In kit form. And blind bagged. And I don't know what scale. But still. Once I find out how big they are I shall report back. Because that 2013 Cyberman is okay but the Vastra figure looks pretty cool...
And a chance to win a life-size Dalek as well. Blimey!
Tuesday, 31 December 2013
Friday, 27 December 2013
Johannes Kepler
Google celebrates Johannes Kepler’s 442nd birthday. Yes, 442nd. Great space scientist. Celebrity historical. You know the drill by now, eh?
Most plot-viable bit of the first article, explained more in the second: he was born “to a mercenary father and a mother who was a healer and herbalist and was at one point tried for witchcraft.”
Okay, it’s more of a Warhammer plot, but still. Save a suspected witch, revolutionise science into the bargain!
Throw in seeing the Great Comet of 1577 when he was five and a half, perhaps?
Most plot-viable bit of the first article, explained more in the second: he was born “to a mercenary father and a mother who was a healer and herbalist and was at one point tried for witchcraft.”
Okay, it’s more of a Warhammer plot, but still. Save a suspected witch, revolutionise science into the bargain!
Throw in seeing the Great Comet of 1577 when he was five and a half, perhaps?
Another Day Of The Doctor reference?
“The Zygons lost their homeworld. It burnt in the first days of the Time War.”
There’s only one story between Genesis Of The Daleks and Terror Of The Zygons.
So this is true in both timelines!
There’s only one story between Genesis Of The Daleks and Terror Of The Zygons.
So this is true in both timelines!
Thursday, 26 December 2013
Alright then, another almost-drabble
Since here there is no continuity to mess with, and likely never will be:
The Doctor (for he still thought of himself as the Doctor, much as he tried otherwise) looked out over this latest battlefield, then shook his head and turned to his companions.
“The battle’s won, and lives were saved. As many as we could.” He sighed. “Time to move on.”
Sister Araia gently placed her hand on his shoulder. “Never in one place for too long.”
“Never in one place for quite long enough,” the Doctor mused, scratching at his beard as he shuffled back towards the battered old police box on the hill overlooking the ruins of Atlantis.
“Thanks again. A spot of tea before we get you back to Karn, eh?” he asked, just about remembering how to smile.
The Doctor (for he still thought of himself as the Doctor, much as he tried otherwise) looked out over this latest battlefield, then shook his head and turned to his companions.
“The battle’s won, and lives were saved. As many as we could.” He sighed. “Time to move on.”
Sister Araia gently placed her hand on his shoulder. “Never in one place for too long.”
“Never in one place for quite long enough,” the Doctor mused, scratching at his beard as he shuffled back towards the battered old police box on the hill overlooking the ruins of Atlantis.
“Thanks again. A spot of tea before we get you back to Karn, eh?” he asked, just about remembering how to smile.
Now On The Big Screen
“After some time, something resembling a giant egg appears on the horizon. A crack splits open the egg and through it the Doctor sees a scarecrow lose its head in a guillotine. The Doctor’s horse vanishes.”
Judging by the description in Now On The Big Screen, a new book about the mostly unsuccessful attempts to put the Doctor in the cinema, Doctor Who Meets Scratchman would have been a... singular piece of work.
(I imagine it looking like one of those windswept not-Hammer 70s horror films tapping into old British folklore, despite the robots and the giant pinball table.)
By comparison, The Krikkitmen seems almost normal. The whole “the game of cricket is a psychic echo and the Ashes are vitally important” thing is the only really bonkers bit. I like the visual for the Krikkitmen on the cover too.
Before that, there could have been a third Peter Cushing movie, without Daleks even, adapting The Abominable Snowmen. Cushing met them in a completely different film, and it nearly ended up as a Professor Challenger movie as well. Or a third film from the same producers in the 80s.
Coverage of the 1989-1996 scripts use The Nth Doctor as a source of quotes, so much of this was familiar, but it caught up with some of Greenlight Productions who were essentially ruined financially by the whole fiasco. Ouch.
It ends with writer Charles Norton musing that perhaps the Doctor should stay out of the cinema. This conclusion seems unfortunately timed after seeing thirteen of him up there in 3D along with millions of other people.
