Fear of the Dark (novel)

 was the fifty-eighth BBC Past Doctor Adventures novel. It featured the Fifth Doctor, Tegan Jovanka and Nyssa. This is only the second occurrence of this lineup (the first in the PDA range was Zeta Major, published in 1998). This is author Trevor Baxendale's only contribution to the PDA range, but he has written several novels for other Doctors in novel and audio ranges.

2003 BBC Books edition
On the very edge of the galaxy lies Akoshemon: a putrefied world of legendary evil.

In the year 2382 archaeologists land on Akoshemon's only moon, searching for evidence of the planet’s infamous past. But when the Doctor, Tegan and Nyssa are drawn into the lunar caverns they find more than a team of academics -- and help uncover much more than ancient history.

Something is lying in wait, deep inside the labyrinth of caves: something that remembers the spiral of war, pestilence and deprivation that ruined Akoshemon. Something that rejoiced in every kind of horror and destruction.

An age-old terror is about to be reborn. But what is the hideous secret of the Bloodhunter? And why does Nyssa feel that her thoughts are no longer her own? Forced to confront his own worst fears, even the Doctor will be pushed to breaking point -- and beyond.

2013 BBC Books edition
On a moon of the ruined planet Akoshemon, an age-old terror is about to be reborn. Something that remembers the spiral of war, pestilence and deprivation – and rejoices in it. The Fifth Doctor joins a team of archaeologists searching for evidence of the planet's infamous past, and uncovers more than just ancient history. Forced to confront his own worst fears, even the Doctor will be pushed to breaking point – and beyond.

Plot
to be added



Characters

 * Fifth Doctor
 * Tegan Jovanka
 * Nyssa
 * Jyl Stoker
 * Vega Jaal
 * Bunny Cheung
 * Crook
 * Garondel
 * Jim Boyd
 * Lawrence (Fear of the Dark)
 * Nik
 * Ravus Oldeman
 * Silas Cadwell

Astronomical objects

 * The Akoshemon system is located on the very edge of the Milky Way.

Corporations

 * Jyl Stoker mentions that her independent mining crew are rivals to the bigger mining corporations such as the Interplanetary Mining Corporation and The Consortium.

Cultural Referances from the real world

 * The Doctor says that the underground room they find is "hardly the Hammer House of Horror".

Galactic Law

 * Galactic Law states that consecrated planets, moons and asteroids cannot be subject to mining operations.

Minerals

 * Prozium is a valuable mineral, although not as highly prized as lexium.

Planets

 * There is a reference to Betelgeuse, Kaltros Prime, Earth Colony E5150, and Denox.

Robots

 * Mechanoids are no longer used by 2382, and have been put out of use for a while.

Toys

 * Earth reptile dolls are available to children.

Solar systems

 * The Karula Koza system transmits hyper waves round it.
 * The Consortium had interests in the Antares system.

Species

 * Vega Jaal is a Vegan.

Universities

 * The University of Tyr specialises in temporal compression research.
 * The Human Sciences Academy is located on Mars.

Weapons

 * Cadwell's gun fires bits of dwarf star alloy.

Continuity

 * Tegan is having dreams of snakes. This is most likely a precursor to TV: Snakedance.
 * The Doctor and Tegan discuss their visit to Deva Loka. (TV: Kinda)
 * The Doctor, Tegan and Nyssa all refer to Adric's death in 2526. (TV: Earthshock)
 * The Doctor mentions playing cricket at Cranleigh Hall in Buckinghamshire on 11 June 1925. (TV: Black Orchid)
 * Tegan refers to her cousin Colin Frazer. (TV: Arc of Infinity)
 * The Doctor recalls visiting caves on Solos (TV: The Mutants) and Voga (TV: Revenge of the Cybermen).