The BBC sci-fi classicDoctor Whocelebrates its 60th anniversary in 2023. The adventures of the Doctor as they travel through time and space have made international acclaim, entertaining fans the world over. It seems that Whovians just can’t get enough of it, and the world of the Time Lord from Gallifrey expands far beyond just the TV series.
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Luckily, there is good news for die-hardDoctor Whofans who are impatiently awaiting the newest season, or are simply eager to devour every form ofDoctor Whocontent. The Whoniverse is a big place, and beyond the BBC show there is a bounty of knowledge to be had, from novels to encyclopedias and comic books. After all, as the Tenth Doctor knows, books are the greatest weapon there is. Here are some of the best ones for Whovian bookworms to arm themselves with.
Doctor Who Annual 2023
Doctor Who: A Brief History of Time Lords
Whovians with an interest in delving deep into the lore ofDoctor Whowill love this beautiful tome, “A Brief History of the Time Lords.” Within is a treasure trove of the history of Gallifrey, the Time Lords, and the notorious Time War. This book features a glossy front cover and gorgeous color illustrations.
Doctor Who: The Wonderful Doctor Of Oz
What would happen if the Doctor and friends found themselves in the famous land of Oz? And what if the notorious Wicked Witch of the West was actually an old familiar foe? ThisoriginalDoctor Whonovel by Jacqueline Rayner features an adventure with the Thirteenth Doctor and her companions Ryan, Yaz, and Graham.
Doctor Who: The Runaway Tardis
From Pop Classics publishers comes “Doctor Who: The Runaway TARDIS,” a book forDoctor Wholovers of any age. Featuring the Thirteenth Doctor, this illustrated storybook tells the whirlwind adventure of the Doctor and a little girl named Lizzie. Together they travel through time and space, making new friends along the way.
Doctor Who: Legends of Camelot
A thrilling tale featuring the Tenth Doctor, “Legends of Camelot” takes readers back to the days of King Arthur’s court. The Doctor and Donna Noble find themselves in the mythical land of Camelot when they are pulled into a strange hole in time and space. Can they seal the rift before it destroys the universe?
Doctor Who Meets Scratchman
ThisDoctor Whobook was written by none other than the Fourth Doctor himself, Tom Baker, and is his debut novel. The plot follows the Doctor with companions Sarah Jane and Henry as they traverse the Scottish highlands. However, their holiday turns into a horror show when scarecrows begin coming to life and attacking the locals.
Doctor Who: The Monster Vault
Zygons and Daleks and Cybermen, oh my! Fans that are fascinated by the many baddies in theDoctor Whouniverse will definitely need this veritable encyclopedia of monster knowledge. “The Monster Vault” contains not only the histories of these hostile races, but also concept art and insider tidbits from the BBC show’s crew.
Doctor Who: Empire of the Wolf
“Empire of the Wolf” is a graphic novel from theDoctor Whouniverse that stars everyone’s favorite companion, Rose Tyler. The plot brings together the Eighth and Eleventh Doctors, as each of them attempt to solve the mystery of two Roses from two alternate universes. This exciting story expands upon the popular Bad Wolf story arc from the series.
Doctor Who: The Daily Doctor
One of the great things aboutDoctor Whois the lessons learned along the way. This book is a daily meditations manual that contains 365 1/4 tips and motivational quotes from the Doctor to help readers live their best lives, whether looking for hope in a dark place or wanting to start the day off like a true Time Lord.
Doctor Who: The Tenth Doctor 1: Revolutions of Terror
ThisDoctor Whographic novel is the first volume of the continuing adventures of the Tenth Doctor. The story picks up after the Doctor’s sad farewell with Donna Noble, and begins with a new companion, Gabriella Gonzalez. Together, Gabby and the Doctor must save modern-day New York City from an evil invasion of psychic parasites.
The Legends of River Song
For fans of one of the most mysterious characters fromDoctor Who, this book is a must-have for their bookshelf. “The Legends of River Song” is a collection of excerpts from the adventuring archeologist’s personal journal. Read about River’s journey through space and times as she navigates her way into (and out of) trouble.
Doctor Who: Dr. First
Gen-X Whovians are sure to recognize this book as being inspired by the “Mr. Men” series by Roger Hargreaves. “Dr. First” is book number one in the series, followed by 12 more featuring each of the Doctor’s iterations. These books are a delightful nostalgic trip down memory lane as well as a greatDoctor Whocollectible.
Marking the 60th anniversary of theDoctor Whoseries, this annual is a near-necessity for Whovians. Charting all the events from the Doctor’s adventures for 2023, this anthology includes all the major events and characters that have shaped theDoctor Whouniverse from the past, present, and future, and makes way for the newest regeneration, the Fourteenth Doctor.
Like The Doctor, Stories Are Immortal
One of the things that draws Whovians into the world ofDoctor Whois limitless possibility. Like the universe itself, writers and creators are always expanding upon the lore of the Doctor, the Time Lords, and various alien races. Books like “A Brief History of the Time Lords” and “The Monster Vault” allow fans to delve into the untapped facts and histories within the world ofDoctor Who. For those wanting more stories about their favorite females, “The Legends of River Song” and “The Empire of the Wolf” provide new and exciting tales of River Song and Rose Tyler.
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Any of theseDoctor Whobooks would also make great gifts. For younger Whovians just starting out, “The Runaway TARDIS” is a fun read, as well as “Dr. First.” For seasoned fans, Tom Baker’s “Scratchman” is a thrilling read that brings back the classic Fourth Doctor. “The Official 60th Anniversary Annual” is a highly-valued collectible, and “The Daily Doctor” is a heart-warming addition to any shelf.
FAQs
Time is a wibbly-wobbly thing in the Whoniverse, so there really is no specific timeline or chronologic order to any of theDoctor Whobooks (with the exception of graphic novels and comics, of course, which are easily identified by the volume or issue number). Most of the fiction novels are stand-alone, so they can be picked up in any order the reader would like.
What Age Is Doctor Who Suitable For?
Doctor Whois a family science-fiction TV show, but it does have its share of scary monsters and moments of peril. In the UK, the show is rated PG by the BBFC, suggesting that children under 8 years old should have a parent watching with them. That being said, most of the spookier episodes begin in the 2000s era, and classicWhofrom the 1960s and ’70s is more tame for younger audiences.