Oh, and one more thing. As RTD and crew worked to bring the show back in 2004, mentioned in passing in DWM, one of the casualties was a completely different BBC South West production from Bill Baggs intended to star Alan Cumming. Wha-huh?
Judging by the description in Now On The Big Screen, a new book about the mostly unsuccessful attempts to put the Doctor in the cinema, Doctor Who Meets Scratchman would have been a... singular piece of work.
(I imagine it looking like one of those windswept not-Hammer 70s horror films tapping into old British folklore, despite the robots and the giant pinball table.)
By comparison, The Krikkitmen seems almost normal. The whole “the game of cricket is a psychic echo and the Ashes are vitally important” thing is the only really bonkers bit. I like the visual for the Krikkitmen on the cover too.
Before that, there could have been a third Peter Cushing movie, without Daleks even, adapting The Abominable Snowmen. Cushing met them in a completely different film, and it nearly ended up as a Professor Challenger movie as well. Or a third film from the same producers in the 80s.
Coverage of the 1989-1996 scripts use The Nth Doctor as a source of quotes, so much of this was familiar, but it caught up with some of Greenlight Productions who were essentially ruined financially by the whole fiasco. Ouch.
It ends with writer Charles Norton musing that perhaps the Doctor should stay out of the cinema. This conclusion seems unfortunately timed after seeing thirteen of him up there in 3D along with millions of other people.
Oh, and one more thing. As RTD and crew worked to bring the show back in 2004, mentioned in passing in DWM, one of the casualties was a completely different BBC South West production from Bill Baggs intended to star Alan Cumming. Wha-huh?
And what do you want for Twelfth Night?
Yes, having been ever so diligent, I will now say PETER CAPALDI! to all. And to all a good night.
SFX look at what they’d like to see. Sensibly, two of them ask for surprises.
And what do I want? Surprises sound good. Yes, surprises.
And for the show to still largely be warm and friendly for kids despite a less immediately cuddly Doctor.
And maybe some Sea Devils.
SFX look at what they’d like to see. Sensibly, two of them ask for surprises.
And what do I want? Surprises sound good. Yes, surprises.
And for the show to still largely be warm and friendly for kids despite a less immediately cuddly Doctor.
And maybe some Sea Devils.
Wednesday, 25 December 2013
The Time Of The Doctor
After an anniversary special meant to appeal to all and sundry, a Christmas special aimed pretty exclusively at those following the Eleventh Twelfth Thirteenth Last Eleventh Doctor’s era quite closely.
Very very spoilers.
And before that, a deleted scene from early on.
Very very spoilers.
And before that, a deleted scene from early on.
Tuesday, 24 December 2013
The Boy Who Loved "The Girl Who Loved Doctor Who"
Paul Cornell writes for the Eleventh Doctor - and Matt Smith - in IDW’s final comic for the series, as the TARDIS falls through a gap in the universe into one rather like ours, and gets a glimpse of what he means to people he inspires despite (normally) being fictional.
“Everyone’s not like everyone else.”
Great, warm-hearted stuff.
With Krotons.
“Everyone’s not like everyone else.”
Great, warm-hearted stuff.
With Krotons.
A Sarah Jane almost-drabble
Among other things, I got The Sarah Jane Adventures series three from a friend pre-Christmas, ran through them last night, and woke this morning thinking of this. And so, for Christmas, my roughly annual tiny bit of fanfic.
The Moment
Adi Tantimedh at Bleeding Cool imagines a series about the Moment. A sentient weapon that can go anywhere in space and time, and doesn’t want to be fired. Like a TARDIS, only more so.
The article certainly points up the Moment’s importance in The Day of The Doctor, which I hadn’t really considered.
I think a series from its point of view might get a bit samey, but a story could certainly work.
Or a guest appearance as it crosses paths with your characters just when they need it... at that very moment, in fact...
The article certainly points up the Moment’s importance in The Day of The Doctor, which I hadn’t really considered.
I think a series from its point of view might get a bit samey, but a story could certainly work.
Or a guest appearance as it crosses paths with your characters just when they need it... at that very moment, in fact...
Monday, 23 December 2013
Alan Turing pardoned
In time for Christmas, although not in time for him.
(The members of Pussy Riot imprisoned two years ago were freed as well, and lived to tell of it. Which is something, I suppose.)
