Out now from Mad Norwegian Press are two books that analyze multiple facets of the long-running television series Doctor Who. One scrutinizes the show in the early ’70s in exacting detail and the other from a more literary bent. Both are fascinating reads that you will find yourself pulling off the shelf and thumbing through regularly. Joe recently found himself obsessively reading both About Time 3 (2nd Edition) and the first volume of Time Unincorporated. Here’s why he thinks you should own both now.
About Time 3 (Expanded 2nd Edition)
The long-awaited second edition of About Time 3 is now out and it is well worth the time it has taken. This third volume covers Doctor Who from 1970-1974 (seasons seven to eleven), which is arguably the most popular era of the original show. Jon Pertwee is the Doctor, he’s been exiled to Earth and is working as Scientific Advisor to U.N.I.T., the show is transmitted in color for the first time and we also get the introduction of one Sarah Jane Smith. Amongst the many other notable occurrences during the reign of the third Doctor was not only the tenth anniversary of the show, but the start of that tenth season was marked by “The Three Doctors,” a four-part episode that is the first time the Doctor teamed up with his previous incarnations. All this and more is exhaustively researched and thoroughly presented in a whopping 516 pages.
Although the first edition of this book was written by Tat Wood and Lawrence Miles it would seem that much of Miles’ work has been excised as this edition is credited solely to Wood. Wood seems to have definitely done his research as every episode is scrutinized in the tiniest detail, from it’s place in the overall Doctor Who mythology to what exactly the producers and actors were thinking whilst making it. He leaves out what they had for tea each day on set, but you rather get the impression that he did so out of politeness. The most fascinating part of the book is the essays that accompany each story and really put the show as a whole into context with regard to British culture, politics and technology, specifically during the time in which these episodes aired (See specifically “Why Was There So Much Merchandising?”, “Was 1973 The Annus Mirabilis?” and “What Are The Silliest Examples Of Science In Doctor Who?”). The essays are what truly set the About Time series apart from guidebooks of the past, that and the authors willingness to point out when something is done badly or is out and out rubbish. Many myths about the series that have been previously regurgitated by other books or recited by fans as fact over the years are dispelled or properly explained accordingly. Also, Wood never shies away from pointing out when Jon Pertwee was being a surly git behind the scenes (See the entry on the aforementioned “The Three Doctors” for examples of myth-debunking and Pertwee the actor being overprotective of his starring role). I think this is probably my favorite era of Doctor Whoand it is possibly the most ambitiously creative era until the 2005 series, and, as such, I find myself constantly cracking About Time 3 open. I urge you to pick this up and revel in all the minutia of the Jon Pertwee era of Doctor Who.
Time, Unincorporated: The Doctor Who Fanzine Archives (Vol. 1: Lance Parkin)
Lance Parkin is, hands down, my favorite author of all of the various Doctor Who novel ranges. He seems to have a preternatural sense of the raw essence of Doctor Who in general, the half-titular character semi-specifically and the eighth Doctor in particular. I’ve always said that Father Time is the Who story I never knew I wanted to read and I still hold it as the single best Doctor Who story ever. Yes, I really mean all that high praise and, no, I’m not just writing that in case he ever reads this (relax, he won’t). So it was with great pleasure that I dove into this first volume of Time Unincorporated. Contained herein are a number of articles that Parkin has written over the last fifteen years for the fanzines Matrix and Enlightenment, his original pitches for the novels The Inifinity Doctors and Warlords of Utopia (Plus the unpublished To Hold Back Death), an engaging article on writing a Who novel, Fitz’s Poem and, the crown jewel, Parkin’s year-by-year overview of hallmarks of the show for the fortieth anniversary which has been, for this volume, updated through 2008.
Although each article contained herein is like discovering lost treasure, for me the best section is the three novel pitches. They are a great window into what might have been and the introduction is a mini look into even more rejected pitches that went on to be incorporated into other Parkin stories. The pitches and fortieth anniversary article (which acts as a perfect footnote addition to the About Time series) alone make this book worth owning. Don’t take that as a stark criticism of the fanzine articles, however. They unto themselves are small essays of delight that will only increase your appreciation of the show and, sometimes, even make you reevaluate what you come to realize as an unfair misconception of an aspect of Doctor Who. Despite the age of some of these articles, Parkin will undoubtedly make you see what he is writing about (The Graham Williams era, the historical episodes, Adric…) in a new and interesting light. One thing you will take with you once you finish reading this book is that Lance Parkin knows what makes great Doctor Who as well as, if not better than, anyone. I’m completely baffled why he’s never been approached to write for the current incarnation of the show and can only hope that gets remedied soon. Yes, Stephen Moffat, I’m talking to you. At any rate, get this book now. Your inner Doctor Who geek will thank you for it.