Activity Annual 2009

Information and the cover has been revealed for the release of the 2009 Activity Annual. There have been some in previous years, but now this is the latest one. The cover features the Doctor, on his own, like he will be mostly in the 2009 Specials, but finds a different companion for each episode. Behind him is the Tardis, and an old promotional background, also used for Series 1. The book is paperback, and comes free with a Doctor Who pen, that you can use to write and draw things with inside. There are 64 pages included and will be sold at the RRP price of £5.99. It will be released on 9th April 2009. Many other fun paperback books are out now, and for children, these are quite fun.

Top Trumps Series 4 Book

The Top Trumps book for the fourth series has recently been released, but we hadn't seen the cover for it. Two books have previously been released; the first one covered the first set, which was Series 1 and 2, and the second one was the second set, covering Series 3. This new one is for the latest series, Series 4, and includes many of the Doctor's friends and enemies from the latest series. You are able to see the cover to the left, and click to enlarge. Below is the official press release;
Following the success of the previous "Top Trumps: Doctor Who" books, Haynes and Top Trumps have again teamed up to create a new book dedicated to the fourth series of the hit TV show. This pocket-sized guide features 45 characters from the fourth series, from The Doctor and Donna to Agatha Christie, the Sontarans and the Ood. Packed with stunning pictures, fascinating facts and all the vital statistics, it will keep kids and grown-ups quiet for hours.
The book, with 192 pages, is out now at the RRP price of £4.99.

The Darksmith Legacy - Book 4

The cover and information about the fourth book in The Darksmith Legacy series has been revealed. It is called The Depths of Despair, and will be released on the 26th of March next year. Remember, the first two books will be released together in January, and the third in February. You can see the cover to the right, and below you can read the synopsis for the volume;

The Doctor arrives in an underwater base on the planet Flydon Maxima - known locally as 'Despair' because hope is lost for all life there. The scientific base has for centuries been monitoring the results of planetary warming - the slow melting of the glaciers at the south pole and subsequent rise in sea levels. Curiously their most advanced monitoring equipment was created and donated by Varlos. The Doctor is helped by a little girl called Gisella.
Why did Varlos risk coming here? What has caused the ice to crumble so rapidly now? Can the Doctor evade the rampaging Dreadbringers, and sort out the attacking sea monsters? Who is Gisella and will she and the Doctor manage to escape in the TARDIS? Don't miss this thrilling fourth instalment of the Darksmith Legacy...

The Darksmith Legacy is a new range of exciting books out next year, which follow the Doctor through the same story throughout the set. You can view the official site for them here!

The Darksmith Legacy - Book 3

The cover and information about the third book in The Darksmith Legacy series has been revealed. It is called The Colour of Darkness, and will be released on the 26th of February next year. Remember, the first two books will be released together in January. You can see the cover to the right, and below you can read the synopsis for the volume;

The Doctor travels to Karagula to meet the fabled Darksmiths in a bid to outwit the Agent and get the crystal. Can the Doctor uncover the mystery of the childless village? Who is the travelling Dreams-Merchant? Is there a link with the Dark Cathedral of the Darksmiths? Will the Agent arrive and identify the Doctor to the Darksmiths? Find out by reading the third exciting installment of The Darksmith Legacy!

The Darksmith Legacy is a new range of exciting books out next year, which follow the Doctor through the same story throughout the set. You can view the official site for them here!

New Torchwood Books For 2009

A new set of Torchwood books will be heading to bookstores near you next year. That is, if you live in the United Kingdom or Ireland (just thought I'd point that out). The BBC release three stories every year, and have done this twice before. The new books in next year's set are titled 'The House that Jack Built', 'Bay of the Dead' and 'Into the Silence'. All three feature just Captain Jack, Gwen Cooper and Ianto Jones, following the very emotional departure of Toshiko Sato and Owen Harper earlier this year. All three of them will be in the third series, an epic five-part story, entitled 'Children of Earth'. You can see the book covers below, and they are due for release on the 21st of May 2009, costing £6.99 each. More information will follow shortly, with synopses.

Please Comment! Thanks!

