VNA #13 - "Deceit" by Peter Darvill-Evans - Doctor Who Book Guide - CtW

[@atb4255]

“I hopes she’s given some great episodes, and becomes one of the all time classic Doctors.” How depressing a statement 5 years later

[@Robster881]

"I really hope she's given some great episodes" - oh the heady days of pre-Chibnall optimism.

[@chrisschumacher8553]

10:38 There were references to the contamination in Transit, specifically the hallucinatory green cat that bit the Doctor's finger, and when they return to the TARDIS at the end, the entire console room momentarily emits a green glow when none of the characters are there to observe it.

[@ricktaylor9417]

Greg, I've always been wowed by your videos, but this one takes the cake. The level of detail on display is simply dazzling, and yet you never let the deep research get in the way of being incredibly entertaining and informative. Each video you make is a special treat to savor -- you do a tremendous service to Doctor Who fandom by doing what you do. Thank you.

[@benedictcooper3131]

As an English guy, your pronunciation of High Wycombe (pronounced Wick-um) is adorable. Keep up the awesome work!

[@dfull]

All of the research is probably my favorite part about your videos. Great stuff!

[@CulturePoppa]

*knock knock* “Hey it’s me from the future. The whole Jodie Whitaker thing, it just didn’t work out.” 😂

[@JoshSnares]

Love this series!

[@90RavenBlack]

Always pleased to see a new video in this series. :)

[@KenPurchase]

There's probably an entire video that could be dedicated to the connections between 2000AD and Doctor Who spin-off media, there are so many. Not least that Virgin published a Judge Dredd book line simultaneously to the NAs with many of the same writers, albeit one that was not as popular or well-remembered, sadly.

[@KenPurchase]

Also forgot to mention Daak and Kroton the Cyberman were created by the late Steve Moore, the guy Alan Moore(no relation) claims taught him everything he knew. Among his many other credits, he created the Future Shock strand for 2000AD, which has allowed numerous new writers and artists in the UK to break into the industry - a fitting legacy I think.

[@Elementa2006]

That would be cool to see you do videos on the long running Doctor Who comics when you're done with the New Adventure and its spinoffs lineup.

[@electricmastro]

Speaking of Daleks, I recall that the Daleks were never the central villain in any of the Virgin New Adventures, and it was actually the Cybermen that became the first classic villain to do as such in them I believe. Was the decision not to include the Daleks much a creative decision or was it because Virgin couldn't get the full rights? Great video by the way. :)

[@sycoraxrock]

They couldn't get the full rights, and I think there was also a general sense that the Daleks wouldn't really work in book form. Supposedly, John Peel's War Of The Daleks was going to be the first Dalek NA, but the rights fell apart, and it wound up being... one of the least loved BBC books. Meanwhile, I think Lance Parkin actually wrote a *good* Dalek book for BBC books, but the rights got pulled at the last minute. They actually got as far as cover art that time, which... I can't find online at the moment, but it was definitely floating around Gallifrey Base about 15 years ago. Apart from Peel's two "meh" Dalek books... you know, I'm not sure if there ever was a good original Dalek book. I can't speak to any of the 9th/10th/11th doc books - I heard "I Am A Dalek" was ok for a kids' book? Dunno.

[@electricmastro]

I heard that Prisoner of the Daleks featuring the Tenth Doctor is quite possibly the best New Series Adventure book.

[@cameronmarnoch5236]

The Hoothi of LOVE AND WAR were mentioned (as a joke) in THE BRAIN OF MORBIUS, so there's the first of the whole "That monster we mentioned once is actually a major foe now", like the Rutans. But yeah, it would have been the Cybermen.

[@seancdaug]

Basically, Terry Nation wouldn't approve anyone other than John Peel writing for the Daleks at this point, and Peel could never properly sell Virgin on his pitch for a novel, in part because Peel was insisting on basically undoing the ending on Ben Aaronovitch's televised story, _Remembrance of the Daleks_ . The Daleks get mentioned obliquely throughout the New Adventures, especially here and in the later book _GodEngine_ (which features Ice Warriors and takes place during the events of _The Dalek Invasion of Earth_ ), but they're never the primary antagonists. John Peel kept his story pitch, though, and eventually managed to get BBC Books to publish it as an Eighth Doctor Adventure, _War of the Daleks_ .

[@kristanjohnson6084]

Really enjoying this series of videos, exploring the NA series. I'm glad you elaborate on the larger significance of the book, beyond just the book itself. The Appendix and Afterword are absolutely fascinating to me, and It's nice to see looking past Deceits (significant) flaws and identifying the insight the book gives behind the scenes of the NA series.

[@thantsants]

Wow - great video. Really loving this series and the detail you go in to as I've only ever dipped in and out of the Virgin New Adventures. Going to enjoy hunting down copies in an attempt to read them in some kind of order. Also - had no idea about the links between Darvill-Evans, Game Workshop and Fighting Fantasy - another passion of mine. Now off to reread Darvill-Evans' gamebooks!

