Matrix (Doctor Who novel)

Doctor Who book
Matrix
Series	Past Doctor Adventures
Release number	16
Featuring	Seventh Doctor Ace
Writer	Mike Tucker and Robert Perry
Publisher	BBC Books
ISBN	ISBN 0-563-40596-1
Set between	Illegal Alien and Storm Harvest
Number of pages	288
Release date	October 5, 1998
Preceded by	Last Man Running
Followed by	The Infinity Doctors

Matrix is a BBC Books original novel written by Mike Tucker and Robert Perry and based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who.

Summary

It features the Seventh Doctor and Ace. It also includes appearances by the Wandering Jew[1] and Jack the Ripper. Part of it is set in an alternate timeline, featuring parallel universe versions of Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright. The villain is the Valeyard.

Inspiration

Perry and Tucker originally pitched Matrix as a Virgin New Adventure, but were advised by range editor Rebecca Levene that the idea was unworkable.

As with all Doctor Who spin-off media, its relationship to the televised serials is open to interpretation.

References

As well as the obvious references to Trial of a Time Lord and the First Doctor's era, the Valeyard's schemes bring the Doctor face-to-face with dark alternate versions of his other selves who have been corrupted by the Valeyard; these include a First Doctor who murdered other Time Lords to depart Gallifrey in the first place, a Fourth Doctor who destroyed the Daleks at their beginning (Genesis of the Daleks) and a Fifth Doctor who allowed Peri to die while taking the antitoxin for himself (The Caves of Androzani)

External links

• Matrix publication history at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
• Matrix at the Doctor Who Reference Guide
• Matrix at The TARDIS Library

Reviews

• Matrix reviews at Outpost Gallifrey
• Matrix reviews at The Doctor Who Ratings Guide