radio series Down the Line (BBC Radio 4), which became the television comedy series Bellamy’s People (BBC 2). Charlie’s other books include the thrillers King of the Ants (1992), Happy Now (1993), Full Whack (1995) and Getting Rid of Mr Kitchen (1996). He lives in North London. 

+  The Beast Of Babylon is released on 23rd September 2013, Priced £1.99.

+  Preorder this eShort from iTunes for £1.99.
+  Preorder this eShort on Amazon for £1.99. 

+  Check Out Charlie Higson's Website.

[Source: Puffin Books]

BBC Books has today announced Time Trips, an exciting addition to their hugely popular Doctor Who digital list.

Following the success of the three digital-only e-shorts published last Autumn and earlier this year (The Angel’s Kiss, Devil in the Smoke and Summer Falls, each of which tied into a particular episode),  as well as Doctor Who novels with Michael Moorcock, Stephen Baxter, Alastair Reynolds, Jenny Colgan and the estate of Douglas Adams. Time Trips is set to build on that success and expand the Doctor Who readership even further.

A new, long-term digital strand for the Doctor Who list, Time Trips will feature an exciting mix of high-profile commercial and literary writers, each of whom will write a 10,000 word adventure for their favourite Doctor. Authors confirmed so far include Nick Harkaway, AL Kennedy, Jenny Colgan and Trudi Canavan, with more to be announced shortly. From romantic fiction to high fantasy to high thrillers, there are a lot of Doctor Who fans in the literary world!

BBC Books Senior Editorial Director Albert De-Petrillo bought world rights in each of the stories. De-Petrillo said:

"Time Trips is a project I have long wanted to do. There’s a unique affection for Doctor Who amongst writers and readers across genres and I can’t believe our good luck to have Nick Harkaway, AL Kennedy, Jenny Colgan and Trudi Canavan on the launch list.  It’s a truly formidable line-up, with more to come. This series really is taking Doctor Who fiction to a new level and I can’t wait for people to read these brilliant stories"

AL Kennedy said:

"I was first introduced to Doctor Who when I was three or four and he has been a happy part of my life ever since. I am delighted to become in any way a part of his stories."

Jenny Colgan, also a lifelong Doctor Who fan, said:

"It is such an honour to be part of the prestigious Time Trips line-up, with so many excitingly fresh perspectives on the Doctor's life and adventures".

Nick Harkaway added:

"There is a list of calls you want and know you’ll never get. Joel Rubichon invites you to eat any time; Penelope Cruz needs a tango partner…and then someone calls and asks you if you want to write a story for a new BBC Books’ Doctor Who digital series. And that is the real thing and it feels every bit as fantastic as you would imagine. I’m sure the tango would be good too, mind you"

BBC Books plan to release the first in the Time Trips series at the end of the year, to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who, with further stories to be published throughout 2014. Each story will be priced at £1.99. A print collection is due for release next year. Additional authors will be announced in the coming months.

[Source: BBC Books]

Fifty Years in Time and Space: A Short History of Doctor Who is a new critical study by Frank Danes, available from St Mark’s Press.

Those of you with long memories may remember that Frank used to edit the fanzine Fendahl way back in the late 70s and early 80s.

These days, Frank says of himself:

"I’ve always been a Doctor Who fan even as I have become (in Terrance Dicks’ words) older, fatter, greyer, but not noticeably wiser."

Professionally, Frank is Head of English at King’s Ely in Cambridgeshire; he’s also written Victorian Literature for CUP.

Frank comments:

"Fifty Years in Time and Space is inevitably a personal reading of the series and is coloured by my own critical preferences:  any book about the programme which doesn’t demonstrate the author’s own views would, I think, be very dull.  I haven’t religiously covered every single story and I haven’t provided a plot précis or production details of every one.  Interested readers can find these in many of the programme guides that are available online or in book form.  I hope readers will forgive me for jumping around and pursuing the bits I’m most interested in.  Since these bits include all of Doctor Who, I hope most issues are touched on, in more or less detail."

The book offers a new approach to the history of the series; by turns analytical, by turns funny – and with a stunning cover by Roger Langridge.