(The members of Pussy Riot imprisoned two years ago were freed as well, and lived to tell of it. Which is something, I suppose.)
More missing episode rumours
More talk of film cans found, although no word of their contents.
But look at it this way. The number of missing episodes now stands at 97. It’s dipped under a hundred for the first time since the wipeouts ended. That’s pretty good, right?
But look at it this way. The number of missing episodes now stands at 97. It’s dipped under a hundred for the first time since the wipeouts ended. That’s pretty good, right?
The Gazebo In Time
Time travel in RPGs, an overview. Also in this special Twelve Days runup for the magazine, a list of five great time travel RPGs (DWAITAS is number two, the winner being an original-to-RPGs setting, which is fair enough) and Cat looking in depth at a freeform LARP writing event. Which is not about time travel, but this is my blog and I can big up my friends if I want to. :P
Sunday, 22 December 2013
All the Celebration panel? All the Celebration panel.
All the Doctor Who Celebration panel. Matt Smith, Jenna Coleman, Nick Hurran and Steven Moffat talking to Matthew Sweet and getting their world record certificate.
Saturday, 21 December 2013
100 years of the crossword
Another anniversary, as covered in a Google Doodle in the USA - while we puzzlingly get one about the Winter Solstice, showing animated Baker-length-scarf-knitting.
I wonder when Dalek was first used as a crossword clue...
I wonder when Dalek was first used as a crossword clue...
Tom Baker is the Twelfth Doctor...?
As part of his Twelve Blogs of Christmas, Paul Cornell looks at some of the ancient mysteries of Doctor Who.
Featuring what a windjammer captain actually looks like, and a special appearance by the heroic but tragically ill-equipped defenders of Voga, planet of gold.
Featuring what a windjammer captain actually looks like, and a special appearance by the heroic but tragically ill-equipped defenders of Voga, planet of gold.
That's one other vote in favour...
I’m home for the festive season, and just watched The Culture Show special again, and as Matthew Sweet suggested “the next Doctor is out there... whoever she is” my mother observed “I thought it might be a woman this time and not another bloke again.”
Thursday, 19 December 2013
Tuesday, 17 December 2013
New Doctors, new editions
Why Onyx Path discussed Doctor Who so much last week as they launch what is effectively a new edition of Vampire: The Requiem and gear up to revive the Trinity games. which I’m working on... and may involve a time traveller with a tendency to land where he needs to go rather than where he wants...
Monday, 16 December 2013
Saturday, 14 December 2013
Jade Rabbit
This Chinese remote rover is the first thing humanity has sent to the moon since I was two. Bit of a gap there, humanity.
Friday, 13 December 2013
Adventures from Cubicle 7!
Available to buy on PDF here for $2.99 (currently £1.82) each - previously available to Doctor sourcebook subscribers.
Cat’s Eye by Nick Huggins, a modern adventure about a dark secret behind an unassuming facade.
Medicine Man by Walt Ciechanowski, a Western with Silurians. (Not exactly a spoiler, look at the cover!)
The Ravens Of Despair by oor Steve Darlington, reviewed here, a mini-series of connected hooks about a series-level threat. I may have been briefly involved on a consultant level here. ;) (By which I mean he asked me if I could remember Plague Doctors appearing in Who media and all I could find was one IDW comic.)
Cat’s Eye by Nick Huggins, a modern adventure about a dark secret behind an unassuming facade.
Medicine Man by Walt Ciechanowski, a Western with Silurians. (Not exactly a spoiler, look at the cover!)
The Ravens Of Despair by oor Steve Darlington, reviewed here, a mini-series of connected hooks about a series-level threat. I may have been briefly involved on a consultant level here. ;) (By which I mean he asked me if I could remember Plague Doctors appearing in Who media and all I could find was one IDW comic.)
Thursday, 12 December 2013
Hundreds!
Someone has worked out that, on top of everything else, The Time Of The Doctor will be the show’s 800th episode. (The first 253 are in black and white, and Rose was 697, making The Crimson Horror the 100th episode since the series returned.)
In case you’re not partied out already...
Fifties are of course a big deal, but hundreds really do get more attention. Romans organise by centuries, and a century in cricket probably earns you some drinks after the game. Living to one hundred in the UK gets you a telegram from the Queen (even though we don’t have telegrams any more) and a bid of a hundred at out local con’s charity auction will usually get a round of applause, and sometimes a panto-style “ooh!” as well.
