BBC Short Trips

Last updated

The BBCShort Trips books are a collection of short story anthologies published by BBC Books based on the television series Doctor Who , following a pattern established by Virgin Publishing's Decalog collections. Three volumes were published between March 1998 and March 2000, before the BBC decided to stop publishing the books. The Short Trips name was later adopted for hardback collections published by Big Finish Productions and licensed from the BBC.

Contents

The books

Short Trips

The first volume of stories is Short Trips (BBC Books, 1998), edited by Stephen Cole. It contains the following stories:

TitlePlotFeaturingAuthor
"Model Train Set"A group of toy engineers inhabit the Doctor's train set that he has been building throughout his past eight lives - and destroy it. Eighth Doctor Jonathan Blum
"Old Flames"In 18th century England, The Doctor and Sarah Jane encounter a flying double decker bus from the 20th century, a manor house owned by a giant cat, a wedding that stretches across time - and a special face from the Doctor's past. Fourth Doctor, Sarah Jane, Iris Wildthyme Paul Magrs
"War Crimes"On the homeworld of the Aelcluk, the Doctor discovers his battles with the Time Lords and War Lords are far from over, and they could haunt him, and the universe, for years to come. Second Doctor, Jamie & Zoe Simon Bucher-Jones
"The Last Days"When he and Barbara are separated from the Doctor and Susan in Rome, Ian finds himself the only hope for a rebel leader who is plotting to take his own life. First Doctor, Susan, Ian & Barbara Evan Pritchard (Rebecca Levene)
"Stop the Pigeon"When plants come to life and attack Croyden, the Doctor discovers his arch-enemy, the Master, will stop at nothing to rid himself of the Cheetah infection, whilst Ace finds herself drifting through time with a talking pigeon. Seventh Doctor, Ace, the Master and the Krynoids Mike Tucker and Robert Perry
"Freedom"When the Master escapes from prison again, the Doctor and UNIT begin to investigate the "Freedom Corporation", which is dedicated to cracking the codes of time travel. But when the Doctor and Jo infiltrate the Corporation, they find themselves in a prison beyond the universe itself. To save his friends, the Brigadier must -quite literally - make a deal with the devil. Third Doctor, Jo, UNIT Steve Lyons
"Glass"In Cambridge, the Doctor and Romana befriend a woman who is haunted by visions of a little boy... and an alien that is using her mind as a gateway to Earth.Fourth Doctor, Romana II Tara Samms (Stephen Cole)
"Mondas Passing"After leaving the Doctor in 1966, Ben and Polly went their separate ways and didn't have any contact. But in 1980s London, memories of their trip to Mondas and their battle with Cybermen draw the former time-travellers together again. Ben & Polly Paul Grice
"There are Fairies at the Bottom of the Garden"The Doctor's darker side is unearthed like never before after an encounter with a group of fairy-like creatures.First Doctor, Dodo Sam Lester
"Mother's Little Helper"Nanci Cruz, an American teenager, befriends the Doctor after discovering her boyfriend is cheating on her. But she is soon caught up in his search for an old woman and an alien teenager, both troubled souls.Second Doctor Matthew Jones
"The Parliament of Rats"The Doctor and Nyssa meet Constantine, the navigator of a ship named The Lung of Heaven. But the ship collides with legendary lost ship The Parliament of Rats and Nyssa is taken hostage by the ship's inhabitants - the White Gods. But as the Doctor attempts to save her, he is pitted against a crazed priest who wishes to destroy every god in existence... including Time Lords. Fifth Doctor, Nyssa Daniel O'Mahony
"Rights"On Farrash, the Doctor and Sarah are separated during a protest, and whilst Sarah Jane leads a campaign against sanctioning abortions, the Doctor must prevent a deadly experiment by the villainous "Leader", save the doomed population from their fate and convince Earth delegates not to abandon the planet and its population.Fourth Doctor, Sarah JanePaul Grice
"Wish You Were Here"The Doctor and a security agent called Janis Carma investigate the disappearance of a number of holidaymakers on the leisure complex on Nestra. But they discover the Thetrans, a species who have spent five thousand years on Nestra, have vanished and been replaced by security drones. Sixth Doctor Guy Clapperton
"Ace of Hearts"Now working as an entertainer, the Doctor uses the opportunity to make amends with a very special friend who has faced a number of traumatic experiences whilst travelling with him.Seventh DoctorMike Tucker and Robert Perry
"The People's Temple"The Doctor takes Sam to Stonehenge before the construction of the monument, and the TARDIS travellers discover Coyn, a crazed king, who has reduced many tribes to slavery in order to build the biggest temple in existence to make himself a god of the afterlife. As Sam befriends a young tribal leader, the Doctor discovers Coyn's defeat may lie within his closest ally.Eighth Doctor, Sam Paul Leonard

