Read Ebook {PDF EPUB} Companions Fifty Years of Assistants An Unofficial Guide by Andy Frankham-Allen Transreal Fiction. Shawn Harmon – Fever Medicine illustrated sf novel about the law and bioethics in the future! Art by Mara Aum , Sky Chase & Kevin Allen . Miles Cameron – The Fell Sword sequel to The Red Knight , one of my favourite fantasy novels last year. The Red Knight and his companions venture across the sea to the Empire, where his services are required… Ariel Djanikan – The Office of Mercy Natasha gains a place on a crack team about to venture Outside from their underground utopia to the ruined Earth above… Brian Stableford – The Cthulhu Encryption pirates and Cthulhu, with Auguste Dupin and the Comte de Saint-Germain. Pat Cadigan – Gateway Omnibus edition from Orion , containing Mindplayers , Fools and Tea From an Empty Cup Henry Kuttner – Gateway Omnibus with the three books Fury, Mutant and collection The Best of Henry Kuttner with 17 of his best stories. Clifford D. Simak – Gateway Omnibus with Time is the Simplest Thing, Way Station and A Choice of Gods John Sladek – Gateway Omnibus of 3 novels; The Reproductive System, The Muller-Fokker Effect and Tik-Tok E. C. Tubb – Gateway Omnibus with Extra Man, The Space Born and the posthunously- published Fires of Satan . (None of these are Dumarest novels!) Kate Atkinson – Life After Life engrossing novel of alternate histories of the 20th C. I thought it was excellent. Tanya Huff – The Heart of Valour the 3rd Confederation novel, about Marine Corp sargeant Torin Kerr and another tricky mission Kameron Hurley – God’s War war has raged for centuries and bounty hunter Nyx is hired for a covert mission against the alien foe. Jasper Kent – The People’s Will the 4th in the historical vampire series set in 1880s Russia. The 1st was Twelve . Ben Dunn – Paper Cuts: The Collected Art of BD mainly b&w with a colour section at the beginning Mike Schneider (editor) – Steampunk Originals 28 graphic shorts in all sorts of styles Marco Nizzoli & Michelangelo La Neve – Day of the Magicians soft-cover graphic novel from Humanoids. Interzone – #250 quite a milestone for a British sf magazine! Locus – issue #636 Stephen Baxter on the cover Hi- Fructose – issue #30 Juxtapoz – February cover date; issue #157. Lord of the Rings – The Hobbit Map mirror . It’s a rather nice 12″ x 8″ black-framed mirror, with the Hobbit map on it. New Titles – w/e 25th January 2014. in large format: Simon Ings – Wolves near future tale set in the media and advertising worlds. Simon R. Green – Once in a Blue Moon the latest Hawk and Fisher novel, although it also appears to be volume 4 of the Forest Kingdom series. But it’s been a long time anyway, however you count it. McSweeney’s #45 – Hitchcock and Bradbury Fistfight in Heaven consisting mainly of short stories culled from anthologies edited by Bradbury and Hitchcock. Plus 4 modern stories from the likes of China Mieville . Some excellent looking stuff. C. Robert Cargill – Dreams and Shadows present day fantasy involving changelings, and much more. A bit like John Crowley; I really liked the h/c last year Andrzej Sapkowski – Time of Contempt latest in the fantasy series that began with The Last Wish . Translated from Polish by David French. Tanya Huff – The Enchantment Emporium unemployed Alice inherits a junk shop far away from her constricting family… Christopher Brookmyre – Bedlam Ross volunteers to test some new tech for his employer but finds himself trapped in a VR game… Tim Lebbon – Out of the Shadows a brand new authorised Alien novel! Greig Beck – Dark Rising ancient artifact thriller featuring Alex Hunter ; sequel to Beneath the Black Ice. Andy Frankham-Allen – Companions: An Unofficial Guide 50 years of Doctor Who assistants. Feels very comprehensive and includes Expanded Universe references, but, sadly, no pictures. Or index; it’s all listed by Doctor. Alex Archer – Treasure of Lima the 46th adventure featuring the Rogue Angel James Axler – Siren Song the 69th post-apocalyptic adventure in the Death Lands. Peyo – The Smurfs Anthology vol 2 full colour hardcover. It should have arrived before Christmas… Black Static – #38, cover date Jan?Feb 2014. Fiction and reviews. Doctor Who – Afterlife Big Finish adventure #181, with Sylvester McCoy and Doctor Who – The King of Sontar the latest adventure (#3.10) from Big Finish . With Tom Baker and Louise Jamieson. New Titles – w/e 18th January 2014. Adam Roberts – Twenty Trillion Leagues Under the Sea a re-imagining of Verne’s classic, with illustrations in b&w by Mehendra Singh . France’s 1st nuclear submarine dives but no matter how deep she goes, how far beyond crush depth, the bottom can’t be found… looks great fun. Gene Wolfe – The Land Across a travel writer wants to write the first guide to a very obscure little European country with a Kafkaesque bureaucracy… Edmond Hamilton – The Reign of the Robots volume 4 of his collected stories from Haffner Press Edmond Hamilton – The Collected Captain Future Volume Three from Haffner Press. Jo Walton – What Makes This Book Great 130 essays on sf&f classics (and others) from the award-winning author and critic. in large format: John C. Wright – The Hermetic Millenia sequel to Count to a Trillion post-human genius Montrose is in cryogenic suspension awaiting a challenge he knows is coming far in the future. But his talents are required before then… Christopher Golden – Snow Blind the small town of Coventry, MA suffered a huge storm 12 years ago, and now they’re expecting an even worse one – much worse… Gemma Files – A Book of Tongues weird western, book 1 of the Hexslinger series about an undercover Pinkerton agent. Carolyn Ives Gilman – The Ice Owl novella set in her Twenty Planets background (like Arkfall) I got in because I liked Arkfall a lot. Algis Budrys – Gateway Omnibus containing the novels The Iron Thorn , Michaelmas and Hard Landing Garry Kilworth – Gateway Omnibus with the trilogy The Roof of Voyaging , The Princely Flower and Land-of-Mists , which he considers to be among his best work C. L. Moore – Gateway Omnibus from Orion with Jirel of Joiry , Northwest of Earth and Judgement Night . Essentially 3 short story collections with her 2 best known characters and also the best from her