SEPTEMBER 2008

The Time Traveller’s Almanac is another beautifully presented reference work from the BBC. Although it is easy to question the need for an ‘Ultimate Intergalactic Fact-Finder’ when we already have the monster guides and encyclopaedia to accompany the

new series, the Almanac format is different enough to warrant separate publication, and it looks absolutely gorgeous.

Unlike the alphabetical arrangement more often used in such works, the Almanac goes for a strictly chronological approach. In some ways it is similar to Lance Parkin’s AHistory, but whereas that book was an in-depth text only affair, the Almanac is heavily illustrated and covers only the new television series – with a few exceptions. Although it would have been nice to have an overview of the entire series, from An Unearthly Child right up to Journey’s End, the resulting book would have been utterly enormous and quite unwieldy for the young ‘uns! As it is, certain events from the classic series get a mention. Generally, it’s only those which have been mentioned in the new series that are included; for example, we have a

brief look at the first Doctor’s meeting with the Sensorites, since this was alluded to on telly in Planet of the Ood, and events on Zeta Minor are noted due to Sarah Jane’s mention of ‘antimatter monsters’ in School Reunion. The exception to the rule is a wonderful spread

on UNIT, covering briefly the bulk of the adventures featuring the Brig alongside Doctors two, three and four. As well as being a nice bit of nostalgia for the old guard, it also serves to put modern UNIT stories, and the return of the Master, into context. Plus, it gives a definite setting of the 1970s to 1980s – here comes that old debate again!

The book contains a wealth of information, both from on screen and background sources. We learn new information on a number of events seen in the series. The items are colour-coded according to subject – major events, species of the universe, science and techno-logy, etc – and a laid out in easily trackable date order. The chronology is divided into five sections: ‘The Dawn of Time’ is very brief, yet covers the origins of the Time Lords, the Daleks and the Time War, and charts the Dark Times and the dawn of the Earth. ‘Brave

New World’ is Earth’s history up to and including the 20th century, and is particularly impressive in its ‘factyness;’ all historical events, however briefly noted in the series, are backed up by a wealth of genuine information, be it the rule of Charlemagne, the Great War or the Depression. This adds a sense of context that gives the fictional events more clout.

‘Everything Changes’ covers the 21st century, and is naturally the largest section of the book. Again, enormous depth of information is given to the new show’s core period of 2005–2012, tracking the gradual escalation of events that have made the modern world of Doctor Who an astonishingly alien savvy place. Perhaps the cleverest part of this section is the occasion-al use of ‘Left Turn’ and ‘Right Turn,’ splitting the page in two and charting the contrasting events of the ‘true’ reality and the distorted world of Turn Left. The idea that time is in flux is given credence here too; van Statten’s lack of recognition of the Daleks in 2012, bizarre in light of 2007 and 2009 events, is attributed to the fact that the events of Doomsday and The Stolen Earth are alterations to the timeline caused by the Daleks.

We go into the future for ‘The Great and Bountiful Human Empires’, which covers the whole swathe of future history from the 23rd to 2001st centuries. There’s plenty of information on alien worlds provided here, and dating for some of the more nebulous settings; we learn that Midnight occurs in the 27th century, and Turn Left’s visit to Shan Shen in the 85th. It’s a shame the First Great and Bountiful Human Empire doesn’t get a mention – presumably the Earth Empire of the Pertwee years – and neither does the Third, unless it’s the same as the New Roman Empire. I worry about these things, you know. The final section, ‘Everything Has Its Time,’ charts the deep future, chronicling the end of the Earth, the New Earth era and the eventual end of everything in AD 100 trillion. Again, it’s a short segment, but an interesting one, once again full of new titbits – did you know that Cassandra’s ‘iPod’ also had ‘My Sharona’ by The Knack?

Perhaps my favourite bits are the ongoing Torchwood and Captain Jack sightings, threaded throughout the ongoing chronology. It would have been even better had some things from Torchwood itself included, but it’s a great little ongoing plot, even tracking Jack’s age at various points, showing just how weird his time-hopping life is. Tracking events of the new series from Rose right up to Music of the Spheres, this is a cracking book for children of all ages - up to two thousand and sixty-five, I’d wager, Captain.

Copyright © Daniel Tessier 2009

Daniel Tessier has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.

Unless otherwise stated, all images on this site are copyrighted to the BBC and are used solely for promotional purposes.

‘Doctor Who’ is copyright © by the BBC. No copyright infringement is intended.