Nemonite & Allies

A new book and audio adventure have been planned for release next year. The book is a follow on from the series of books, which has had titles in the past like 'Monsters and Villains' and more recently 'Starships and Spacestations'. The new one is set to be called 'Companions and Allies'. Obviously, the book shall be comprised of fact files of many different friends the Doctor has had in the New, and also the Classic Series. This book hasbn't been officially confirmed yet, but it is very likely that it will go on sale sometime in the near future. The first three books in the series just covered the many Aliens and Creatures, but since last year they have moved on from that, with more variety. If it does go on sale, it will be RRP priced at £7.99, like ones before it. Another new product in a series is 'The Nemonite Invasion'. It is a new adventure for the tenth Doctor, exclusive to audio. This is the third story in the series, following on from 'Pest Control' and 'The Forever Trap'. Little is known yet about the product, like if the Doctor will be on his own, or with a companion, but we know that the writer is David Roden. More news on both these items when we get it!
Please Comment! Thanks!

New SJA Books

Thanks to Nabu for the above image.

Following the success of the first range of Sarah Jane books, the second part has now been released. They are all adaptations on the stories from the original television series, The Sarah Jane Adventures, and feature brightly coloured and dramatic covers. Last year, four books were released as well, and they were 'Invasion of the Bane', 'Revenge of the Slitheen', 'Eye of the Gorgon' and 'The Warriors of Kudlak'. This time the books are finishing last series off, with a couple of books from the second series, broadcasting now. They are 'Whatever Happened to Sarah Jane?', 'The Lost Boy', 'The Last Sontaran' and 'The Day of the Clown.' They are all avaliable now at all good bookstores at the RRP price of £4.99!

Please Comment! Thanks!

The Betrothal of Sontar

The Betrothal of Sontar has recently been released by Panini Books. It is a paper-back book with 180 pages, full of comic strips from the pages of Doctor Who Magazine and the Doctor Who Storybooks. The stories feature the tenth Doctor and his companion Rose, as they battle other worldly creatures in a full colour, fun book, which would keep you entertained for ages! The stories included are The Betrothal of Sontar, The Lodger, F.A.Q., The Futurists, Interstellar Overdrive, Opera of Doom, The Green-Eyed Monster, The Warkeeper's Crown. You can view the full cover here and read the press release below;

The first collection of comics collecting the 10th Doctor's complete strip adventures from the pages of Doctor Who Magazine and the Doctor Who Storybook. The famous Time Lord and his companion Rose Tyler battle Sontarans, meet mythical monsters and face a terrifying encounter with the new ""Lords of Time""! Original colour strips digitally re-mastered and collected for the first time ever. This collection features work from Gareth Roberts, Tony Lee, Mike Collins, Nick Abadzis, John Tomlinson, David A Roache and others.

The book is out now at the RRP price of £15.99 around the UK.

Please Comment! Thanks!

A Preview of The Darksmith Legacy

Below you can read the full preview of the new series of books, The Darksmith Legacy! The site has just opened and you could register to get this preview. What do you think?

Deep below the grey dusty surface, Clinton Seymour checked the readings on the controls he was monitoring. He reached for a microphone.

‘Professor Dollund? We have an arrival. Just turned up in Sector 8.’
The Professor’s gruff voice echoed through a speaker in the control panel. ‘Why didn’t you warn me?’
‘Sorry, sir. Didn’t see him coming. It’s like…’ Seymour gave a short laugh. ‘It’s like the ship just faded into existence up there. Funny looking craft, actually.’
Professor Dollund was not amused. ‘Well, don’t keep them hanging around. They could be important. Especially if they’ve got shielding – that suggests military. Give them a bubble.’
‘Doing it now,’ Seymour confirmed as he adjusted a control. The main screen in front of him showed a graphic of the lunar surface. An empty rectangular box rested on the landscape. As Seymour worked, a new line bulged up from the landscape, arcing upwards in a semi circle as it formed a large bubble over the box.
‘OK, whoever you are,’ Seymour said quietly. ‘You’ve got air.’
The Doctor stood outside the TARDIS and looked up at the Earth.