More Short Trips

The next volume is More Short Trips (BBC Books, 1999), again edited by Stephen Cole. It contains the stories:

TitlePlotFeaturingAuthor
"Totem"Seeking redemption for a number of crimes he committed in his seventh incarnation, the Doctor begins working on a Portuguese farm owned by Senora Panstedas, a widower, and the pair become great friends.Eighth DoctorTara Samms (Stephen Cole)
"Scientific Adviser"When a movie featuring the Cybermen goes into production in London, the Doctor is sent undercover by UNIT to ensure the organisation's many secrets aren't exposed. But he soon discovers his old enemies have returned to Earth - and the destruction of UNIT is imminent.Second DoctorIan Atkins
"Missing, Part One: Business as Usual"After years of travelling with the Doctor, Mel has finally returned home to Brighton, where she meets DI Bob Lines. Mel Gary Russell
"Moon Graffiti"The Doctor and Peri become caught up in one of humanity's final fights for survival in the far future, battling against the all consuming power of the pararachnids... and the mysterious Wibbly-Wee explorers.Sixth Doctor, Peri Dave Stone
"One Bad Apple"On a cyber-frontier world, the Doctor and Leela battle to save the emotions of a gang of half-converted humans before they become "pure" Cybermen.Fourth Doctor, Leela Simon A. Forward
"64 Carlysle Street"At 64 Carlysie Street, an alien criminal from the planet Qunnis in the Fourth Dimension is hiding. But when a new servant called Dodo arrives at the house, and an eccentric old man calling himself "the Doctor" befriends the owner, Greystone, all hell breaks loose, hell that threatens to consume the Earth, Humanity - and the fabric of time itself.First Doctor, Steven, DodoGary Russell
"The Eternity Contract"The Doctor and Nyssa find themselves trapped in a Gothic castle called Carnon Manor, where they encounter six lost souls and uncover the game-playing of a madman who has struck a deal with death itself. The Doctor finds a way to save the six souls lost at the heart of the castle. But he may pay a very high price indeed...Fifth Doctor, NyssaSteve Lyons
"The Sow in Rut"On holiday in the Lake District, Sarah Jane Smith becomes caught up in the murder of lonely travellers, killed by the owners of the local pub when a mysterious women approaches her - and suggests that a swinish intelligence was the culprit.Sarah and K-9 Mike Tucker and Robert Perry
"Special Weapons"The Doctor and Mel find themselves trapped in an English village called Pax Lucis during World War II. The village is occupied by Nazis, and whilst Mel joins forces with a man trying to avenge his girlfriend's murder, the Doctor discovers the Nazis have an alien weapon that would not only mean the end of the war - but the end of the world.Seventh Doctor, MelPaul Leonard
"Honest Living"When Jo is kidnapped, the Doctor discovers he is being lured into a trap by Tuala and Krashen, two freedom fighters from a future Earth which is ruled by Daleks. With their time machine creating paradoxes in both the present and the future, they need the Doctor's help. If the Doctor helps them, he will be responsible for endangering the lives of billions across time and space. If he doesn't, he will lose a close friend.Third Doctor, Jo, the Brigadier Jason Loborik
"Dead Time"Trapped in a dying TARDIS in a black void, the Doctor is alone, powerless and desperate as the remains of insane Time Lords try to overpower his mind. With Charley trapped in a temporal stasis field, the Doctor must fight for his mind. If he doesn't fight, his past, present, future and very soul will be unravelled... with the most deadliest consequences to the causal nexus!Eighth Doctor, SamAndrew Miller
"Romans Cutaway"When the TARDIS falls off a cliff, the Doctor and his companions take up residency in a Roman villa after the previous owner dies. Unfortunately, there is a rogue lion lurking nearby. Having killed the previous owner, the lion begins hunting for new prey - and finds it in an injured Barbara and Ian. Can the Doctor save his two companions and kill the lion? or has his reckless travels finally led to their demise?First Doctor, Ian, Barbara, Vicki David A. McIntee
"Return of the Spiders"When the TARDIS takes him and Romana to a suburban housing estate, the Doctor expects a normal day. But it proves to be anything but when he discovers an old enemy is lurking in the darkness with vengeance on their mind... an enemy who once killed him!Fourth Doctor, Romana II, K-9 Gareth Roberts
"Hot Ice"The Doctor tracks down a missing alien thief and lands himself and Peri in trouble with two Ventrosian priests, who accuse them of conspiring to steal the sacred Eye of Gaar. As the Doctor tries to save himself, another criminal sets off on a path of destruction...Fifth Doctor, Peri Christopher Bulis
"uPVC"In his second incarnation, the Doctor purchases a window that grants him a piece of his past. Five incarnations later, the Doctor is reminded of his childhood - and a past he can never have.Second & Seventh Doctors, Jamie, Zoe, Ace Paul Farnsworth
"Good Companions"An old women called Tegan once had an imaginary friend called the Doctor, who she had adventures with. After suffering a breakdown and with the loss of her husband, Tegan's life is unravelling. One uneventful day, she meets Doctor Smith and a housekeeper called Anna, and finds herself thrown into a terrifying new world - maybe her imaginary friend can save the day!(a Future Doctor)Peter Anghelides
"Missing, Part Two: Message in a Bottle"With a crisis on her hands, a powerless Mel goes to extreme lengths to seek out an old friend. It's been years since she last saw the Doctor. But now, she is going to find him again, wherever he may be.MelMike Tucker and Robert Perry
"Femme Fatale"The Doctor and Sam pose as secret agents to investigate a book which chronicles their adventures. Someone has been selling the Doctor's story - a Time Lord associate. With a life to rewrite and a mischievous old flame to deal with, the Doctor has his hands full when he becomes sidetracked by a shooting that is fixed in time.Eighth Doctor, SamPaul Magrs

