Pocket Essentials: Doctor Who @ The TARDIS Library (Doctor Who books, DVDs, videos & audios)


Pocket Essentials: Doctor Who
 

No. 54 of 347 in the Miscellaneous factual books series
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By:Mark Campbell
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Editions:  UK (1st paperback) | UK (2nd paperback) | UK (3rd paperback) | UK (1st hardback) | UK (2nd hardback) | UK (3rd hardback) | UK (4th paperback) | Turkey (paperback) | UK (5th paperback) | US (paperback)

Cover image for Pocket Essentials TV: Doctor Who - A Completely and Utterly Unauthorised Guide
Edition: UK (1st paperback)
Title:  Pocket Essentials TV: Doctor Who - A Completely and Utterly Unauthorised Guide
Released:  June 2000
Publisher:  Pocket Essentials
ISBN:1-903047-19-6
Format: paperback
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Cover blurb:
Who is Who? A Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey with two hearts and thirteen lives? A folk hero who entertained and enthralled us in the warm glow of our TV sets on dark winter evenings? A rebellious iconoclast who toppled corrupt dictatorships and freed the oppressed? Or a bumbling British eccentric who for 26 years fought rubber monsters in a cheap and cheerful BBC kids show? Well, he’s all of these things — and a whole lot more besides.

The story of Doctor Who is the story of British television in the final third of this century. It is also the story of the hopes and fears of generations of children — and grown-ups too — from the counter-culture 60s to the shallow waters of the 90s. Along the way there are shock revelations, melodramatic cliff-hangers and liberal doses of humour (intentional or otherwise); but be warned — there is also heart-ache, disappointment and death. Every taste is catered for in the world of Doctor Who.

The legend began at 5.16pm on 23 November 1963, and despite its cancellation in 1989, Doctor Who continues to spawn a never-ending supply of books, videos, magazines, and sundry assorted merchandise. A US-backed film in 1996 proved there was life in the old Doctor yet, and throughout the 90s the rumour mill was on overdrive with stories about the Time Lord’s possible return. And return it will. With a fresh look and a bit of imagination, it could take the new millennium by storm...

What’s in it? As well as an introductory essay, each Doctor’s era is put under the microscope with facts and informed opinion on all their stories. There’s an in-depth reference section detailing further reading, fascinating and bizarre Doctor Who websites, and a short history of spin-off stories and merchandising.

Mark Campbell is a freelance writer and lifetime Doctor Who fan. He has written for The Independent, Time Out, Midweek, The Bookseller and Crime Time. He is married with two children, and lives in Plumstead, London, the centre of the known Universe.

Cover image for Pocket Essentials TV: Doctor Who - A Completely and Utterly Unauthorised Guide
Edition: UK (2nd paperback)
Title:  Pocket Essentials TV: Doctor Who - A Completely and Utterly Unauthorised Guide
Released:  November 2003
Publisher:  Pocket Essentials
ISBN:1-903047-19-6
Format: paperback
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Note:  “Fortieth Anniversary New Edition”. Same ISBN as the 1st edition.

Cover blurb:
Almost everything you need to know in one essential guide

Who is Who? A Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey with two hearts and thirteen lives? A modern folk hero who entertained and enthralled us in the warm glow of our TV sets on dark winter evenings? A rebellious iconoclast who toppled corrupt dictatorships and freed the oppressed? Or a bumbling British eccentric who fought rubber monsters in a cheap and cheerful BBC kids’ show?

The story of Doctor Who is the story of the hopes and fears of generations of children — and grown-ups too — from the counter-culture 60s via the halcyon days of the ‘70s, to the high-tech world of the 21st century. During its 40 year odyssey there are shock revelations, melodramatic cliffhangers and liberal doses of humour (intentional or otherwise). The legend began at 5.16pm on 23 November 1963 and despite no new TV stories since 1996, the Doctor Who phenomenon shows no sign of waning.