‘Well, I was close,’ he said. ‘Wonder what drew the TARDIS off course.’ He took a deep breath of impossible air and smacked his lips together in appreciation. ‘Loads of questions,’ he told himself. ‘Absolutely loads.’
He turned in a full circle, his feet kicking up dust and his trainers coated in grey. ‘This way,’ he decided. He walked carefully, in a bouncing, skimming motion. The Moon’s low gravity meant he only weighed a sixth of what he did on Earth.

The Doctor had gone about twenty paces when he hit the wall. It was hard, and smooth, and invisible. ‘Or maybe not this way,’ he said indistinctly, rubbing his nose. He stepped back and kicked a smattering of dust in the air, watching as the line of the wall was picked out in grey particles.

‘Force bubble,’ the Doctor decided. ‘Might be for my benefit.’ Just in case it was, he shouted, ‘Thank you – much appreciated!’
As if in reply, a square of black opened in the ground a few metres away. He could just see metal steps leading down into the darkness.

Lights snapped on as the Doctor started down the steps. His feet clanged on the metal, and he could feel himself getting heavier. He must be walking down into an artificial gravity field.

By the time he reached the bottom, the Doctor was back to his normal Earth weight. He was not surprised to find that there were people waiting for him.

There was a middle-aged man with grey hair, and a young woman whose long blond hair was tied in a pony tail. Both were wearing dusty overalls.

‘Welcome to Survey Four,’ the man said.
‘Thanks.’ The Doctor grinned.
‘We weren’t expecting you,’ the young woman confessed.
‘That’s all right. Unannounced inspection,’ the Doctor said. ‘You’re not supposed to expect me.’ He flashed his wallet of psychic paper, knowing it would tell them he was some important official.
The man swallowed as he read what he saw on the paper.

‘Doctor Smith, from the Bureau of Alien Technology.’
‘How did you know?’ the woman asked nervously.
‘We know everything,’ the Doctor told her. He tapped the side of his nose and winked. ‘Absolutely everything. So you’d better leave nothing out when you tell me all about it. Start at the beginning, go on to the end, then stop. And assume I know nothing at all about who you are or what you’re doing here on the Moon.’
The woman's name was Bobby (short for Roberta) Goodman, and she was an archaeologist. The man was Professor Dollund, and he told the Doctor he was in charge of Survey Four.

'Surveying what?' the Doctor asked. 'Assume I know nothing, remember,' he added quickly.
Dollund led the Doctor through narrow metal-lined corridors as he explained. 'With such a shortage of minerals and metal ores back on Earth, the big corporations think it's worth mining the Moon.'
'So you're surveying possible sites for the mines,' the Doctor realised.
'And turning up some interesting stuff,' Bobby said. 'Though nothing alien. At least, not until now.'
'Bobby's here to keep you people happy, really,' Dollund said. 'They wanted an expert ready on site, just in case.'
'You can never be too careful,' the Doctor agreed cheerfully. He noticed that Bobby and the Professor exchanged glances.
'You'd better come into the main control room and see what we've found,' Dollund said.
He led the Doctor and Bobby along another corridor which ended in a large circular door. There was a big locking wheel in the middle of it. An airlock.

'Just a precaution,' Bobby said. 'There's some minor seismic activity in this area. If we get an earthquake it might rupture the seal on one of the tunnels.'
'You should call it a Moonquake. Why not use force bubbles, like you extruded on the surface for me?' the Doctor asked as he stepped into the large control room.
There was a young man sitting at the main control desk. He stood up as the Doctor entered.

'Force bubbles take too much power,' the young man said, hearing the Doctor's question. 'I've already deflated the one round your ship and recycled the air into the main tunnels.'
'Good idea,' the Doctor said cheerily. But he knew that meant he couldn't get back to the TARDIS. He was stuck here, until Goodman and her friends decided he could leave. Hopefully, that wouldn't be a problem.

Please Comment! Thanks!

Darksmith Site Opened!

After a long time of the Darksmith Legacy site having not been opened, they have now launched the site. The Darksmith Legacy is a new range of exciting books out next year, which follow the Doctor through the same story throughout the range. There isn't a lot of content on the site at this time, but there should be more leading up to next year, getting ready to release the books. There is a sign up option to read the first chapter of the book and you can pre-order the book using the links. To visit the site, click here or to pre-order the first two books on Amazon, click here and here. Below you can read the synopsis for the series;

The Eternity Crystal is at the heart of the Darksmiths´ invention. Someone now has it. Someone who doesn't know what it is. But someone who is determined to learn its secrets. That someone is the Doctor.
This enthralling ten-book Doctor Who adventure series follows the Doctor on his exciting journey to discover the origins of the Eternity Crystal and the powerful artisans who have created it - the Darksmiths.

