CM8 STD Format.Pdf

1 Greetings faithful reader and welcome A couple of decades ago, whilst still a once again to Cosmic Masque. student, I wrote an unsolicited submis- sion of a third Doctor novel for the BBC We’ve got some great stuff for you in Past Doctor range. Expecting a swift this issue including Neil Davies story rejection, I was delighted to receive a ‘Devil Woman’ which concludes what two page response clearly showing that began in ‘Reunion of The Rani’ last my book had been read and analysed issue. at length. There are features on Colourisation Encouraged, I reworked the idea as a and 3D as well as the second part of sixth Doctor script for the then nascent my feature on the Twitch marathon this Big Finish range (at a time when they time covering the Second Doctor. considered unsolicited manuscripts). Again, I received positive comments, We’ve also got an interview with The but it was felt that the story was un- Greatest Show In The Galaxy’s Flower workable due to various considerations Girl and our usual plethora of reviews including the number of characters. for you to devour. Sadly, real life took over and post- So sit back, put your feet up and delve degree I had to concentrate on working into this issue. Dickensian hours and gaining my ac- countancy qualifications. The career Enjoy! took over and life became the mundan- ity of work and sleep and eating chips. Rik Writing was put on hold indefinitely as mortgages and family took hold. Then Russell T. Davies gave Doctor Who back to the masses, enthralling Published by The Doctor Who Appreciation Society the UK (and beyond) including my twin P O Box 1011, Horsham, RH10 9RZ, UK children. My son in particular was a reluctant reader but then became a Editor: Rik Moran voracious consumer of my old Target Fiction Editor: Steven Hatcher books despite access to every DVD of Layout: Paul Winter the classic series. I was continually Front cover: Marshall Tankersley surprised at the lack of novelisations of Rear cover: Ian Fraser new Who. I firmly believed that despite this day and age of endless satellite www.dwasonline.co.uk repeats, readily available DVDs and email: cm@dwasonline.co.uk omnipresent internet streaming, there is still a market for novelisations. All content is (c) DWAS/contributor. Doctor Who is (c) BBC 1963, 2019, no copyright infringement intended I therefore set about writing my own novelisation of “Doctor Who – Rose”, 2 initially to encourage my 10 year old son to read. My biased, undiscerning son egged me on to submit it to BBC Books. This time, I did get the standard rejection letter stating that I should use a Writers’ Agency and submit to various publish- ers, completely missing the point that I was working with their copyrighted ma- terials. Subsequently, I added to the manuscript after Russell T. Davies revealed additional scenes in Doctor Who Maga- zine’s Fact of Fiction article on “Rose”. I sent the amended book to DWM for possible serialisation but received no response – in truth, fiction was never a good fit with DWM, so the silence was not unexpected. My version of “Rose” had one final life when Candy Jar Books had an open submissions period for their Lethbridge- Stewart range and requested a finished sample of work. I was delighted to receive a glowing reply from range editor, that they could not pass on the manu- Andy Frankham-Allen, describing the script for copyright reasons – apparent- book as “well written”. The novel had ly, there were legal concerns that my clearly been read as I received some work based on his work could result in very useful feedback around dialogue plagiarism! The World is quite clearly and the action identifying the speaker. mad. Excitingly, I also received writer’s guidelines for the Lethbridge-Stewart Once the official version of “Rose” was range. However, sadly my subsequent published, I attended the signing event storyline did not receive a response, at Forbidden Planet in Shaftesbury Av- although I suspect Candy Jar were in- enue intending to thank Russell per- undated with submissions. sonally. Working in Kent, I arrived half an hour after the signing session had And then came the news that Target started only to be told by staff that they Books were to relaunch. Not surpris- had been surprised by numbers of at- ingly, “Rose” was chosen as one of the tendees and I was refused entry. I initial titles. I immediately sent my ver- gave the rather baffled member of staff sion to Russell T. Davies via his agent a copy of my manuscript and covering in the vain hope that anything of my letter for Russell, which quite possibly hack attempt would be of interest was consigned to the nearest ‘round (gratis natch). The agency stated