[@TheMister123]

"She doesn't jump around yelling 'Ace!' like some excited little puppy..." I thought you were going to say "Pokemon". :-)

[@DrEeveeYT]

so, we've got TV Ace and New Ace. What do you think of the idea of Older Ace from the Big Finish audios?

[@FinlayFosterReviews]

Yes! They're back Fantastic content as always :)

[@archive9796]

Yes yes the first one realised since I've been a fav of you can't wait for more, also started your other great videos

[@paulflint6254]

i have every VNA book, i even spent a £100 on lungbarrow. The VNAs continued with Bernice, i have all of them too. I love Deceit ❤️

[@Musing_Macabre]

This series really brings back a lot of fond memories. I still own the entire collection, though I haven't re-read them since they were initially published in the 90s (with the exception of CONUNDRUM, which was one of my favourites). I also still have a copy of the original writer's guidelines by Mr. Darvill-Evans. Somehow I got the idea to mail them requesting a copy of the guidelines for the earth-shattering Doctor Who book that I never managed to write. I remember not being a fan of the instructions to avoid delving into the Doctor's point of view because he needed to remain alien and mysterious. My main annoyance with a number of the books was the absence of the Doctor from a large portion of the stories. I recall people writing into Doctor Who Magazine asking why the books were so awful (probably around the time TRANSIT and *shudder* THE PIT - came out), but there were some really great stories in there. Keep up the great work! PS: If you are going to make a habit of critiquing the artwork on the cover, I can't wait until you get around to Kate Orman's SET PIECE. :)

[@PositionLight]

What's up with the sound at 15:26 ? I can't hear what the guy has to say.

[@poparena]

...I don't know. Sounds alright to me. :/

[@poparena]

Oh, the original audio source was only one channel.

[@Launchpadcomics]

Left channel only it seems.

[@bobbyshaddoe3004]

I love the idea of new Ace, someone more grown up and capable as a warrior, someone who has truly lived and experienced life. Someone that knows how to handle herself eith brains and Brawn and a little brutality.

[@eyeofhorus3286]

the "shire" in Buckinghamshire is pronounced "Shear"

[@roryahconnolly]

Or 'sher'

[@KenPurchase]

And Wycombe is pronounced "Wick-um"

[@eyeofhorus3286]

+Rory Connolly I live just outside Buckinghamshire and spend my weekdays there. We all pronounce it "shear"

[@SouthPark333Gaming]

Of course it does!

[@TheMister123]

And "Spinward" should be pronounced "spin-wurd", like "wayward" or "forward".

[@GPage-he4kw]

Another amazing review and analysis!

[@TIMESZ5]

Always a pleasure!

[@spluff5]

This is also the longest book in the series

[@SuperFunkmachine]

The nerd in me wants to comment that there two Steve Jackson's an that John Peake was the third member of games workshop until 76.

[@Snakie747]

Heh. I enjoy poparena videos even when they're about something I've never read or heard.

[@CulturePoppa]

I’m about 70 pages into to this book right now. Have read all but one (Nightshade) of the previous books. Loving this series. Well, The Pit wasn’t too good lol.

[@kaptnhowdy3269]

Great video, as always. I never realised that a comic character appeared on the show. If the ever include Frobisher on tv, I hope it's more than just an easter egg. He'd make such a brilliant companion. And I'm reading Lucifer Rising at the moment but got a little distracted. Now I'll have to finish it in time for your next review.

[@HarrySmithInfinaty]

Now you've mentioned how good Death's Head would have been in this it makes me very sad that he wasn't!

[@cameronmarnoch5236]

Great video, as always! How many books ahead do you tend to be for your book series reviews?

[@MeBeMat]

Did they get Sophie Aldred to do a photoshoot in that leotard just for the benefit of the VNA cover art?

[@poparena]

The photo shoot actually happened after the Virgin New Adventures had already ended, but yes, that is Sophie Aldred.

[@ZagreusLovesSpaghetti]

OMG please do a video about the comics

[@ColeHomeVideo]

I care about Timelash...

[@eyeofhorus3286]

happy anniversary Sylvester!

[@guygrist4436]

Great video. The only reason for Absolom Daak being in the novel as far I'm aware is because the concurrent seventh comics and the NA's where trying to be in the same continuity so it's just another cross over.

[@willlegok9]

Er, what happened at 30:04?

[@roryahconnolly]

I think that was done deliberately to suggest poparena's questions are immediately answered by the quote from the book.

[@theoriginalbeing133]

Are these book reviews coming out every 2 months or will they be coming sooner??

[@SouthPark333Gaming]

Finally! Finally!

[@thegd2567]

I hear that portal 2 soundtrack. :)))

[@AndrewTimelord]

Great review! I agree that it's an important book, though I wasn't a huge fan. I actually like 'new' Ace, and she gets better as the series goes on.

[@bobbyshaddoe3004]

Yahoo!!!

[@meatrace]

Real shame Jodi became the worst Doctor.