+  Fifty Years In Time And Space is Out Now, priced £11.95 from www.stmarkspress.com.

[Source: St Mark's Press]

Ebury Publishing have sent DWO the cover and details for the upcoming BBC Doctor Who book title; Harvest Of Time.

Synopsis:

After billions of years of imprisonment, the vicious Sild have broken out of confinement. From a ruined world at the end of time, they make preparations to conquer the past, with the ultimate goal of rewriting history. But to achieve their aims they will need to enslave an intellect greater than their own…

On Earth, UNIT is called in to investigate a mysterious incident on a North Sea drilling platform. The Doctor believes something is afoot, and no sooner has the investigation begun when something even stranger takes hold: The Brigadier is starting to forget about UNIT's highest-profile prisoner. And he is not alone in his amnesia.

As the Sild invasion begins, The Doctor faces a terrible dilemma. To save the universe, he must save his arch-nemesis… The Master.

From award-winning science fiction writer Alastair Reynolds, a spellbinding new adventure featuring The Third Doctor.

+  Harvest Of Time is released in Hardback on 6th June 2013, Priced £16.99.

+  Compare Prices for this product from as little as £14.44 on CompareTheDalek.com.

[Source: BBC Books]

Our friends over at Candy Jar Books have sent DWO the cover and details for their fantastic new Doctor Who book title; Companions: 50 Years Of Doctor Who Assistants.

A brand new Doctor Who book is now available for pre-order. Companions: Fifty Years Of Doctor Who Assistants is an unofficial and frank guide of the Time Lord’s adventures in space and time. Drawing on plots from the TV series as well as other media, this book is fascinating reading for fans of both the classic and current series of Doctor Who.

To coincide with the launch of the book the publisher, Candy Jar, is asking fans to vote for their favourite Doctor Who companion. The results will be released when the book is published in June. To vote go to: http://www.candy-jar.co.uk/companions/index.html

Companions: Fifty Years Of Doctor Who Assistants provides readers with an in-depth account of each Doctor's fellow travellers and shows the impact they had on both the Doctor and the viewers.

Andy Frankham-Allen has been a Doctor Who fan since his childhood and has relished the opportunity to write this book in celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the series. Andy, who penned several Short Trip stories for Big Finish, feels the time is right for a more detailed look at the journey of the Doctor Who companion. He said:

“It's been a long time since there's been an honest and frank look at the Doctor's journey and the lives he changes. This book will challenge the notion that he always takes the best.”

Gary Russell, former Doctor Who Magazine editor, Big Finish producer, BBC script editor and Doctor Who novelist, has provided the book’s foreword. Gary said:

“Of course there have been books about companions before – but few of them go into this amount of detail, display this amount of in-depth knowledge and above all, this amount of love. As a celebration of everything that makes the Doctor’s (and therefore our) best friends unique and special, this book is essential.”

Doctor Who first appeared on our screens in 1963. The show continued until 1989 but the series was then re-launched in 2005 attracting old fans and new. Doctor Who is now one of the most prestigious shows on British television, loved and watched by millions.

Signed copies of the book are now available to pre-order from the Candy Jar Books website (www.candy-jar.co.uk/books/companions.html) for no additional charge. 

+  Companions: Fifty Years of Doctor Who Assistants is released on 27th June 2013.

+  PREORDER - Companions: 50 Years Of Doctor Who Assistants, for just £8.99.

[Source: Candy Jar Books]

To celebrate Doctor Who's 50th anniversary, fan of the show Lewis Christian has been putting together an epic fan-collaborated/written celebratory book, Celebrate Regenerate.

Over the past 9 months, fans from all over the world (and of all ages, races and species) have been invited to submit positive reviews and articles for all of the televised episodes, right from An Unearthly Child to the current run of episodes, to be published in the book.

The project, a mammoth undertaking, is still in progress, though most of the book has now been edited. Lewis is currently accepting submissions for Series 7B, and you can get involved! For more information about 7B submissions, check the book's website here: http://celebrateregenerate.weebly.com/series-7b-info.html

On the site, you can also find out how to get your name listed in the book, and you can view lots more details about the project so far. You can also follow the links below for more information, sneak peeks and anything else to do with Celebrate Regenerate!