Please Comment! Thanks!

Who Goes There?

Well, this is your chance to find out where who does go! Nick Griffiths, previous author of the book 'Dalek I Loved You', is now going to release a second of his who-themed exciting books. This time about the many different locations the BBC have used to film the show, since very early in the Classic Series. Griffiths will take us on the journey to explore all the different settings in his wonderfully inspiring book. He wishes to share all his knowledge on the topic with you, hoping it will be of some use to you and a good read.

"What I would love is for people to get in their cars and go out and visit these places," Griffiths said. "I had a quite a lot of fun trying to find the place anyway and when I got there it was fantastic being able to stand in the spot where the Doctor had stood."

Unusual places will also pop up in the book;

"There was an old railway station in an episode I was watching and I suddenly thought 'I'd really like to go there, that looks really strange and unusual," he said.
On the book's official website, are photographs from the trip, a Google map of the locations and details of the nearest pub! For all you men out there! You can view the full cover of the book here, and it is out now at all good bookshops.

Please Comment! Thanks!

Torchwood Books Released

The second set of Torchwood books were released today. They are from BBC Books, just like the Doctor Who ones, and come in hardcover only at the moment. The three books are 'Pack Animals', which is written by Peter Anghelides, and features Jack, Gwen, Ianto, Tosh and Owen. 'Skypoint' is written by Phil Ford, and features the same characters and 'Almost Perfect' is written by James Goss, but only features Jack, Gwen and Ianto. It is therefore presumably set after the events of Exit Wounds, the last episode of Series 2 of Torchwood. Will you buy the books?

Please Comment! Thanks!

More Books A'Cometh

New Doctor Who and Torchwood Books have been confirmed for release in 2009. The title, 'The Krillitane Storm', seems to suggest a returning monster, that were last seen in School Reunion, the Krillitanes. Other books from the Doctor Who range have also featured past monsters and villains such as the Sontarans. We do not know yet whether these books will feature the Doctor alone, or with a new companion, but I'll keep you updated. Below you can see the titles of the new books and the writers, but synopses have yet to be revealed;

• The Taking of Chelsea 426 by David Llewellyn
  
• Autonomy by Daniel Blythe
  
• The Krillitane Storm by Christopher Cooper
  

The Torchwood books are comprised of ‘Into the Silence’, by Sarah Pinborough, ‘Bay of the Dead’, by Mark Morris and ‘The House that Jack Built’, by Guy Adams. These follow on from two sets of three books released in the past, but these will only feature Jack, Gwen and Ianto. You can view the synopses below;

Into the Silence
Written by Sarah Pinborough
The body in the church hall is very definitely dead. It has been sliced open with surgical precision, its organs exposed, and its vocal cords are gone. It is as if they were never there or they've been dissolved... With the Welsh amateur Operatic Contest getting under way, music is filling the churches and concert halls of Cardiff. The competition has attracted the finest Welsh talent to the city, but it has also drawn something else - there are stories of a metallic creature hiding in the shadows. Torchwood are on its tail, but it's moving too fast for them to track it down. This new threat requires a new tactic - so Ianto Jones is joining a male voice choir...

Bay of the Dead
Written by Mark Morris
When the city sleeps, the dead start to walk... Something has sealed off Cardiff, and living corpse are stalking the streets, leaving a trail of half-eaten bodies. Animals are butchered. A young coupe in their car never reach home. A stolen tugboat is brought back to shore, carrying only human remains. And a couple of girls heading back from the pub watch the mysterious drivers of a big black SUV take over a crime scene. Torchwood have to deal with the intangible barrier surrounding Cardiff, and some unidentified space debris that seems to be regenerating itself. Plus, of course, the all-night zombie horror show. Not that they really believe in zombies.

