The Blood Cell

Last updated

The Blood Cell
The Blood Cell.jpg
Author James Goss
Series Doctor Who book:
New Series Adventures
Release number
52
SubjectFeaturing:
Twelfth Doctor
Clara Oswald
Set inPeriod between
"Listen" and
"In the Forest of the Night"
Publisher BBC Books
Publication date
11 September 2014
Pages256
ISBN 978-1-84990-774-3
Preceded by Engines of War  
Followed by Silhouette  

The Blood Cell is a BBC Books original novel written by James Goss and based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who . It features the Twelfth Doctor and Clara Oswald. The book was released on 11 September 2014 along with Silhouette and The Crawling Terror . [1]

Contents

Reviews

The Blood Cell gained generally positive reviews, calling it an "effective chiller". [2] Most of them commented the unusual way of narration from the first-person perspective of the administrator of the prison in which the book is set known as the Governor. [2] [3] [4] More grim and darker tone is also noted. [2] [4] The interaction between the Doctor and the Governor is described as "a good mix and an interesting double act". [3] Goss nailed the bantering love/hate relationship of the Doctor and Clara, [5] capturing the bickering between the pair. [4] Peter Capaldi's Doctor is pretty recognisable, [5] the author captures his "ornery portrayal extremely well", [2] and the Twelfth Doctor's intellect as well as his sarcastic side with the "lashings of the amusing fish-out-of-water Time Lord" is portrayed accurately. [3] As for Clara, Goss "captured her quiet determination well" [2] and was praised for "an absolute hold on the character, really getting inside her head and nailing her characterisation perfectly". [3]

Audiobook

The Blood Cell
Author James Goss
Audio read by Colin McFarlane
Series Doctor Who
SubjectFeaturing:
Twelfth Doctor
Clara Oswald
Publisher BBC Audio
Publication date
13 November 2014
Media type Audiobook
Audio CD (5 Hours 56 Mins)
ISBN 978-1-910281-73-4

The audio addition to the book was released on 13 November 2014, read by Colin McFarlane who played General Austin Pierce in Torchwood: Children of Earth and guest starred in the Doctor Who episodes "Under the Lake" and "Before the Flood" as Moran. [6] This was the first new series audio to be released since AudioGo went into administration in 2013.

Related Research Articles

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

Professor Bernice Surprise Summerfield, or simply Benny, 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 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).

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.

James Goss is an English writer and producer, known both for his work in cult TV spin-off media, including tie-in novels and audio stories for Doctor Who and Torchwood, and for his fictional works beyond established universes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twelfth Doctor</span> Fictional character from Doctor Who

The Twelfth Doctor is an incarnation of the Doctor, the protagonist of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. He is portrayed by Scottish actor Peter Capaldi in three series as well as four specials. As with previous incarnations of the Doctor, the character has also appeared in other Doctor Who spin-offs.

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

Clara Oswald is a fictional character in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. She was created by series producer Steven Moffat and portrayed by Jenna Coleman. Clara was introduced in the seventh series as a new travelling companion of the series protagonist, the Doctor, in his eleventh and twelfth incarnations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paternoster Gang</span> Fictional characters

Madame Vastra, Jenny Flint, and Strax, are a trio of recurring fictional characters in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, created by Steven Moffat and portrayed, respectively, by Neve McIntosh, Catrin Stewart, and Dan Starkey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mummy on the Orient Express</span> 2014 Doctor Who episode

"Mummy on the Orient Express" is the eighth episode of the eighth series of the British science fiction television programme Doctor Who. It was first broadcast on BBC One on 11 October 2014. The episode was written by Jamie Mathieson, and directed by Paul Wilmshurst.

Flatline (<i>Doctor Who</i>) 2014 Doctor Who episode

"Flatline" is the ninth episode of the eighth series of the British science fiction television programme Doctor Who. It was first broadcast on BBC One on 18 October 2014. The episode was written by Jamie Mathieson and directed by Douglas Mackinnon.