The book, once finished, will be published via Lulu.com and there will also be a free PDF version, allowing everyone to get hold of a copy. At over 300 pages (one story per page is the rule), it'll make for great summer reading. 

At present, there is no precise launch date, though the book is expected to be released in August 2013.

+  Website: http://celebrateregenerate.weebly.com
+  Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CelebrateRegenerate
+  Twitter: http://twitter.com/lewis_christian

[Source: Lewis Christian]

BBC Books have sent DWO the cover and details for the upcoming Doctor Who book title; Summer Falls.

Synopsis:

“When summer falls, the Lord of Winter will arise...”

In the seaside village of Watchcombe, young Kate is determined to make the most of her last week of summer holiday. But when she discovers a mysterious painting entitled ‘The Lord of Winter’ in a charity shop, it leads her on an adventure she never could have planned. Kate soon realises the old seacape, painted long ago by an eccentric local artist, is actually a puzzle. And with the help of some bizarre new acquaintances – including a museum curator's magical cat, a miserable neighbour, and a lonely boy – she plans on solving it. 

And then, one morning Kate wakes up to a world changed forever. For the Lord of Winter is coming – and Kate has a very important decision to make. 

‘Summer Falls’, a book written by Amelia Williams, is featured at the beginning of episode (The Bells of Saint John) of the new series of Doctor Who. It is being read by Artie, one of the children taken care of by Clara (as played by Jenna-Louise Coleman).

+  Summer Falls is released on 4th April 2013, Priced £1.99.

+  Preorder details will be available here soon.

[Source: BBC Books]

The third instalment in a sensational series of stories celebrating the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who is written by Marcus Sedgwick, multi award-winning author of Floodland, My Sword Hand is Singing and Midwinterblood.

Speaking to DWO Marcus, had the following to say on his upcoming title:

"Doctor Who is such an iconic part of British popular culture that any writer would jump at the chance to add something to the universe. Being the age I am there are really two Doctors that I love the most: Tom Baker and Jon Pertwee, and I was thrilled to write this new story about the Third Doctor. I hope fans recognise Jon in the pages of my story."

Synopsis:

The Third Doctor and Jo Grant are trying to track down the magical spear of Odin when they find themselves caught up in a vicious battle between two Viking tribes.

But one of the Vikings is even more dangerous than he appears to be.

Can the Doctor stop the spear getting into the wrong hands before it’s too late?

Eleven Doctors, eleven months, eleven stories: a year-long celebration of Doctor Who! The most exciting names in children's fiction each create their own unique adventure about the time-travelling Time Lord.

+  The Spear Of Detiny is released on 23rd March 2013, Priced £1.99.

+  Preorder this eBook on Amazon for £1.99.
+  Preorder this eBook from iTunes for £1.99.

[Source: Puffin Books]

To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Doctor Who, Cubicle 7 are releasing a series of Doctor Who Sourcebooks for the Doctor Who: Adventures in Time and Space roleplaying game.

Each book will take an in-depth look at an incarnation of The Doctor, featuring his companions, enemies, allies, gadgets and more. Each of his adventures will be presented, giving an overview of the action and themes, exploring how you can use them in your games. There will also be suggestions for further adventures based on the events depicted.

As well as being packed with information for use in your games, the books will be full of images from that Doctor’s incarnation, and will be a wonderful fan resource for the show’s history. Cubicle 7 are even keeping the first two in black and white to stay true to the feel of the show!

The books will be US letter-size (standard RPG size, 8.5”x11”) and 160 pages long with a hard cover. The First and Second Doctor Sourcebooks will feature full colour covers and period-appropriate black and white interior; all the others will be in full colour throughout. The team have commissioned a montage of the eleven Doctors, which will run across the spines of the Sourcebooks when they are on the shelf.