other work. Darrell Schweitzer – Speaking of the Fantastic book of 13 interviews with the likes of Leiber , Simmons , Brunner & Holdstock which Schweitzer carried out in the 1990s. Maggie Furey – Exodus of the Xandem sequel to 2009’s Heritage of the Xandem Christopher Golden – King of Hell a new Peter Octavian novel; he must try to rescue his friends, some of whom he inadvertently betrayed years ago… Guy Adams – Once Upon a Time in Hell sequel to The Good, the Bad and the Infernal ; Heaven’s Gate trilogy volume 2 Peter Higgins – Wolfhound Century corruption is rife in the police state of Vlast and it may be related to the ancient secret hidden beneath the central police station… and a fallen Angel is stirring hundreds of miles to the east… Tom Lloyd – The God Tattoo short stories set in the land of his Twilight Reign novels. Philip K. Dick – Dr. Bloodmoney post-WW3 novel writen in 1965. Subtitled Or How We Got Along After The Bomb. Vincent Zhoa (editor) – Fantasy+ #5 latest in the series that now rivals Spectrum as an annual look at the fantastic in art. From Cypi Press CG Galaxy: Top Chinese CG Artists and Their Works some excellent stuff, with the emphasis on characters rather than landscapes, etc. Also from Cypi Press Aunja Kahn & Russel J. Moon (editors) – Lowbrow Tarot all sorts of tarot card art from a variety of artists… hardcover Mitch Byrd – Women, Dinosaurs and Random Illustrations vol 1 b&w sketches of (mainly) dinos, women and astronauts! Herman Melville – Moby-Dick a manga version from Variety Art Works nice little b&w edition H. G. Wells – The War of the Worlds a manga version from Variety Art Works nice little b&w edition. Locus – December 2013 cover date; issue #635 with coverage of Brighton’s recent World Fantasy Convention Illustration – issue #23 highlighting the work of Henry Patrick Raleigh and also Victor Kalin (by his daughter) Heavy Metal – issue #266. Comics Revue – December 2013 their latest collection of old comic strips, from Flash Gordon and Tarzan to Modesty Blaise and Alley Oop ! Some in colour. Plush USS Enterprise 25cm soft Star Trek model/toy (NCC-1701) Ender’s Game – Battle School: The Board Game . All you need to play as either Ender Wiggen and his Dragon Army or Bonzo Madrid and the Salamander Army! New Titles – w/e 11th January 2014. Joe Haldeman – Work Done for Hire ex-military sniper turned struggling author Jack finds his 2 careers converging… in large format: Iver P. Cooper – 1636: Seas of Fortune the latest in Eric Flint ‘s Ring of Fire series, this time without Flint! Laura Lam – Shadowplay sequel to Pantomime ; fantasy featuring ex-circus performer Micah Grey. Barb & J. C. Hendee – The Dog in the Dark the latest of their Noble Dead novels Faith Hunter – Black Arts the 7th Jane Yellowknife novel M. L. Brennan – Iron Night the 2nd Generation V adventure, about a film theory graduate cum waiter who’s also a fledgling vampire… D. K. Mok – The Other Tree interesting sounding ancient artifact thriller. Irene Radford – The Broken Dragon volume 2 of The Children of the Dragon Nimbus. Enki Bilal – les fantomes du Louvre hardback with all his art from his recent exhibition in the Louvre. Fascinating images of famous artworks, reworked by Bilal. Text in French. Transreal Fiction. Transreal Fiction is open. Not quite back to pre-Lockdown hours, but getting there! see separate post for 2020 Christmas opening times. If 12.00 until 17.00 Tuesday to Friday & Saturday 11.00 – 17.00 doesn’t suit you, other times can be arranged. Local deliveries and orders to be posted can also be arranged. Email me with the books you’d like for a quote/PayPal Imvoice. Updates to my situation as necessary. My twitter handle is @transrealshop should you wish to follow me for other news, etc. Transreal Fiction is now closed on Mondays. Transreal Fiction is a shop dedicated to selling science fiction, fantasy & related books, together with a limited selection of other merchandise.But really, it’s about books. Transreal Fiction opened in April 1997 in Cowgatehead and moved to it’s present location nearby in June 2011. The owner, Mike Calder, first sold sf & f books many years ago and has worked in the business either part- or full-time since. For years he also had a respectable job as well, but that’s another story… The shop is named after the term coined by Rudy Rucker to describe his fiction and I thought it an apt name for a shop specialising in speculative fiction. And, in case you’re wondering, yes, Rudy Rucker was happy to allow me to use of the term as a name for my shop. Author: Andy Frankham-Allen. The Laughing Gnome Book Two – Pre-Order! Candy Jar Books is proud to announce book two in its anniversary series of Lethbridge-Stewart novels, The Laughing Gnome: Fear of the Web . Following on from The Laughing Gnome: Scary Monsters , book two sees the focus shift to Dame Anne Bishop (nee Travers) as she finds herself dragged back in time from 2011 to a pivotal moment in history – February 1969, and the events of the Doctor Who serial, The Web of Fear ! Fear of the Web is written by first-time novelist, Alyson Leeds, who contributed a short story to 2017’s The HAVOC Files 4 . Alyson explains being called on to contribute: “I was quite stunned to be asked if I would write a book as part of the upcoming 50th Anniversary series. It was both an exciting and fairly intimidating prospect, having never written a novel before, but I knew it was an opportunity I didn’t want to pass up. The scenario that Andy gave me was too interesting to refuse.” Range Editor, Andy Frankham-Allen, explains: “Alyson’s short story needed very little work, and since then I’ve called upon her military knowledge for other books, so it was an easy call to invite her to join the line-up for The Laughing Gnome . For someone who’s done little professional prose writing, she turns in a very solid piece of work, which is every editor’s dream. As we are celebrating fifty years of the Brigadier, it was forgone conclusion that we would go back to the beginning, his first appearance in Doctor Who – The Web of Fear , as written by Mervyn Haisman and . Like all the authors for this range, I gave Alyson the basic premise; put Dame Anne into the missing two weeks mentioned in The Web of Fear – during a small briefing scene between Colonel Lethbridge-Stewart, Captain Knight and the Doctor – and finally show just what did happen when the mist started spreading across London, and add to that the idea that Dame Anne will be faced with the notion that she could, theoretically, changed things to ensure her father is never possessed by the Great Intelligence! Alyson jumped at the chance, and soon had an outline ready to go.” Alyson talks about her approach to developing the idea: “The London Event, indeed The Web of Fear , was the making of Lethbridge-Stewart, but was never just his story. There’s an awful lot that goes on off camera there; the slow advance of the mist and Web, the escalation of the crisis, and the total evacuation of London – no mean feat! Introducing an older, experienced Anne who has known both joy and loss over the years into that scenario presented some interesting questions. After everything she’s been through with HAVOC, you would think Anne would know better than to try and change the past; but when faced with the chance to save a loved one from a truly horrible fate, who’s to say to what lengths she might go? It also presented a chance to explore a little further the relationship between the Travers family and the Silversteins. I always felt bad for Mr Silverstein, getting bumped off simply for being unlucky enough to own the , and revisiting this point in time allowed me to touch on the repercussions that his death would have on those closest to him.” The cover is by Martin Baines, whose work was previously featured on the covers of 2016’s Times Squared , and 2017’s The Dreamer’s Lament . Martin says: “ The Web of Fear is rightly regarded one of the gems of Doctor Who in the ’60s. It’s brilliantly written and well directed and has aged very well. When Candy Jar asked me to illustrate a cover depicting another story set during the same period I was really thrilled, especially when they asked me to show London deserted and covered in web (which was not seen in the original story but mentioned). It took a number of roughs to do justice to the idea, but when I saw some images of London in smog I knew the direction to take.” Dame Anne Bishop learned a long time ago that for every fixed point in time, this a fracture point, an event that is susceptible to catastrophic changes in the timeline. And when she is catapulted back in time, she discovers first hand that February 1969 is one such point. Colonel Lethbridge-Stewart is on manoeuvres with the Scots Guards in Libya. Only, he’s about to receive a call from his old commanding officer, Colonel Spencer Pemberton. A call that will drag him to London, and set him on a direct course for destiny! The London Event, the trap set for the Doctor by the Great Intelligence, changed the course of human history, and for Anne Travers it set into place a series of events that would see the death of her father barely a year later. Now, waking up in the body of a woman she barely knows, Dame Anne is faced with the idea that perhaps she can change things – not enough to damage the timeline, but enough to save her father. Future and past are set to collide, which could have irrevocable consequences for the timeline… NB: IF YOU HAVE A SUBSCRIPTION THE LAUGHING GNOME SERIES IS COVERED BY THIS. The Laughing Gnome: Fear of the Web is available for pre-order now for £8.99 (+ p&p). The book is released at the end of September. Title Updates 7 August. A quick update on forthcoming titles… The Lost Skin by Andy Frankham-Allen – out now! Lucy Wilson Mysteries: The Curse of the Mirror Clowns by Chris Lynch – exclusive Candy Jar Store version is out now! The Short Story Collection – due back from the printers any day now The Laughing Gnome: Scary Monsters by Simon A Forward – will be at the printers shortly, and is on schedule for the end of August 2018 Lineage – due for release August/September 2018 The Laughing Gnome: Fear of the Web by Alyson Leeds – on schedule for the end of September 2018 The Laughing Gnome: The Danger Men by Nick Walters – due for release at the end of October 2018 Fifty Years of the Brigadier – scheduled for release during October 2018. New Non-fiction Brigadier Book Announced. Since acquiring the rights to the character of Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart in 2014, as well as other iconic Doctor Who figures such as the Great Intelligence, Candy Jar has published over twenty works of fiction in the Lethbridge-Stewart series, with more titles already in the works. Given the enthusiastic response of Doctor Who fans the world over, it would be fair to say that the series has met a long unfulfilled demand. Head of Publishing, Shaun Russell, says: “The Brig is one of Doctor Who ’s most beloved characters, yet over the years, he became increasingly sidelined in the Doctor Who universe. We thought the character had a lot of untapped potential, so we took a punt and started exploring his origins, with the aim of telling the story of what he was up to in the years between his introduction to Who in The Web of Fear , and the formation of UNIT in The Invasion . From the feedback we’ve received from the fans, it seems this was a story they were waiting to be told.” But as all fans of Doctor Who know, the story is just the start of the appeal; the legions of fan forums, Meet-up Groups, or a brief glance at social media in the wake of new episodes, attest to the fact that unpicking storylines – why did this character do that? What are the implications of this? How does X relate to Y? – is half the fun. Andy Frankham-Allen, range editor of the Lethbridge-Stewart range, says: “Fan speculation, theories and fiction, is what kept Doctor Who alive in the sixteen years it was off television. And the engagement of the fans is still what makes the series special; Doctor Who isn’t just a show, it’s a community, and it’s a community that loves nothing more than to explore the Doctor Who universe together. We take our role as the custodians of the Brigadier seriously; that’s why our stories revel in the continuity of the show. But we thought there was still one thing missing from our range, and that was something exploring just who the Brigadier is . Over the years, and across the TV