The House that Jack Built
Written by Guy Adams
Jackson Leaves - an Edwardian house in Penylen, built 1906, semi-detached, three storeys, spacious, beautifully presented. Left in good condition to Rob and Julia by Rob's late aunt. It's an ordinary sort of a house. Except for the way the rooms don't stay in the same places. And the strange man that turns up in the airing cupboard. And the apparitions. And the temporal surges that attract the attentions of Torchwood. And the fact that the first owner of Jackson Leaves in 1906 was a Captain Jack Harkness...

The Doctor Who books are set for an Autumn release next year, and Torchwood on 29th May! Covers and more information shall follow shortly.

Please Comment! Thanks!

Top Trumps Series 4 Book - Info

As previously reported, a few months ago, a new upcoming Top Trumps book is planned for release. Two books have previously been released; the first one covered the first set, which was Series 1 and 2, and the second one was the second set, covering Series 3. This new one is for the latest set, Series 4, and includes many of the Doctor's friends and enemies from the latest series. The cover to the left is the first draft, which was released ages ago, but is subject to change, because it is not very good. Below is the official press release;

Following the success of the previous "Top Trumps: Doctor Who" books, Haynes and Top Trumps have again teamed up to create a new book dedicated to the fourth series of the hit TV show. This pocket-sized guide features 45 characters from the fourth series, from The Doctor and Donna to Agatha Christie, the Sontarans and the Ood. Packed with stunning pictures, fascinating facts and all the vital statistics, it will keep kids and grown-ups quiet for hours."

The book, with 192 pages, will be released on 27th November 2008, at the RRP price of £4.99. Do you think you'll get the Series 4 Top Trumps book?

Please Comment! Thanks!

The Writer's Tale - Updated Signings

On the official Writer's Tale website, there is an updated version of the signing days, places and times. So, here they are;

Thursday 9th October

BOOK SIGNING – RUSSELL & BENJAMIN

12pm: Waterstone’s Birmingham

24 High Street

Birmingham, B4 7SL

Tel for enquiries: 0121 6334353

BOOK SIGNING – RUSSELL & BENJAMIN

6pm: Waterstone’s Manchester Trafford Centre

42 Regent Crescent

Manchester, M17 8AP

Tel for enquiries: 0161 7498623

Friday 10th October

BOOK SIGNING – RUSSELL & BENJAMIN

12.30pm: Borders Bristol

Clifton Promenade

48-56 Queens Road

Clifton

Bristol, 
BS8 1RE 

Tel for enquiries: 01179 226959

BOOK SIGNING – RUSSELL & BENJAMIN

5.30pm: Borders Cardiff

14 The Hayes

Cardiff, CF10 1AH

Tel for enquiries: 02920 387909

Sunday 12th October

6.15 - 7.30pm: Cheltenham Literature Festival

Russell T Davies and John Barrowman in conversation with Caitlin Moran 

Tickets: £12 (£8)

http://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com

Friday 7th November

6pm: National Theatre Platform

Lytellton Theatre 

National Theatre 

South Bank 

London SE1 9PX

Please note: This event is sold out

I will be going to the event at the Cheltenham Literature Festival to see Russell T. Davies and John Barrowman and try to get their book signed on Sunday. If I can, I will take some pictures to post on the site. Is there anybody else going to this event?

Please Comment! Thanks!

The Writer's Tale - Website Features

The new website for Russell T. Davies' new book has lots of information about the book and great features! It is all very colourful and sparkling new, so take a look at it! The new book was released a couple of weeks ago, and contains an in-depth look at the new series of Doctor Who. It has such features like script pages, personal notes, never-before-seen photos and artwork with behind-the-scenes information. This book is a tribute to Russell's leaving from the show. Helping him to write it, and interviews with him, is Benjamin Cook, quite well known in the Doctor Who world for reviews, previews and general Who writing, with many sources, including Doctor Who Magazine and the Radio Times. You can visit the official website here. 

So, what is there on the site you ask? 

• About - Well, it gives you information about the book, Russell T. Davies and Benjamin Cook. 
  