Subscription deal

Cubicle 7 are offering a time-limited subscription deal to give fans of the game a way to get themselves a great deal on these books, have them sent as soon as they are available, and to support them in the creation of this series. The first six books are at various degrees of readiness.

There are two deals available:

Deal 1 – the full set

This includes:

All 11 titles: The First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth and Tenth Doctor Sourcebooks, plus the Eleventh Doctor Sourcebook One.

Both physical copies and PDFs

All Doctor Who short PDF-only products released in 2013 (at least three)

The MSRP for these books will be $385/£264 plus shipping – the subscription deal is $315/£216 plus shipping, a saving of $70/£48 – two free books!

Deal 2 – the early years

This includes:

Six titles: The First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Doctor Sourcebooks

Both physical copies and PDFs

The MSRP for these books will be $210/£144 plus shipping – the subscription deal is $175/£120 plus shipping, a saving of $35/£24 – one free book!

Shipping

The shipping rate depends on where the books are delivered to – 10% of the total order for UK/USA, 20% for Canada/Europe and 35% for everywhere else.

Timescale

The First Doctor Book is due to be delivered in April, with the PDF being available in February. The Second Doctor Book is almost complete; the majority of the writing is finished on the Third and Fourth Doctor books and the Fifth and Sixth are underway. 

Cubicle 7 aim to release a book every other month as a minimum, and hope to bring them out quicker than that. Of course, unanticipated delays can crop up, and in this case they will communicate with you on progress. In any case, subscribers will receive both the books and the PDFs as soon as they are available.

Cancellation and refunds

If, for whatever reason, you need to cancel your subscription, Cubicle 7 will refund your subscription fee in proportion to the number of books you have already received – for example, if you need to cancel after the 3rd book of deal one, you will receive a refund of 8/11 of the total paid.

+  Visit the Cubicle 7 website.

[Source: Cubicle 7]

The second instalment in a sensational series of stories celebrating the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who is written by Michael Scott, best-selling author of The Immortal Nicholas Flamel.

Speaking to DWO on the @DrWhoOnline Twitter account, Scott (@FlamelAuthor), had the following to say on his upcoming title:

"I was thrilled to be asked. Dr's one of the reasons I ultimately became a writer! And I started with Patrick Troughton too."

Synopsis:

When Jamie McCrimmon brings the Second Doctor a mysterious book, little does he realise the danger contained within its pages. 

The book transports the TARDIS to a terrifying glass city on a distant world, where the Archons are intent on getting revenge on the Time Lord for an ancient grudge.

Eleven Doctors, eleven months, eleven stories: a year-long celebration of Doctor Who! The most exciting names in children's fiction each create their own unique adventure about the time-travelling Time Lord.

+  The Nameless City is released on 23rd February 2013, Priced £1.99.

+  Preorder this eBook from iTunes for £1.99.

+  Preorder this eBook on Amazon for £1.99.

[Source: Puffin Books]

BBC Books have sent DWO the cover and details for the forthcoming 11th Doctor, Doctor Who Book release of Shroud Of Sorrow.

Shroud Of Sorrow:
By Tommy Donbavand

23 November, 1963

It is the day after John F. Kennedy’s assassination – and the faces of the dead are everywhere. PC Reg Cranfield sees his late father in the mists along Totter’s Lane. Reporter Mae Callon sees her grandmother in a coffee stain on her desk. FBI Special Agent Warren Skeet finds his long-dead partner staring back at him from raindrops on a window pane.

Then the faces begin to talk, and scream... and push through into our world. 

As the alien Shroud begins to feast on the grief of a world in mourning, can the Doctor dig deep enough into his own sorrow to save mankind?

A thrilling new adventure from the spectacular BBC series, starring Matt Smith and Jenna-Louise Coleman. 

+  Shroud Of Sorrow is released on 11th April 2013, priced £6.99.

+  Compare Prices for this product on CompareTheDalek.com!

+  Check Out the DWO Release Guide entry for this product! 

[Source: BBC Books]

BBC Books have sent DWO the cover and details for the forthcoming 11th Doctor, Doctor Who Book release of The Dalek Generation.