Short Trips and Sidesteps

The final Short Trips collection is Short Trips and Sidesteps (BBC Books, 2000), and was joint edited by Jacqueline Rayner and Stephen Cole. It was intended to show a variety of stories of Doctors and companions that had not necessarily existed in the prime continuity of Doctor Who. Several of the stories were written under pseudonyms, including Tara Samms (Stephen Cole), David Agnew and Norman Ashby. Lawrence Miles wrote two pieces for the collection, one under his own name and one under a pseudonym.[ citation needed ] It contains the following stories:

TitlePlotFeaturingAuthor
"The Longest Story in the World"First Doctor, SusanPaul Magrs
"A Town Called Eternity (2 Parts)"Fifth Doctor, Peri Lance Parkin and Mark Clapham
"Special Occasions 1: The Not So Sinister Sponge"Fourth Doctor, Romana II, K-9Gareth Roberts and Clayton Hickman
"Nothing at the End of the Lane (3 Parts)"First Doctor, Ian, Barbara, SusanDaniel O'Mahony
"Countdown to TV Action"Third DoctorGary Russell
"The Queen of Eros"Eighth Doctor, SamTrevor Baxendale
"The Android Maker of Calderon IV"Fourth Doctor, SarahMiche Doherty
"Revenants"(a future Doctor)Peter Anghelides
"Please Shut the Gate"Second Doctor, Jamie, ZoeStephen Lock
"Turnabout is Fair Play"Sixth Doctor, PeriGraeme Burk
"Special Occasions 2: Do You Love Anyone Enough?"Fourth Doctor, Romana IINorman Ashby
"The House on Oldark Moor""Dr. Who" from the Dalek films Justin Richards
"Gone Too Soon"Sixth DoctorChristopher M. Wadley
"Reunion"Second DoctorJason Loborik
"Planet of the Bunnoids"First Doctor, Steven, VickiHarriet Green
"Monsters"Seventh Doctor, AceTara Samms
"Special Occasions 3: Better Take Care"Fourth Doctor, Romana IISteve Burford
"Face Value"Sixth Doctor, Crystal, Jason & Zog Steve Lyons
"Storm in a Tikka"Seventh Doctor, Ace, K-9Mike Tucker and Robert Perry
"Special Occasions 4: Playing with Toys"Fourth Doctor, Romana II David Agnew
"Vrs"(None)Lawrence Miles