show, miscellaneous book series, comics, audio dramas, and our own range of titles, he’s got a lot done. We thought a book that collected his continuity into one place, that explored his motivations, his effect on the universe, and his relationship with other pivotal figures, was something that the fans would love. This has never been done, and it’s long overdue. But we couldn’t just explore our own range; we had to look at the character as a whole.” Accordingly one of the centrepieces of the book is a collation of the Brig’s television adventures over the years, establishing the definitive chronology of the character for the first time. Put together by Simon A Forward, a Doctor Who writer for over two decades, the piece takes its place alongside a raft of pieces by established Doctor Who names, not least an exclusive interview with John Levene, who played the Brig’s long- time sidekick John Benton, giving a rare behind the scenes look at the experience of shooting Doctor Who ’s golden era. Other contributors include Darran Jordan, Philip Clarke, and a host of names still to be announced. Between them, they explore topics including the Doctor’s relationship with the Brig (and vice versa), the life of (through thirteen objects of personal significance), as well as tackling the thorny question of whether or not the Brigadier counts as an official . With a comprehensive approach encompassing all BBC, Big Finish and Candy Jar media, the book looks set to become the definitive reference for this staple of the Doctor Who universe for years to come. The Brigadier: Fifty Years of Lethbridge-Stewart is only available to pre-order from Candy Jar. The HAVOC Files Reprinted Limited Edition. Originally published early 2016, The HAVOC Files sold out rather quickly and has since become something of a high demand product, reaching silly prices on eBay. As a result, Candy Jars Books has decided to reprint the collection for a limited run (only FIFTY copies). Order the new copy HERE. The first half of 1969, was a busy time for Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart. Not only did he encounter the Great Intelligence more than once, and the Dominators and Quarks, he visited an alternative reality, and encountered ghosts on Fang Rock. But that was only the start! Did you hear about his transfer from Libya? Or the mysterious Cult of the Grinning Man? What about the alien spheres at Christmas? Then perhaps the bunker under London? If not, then this book is for you. A collection of short stories, previously only available as digital downloads. Includes a brand new, never-before- published, story that deals with the dating issue which plagued much of Lethbridge-Stewart’s time in Doctor Who . A collection of short stories from the classic era of Doctor Who, starring Colonel Lethbridge-Stewart, based on the characters and concepts created by Mervyn Haisman and Henry Lincoln. ‘ The Enfolded Time’ by Andy Frankham-Allen ‘ Ambush!’ by Andy Frankham-Allen ‘ Legacies’ by Norma Ashley ‘ One Cold Step’ by Andy Frankham-Allen ‘ The Cult of the Grinning Man’ by Tom Dexter ‘ The Dogs of War’ by Andy Frankham-Allen ‘ The Fright Before Christmas’ by Tom Dexter. Kate Lethbridge-Stewart returns! Candy Jar Books is very pleased to announce a new addition to the forthcoming ‘Lineage’ anthology. Fully approved by Reeltime Pictures, Kate Lethbridge-Stewart is set to reunite with her legendary father! The story is called Of the Future and is written by range editor Andy Frankham-Allen. “It’s a great to finally make this happen. Keith, Marc and I have been in discussion for a while now about bringing Kate into the LSverse, and what initially began as a cameo in another Lineage story, has evolved into something much bigger. Of the Future is just the start, and takes us right back to the moment that tore Kate and her father apart, setting up the situation we found them in, in Marc Platt’s Downtime . Marc, who created Kate for Downtime in 1995, with Mervyn Haisman’s approval, is very happy with the story I’ve put together, which is good enough for me.” Lineage is due out in the summer, but can be pre-ordered now: Prologue: The Soothsayer by Richard Dinnick The Bone Merchants by Andrew Allen As the Son Falls by Wink Taylor What’s Past is Prologue by David A McIntee The War Romance by Harry Draper The Note by Andy Frankham-Allen Inheritance by Gareth Madgwick Of the Future by Andy Frankham-Allen Acceptance, and then Understanding by Andy Frankham-Allen The Arcade of Doom by Chris Lynch Epilogue: The Soothsayer by Richard Dinnick. Titles Update May 16th. Title updates: The New Unusual and Curse of the Mirror Clowns have begun shipping, and should be reaching UK homes any time now. Overseas orders will take longer, subject to relevant postal services. The Lost Skin by Andy Frankham-Allen – Undergoing final proofing , due for release in June. Lethbridge-Stewart: Lineage , edited by Andy Frankham-Allen – A waiting edits, due for release in the summer. The Lethbridge-Stewart Short Story Collection , edited by Lauren Thomas – Currently undergoing proofing, due for release in the summer. The Laughing Gnome: Scary Monsters by Simon A Forward – due for release August 30th The Laughing Gnome: The Fear of Web by Alyson Leeds – due for release September 28th. All titles can be pre-ordered from the Candy Jar website, HERE! Reading Order. We are pleased to make available to all readers, the complete reading list of Lethbridge-Stewart stories (including novels, novellas and short stories), covering everything from The Forgotten Son through to the forthcoming Lineage collection. Please note, the titles in red should not be read before Ambush and The Forgotten Son . Although set before, they contain major spoilers for The Forgotten Son . Series 5 Arrives on Kindle. Candy Jar Books is very pleased to announce the Kindle editions of series five. And in an amazing plot twist, The New Unusual is on Kindle before the print edition is sent out (which commences the week of May 7). Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart is not a man who likes to leave things unfinished. He is, therefore, at a loss when forced into taking leave after his recent tussle with a ‘shadow creature’, a case that has yet to be fully resolved. Anne Travers is tired of the loss burning in her heart. So when Lethbridge-Stweart is called to Glencross to help the son of an old friend, she insists on going with him. In Glencross, young Tomas Campbell has gone missing, and his friends band together to uncover the dark secret at the heart of the village. Meanwhile, Arthur Penrose has returned to his ancestral home to find a haunted residence, and a doll with a message. What connects the doll to the strange sounds that scurry around Penrose Manor, why do the adults of Glencross seem so intent on keeping their children from leaving the village, and what has all this got to do with the ‘shadow creature’? It is up to Lethbridge-Stewart and Anne to find out. A Very Private Haunting includes a special version of The Wishing Bazaar (complete with new material) . It’s the early 1970s, a time of change, a time of turmoil, a time of surrealism, LSD and the Age of Aquarius, a time of fads, Moon landings and wars, and the young people of the world are seeking something new – and unusual! For Anne Travers, an encounter with a so-called “dream egg” is just the beginning of a long nightmare. Her scientific curiosity aroused, Anne begins to probe the secret underground scene known as “dream- ins” where students and others meet to get involved with a new craze and, perhaps, something far more alien to human experience. And for Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, who finds himself drawn into Anne’s investigations, this probe will lead himand the Fifth Operational Corps to the wilderness of the Australian Outback, to a little opal mining town called Coober Pedy and a search for answers. The New Unusual includes a new version of Adrian Sherlock’s The Playing Dead (extended with new material) Gordon’s alive? The English Channel, May 1945. Leading his squadron of Hawker Typhoons back to base from a traumatic mission in the Baltic, Wing Commander Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart goes missing – one of the unsolved mysteries of the Second World War. Cromer, 1970. Doctor Anne Travers and Lieutenant Bill Bishop are investigating a mysterious phenomenon after hearing reports of ‘pink lightning’ seen over the Norfolk coast, while strange elfin creatures are glimpsed by the locals. And in the Red Fort, his new base of operations deep below Norwich, General James Gore is making his plans. Brigadier Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart receives a phone call that will change his life. Could it be, after all this time, that his father has come back from yesterday? Anniversary Series Announced. Candy Jar Books is pleased to announce the forthcoming release of a new series of novels celebrating fifty years of the Brigadier! In 1968, Doctor Who viewers were introduced to the character Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart. Created by Mervyn Haisman and Henry Lincoln for the serial, The Web of Fear , Lethbridge-Stewart returned the following year in The Invasion , now promoted from colonel to the brigadier in command of UNIT. A legend of Doctor Who was born, and the Brigadier (as he became to be known) continued as regular fixture in Doctor Who until 1976, alongside both and Tom Baker. He would return to the series several times during the 1980s, and be mentioned often in the revived series from 2005, with a guest appearance in Doctor Who spin-off series, The Sarah Jane Adventures , and his daughter, Kate, was introduced to the series in 2011 as a semi-regular feature. Beyond the TV series, the Brigadier has enjoyed a long life in spin-off media, including novels, short stories, audio plays, comics and, of course, his own series of novels with Candy Jar since 2015. To celebrate this milestone, Candy Jar Books is releasing a series of six titles. The first five fall under the banner of The Laughing Gnome , and follows Sir Alistair, Brigadier Bill Bishop and Dame Anne as they adventure through time, visiting the 1930s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and the 2010s! These are followed by a novel that takes the readers right back to the start of the Brigadier’s journey and reveals the decision that changed his life forever! The Laughing Gnome consists of Scary Monsters by Simon A Forward, The Fear of Web by Alyson Leeds, The Danger Men by Nick Walters, Day of the Matador by Robert Mammone, and Lucy Wilson and the Bledoe Cadets by Tim Gambrell. These are followed by On His Majesty’s National Service by David A McIntee & Dr Lynette Nusbacher. Simon Forward, who previously wrote Blood of Atlantis , says: “To be invited back to contribute to the Brig’s fiftieth anniversary celebrations is a huge privilege. And with that privilege, like great power, comes great responsibility. We have a duty to the character and to Nick Courtney, the actor who ensured him such a long life in our imaginations. And we have the pleasure of throwing him into new situations and adventures. For my part, I’m aiming to pit him against a terror that is very much a part of his time but one that should resonate with our present. An international thriller, a haunting episode from the past, for our very British hero, teamed up with a returning character from Blood of Atlantis . Who you could call Watson to the Brigadier’s Holmes, but then he’d have to kill you.” Alyson Leeds, penning her first novel for the series after her contribution to The HAVOC Files 4 , says: “ Doctor Who was never part of my childhood. Born in the late ‘80s, I did not have a Doctor of my own, and by the time of the revival I was in my late teens. Though I enjoyed the show well enough it was the expanded universe of Who , the novels and audios, that made me a fan. It was here that I first met the Brigadier, and where he instantly became a favourite character. It had always been my ambition to write, and I hoped that I might eventually get a chance to write for the world of Who . Never did I imagine that my first novel would roll both ambitions into one! That I should be writing for the Brigadier, and at so significant a point in his history, was certainly beyond my wildest dreams. Fifty years on from the Brig’s first appearance, so beautifully realised by Nicholas Courtney, many have talked about what makes