The Dalek Generation:
By Nicholas Briggs 

"The Sunlight Worlds Offer You A Life of Comfort and Plenty. Apply now at the Dalek Foundation."

Sunlight 349 is one of countless Dalek Foundation worlds, planets created to house billions suffering from economic hardship. The Doctor arrives at Sunlight 349, suspicious of any world where the Daleks are apparently a force for good – and determined to find out the truth. The Doctor knows they have a far more sinister plan – but how can he convince those who have lived under the benevolence of the Daleks for a generation?

But convince them he must, and soon. For on another Foundation planet, archaeologists have unearthed the most dangerous technology in the universe...

A thrilling all-new adventure featuring The Doctor as played by Matt Smith in the spectacular BBC TV series.

+  The Dalek Generation is released on 11th April 2013, priced £6.99.

+  Compare Prices for this product on CompareTheDalek.com!

+  Check Out the DWO Release Guide entry for this product! 

[Source: BBC Books]

BBC Books have sent DWO the cover and details for the forthcoming 11th Doctor, Doctor Who Book release of Plague Of The Cybermen.

Plague Of The Cybermen:
By Justin Richards 

‘They like the Shadows. You know them as Plague Warriors…’

When the Doctor arrives in the 19th-century village of Klimtenburg, he discovers the residents suffering from some kind of plague – a ‘wasting disease’. The victims face a horrible death – but what’s worse, the dead seem to be leaving their graves. The Plague Warriors have returned…

The Doctor is confident he knows what’s really happening; he understands where the dead go, and he’s sure the Plague Warriors are just a myth. But as some of the Doctor’s oldest and most terrible enemies start to awaken he realises that maybe – just maybe – he’s misjudged the situation.

A thrilling all-new adventure featuring The Doctor as played by Matt Smith in the spectacular BBC TV series.

+  Plague Of The Cybermen is released on 11th April 2013, priced £6.99.

+  Compare Prices for this product on CompareTheDalek.com!

+  Check Out the DWO Release Guide entry for this product! 

[Source: BBC Books]

The first instalment in a sensational series of stories celebrating the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who is written by Eoin Colfer, best-selling author of Artemis Fowl.

Doctor Who is the longest running sci-fi TV show in the world and celebrates its 50th anniversary on 23rd November 2013. To celebrate, Puffin – in partnership with BBC Worldwide – is publishing an exclusive series of eleven ebook short stories each based on one of the Eleven Doctors, priced at £1.99 and to be released on the 23rd of each month starting in January 2013. Each story is written by a different author, bringing together some of the most exciting names in children’s fiction, from commercial blockbusters to literary award-winners. These authors will each bring their own interpretation and reimagining of their chosen Doctor to create a unique Doctor Who adventure in their own inimitable style. 

The authors of the subsequent eshorts will be unveiled on the BBC Worldwide Doctor Who Facebook page on the first Tuesday of every month throughout the year.  A promotional video featuring the author will be released on the 11th of each month on the BBC Worldwide Doctor Who YouTube channel.

Puffin is thrilled that Eoin Colfer will be launching this unique series with his story about the First Doctor. The author commented:

“As a boy I had been reading the Doctor Who books for years before I ever saw a single episode and I found that the on-screen version of the First Doctor was almost identical to the version in my imagination.” 

Synopsis:

London. 1900. The First Doctor is missing his hand and his granddaughter, Susan. Faced with the search for Susan, a strange beam of soporific light, and a host of marauding Soul Pirates, the Doctor is promised a dangerous journey into a land he may never forget...

+  A Big Hand For The Doctor is released on 23rd January 2013, Priced £1.99.

+  Preorder this eBook from iTunes.

[Source: Puffin Books]

DWO have received the cover and details for the upcoming Doctor Who themed cookbook; Dining With The Doctor.

Your taste buds are about to take a wibbly wobbly, timey wimey adventure through the 2005 Doctor Who reboot. Megafan and food writer Chris-Rachael Oseland spent a year rewatching all of series one through six and experimenting in her kitchen to bring you a fresh recipe for every single episode. The recipes and over 50 photos are collected in the brand new book, Dining With The Doctor: The Unauthorized Whovian Cookbook. 