Following the publication of this book, the BBC announced that they were no longer going to produce volumes of short stories, due to the cost and amount of work involved in producing them.

Audio books

In 1998, the original Short Trips book was also released on a double cassette as an audio book, featuring five stories from the book (Freedom, Model Train Set, Glass, Stop the Pigeon and Old Flames) read by Sophie Aldred and Nicholas Courtney. An additional story (Degrees of Truth by David A. McIntee, featuring the Third Doctor and the Brigadier) is also on the release. Model Train Set was also released on CD as a BBC Audio. [1]

Two further audio book short story collections were released later that year. Earth and Beyond was read by Paul McGann, featuring "Dead Time" from More Short Trips, "The People's Temple" from Short Trips and original story "Bounty." Out of the Darkness was read by Colin Baker and Nicola Bryant, and features "Moon Graffiti" from More Short Trips, "Wish You Were Here" from Short Trips and original story "Vigil". Earth and Beyond was released on double cassette, whilst Out of the Darkness was released on CD.

Those readings were reissued in 2004 as part of the MP3-CD releases Tales from the TARDIS volumes 1 and 2. These were in turn re-released as box sets of standard audio CDs in 2016 and 2017. [2] [3] [4]

Related Research Articles

The Master (<i>Doctor Who</i>) Recurring character in the British television science fiction series Doctor Who

The Master, or "Missy" in their female incarnation, is a recurring character in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who and its associated spin-off works. They are a renegade alien Time Lord and the childhood friend and later archenemy of the title character, the Doctor. They were most recently portrayed by Sacha Dhawan.

<i>Doctor Who</i> (film) 1996 Doctor Who television film

Doctor Who, also referred to as Doctor Who: The Eye of Harmony or as Doctor Who: The Television Movie is a 1996 television film continuing the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was developed as a co-production between Universal Studios and BBC Worldwide. It premiered on 12 May 1996 on CITV in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, 15 days before its first showing in the United Kingdom on BBC One and two days before being broadcast in the United States on Fox. It was also shown in some countries for a limited time in cinemas.

Planet of the Daleks is the fourth serial of the tenth season of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in six weekly parts on BBC1 from 7 April to 12 May 1973.

Faction Paradox is a series of novels, audio stories, short story anthologies, and comics set in and around a "War in Heaven", a history-spanning conflict between godlike "Great Houses" and their mysterious enemy. The series is named after a group originally created by author Lawrence Miles for BBC Books' Doctor Who novels.

Doctor Who spin-offs refers to material created outside of, but related to, the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karl Edward Wagner</span> American writer (1945–1994)

Karl Edward Wagner was an American writer, poet, editor, and publisher of horror, science fiction, and heroic fantasy, who was born in Knoxville, Tennessee and originally trained as a psychiatrist. He wrote numerous dark fantasy and horror stories. As an editor, he created a three-volume set of Robert E. Howard's Conan the Barbarian fiction restored to its original form as written, and edited the long-running and genre-defining The Year's Best Horror Stories series for DAW Books. His Carcosa publishing company issued four volumes of the best stories by some of the major authors of the so-called Golden Age pulp magazines. He is possibly best known for his creation of a series of stories featuring the character Kane, the Mystic Swordsman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bernice Summerfield</span> Character in the Virgin New Adventures series of books

Bernice Surprise Summerfield is a fictional character created by author Paul Cornell as a new companion of the Seventh Doctor in Virgin Publishing's range of original full-length Doctor Who novels, the New Adventures. The New Adventures were authorised novels carrying on from where the Doctor Who television series had left off, and Summerfield was introduced in Cornell's novel Love and War in 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Susan Foreman</span> Fictional character in the TV series Doctor Who

Susan Foreman is a fictional character in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. The granddaughter of the Doctor and original companion of their first incarnation, she was played by actress Carole Ann Ford from 1963 to 1964, in the show's first season and the first two stories of the second season. Ford reprised the role for the feature-length 20th anniversary episode The Five Doctors (1983) and the 30th anniversary charity special Dimensions in Time (1993).

