Yes, that Mark Gatiss. Quite the Renaissance man, isn’t he? Actor, writer, funny person, man about town. . . .
This book was originally published back in 2000, but was re-released for the 50th Anniversary of Doctor Who. It stars the Third Doctor, otherwise known as the Action Doctor, or the Judo Chop Doctor. Feats of derring-do and whatnot.
We open during WW2 in England. Alec Whistler, a RAF pilot, discovers a crystal in the wreckage of the RAF base (it was destroyed while he was having lunch with his fiance, he’s been alone and sad ever since). Years later, the Doctor is off flying around the universe, helping out a rebellion on planet Xanthos, when the Brigadier gets a call from Whistler. Some mysterious multinational has taken over the old base, and the workers are acting quite Nazi-like toward the villagers. Also people have begun to disappear. The Brigadier brings in UNIT, and the Doctor heads over to investigate with his companion Jo.
Since this is the Doctor (and it’s in the title), the Gaderene are the ones who have taken over the base – they’re trying to colonize the Earth, since their planet is dying. Someone from the Doctor’s past is helping them, too. . . .
Gatiss spins a fun and exciting yarn in this one, it’s definitely worth a look.
Happy Half Cannonball!