So what else can a multiple of a hundred mark?
In case you’re not partied out already...
Fifties are of course a big deal, but hundreds really do get more attention. Romans organise by centuries, and a century in cricket probably earns you some drinks after the game. Living to one hundred in the UK gets you a telegram from the Queen (even though we don’t have telegrams any more) and a bid of a hundred at out local con’s charity auction will usually get a round of applause, and sometimes a panto-style “ooh!” as well.
So what else can a multiple of a hundred mark?
Red Ace High
The intro adventure for TimeMaster is now available free. Time-travelling aliens try to rewrite history during the Great War...
Wednesday, 11 December 2013
A crossover picture I have a hard time picturing...
Because shaven-headed Willis is totally too late for the others.
From the MWCtoys review of the Big Chief Fourth Doctor. And he looks great, although the expression is a bit much when they only give you one head...
Tuesday, 10 December 2013
I will resist too much speculation, but...
... those posters and photos from The Time Of The Doctor invite some.
Monday, 9 December 2013
Amazing Grace
Today’s Google Doodle celebrates Rear Admiral Grace Murray Hopper, pioneering computer programmer and “mother of COBOL” with several buildings, a street, a park, a bridge and a US Navy destroyer named after her.
I could imagine an adventure with the young Grace at Yale (before she became the first woman in its history to graduate with a doctorate in mathematics) or her work during the War. The way she figured out how alarm clocks worked by dismantling several when she was a child would certainly appeal to the Doctor.
I could imagine an adventure with the young Grace at Yale (before she became the first woman in its history to graduate with a doctorate in mathematics) or her work during the War. The way she figured out how alarm clocks worked by dismantling several when she was a child would certainly appeal to the Doctor.
Thursday, 5 December 2013
War Doctor 5" figure!
So having said for months that new non-classic figures would be in 3 3/4” scale... and so far only making one wave of them... CO are bringing out a 5” scale John Hurt War Doctor figure.
Which looks great!
And it comes with a short-haired Paul McGann head as well. I will not be the only one looking for a better body for it to go on, as this is clearly Hurt’s body.
Not sure what changed their minds. Glad something did.
(I suppose a Clara figure is too much to hope for...?)
Which looks great!
And it comes with a short-haired Paul McGann head as well. I will not be the only one looking for a better body for it to go on, as this is clearly Hurt’s body.
Not sure what changed their minds. Glad something did.
(I suppose a Clara figure is too much to hope for...?)
The Cover Of The Time Of The Doctor
New DWM cover. Restates how big the stakes are. Might have something to say about the regeneration numbering issue.
Wednesday, 4 December 2013
Tuesday, 3 December 2013
The Time Of The Doctor...
... is one hour, starting at 7.30pm Christmas Day on BBC One.
And two weeks after the anniversary multi-cover giant issues, the Radio Times has a preview on the cover with a Matt Smith interview.
And (spoiler, despite being on the biggest magazine in the country, because I remember the reveal of Sec)...
And two weeks after the anniversary multi-cover giant issues, the Radio Times has a preview on the cover with a Matt Smith interview.
And (spoiler, despite being on the biggest magazine in the country, because I remember the reveal of Sec)...
Such a small thing
Google has been busy Doodling since the anniversary, with Doodles for St. Andrew’s Day, the opera singer Maria Callas and Carlos Juan Finlay, the Cuban scientist who worked out that yellow fever was spread by mosquitoes.
Not even going to try and connect all of those together...
But a single breakthrough like that can have massive repercussions through history, changing the development of pandemics and their treatment.
The classic easily-changed result here is penicillin, discovered because of a Petri dish left by an open window. It would be very easy for someone to come along and close it...
Not even going to try and connect all of those together...
But a single breakthrough like that can have massive repercussions through history, changing the development of pandemics and their treatment.
The classic easily-changed result here is penicillin, discovered because of a Petri dish left by an open window. It would be very easy for someone to come along and close it...
Monday, 2 December 2013
Alastair Reynolds
SF author and former ESA astronomer Alastair Reynolds on the influence of Doctor Who on TV, society, and his own work up to and including his Who novel Harvest Of Time.
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