<i>Being Human novels</i> Fantasy novel series by Simon Guerrier, Mark Michalowski and James Goss

The Being Human novels are a series of three fantasy novels written by Simon Guerrier, Mark Michalowski and James Goss. The novels are based on the British television series Being Human, created by Toby Whithouse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Into the Dalek</span> 2014 Doctor Who episode

"Into the Dalek" is the second episode of the eighth series of the British science fiction television programme Doctor Who. It was written by Phil Ford and Steven Moffat, and directed by Ben Wheatley, and first broadcast on BBC One on 30 August 2014.

Dark Water (<i>Doctor Who</i>) 2014 Doctor Who episode

"Dark Water" is the eleventh episode of the eighth series of the British science fiction television programme Doctor Who. It was first broadcast on BBC One on 1 November 2014. The episode was written by showrunner and head writer Steven Moffat and was directed by Rachel Talalay. It is the first of a two-part story; the concluding episode "Death in Heaven", the finale of the eighth series, aired on 8 November.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Death in Heaven</span> 2014 Doctor Who episode

"Death in Heaven" is the twelfth and final episode of the eighth series of the British science fiction television programme Doctor Who. It was first broadcast on BBC One on 8 November 2014. The episode was written by showrunner Steven Moffat and directed by Rachel Talalay. It is the second of a two-part story; the first episode "Dark Water" aired on 1 November.

Hell Bent (<i>Doctor Who</i>) 2015 Doctor Who episode

"Hell Bent" is the twelfth and final episode of the ninth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was written by Steven Moffat, directed by Rachel Talalay and first broadcast on BBC One on 5 December 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silhouette (novel)</span> 2014 novel by Justin Richards

Silhouette is a BBC Books original novel written by Justin Richards and based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It features the Twelfth Doctor, Clara Oswald, Madame Vastra, Jenny Flint and Strax. The book was released on 11 September 2014 along with The Blood Cell and The Crawling Terror.

<i>The Crawling Terror</i> 2014 novel by Mike Tucker

The Crawling Terror is a BBC Books original novel written by Mike Tucker and based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It features the Twelfth Doctor and Clara Oswald. The book was released on 11 September 2014 along with The Blood Cell and Silhouette.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Blood (novel)</span> 2015 novel by Una McCormack

Royal Blood is a BBC Books original novel written by Una McCormack and based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It features the Twelfth Doctor and Clara Oswald. The book was released on 10 September 2015 as a part of The Glamour Chronicles, alongside Big Bang Generation and Deep Time.

<i>Big Bang Generation</i> 2015 novel by Gary Russell

Big Bang Generation is a BBC Books original novel written by Gary Russell and based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It features the Twelfth Doctor and Bernice Summerfield, making her first appearance in the New Series Adventures along with the Doctor from the revived series. The book was released on 10 September 2015 as a part of The Glamour Chronicles, alongside Royal Blood and Deep Time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deep Time</span> 2015 novel by Trevor Baxendale

Deep Time is a BBC Books original novel written by Trevor Baxendale and based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It features the Twelfth Doctor and Clara Oswald. The book was released on 10 September 2015 as a part of The Glamour Chronicles, alongside Royal Blood and Big Bang Generation.

References

  1. "First 12th Doctor Novels Detailed". Doctor Who TV. 3 June 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Appleton, Jonathan (25 November 2014). "The Blood Cell: Can the Doctor Escape?". Kasterborous. Archived from the original on 10 August 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "The Blood Cell Review". Doctor Who TV. 1 October 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 Simpson, Paul (10 September 2014). "Review: Doctor Who: Books: The Blood Cell". Sci-Fi Bulletin. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  5. 1 2 Mount, Paul. "DOCTOR WHO – THE BLOOD CELL". Starburst . Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  6. Doctor Who: The Blood Cell: A 12th Doctor Novel (Dr Who). ASIN   1910281735.