So, what's the deal with the books?
Imagine that you’ve just discovered a new series on TV. You’ve devoured the tenth series and have started working your way through the back catalogue, but you’re mildly disappointed to discover that parts of the first series have never been released on DVD, but you soldier on nevertheless.
As you approach series seven, excitement begins to mount. You’ve heard from fellow fans on discussion boards that this is their favourite series, and you just cannot wait to see what all the fuss is about.
But then you discover that only a small number of the episodes are available to order - you have to hunt them down through various second hand markets, and they are not cheap.
Then you discover that series eight has even fewer episodes available. Disheartened, you make the uneasy choice as to whether or not you should abandon these two series entirely and skip to the ninth, or start the long, painful and ultimately impossible task of filling in the blanks.
Sound like a nightmare? Welcome to the problem Doctor Who book fans have been facing for the last decade or so.
After the series was cancelled in 1989, Virgin Books acquired the licence to continue the adventures of the Doctor in book form. These books were largely well received by fans looking to fill the void left by the series cancellation, and added much depth to the Doctor, his universe and his continuity.
Virgin continued to publish these, as well as the Missing Adventures featuring earlier Doctors, until 1996 and the release of the TV movie. At this point, the BBC saw potential in the Doctor’s ability to sell books, as well as saving the universe, and re-acquired the licence from Virgin Books for use with the eighth Doctor.
Many of the same authors were retained for this line of books, and the Missing Adventures continued in the form of the Past Adventures. These books continued to be written until the series was renewed for television in 2005 and the BBC decided to focus their literary efforts on the ninth and then current Doctor.
The lack of reprints up until now has meant that some of these books have become very hard to find, and require potential readers to haunt various second hand venues. Some of the rarer volumes can regularly be sold for double figures and, every so often, for triple.
As you approach series seven, excitement begins to mount. You’ve heard from fellow fans on discussion boards that this is their favourite series, and you just cannot wait to see what all the fuss is about.
But then you discover that only a small number of the episodes are available to order - you have to hunt them down through various second hand markets, and they are not cheap.
Then you discover that series eight has even fewer episodes available. Disheartened, you make the uneasy choice as to whether or not you should abandon these two series entirely and skip to the ninth, or start the long, painful and ultimately impossible task of filling in the blanks.
Sound like a nightmare? Welcome to the problem Doctor Who book fans have been facing for the last decade or so.
After the series was cancelled in 1989, Virgin Books acquired the licence to continue the adventures of the Doctor in book form. These books were largely well received by fans looking to fill the void left by the series cancellation, and added much depth to the Doctor, his universe and his continuity.
Virgin continued to publish these, as well as the Missing Adventures featuring earlier Doctors, until 1996 and the release of the TV movie. At this point, the BBC saw potential in the Doctor’s ability to sell books, as well as saving the universe, and re-acquired the licence from Virgin Books for use with the eighth Doctor.
Many of the same authors were retained for this line of books, and the Missing Adventures continued in the form of the Past Adventures. These books continued to be written until the series was renewed for television in 2005 and the BBC decided to focus their literary efforts on the ninth and then current Doctor.
The lack of reprints up until now has meant that some of these books have become very hard to find, and require potential readers to haunt various second hand venues. Some of the rarer volumes can regularly be sold for double figures and, every so often, for triple.
