Sean Steller a recent graduate of Carleton University. He is currently studying biology at Sault College in Sault Ste. Marie, Canada. Dark Planet is designed and edited by Lucy A. Snyder. If you spot any errors, or if you have any comments, please contact her at lusnyde@indiana.edu. All materials copyright 1996-1997 by their respective creators. No stories, articles, poems or images from this webzine may be posted or published without the written consent of their creators.

Doctor Who: The Eight Doctors by Terrance Dicks BBC Books. 282 pages. Reviewed by Sean Steller On the heels of last summer's somewhat successful television film presented by Fox Network, Doctor Who continues his travels through space and time in a new monthly book series published by BBC Books. "The Eight Doctors" is the first book in the new BBC series, and is expertly written by the ageless Terrance Dicks. Doctor Who is the goliath of science fiction. The storyline of the eccentric Doctor and his Police Box space-time machine is enriched by over thirty years of television shows, as well as hundreds of books. So how much more new material can a thirty-five-year-old series produce? The Doctor's adventures are limited only by the infinite bounds of space and time. The stories are usually well thought out and do their best to remain on the cutting edge of scientific discovery. The new book series set forth by BBC Books would appear to be no less. As the title suggests, "The Eight Doctors" involves eight different Doctors (the same being, but from different points in his past). The story begins with a trap inside the Doctor's ship, set by his arch-enemy The Master. The trap erases the Doctor's memory, and he is mysteriously guided by his ship (better known as the Tardis), to seek out himself in the past so that he may learn of who he is in the present. From here, the Doctor goes on to visit himself seven times in the past. Each visit restores more of his memory when he encounters his previous self. As well, each visit entails dangerous and exciting circumstances -- encounters with aliens, demons, robots, cavemen, vampires, and no less the Master himself. Many of the Doctor's visits to the past involve stories rooted in the television series. This will delight the large fan base that still holds the old series dear. At the same time however, the author gives sufficient detailing for any reader unfamilliar with Doctor Who to fully appreciate the story. The captivating nature of this book is indubitably generated by the sheer craftsmanship of author Terrance Dicks. Dicks is a veteran WHO writer, both of the television series and other Doctor WHO novels. The next book in the series is entitled Vampire Science, and is written by Kate Orman and John Blum.