This book is a treat for any Whovian who wants to offer more than a plate of fish fingers and a bowl of custard at your next viewing party. Want to host an elegant dinner party to show off your new T.A.R.D.I.S. corset? Start the evening with a Two Streams Garden Cocktail followed by Baked Hath, Marble Cucumber Circuits with Vesuvian Fire Dipping Sauce, Professor Yana’s Gluten Neutrino Map Binder, Slitheen Eggs, and some of Kazran’s Night Sky Fog Cups for dessert.

If you’re just getting a few friends together to watch the latest episode, why not offer them an Ood Mezze Plate to munch on as stragglers wander in followed by some quick and easy Fish Custard Tacos, Open Faced Dalek Ironsides, Sontaran Soldiers, and a Cinnamon Pull Apart Crack in the Wall. They can wash it all down with a cup of the Pond’s Wedding Punch.

Lets be honest. No Whovian gathering is complete without them, so you also get an entire bonus chapter dedicated to interesting alternative takes on fish fingers and custard.

This comprehensive cookbook includes ingredients in both archaic American and modern Metric measurements, eighteen adult beverages, more than two dozen recipes for vegetarians, twenty that are safe for people with wheat allergies, and ten for the low carb dieters. You’ll be prepared for every possible guest.

Meal Suggestions:

Decadent Meals

- L.I.N.D.A.’s Tardis Wellington (Series 2, Episode 11)
- Donna’s Time Beetle (Series 4, Episode 12)
- Silurian Hot House Salad with Lemon-Lime Vinaigrette (Series 5, Episode 8)
- Extermination Loaf (Series 3, Episode 5)
- Adipose Herbed Butter (Series 4, Episode 2)
- White Chocolate Cybermen Heads (Series 2, Episode 7)
- Liquid Flesh Cocktail (Series 6, Episode 6)

Elegant Meals

- Baked Hath Served Over Black Beans and Topped With a Red and Green Cabbage Slaw (Series 4, Episode 7)
- Marble Circuits with Fire Dipping Sauce (Series 4, Episode 13)
- Professor Yana’s Gluten Neutrino Map Binder (Series 3, Episode 12)
- Slitheen Eggs (Series 1, Episode 11)
- Kazran’s Night Sky Fog Cups (Series 5, Episode 14)
- Two Streams Garden Cocktail (Series 6, Episode 10)

Casual Meals

- Fish Custard Tacos (Series 6, Episode 1)
- Open Faced Dalek Ironsides (Series 5, Episode 3)
- Sontaran Soldiers (Series 4, Episode 5)
- Ood Mezze Plate (Series 4, Episode 4)
- Cinnamon Pull Apart Crack in the Wall (Series 5, Episode 9)
- Blueberry Lemonade Wedding Punch (Series 5, Episode 13)

+  Dining With The Doctor: The Unauthorized Whovian Cookbook is available in book and ebook form via Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk. 

[Source: Chris-Rachael Oseland]

BBC Books have sent DWO the cover & details for the September release of The Dalek Project by Justin Richards and Mike Collins.

The Dalek Project

Written by: Justin Richards
Illustrated by: Mike Collins

A stunning new graphic novel, featuring the Doctor as played by Matt Smith in an exciting adventure with the Daleks.

1917. It’s the height of the Great War and Hellcombe Hall is a house full of mystery: locked doors, forbidden rooms, dustsheets covering guilty secrets, and ghostly noises frightening the servants. Most mysterious of all, the drawing room seems to open directly onto a muddy, corpse-filled trench on the Western Front…

Arriving at this stately home, the Doctor meets Lord Hellcombe, an armaments manufacturer who has a new secret weapon he believes will win the war: he calls it ‘the Dalek’. Soon, the Doctor and his new friends are in a race against time to prevent the entire Western Front from becoming part of the Dalek Project!

+  The Dalek Project is released on 6th September 2012, priced £14.99 (HB).

+  Compare Prices for this product on CompareTheDalek.com!

[Source: BBC Books]