the Brig such an enduring and beloved character. I find his simple honesty of spirit appeals to me most. He is not a complicated man; he does what he thinks is right, in a way that does not compromise his duty or his beliefs. In a world increasingly beset by troubles, a hero who will not hesitate to step forward and do the best he can is a perpetual breath of fresh air. My part of the story takes the Brig and Anne back to their ‘beginning’, to 1969 and the Underground. Having lived her life and come to terms with the losses she has felt along the way, Dame Anne is suddenly presented with the opportunity to change the past and save someone dear to her – her father. There will be consequences, that is undeniable, but how far would any of us go to save someone we loved?” Nick Walters, author of Mutually Assured Domination and The Man from Yesterday , says: “Candy Jar is doing something rather special and unexpected to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Brigadier. When Andy [Frankham-Allen, range editor] first told me about it a few years ago it sounded bonkers. A simple ‘X Doctors’ style reunion nostalgia trip this most certainly is not! It’s a bold, interesting and challenging idea which is going to take people by surprise. I was thrilled to be asked to write a story for this series. The idea for my story originated in a striking image which came to me last August whilst sitting in a coffee shop with Andy and all the other writers. I pitched the idea to Andy and he was on board straight away! The Danger Men is on the surface quite a straightforward, fun, spy thriller, a homage to everything from Bond to Bourne, Le Carre and Mission Impossible , and even the Milk Tray Man! There’s some serious stuff behind it, though, mainly in the backgrounds and motivation of the Bond-style villains of the story, who are led by the wonderfully-named (even though I say so myself), Dieter Allegro. Nothing is quite what you expect…” Robert Mammone, who wrote this year’s Travers & Wells , says: “The Brigadier is what every authority figure should be – steadfast and loyal, with just a hint of a twinkle in the eye, indicating he gets the joke as well. It is right, then, that the inheritors of that formidable legacy, Candy Jar, celebrate the character in his fiftieth anniversary year. Thanks to Candy Jar, I’ve been given the opportunity to write a story which honours the Brigadier, and celebrates the character Nicholas Courtney. Together with Anne and Bill Bishop, the Brigadier will face off against an old foe in the London of 1973. And lurking in the cracks of history, an ancient evil threatens to re-emerge into the light of day and overthrow the human race…” Tim Gambrell, who is also writing his first novel, having contributed several short stories for the series, including The Bledoe Cadets and the Bald Man of Pengriffen , says: “Writing for an icon like the Brigadier is an honour at any time, but how much more so to be given that opportunity as part of the character’s fiftieth anniversary celebrations? He’s such a likeable, enduring and, above all else, real character. What a joy to be able to take him by the hand and immerse oneself fully in the extended world that Candy Jar has created. It lets you write big stories, with real impact, but in small worlds, and affecting real people. I get the Brig, the Bledoe Cadets and Lucy Wilson as my playmates in a story that stretches from Alistair’s childhood to his days as a grandfather.” David A McIntee teams up with Dr Lynette Nusbacher, military historian, and says: “As I’ve said before, for me, the Brigadier’s place is all about Nick Courtney and the ideal match between character and actor, with both fitting the other so perfectly. It was said of Sean Bean than he didn’t so much play Sharpe as wear the role, and this is so true of Nick and the Brig as well. It’s such a rare thing to happen, and therefore particularly special that the resulting figure reaches fifty years or popularity, that it’s astonishing to be involved in looking back at that half century. Astonishing too, to be taking that figure to its basics, and exploring what’s really deep within this character. Every man is the sum of his memories, as the Doctor once said, but he’s also a product of the world around him, both inside his perceptions and outside. Worlds are big, bigger than you’d think, and you don’t need a TARDIS to have a range of experiences enough to fill anyone’s imagination. We may not have Nick any more, but he’s still in the Brigadier, and always will be, however big and involved the Brig’s world turns out to be.” The Laughing Gnome blurb: December 2011, and the Lethbridge-Stewart clan are gathering. The patriarch, Sir Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart is not well. In fact, he’s dying. He’s determined to face his end with dignity. He has lived a long life, seen a lot of strange things, saved the world more times than he can count, but he has also made a lot of mistakes. What if he had a chance to revisit some of those mistakes? NB: IF YOU HAVE A SUBSCRIPTION THE ANNIVERSARY SERIES IS COVERED BY THIS. Into the Dalek (TV story) Into the Dalek was the second episode of series 8 of Doctor Who . It marked the Twelfth Doctor's first encounter with the Daleks. Danny Pink is also introduced in this episode, as well as his background of being an ex-soldier. However, he doesn't interact with the Doctor yet. Also making his first appearance is Coal Hill School headmaster Mr. Armitage, who would be a recurring character in Doctor Who and its spin-off Class . Featuring the Doctor and Clara leading a miniaturised team inside a Dalek, this story originated as a pitch by Steven Moffat for a Doctor Who video game before deciding to save the idea for an episode, handing it over to Phil Ford. (DOC: Into the Dalek ) The episode explores the Doctor questioning whether or not he is a "good man", which would be a recurring theme addressed in Series 8. The episode also shows the Doctor's first encounter with the Daleks after the Siege of Trenzalore, with the Doctor's hatred for the Daleks shown to have intensified. Contents. Synopsis [ edit | edit source ] Surrounded by his greatest enemies, the newest Doctor will journey into the most