While we endure the excruciating wait until April next year for Doctor Who series 10 to return, our favourite Time Lord is hardly resting on his laurels. Instead, the intrepid time traveller is heading to America in the upcoming book of short stories Doctor Who: The American Adventures. We took a look at what – and Who – to expect when the book hits the shelves in October.
Slight Spoilers Follow
What Are The American Adventures?
Doctor Who: The American Adventures centres around the Doctor as he goes on some adventures across the U.S. through different eras of history. The Doctor turns up during the American Civil War in 1815 at the Battle of New Orleans where an invisible spacecraft is silently watching the battle unfold. Then it’s off to the Old West as he thwarts an alien invasion and simply helps a family get themselves back on the right road to Oregon. If he has a moment, there’s a plot afoot over in a military camp that’s ready for D-Day. And – of course – no trip would be complete with visiting an alien theme park in sunny Florida.
Are There Any Classic Villains?
The stories in The American Adventures feature entirely new ideas, villains and, for the most part, locations. When the Doctor runs across one of his newest opponents, there is a brief reference to the Cybermen. And later – or maybe earlier – in time, the Doctor trudges through Manhattan and remembers one of his previous adventures with Martha.
With all the villains being both new and in print, it leaves it up to the reader’s imagination to properly construct them. One new race is referred to as being ‘spider-like’, but that can mean almost anything. My imagination dredged up the idea of something roughly three feet long and waving two legs – arms? – around with eyes on stalks. However, your mileage may vary.
What About Old Friends?
The book makes mention of Daleks, Cybermen, and K9, so I hoped for at least a cross-generation incident of some sort. Considering these tales are American, maybe a run-in with Delaware?
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but sadly, the Doctor is riding solo this time around, so there isn’t a companion in these stories. That means it is a fairly safe bet that the adventures are set after Clara’s goodbye but before the newest series.
What is the Writing Like?
With six separate stories to go through, you should prepare yourself to be whisked away with the Doctor without warning. The first story begins with establishing the plot before introducing the Doctor, but others centre on him from the beginning. The prose is great, and these stories would make great episodes had they been designed for television. There were even times that I caught myself imagining Capaldi’s voice for the Doctor’s lines.
Without a companion to take their share of the attention, the Doctor is front and centre in the limelight. There is a lot of new insight to how the Time Lord thinks and deduces the cause of events. His darker side is masterfully shown in the last chapter too. I won’t say exactly how but it was delightful reading the Doctor rattle his sabres.
When Can I Get My Hands on The American Adventures?
Those looking for a copy will only have to wait for a little while longer.
- American Whovians can pick up a copy for $14.99 from Oct. 11
- English copies will be available for £10.98 from Oct. 25
- Time travellers can find a copy in The Library (just don’t forget to count the shadows)