Spiral Muttering 8: Canon Fodder

One of the great debates that has raged amongst who fans for the past few decades is that of canon. Which stories, or variations of the TV show, count as the core, "The Gospel According To The Doctor", and which stories aren't.

Many of us have tried to answer this over the years, not least was Lance Parkin's HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSE. You see, if we can crack "canonical" Who, then we can start piecing together continuity. So here's a few words on those stories which, IMHO, should and shouldn't count as canon. I place some justification alongside each. I don't think this list is exhaustive, nor should it be deemed the definitive guide; its just my view. I'd be interested to hear others.

DOCTOR WHO (TV Series, 1963 - 1989, BBC)

Without a doubt, I would have to say that from An Unearthly Child, through to Survival, every tv episode has to count as canon. Hell, there wouldn't be any other sources, were it not for these. Now, I know that due to the nature of TV production the episodes are full of contradictions and discontinuity, but after 38 years, I think you'll find that some fan somewhere has found a way to reconcile most of these. I would even include Shada, as sufficient material is available to constitute the full story.

DR WHO AND THE DALEKS/DALEKS:INVASION EARTH 2150AD (1965,1966 AARU Films)

These two "blockbuster" movies, to my mind, do not count. For a start, they differ wildly from the tv stories that they re-work. In An Unearthly Child, the Doctor hints at being, if not alien, then from an Earth of the far future whose civilisation has advanced far beyond ours. In the 2 Aaru films, he is most definitely a contemporary eccentric inventor, tampering with a time/space machine in his back yard.

DOCTOR WHO (Novelisations 1964 - 1992)

Although based on the TV stories, I don't think we can count these, either. You see there are too many embellishments to give us strict continuity. If you actually read them in the same order as broadcast, then in An Unearthly Child, the Doctor meets Ian & Barbara in the junkyard, just as he does in the TV story. However, in Doctor Who & The Daleks (or "in an exciting adventure with the Daleks"), he meets them in entirely different circumstances (made necessary by the simple expedient of it being the first novelisation). By the time of McCoy's final two seasons as the Doctor, the novelisations so richly enlarge upon their TV originals that they almost become new stories. So because of these embellishments, and also due to the bulk of the material duplicating that of the TV stories, I'm afraid we should rule out Target novelisations as canon.

THE NEW ADVENTURES/MISSING ADVENTURES (Virgin Publishing 1991 - 1997)

For a period, these were the only new Who out there. Continuing directly from the end of Survival, they led us through new companions, new enemies, and familiar faces, through a whole new set of adventures. The final two New Adventures were even commissioned with the 1996 Telemovie in mind, thus we see the final complete McCoy story in Lungbarrow (and the reason why the TARDIS looks so different in the film), and the first post-movie appearance of the Eighth Doctor in The Dying Days. So for no other reason than the fact that there was nothing else, I think they should count.

COMIC STRIPS (Various publishers, 1965 - ?)

The problem with counting comic strip adventures as canonical, is that the licensing surrounding the likenesses of certain characters meant that that the Doctor was effectively travelling with several sets of companions contemporaneously (wooohooo - word of the week!). Also, if we count the Doctor's comic strip adventures, do we also include the Daleks separate sojourn into that medium, along with the Sontarans, the Autons, etc? OK, in one New Adventure, the Doctor and Bernice meet Abslom Daak, but the adventure stands as well on its own, as it does alongside Abslom's appearances in strip form. Basically, there are too many loose ends to tie up to include comic strips.

THE AUDIO ADVENTURES (1999 - ?, Big Finish Productions)

As the writers of these adventures are very careful with their continuity, I think it is safe to count these as canon (although squeezing the Sixth Doctor & Evelyn in is a tad difficult!). They feature the right cast and characters, and are a welcome addition to the adventures of our favourite Time Lord.

DIMENSIONS IN TIME/CURSE OF THE FATAL DEATH (1993/1999 BBC Children In Need/Comic Relief)

Noooooooooooooooo! Dimensions in Time should be consigned to the Dark Scrolls, buried in Rassilon's Tomb, or be used as a less acceptable alternative to the Mind Probe. Its just too AWFUL to be included. Fatal Death however, is a far better spin-off but should be ruled out. This is entirely down to the fact that it leaves in a position whereby the Doctor is a woman, now besotted with the Master, and on to her final regeneration.....

DOCTOR WHO (Books, BBC 1997 - ?)

For similar reasons as given for the New/Missing Adventures, they have to count. Don't they?

DOCTOR WHO (Telemovie, BBC/Fox 1996)

Love it or hate it, this story is definitely canon. The 7th Doctor regenerates, and becomes the 8th. I'm sure if it is decided in future to dispense with this half-human stuff, a suitable plot device can be found. As for this propensity for kissing companions, I'm sure that can be curbed too.......

SLIPBACK/GHOSTS OF N-SPACE/PESCATONS/PARADISE OF DEATH/DEATH COMES TO TIME (1986/1996/1976/1993/2000 BBC/Argo Records)

All audio, and no major departures from established continuity, these stories (with the exception of The Pescatons) were all written in the absence of televised Who. I would count them.

ANY STAGE PLAY (Seven Keys To Doomsday/Recall:UNIT/Curse of the Daleks/The Ultimate Adventure)

Due mainly to the fact that these stories are inaccessible to most people, I would hesitate to use them as canon (plus the appearance of David Banks, and the other stage Doctors would bring the grand total of regenerations to around 18!). And The Ultimate Adventure has singing in it, too!

DOWNTIME/WARTIME/MINDGAME TRILOGY/AUTON (Various Years, Reeltime Pictures/BBV)

Downtime counts as canon as it appears as a Missing Adventure (see above). However, other spin-off dramas (and I'm tempted to count K-9 & Company in this) seem to me to fall into the same category as comic strips. Whilst they are all very good (or the ones I've seen), I would not classify them as core stories.

THE DARK DIMENSIONS (Adrian Rigelsford/BBC, Unreleased)

As it was never made (I've even heard rumours that it wasn't even written!), no one has access to it, and no one seems to be particularly upset about this, I think it is best left as non-canon.There, I think I have given my canon/non-canon views on every aspect of Who storytelling there is (apart from the organo-crystal datacube release of "Doctor Who - Vengeance of the Voord" - but as that isn't due for release until 4254, it's not really an issue). Hope it gives you food for thought. I'm just off to throw on my atmosphere density jacket, and nip to the local shop on Io for a perigosto stick. Bye for now...

Of course we now have some rather crucial additions to this:

DOCTOR WHO (TV Series, 2005 - ????)

He's Back! And about Time. This is definitely canon, as its Dr Who, back where it belongs, on TV.

TARDIS CUTAWAY (Comic Relief 2005)

Well, of course as it sits directly between The Parting of The Ways, and New Earth, does not introduce any issues, or discrepancies, its Canon.

Of course, its now apparent that habit of kissing companions is going to be around a bit longer yet. 'Course, when its Billie Piper, even a Time Lord's gonna turn his head.

Later....