What’s in this book? As well as an introductory essay, each Doctor’s era is put under the microscope with facts, figures and informed opinion on all the TV stories. There’s updated information on the Big Finish audio adventures, a list of spin-off outings on TV, radio, cinema and stage, and an in-depth reference section with a fascinating and bizarre assortment of Doctor Who websites.

Mark Campbell is a freelance writer and lifelong Doctor Who fan. He writes for The Independent, Crime Time, Sherlock and DVD Times and has also produced Pocket Essentials on Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie and Carry On Films. He is married with two children and lives in Plumstead, South East London.

Cover image for The Pocket Essential Doctor Who
Edition: UK (3rd paperback)
Title:  The Pocket Essential Doctor Who
Released:  July 2005
Publisher:  Pocket Essentials
ISBN:1-904048-53-6
Format: paperback
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Cover blurb:
Almost everything you need to know in one essential guide

23 November 1963: Two schoolteachers follow their strange pupil into a gloomy junkyard. She disappears inside a weirdly humming Police Box. A stooped figure appears, frail and elderly, yet oddly menacing.

26 March 2005: A shopgirl working in a London store goes down to the basement. Mannequins jerk to life around her, blocking off her escape. As if from nowhere, a tall energetic figure in a battered leather jacket appears and offers her his hand...

Two beginnings, one ongoing story.

Doctor Who is the television series that refuses to go away. After 26 years, it disappeared from our screens — seemingly for good. Then after 16 years in the wilderness, Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper burst back onto our screens in a brand new Doctor Who series and once more at the forefront of British televison.

Who is Who? A Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey with two hearts and thirteen lives? A TV folk hero? Or a bumbling British eccentric who fought rubber monsters in a cheap and cheerful BBC kids’ show?

What’s in this book? Each Doctor’s era is examined with facts, figures and informed opinion on every televisied Doctor Who story. There’s a list of spin-offs on TV, radio, cinema and stage; updated Big Finish audios; original novels; missing episodes; and an in-depth reference section.

Cover image for The Episode Guide
Edition: UK (1st hardback)
Title:  The Episode Guide
Released:  May 2007
Publisher:  Pocket Essentials
ISBN:978-1-904048-74-9
Format: hardback
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Note:  The first printing of this book simply said “Doctor Who” on the front cover, as shown in the image. A subsequent printing added the subtitle “The Episode Guide” to the front cover — but otherwise left the cover design, back cover blurb and ISBN unchanged.

Cover blurb:
Its award-winning relaunch in the 21st century has seen Doctor Who go from strength to strength, making it one of television’s most popular dramas, both critically and commercially.

Spanning almost fifty years of British television history, the show has transformed itself many times over, surviving numerous cast changes, controversial depictions of horror and violence, and sixteen long years in the wilderness while the powers that be dithered over its fate.

This book examines all ten Doctors’ eras, and features facts, figures and informed opinion on every story ever televised.


Cybermen
Daleks
David Tennant
Tom Baker
Russell T. Davies
Macra
The Master
Gallifrey
Time Lords
Sarah Jane Smith
Human Nature
Slitheen
The Beast
The Face of Boe

Cover image for The Episode Guide
Edition: UK (2nd hardback)
Title:  The Episode Guide
Released:  April 2010
Publisher:  Pocket Essentials
ISBN:978-1-84243-348-5
Format: hardback
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Note:  Retitled Doctor Who: The Episode Guide & now contains a foreword by Kim Newman. Covers up to the end of the Tenth Doctor era.

Cover blurb:
Now officially the most popular drama on television, Doctor Who has seen many ups and downs in its long and colourful history. From humble beginnings on 23 November 1963 to its cancellation in 1989 and eventful resurrection in 2005, the show has always been a quintessential element of British popular culture.