dangerous place in all of the universe. With the limits of his compassion being tested, the Doctor will be forced to ask a question about himself that he doesn't know: "Am I a good man?" Plot [ edit | edit source ] Journey Blue's ship is being shot at by a Dalek ship, and her brother Kai is unconscious. She tries calling for help but gets no response from the rest of her team as the Dalek ship closes in. The Dalek ship fires a powerful blast at Journey's vessel and she screams in terror as everything begins blowing up around her. She awakens, finding herself in the TARDIS console room. The Doctor stares at her silently, holding coffee. Grabbing her gun, Journey demands to know what is going on, as she examines the control room to see if anyone else is there. The Doctor explains that he materialised his time capsule around her the moment of the explosion, saving her. Journey tells him her brother just died; the Doctor retorts that Kai's sister didn't, so she should take some peace in that. Angered, Journey points her gun at the Doctor. He asks her to put her weapon away because she might shoot him. When Journey says it will put her in control of his vessel, the Doctor laughs, telling her she'd "starve to death looking for the light-switch". She demands to be brought back to her command ship, the Aristotle , which is hidden behind an asteroid. However, the Doctor does not do so until Journey puts down her gun and asks politely. The TARDIS lands inside the ship and the pair depart. The Doctor notes that the Aristotle is a space hospital. Other soldiers arrive and are grateful for the Doctor for saving Journey, but they plan to kill him regardless, to maintain the security of the base. Journey points out that they have need of a physician, however. Journey's uncle, Colonel Morgan Blue shows the Doctor to a medical wing. The Doctor asks why a hospital needs a doctor, to which Morgan explains that the Aristotle wasn't always hidden; the Daleks got to it first. Passing a capsule, the Doctor immediately recognises it as shrinking technology. Morgan confirms that the Doctor will be shrunk down and inserted into the patient. Morgan then brings the Doctor to a set of doors, introducing the Doctor to his patient: a Dalek! Meanwhile, at Coal Hill School, a new Maths teacher, Danny Pink, a war veteran, meets with some students, the Coal Hill Cadet Squad, in the courtyard. Clara Oswald and he briefly catch each other's eye. Later, Danny is ending a class when one of his students asks if he has ever killed anyone. The rest of the students groan, and Danny implies that as a soldier, he may have killed enemy soldiers. The student persists by asking if he ever killed anyone who was not a soldier. Danny does not answer, but a lone tear appears in his eye as he dismisses class. Sometime later, Danny is properly introduced to Clara, who recalls having seen him in the yard earlier. She then asks if he is going to another colleague's event later, which he indicates that he is not. Having awkwardly turned down her subsequent invitation for a drink, he verbally berates himself later once he has returned to his classroom. Unbeknownst to him, Clara has overheard him. Given another chance, he now accepts her invitation to have a drink. Entering a supply cupboard, Clara is greeted by the Doctor standing there with the takeaway coffee she sent him for three weeks ago. The Doctor apologises, telling Clara that he got distracted. She asks by what, to which he says they can always find something and heads to the TARDIS. Clara tries to stop him, but the Doctor grimly says he needs her help. They enter the TARDIS, with the Doctor muttering to himself; he sits on the stairs. Clara sits with him, noticing that he's scared; the Doctor tells her that he's terrified . When asked by what, the Doctor tells her it's the answer to the question he's about to ask; it needs to be well-thought, considered and without restraint. Sipping her coffee, Clara hears the Doctor's question "Am I a good man?" Stunned, Clara tells him that she doesn't know. Sighing, the Doctor admits that he doesn't know either. He heads to the controls, telling Clara that he needs her for what he's about to do next. When asked where they're going, the Doctor replies "into darkness" and they leave for to the Aristotle . A flashback shows the Doctor asking how the Dalek knows who he is as he's yet to run into them in his current incarnation. Morgan tells the Doctor that the Dalek doesn't know who he is; they promised it medical assistance. Journey explains they found the Dalek floating in space, deactivated; they didn't know there was a living thing inside until they tried to open it up. The Doctor asks the Dalek why he should help it. It states that Daleks will die; the Doctor tells it to die all it wants and heads to leave. The Dalek then states that its own kind must be destroyed. Annoyed, the Doctor turns around to mock it but realises what it just said and asks the Dalek to repeat itself. The Dalek declares that its kind is evil and must be destroyed. Back in the TARDIS, Clara finishes her coffee, considering the idea of a moral Dalek. The Doctor tells her that there is no such thing. Clara notes that's very inflexible thinking for him, even prejudice. Smiling to himself, the Doctor asks if he pays Clara for being his companion, noting that she deserves a raise. Clara smiles broadly, telling the Doctor that he's not her boss; he's one of her hobbies. Back on the Aristotle , the Doctor returns with Clara, mere moments after he left. He introduces Clara to Journey and Morgan but has forgotten their names. He introduces Clara as his "carer"; she cares so he doesn't have to. The Doctor greets the Dalek again, telling it he will do his best to help him; a Dalek so damaged that it's developed a conscience, how could he resist? Clara wonders how they are going to do help the Dalek, to which the Doctor tells her; they are literally getting inside its head. The group, consisting of the Doctor, Clara, Journey and two other rebel soldiers, Ross and Gretchen are to be shrunken down and inserted into the Dalek. The Doctor is against having armed babysitters with them but calms down when he's informed they're only there to kill him and Clara if