that file’. they would pass on my comments where I had thanked Russell for giving I later purchased the new Target books “Doctor Who” back to my children, but from Amazon. Not unexpectedly, Rus- 3 sell’s genius shines through his prose, – 1st trip in the TARDIS and his renowned characterisation is • Chapter 7: The Wheel of Fortune expanded as he makes the reader privy – The London Eye to characters’ innermost thoughts. • Chapter 8: The Creature from However, I was pleased to see a refer- the Pit – Below the Eye: the ence to a certain New Year encounter Nestene Lair with the tenth Doctor (which was the • Chapter 9: Terror of the Autons – basis for my entire prologue) and an Mannequin mayhem expanded scene in Clive’s shed. • Epilogue: The Human Factor – The Doctor’s pursuit of Rose Russell T Davies stated in DWM that he barely referred to the television seri- Excerpts from My Novelisation: al whilst writing the book. I suspect that Clive’s Shed he knocked it out over a short period although you cannot tell from the bril- liance of the end product. I am abso- At the bottom of a small, tidy garden stood the lutely certain that he did not agonise shed. The plot had a little patch of lawn with a over every word over a two year gesta- path running down one side. The grass was tion period as was the wont of this hack littered with a blue mini seesaw, a skateboard author. and a yellow spacehopper. Flowerbeds ran alongside the bordering fences, lush with I am proud of my version of “Rose” greenery, the occasional spring bloom giving which will never see the light of day the odd splash of colour. other than in my son’s bedroom. The path terminated at a metal door into a Noone will see my cheeky reference to small but impressive, pebble-dashed outhouse. the Moment, nor my inclusion of the Clive’s garage had long since lost the ability to “Do you wanna come with me?” fireball house a car; it was now taken over completely trailer from the Nestene lair. I attach by his obsession. below a couple of excerpts giving my The only concession to its former use was a version of Clive’s shed scene and an bicycle hanging down from the corrugated ceil- epilogue showing the Doctor’s pursuit ing. A naked lightbulb illuminated cluttered of Rose. Additionally, I was very happy surfaces around the edges and worktops in the with my fan-pleasing chapter structure: middle covered with books and folders. One wall was hidden by metal shelving racks hous- • Prologue: Full Circle – Rose’s ing countless files and additional folders. encounter with the 10th Doctor Clive made his way over to the shelving with on New Year’s Eve Rose trailing in his wake. ‘A lot of this stuff’s quite sensitive,’ he said earnestly. ‘I couldn’t just send it to you. People might intercept. If • Chapter 1: The Invisible Enemy – The Nestene Consciousness you know what I mean,’ he added conspiratori- hanging in space ally. ‘How do you know I’m not one of those • Chapter 2: An Earthly Child – “people”?’ she asked mischievously. Introduction to Rose up to her ‘You say you’ve seen him,’ Clive replied. ‘The initial encounter: “Run” Doctor, and the blue box. Was he carrying • Chapter 3: Inferno – Blowing up anything, a device, or…?’ He left the question Henrik’s hanging. • Chapter 4: The Hand of Fear – ‘He’s got this sort of metal tube thing,’ con- The autonomous Auton arm firmed Rose. ‘It sort of…chirps.’ Clive closed • Chapter 5: Doctor Who? – his eyes and exhaled, blissful at the affirmation. Clive’s shed ‘Did I pass the test?’ she asked. • Chapter 6: Inside the Spaceship ‘Absolutely,’ grinned Clive. He riffled through 4 the shelving pulling down cardboard folders community. There are different forums all in- from between box files and A4 ring binders. He terested in similar areas – conspiracy theorists, splayed the contents across the central work- government and military cover ups – that sort tops for Rose to peruse. ‘You see, if you dig of thing. Most of the photographs are security deep enough,’ Clive continued, ‘and keep a stills taken from CCTV cameras. I found one lively mind, then this “Doctor” keeps cropping very useful contact – although I couldn’t help up, all over the place. He’s in political diaries, thinking she was holding out on me for some conspiracy theories, even ghost stories.’ Clive’s reason – anyway, she unearthed loads of these enthusiasm for his subject dropped in volume in the archives of ‘Metropolitan’ magazine. as he adopted a more hushed, reverential tone. Apparently, the editor ran shy of running the ‘No first name, no last name, just “the Doctor”, articles, setting up a fiction strand as the stories always “the Doctor”.

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