The spine-chilling theme music, the multi-dimensional Tardis, the evil metallic Daleks and the ever-changing face of the Doctor himself have become trademarks of the programme’s witty, eclectic house style. Over the years, Doctor Who has embraced such diverse genres as science fiction, horror, westerns, history, romance, adventure and comedy — but has never strayed from its first and most important remit: telling damn good stories.

Eleven Doctors, a multitude of companions, and a veritable cornucopia of monsters and villains: Doctor Who has it all. ‘The children’s own programme which adults adore,’ said Gerard Garrett in The Daily Sketch newspaper back in the early 1970’s — and it’s still the perfect summation of the programme’s unique charm.

This new, updated edition of the best-selling Pocket Essential guide puts all of the first ten doctors under the microscope with facts, figures and opinions on every Doctor Who story ever televised. There are sections on TV, radio, cinema, stage and internet spin-offs, novels and audio adventures, missing episodes, and an extensive website listing and bibliography.

Cover image for The Episode Guide
Edition: UK (3rd hardback)
Title:  The Episode Guide
Released:  September 2010
Publisher:  Pocket Essentials
ISBN:978-1-84243-355-3
Format: hardback
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Note:  Compared to the previous hardback edition, this also covers the 2010 series (the Eleventh Doctor’s debut series).

Cover blurb:
Same as previous hardback edition, but with REVISED AND UPDATED SIXTH EDITION at the start of the blurb, and the following amended final paragraph:

This new updated edition of the best-selling independent guide puts all eleven doctors under the microscope with facts, figures and opinions on every Doctor Who story televised. There are sections on TV, radio, cinema, stage and internet spin-offs, novels and audio adventures, missing episodes, and an extensive website listing and bibliography.

Cover image for The Complete Guide
Edition: UK (4th paperback)
Title:  The Complete Guide
Released:  March 2011
Publisher:  Robinson
ISBN:978-1-84901-587-5
Format: paperback
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Cover blurb:
The definitive guide to the world’s favourite Time Lord

From humble beginnings in November 1963, Doctor Who has become a quintessential element of British popular culture. Exploring the adventures of all eleven Doctors; their faithful companions, both living and robotic; a universe of monsters and villains from Helen A to Prisoner Zero, including Daleks and Weeping Angels. With a comprehensive guide to every episode, Mark Campbell puts the show under the microscope with facts, figures and opinions that will entertain long term fans as well as Time Lord fanatics.

Includes sections on TV, radio, cinema, stage and Internet spin-offs, novels and audio adventures, missing episodes, a website listing and bibliography.

Cover image for Efsane Devam Ediyor
Edition: Turkey (paperback)
Title:  Efsane Devam Ediyor
Released:  March 2012
Publisher:  Kalkedon
ISBN:978-605-4511-44-0
Format: paperback
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Note:  The Turkish title translates as “The Legend Continues”.

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Cover image for The Complete Guide
Edition: UK (5th paperback)
Title:  The Complete Guide
Released:  June 2013 (Exact date unconfirmed)
Publisher:  Robinson
ISBN:978-1-4721-1038-1
Format: paperback
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Note:  Updated to include Series 6 and The Snowmen.

Cover blurb:
The definitive guide to the world’s favourite Time Lord

From humble beginnings in November 1963, Doctor Who has become a quintessential element of British popular culture. Exploring the adventures of all eleven Doctors; their faithful companions, both living and robotic; a universe of monsters and villains from Helen A to Prisoner Zero, including Daleks and Weeping Angels. With this revised and completely updated guide to every episode, Mark Campbell puts the show under the microscope with facts, figures and opinions that will entertain long term fans as well as Time Lord fanatics.

Includes sections on TV, radio, cinema, stage and internet spin-offs, novels and audio adventures, missing episodes, a website listing, and bibliography.

Cover image for The Complete Guide
Edition: US (paperback)
Title:  The Complete Guide
Released:  August 2013
Publisher:  Running Press
ISBN:978-0-7624-5240-8
Format: paperback
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