they turn out to spies. When warned not to hold her breath when being shrunk, Clara asks why; the Doctor explains it's like microwaving lasagne without pricking the top: it explodes. Everyone is safely shrunk down and inserted into the Dalek through its eyestalk and begin exploring the upper levels. The Doctor takes the liberty of introducing the group to the Dalek's artificial memory drive which filters out good memories and reinforces bad ones, calling it "evil refined and turned into a machine". The Dalek calls for the Doctor, to which he responds with a kind greeting and names him Rusty. Wondering what they're going to do, the Doctor tells them that they can't do a medical examination from there. Ross sets up a zip line, causing the Dalek to scream in agony. The Doctor yells at Ross; the Dalek is a cyborg, a complete living thing. And what happens when a living thing is wounded? Antibodies arrive, with the Doctor telling everyone to remain still or they will be tagged as other invading infections. The Doctor tosses Ross a pill, telling him to swallow; however, Ross is still reduced to dust by the antibodies and hoovered up. Journey asks what Ross swallowed, to which the Doctor answers was a spare power cell. He traces it with the sonic screwdriver, running after the eye that swallowed the ash. This leads everyone to a hole, where the Dalek's victims end up. The Doctor tells them that the antibodies won't stop until they're inside, and it's better going in alive than dead. Everyone jumps in, screaming in terror; except the Doctor, who enjoys the slide. They end up in green goo, which is actually protein made of the victims; the Daleks harvest sometimes to make sure they are nourished. Ross is on the top layer, so the Doctor tells them to say a few words if they like. Journey pins him against a wall, upset at his indifference towards Ross being killed. The Doctor tells her that this is the weakest point in the Dalek's defence system; "nobody guards the dead." He mutters that mortuaries and larders are the easiest places to break out of, noting that he's lived a life. Journey informs Morgan of Ross's death. The Doctor finds a bolt with a screen in it, undoing the bolt with his sonic screwdriver. Clara tells Journey and Gretchen that the Doctor will get them out of this if they listen to his instructions; the hardest part is not killing him before he can do so. They enter the passage, which the Doctor says is a decontamination tube, so it's a bit hot. They exit the passage, as the Doctor hears a Geiger counter crackle; it's coming from Gretchen, who hands the scanner to the Doctor. The Doctor explains that he's figured out what's wrong with Rusty, leading them further in. Clara wonders what caused Rusty to change his point of view, to which the Doctor asks it. Rusty explains it saw beauty, endless divine perfection; the birth of a star. The Daleks try wiping out all life in the universe, but "life returns, life prevails. Resistance is futile." They get to the batteries, which the Doctor says are leaking radiation; it's scrambled the casing's memory core, allowing Rusty's morality. The Doctor seals it off, accidentally causing Rusty to revert back to a normal Dalek. Rusty breaks free of his restraints and starts killing the crew of the Aristotle . Clara angrily notes that some part of the Doctor is actually pleased, as this has justified his belief that there is no such thing as a "good" Dalek. Clara slaps him and points out that what they have learned is not that there is no such thing as a good Dalek, but that it is possible . Inspired by Clara's words, the Doctor instructs her, Gretchen, and Journey to make their way back to the memory drive and try to restore Rusty's memories of the star while he tries to reason with Rusty. Gretchen sacrifices herself to set up a zip line to get Clara and Journey to the memory core while she fends off the antibodies coming after them. Dying from the antibodies, Gretchen finds herself in Heaven, where Missy introduces herself and offers her tea. Meanwhile, Rusty calls for backup from the Dalek fleet and plots to join in their slaughter of the rebels. The Doctor tries getting Rusty to remember his epiphany. Clara is able to deduce how Rusty's memory core works and reactivates all of his suppressed memories about the star and his realisation about life. The Doctor, meanwhile, is able to form a psychic link with Rusty and transfer memories to him. The beauty of the universe is shown to Rusty, who is in awe. However, soon, the Doctor's hatred of the Daleks manifests and Rusty sees all the mass-murders the Doctor has committed towards the Daleks. Despite the Doctor pleading with Rusty to see beyond that, Rusty is more drawn to the hatred towards Daleks and partially reverts back to its enlightened self. Rusty destroys the rest of the Daleks on the station and the Doctor, Clara and Journey are returned to their proper size. Rusty has broadcast a retreat signal to the rest of the Daleks, falsely indicating the humans' intention to set the station to self-destruct. Rusty leaves to rejoin its kind, stating it will continue to work against them. Before it goes Rusty disagrees with the Doctor's assessment that there is no such thing as a good Dalek: it says that the Doctor himself is a "good Dalek". The Doctor also views the day as something of a hollow victory: Rusty looked into his soul and saw nothing but hatred. Journey attempts to see the Doctor off when he abruptly begins to depart. She wishes to join him on the TARDIS as a companion, but the Doctor turns her down. While he recognises the good in her under the battle-hardened exterior, he just wishes that she wasn't a soldier. Journey watches with a subdued smile as the Doctor and Clara leave. Clara is returned to Coal Hill School 30 seconds after the Doctor had picked her up, changing into new clothes in the meantime for her evening with Danny. As she leaves, she at last answers the Doctor's question about whether or not he is a good man — while she cannot say for sure that he is a good man, she notes that he tries to be one, which is the important thing. This somewhat reassures the Doctor. Clara joins Danny for their date, trying not to adopt the Doctor's policy against soldiers.