Doctor Who: The Missing Adventures: The Empire of Glass

by Andy Lane and TurtleMe

A strange invitation brings the Doctor, Stev en and Vicki to Venice in the year 1609. Vicki is abducted t o a flying island, Steven is accused of murder and the Docto r finds himself at the centre of what looks like an attempte d invasion. '

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0426204573
• ISBN13: 9780426204572
• Release Date: January 1996
• Publisher: Virgin Publishing
• Length: 257 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 4.3" x 7.0"

Customer Reviews

An enjoyable romp through 17th century Venice

In writing 'The Empire of Glass', Andy Lane takes a number of references in the show's history and weaves them into a complicated plot.Significant among them is the Armageddon Convention, in which the majority of races (other than the Daleks and the Cybermen) agreed to ban the use of certain types of weapons. The novel holds that, when the Doctor was called into his own future to assist with the Omega crisis (in 'The Three Doctors') he was assigned the task of chairing the convention, but due to an bureaucratic oversight this was erased along with memories of meeting his next two incarnations.This book also introduces Time Lord Irving Braxiatel, who goes on to play a significant role in the life of seventh Doctor companion Bernice Summerfield.Like 'The Plotters', another novel set in similar places in both actual history and the history of the show, we get to see a complex spy network involved with secret societies. A number of historical figures are drawn into the story, including playwrights William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe (both spies in the employ of the English government) and Galileo Galilei.The Convention plays a central role to the story, as different forces work to ensure it succeeds and opposing forces that it fails. The Doctor's efforts are, in part, hindered by recently acquired companion Steven Taylor, who is a bit of a rogue element in the TARDIS crew.Where this novel succeeds is by setting in place a complex web oif opposing forces, and guiding the TARDIS crew, and we readers, through it in what is both a stimulating and enjoyable read.

excellent novel that is both history and sci fic

On one level, this is a historical Doctor Who adventure and a very good one. The author captures the period perfectly and the reader will come away enlightened concerning Venice, Shakespeare, Galileo etc. It is also a very good Sci fic adventure that makes excellent use of the Doctor Who universe. I particularly enjoyed seeing the Sontarans and the references to the other races. The fact that the Daleks and the Cybermen were not invited to Braxitel's conference was a perfect touch. The series never really made good use of the Whoverse that it slowly created-most of the adventures seemed to take place in their own realities but this book effortlessly joins together the many disparate elements. The characterizations of the Doctor and his companions are spot on and the epiloque with Shakespeare and Braxitel is genuinely moving. A real accomplishment that will like the book's "lost Shakespeare plays" will never be truly appreciated because it's "just" a Doctor Who book. Maybe, but it's also a great novel.

The best New Adventure starring the 1st Doctor

Andy Lane manages to combine the ecentriciaty of Hartnell's who with some of the galactic hero elements of the later Doctores quite well. The nice tie in with the Three Doctors also works well, and manages to pave over the continuity problems which would have otherwise arisin had the Doctor's memory not been wiped. His charecterization of Vicki is a bit off. She does seem far too much of an adult, whearas in the episodes she always seemed to act as a bit of a child. It is a nice touch however to explore her feelings about the events that transpired on Dido, and the death of her pet at Barbara's hands. Steven's charectraization is great. He's exposed to the drinkin ghabits of Galileo, and tries to keep up, quite unsuccesfully. Also including Galileo and Shakspere as a spy isalso a nice touch.