Terrance William Dicks was an English author and television screenwriter, script editor and producer. In television, he had a long association with the BBC science-fiction series Doctor Who, working as a writer and also serving as the programme's script editor from 1968 to 1974. The Doctor Who News Page described him as "arguably the most prolific contributor to Doctor Who". He later became a script editor and producer of classic serials for the BBC.

The Curse of Peladon is the second serial of the ninth season of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts on BBC1 from 29 January to 19 February 1972.

Iris Wildthyme is a fictional character created by writer Paul Magrs, who has appeared in short stories, novels and audio dramas from numerous publishers. She is best known from spin-off media based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who, where she is sometimes depicted as a renegade Time Lady.

Ace (<i>Doctor Who</i>) Fictional character in the TV series Doctor Who

Ace is a fictional character played by Sophie Aldred in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. A 20th-century Earth teenager from the London suburb of Perivale, she is a companion of the Seventh Doctor and was a regular in the series from 1987 to 1989. She is considered one of the Doctor's most popular companions.

Robot is the first serial of the 12th season in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts on BBC1 from 28 December 1974 to 18 January 1975. It was the first full serial to feature Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor, as well as Ian Marter as new companion Harry Sullivan. The serial brought a full end to the Pertwee era, as it was the final story with the production team of Barry Letts and script editor Terrance Dicks. It was also the final regular appearance of UNIT, who had become regulars starting with the first Jon Pertwee serial Spearhead From Space.

Kinda is the third serial of the 19th season of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four twice-weekly parts on BBC1 from 1 to 9 February 1982.

The New Series Adventures are a series of novels relating to the long-running BBC science fiction television series, Doctor Who. The 'NSAs', as they are often referred to, are published by BBC Books, and are regularly published twice a year. Beginning with the Tenth Doctor, a series of 'Quick Reads' have also been available, published once a year. With exception to the Quick Reads, all of the NSAs have been published in hardcover to begin with, and have been reprinted in paperback for boxed collections that are exclusive to The Book People and Tesco. Some of the reprints amend pictures of the companion of the novel from the cover. Some of the hardback editions have also been reprinted to amend pictures of Rose.

Stephen Cole is an English author of children's books and science fiction. He was also in charge of BBC Worldwide's merchandising of the BBC Television series Doctor Who between 1997 and 1999 and as executive producer on the Big Finish Productions range of Doctor Who audio dramas.

Big Finish <i>Short Trips</i> Series of short story books based on the Doctor Who television series

The Big FinishShort Trips are a collection of short story anthologies published by Big Finish Productions based on the BBC Television series Doctor Who, beginning with the collection Short Trips: Zodiac in December 2002 and ending with the loss of their license in 2009. The Short Trips name was inherited from similar collections published by the BBC, who decided in March 2000 that it was no longer financially viable to produce collections of short stories. Big Finish Productions negotiated a licence to continue producing these collections, publishing them in smaller runs and in hardback, thus allowing for a higher cover price and increased profit margins than on the BBC collections.

Earth and Beyond is a Doctor Who audio production produced by the BBC featuring the Eighth Doctor and Sam Jones. The release contains three adventures that are read by Paul McGann. It was released onto cassette in September 1998, following the BBC Short Trips cassette from earlier that year.

References

  1. Blum, Jonathan (1998). Doctor Who: Short Trips - Model Train Set. BBC.
  2. Various. "Doctor Who: Tales From The Tardis Volume One". www.penguin.co.uk. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  3. Saward, Terrance Dicks,Eric. "Doctor Who: Tales from the TARDIS: Volume 1". www.penguin.co.uk. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  4. Russell, Terrance Dicks,Philip Martin,Gary. "Doctor Who: Tales from the TARDIS: Volume 2". www.penguin.co.uk. Retrieved 12 March 2021.