Zeta Major (novel)


 * Not to be confused with the titular asteroid.

 was the thirteenth novel in the BBC Past Doctor Adventures series. It was written by Simon Messingham, released 6 July 1998 and featured the Fifth Doctor, Nyssa and Tegan Jovanka.

This was the first novel since Virgin Publishing's PROSE: The Sands of Time to feature this combination of companions and Doctor. This novel is a sequel to the 1975 Doctor Who television story Planet of Evil.

Publisher's summary
You've decided to concentrate on deriving energy from the kinetic force of planetary movement...

A glib remark from the Doctor to a desperate scientist has had far-reaching effects on the empire of Morestra. Eminent Morestran scientist Sorenson, attempting to find a new power source for his planet, risked a universal catastrophe by attempting to steal anti-matter crystals from the distant planet of Zeta Minor. The Doctor averted disaster, but has in effect sent all Morestra up a technological cul-de-sac.

Now in his fifth incarnation, the Doctor becomes involved once again in Morestra's future. The empire has become a theocracy, and the all-powerful Church, finally discovering that Sorenson's world-spanning energy tower will never work, is attempting to save face by covertly returning to Zeta Minor to steal the powerful minerals they need. This time, they believe they are prepared for all eventualities...

With his companions embroiled in the ever-shifting loyalties and intrigues of the Morestran court, only the Doctor accepts that the forces of the anti-matter universe can never interact with our own. Can he stop something he started two thousand years ago?

Plot
to be added

Characters

 * Fifth Doctor
 * Tegan Jovanka
 * Nyssa
 * Ferdinand du Vindice
 * Kristyan Fall
 * Castiza
 * Petya
 * Robeson
 * Hippolito
 * Antonio

The Doctor

 * The Fifth Doctor suffers from nightmares caused by "those" on the other side of the black pool.

Individuals

 * Both Nyssa and Tegan are still thinking about Adric's death.
 * Nyssa is implanted with anti-matter and turned into a feral monster.

Religion

 * The Morestran Orthodox Church is based on Archetryx.

Continuity

 * The Fourth Doctor's comment in Planet of Evil to Professor Sorenson about harnessing the kinetic energy of planetary motion led the the Morestran Empire down a 2000-year-long technological cul-de-sac, resulting in the creation of the useless Energy Tower.