• News and Reviews - There is a part with news about the book, which includes signing dates, places and times, plus reviews of the book. Here is an extract from one of the reviews; "What a wizard enterprise this is, 500 pages of emails and text messages between Russell T Davies, resuscitator, executive producer and head writer of Doctor Who, and his confidant Benjamin Cook. A few details have been deleted, such as the name of the actor scheduled to play the Doctor's companion had not Catherine Tate extended her guest role into 13 episodes, but otherwise, it's unabridged and, moreover, footnoted." There is an updated version of the signing dates and times in a newer post.
• Scripts - There is a fantastic bit that gives you access to six different scripts from the fourth series of Doctor Who! These scripts include the episodes Voyage of the Damned, Partners In Crime, Midnight, Turn Left, The Stolen Earth and Journey's End. These can be downloaded as PDFs and contain the whole scripts from these episodes.
• Buy - There is a part where you can buy it, with various different links to online stores including Amazon and Play.com. Waterstones seem to have a slightly different version, as there is a special hard cover, showing the original artwork and then the normal book inside, without the artwork on it.
• Extract - This feature gives you access to 56 pages from inside the book. With a clever application, you can view these pages easily, but unfortunately not close up enough to read the text.

You can view a screen shot of the website below;

What do you think of the website and it's features?

Please Comment! Thanks!

The Darksmith Legacy - Books 1-3 Synopsises

The synopsises have been released by Penguin Books for the fist three books featured in the new set of books, The Darksmith Legacy. You can read them here;

1. The Dust Of Ages

The Doctor arrives just in time to lend a helping hand to a survey team of scientists drilling beneath the Moon’s surface to discover the cause of an unusual power source. The adventure continues with deadly lunar dust and a Crystal that has been lost for centuries…. Unfortunately it’s just what the Darksmiths have been looking for and they have despatched an Agent to recover it. At any cost.

2. The Graves Of Mordane

Convinced that the Doctor is Varlos, the Agent demands the return of the Eternity Crystal. But what happened on Mordane to make the Crystal too dangerous to be left on the Moon? The Doctor has to convince the Agent that he is not Varlos and doesn’t know what happened on Mordane, then escape with the TARDIS and find out. The Doctor decides that the Eternity Crystal must be destroyed but before he can the Agent and the Crystal vanish. He has to find the Agent, which leaves the Doctor only one option, and he doesn’t like it…

3. The Colour Of Darkness

The Doctor travels to Karagula to meet the fabled Darksmiths in a bid to outwit the Agent and get the crystal. Can the Doctor uncover the mystery of the childless village? Who is the travelling Dreams-Merchant? Is there a link with the Dark Cathedral of the Darksmiths? Will the Agent arrive and identify the Doctor to the Darksmiths? Find out by reading the third exciting instalment of The Darksmith Legacy!

The books will be released during 2009, with the first two out in September. You can read more about the series here, in an older post!

Please Comment! Thanks!

The Darksmith Legacy

A new set of books has now been confirmed by BBC Children's Books. The set, entitled The Darksmith Legacy, will launch next January, and continue throughout the year. Two books will be released in January, and then after that there will be one every month, until September 2009. Apparently, they will be 'gripping' and "fans will be eager to continue the ongoing adventure and collect all ten titles". You can view these ten titles below;

Book One - The Dust of Ages - (29th January)

Book Two - The Graves of Mordane - (29th January)

Book Three - The Colour of Darkness - (26th February)

Book Four - The Depths of Despair - (26th March)

Book Five - The Vampire of Paris - (TBA)

Book Six - The Game of Death - (TBA)

Book Seven - The Planet of Oblivion - (TBA)

Book Eight - The Picture of Emptiness - (TBA)

Book Nine - The Art of War - (TBA)

Book Ten - The End of Time - (TBA)

There will be a new site set up at www.thedarksmithlegacy.com, but the website is not up and running yet. It will be, though, in mid-November.

By registering on the site, visitors can create their own avatar and alien identity and begin collecting eternity points, crucial to the Doctor’s survival. Collaboration with other fans online to earn extra points will release exclusive content and assist in the Quest to keep the precious Eternity Crystal safe from the dangerous Darksmith Collective. A multi platform experience, The Darksmith Legacy offers the adventure of a book serialisation with the additional interactivity and exclusive content that can only be achieved online.

The synopsises have also been released for the first three books, which you can see in a newer post. Below is a picture, thanks to Doctor Who Online showing some information and the first book covers;

Please Comment! Thanks!