Endgame (novel)

Endgame was the fortieth novel in the BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures series. It was written by Terrance Dicks. It continued the Earth arc, with the Doctor remaining companionless.

Publisher's summary
Winning is everything — and nothing.

Losing is nothing — and everything.

All that matters is the game.

The Players have decided on an Endgame. Play ends only when one side has been annihilated — even if the entire planet is destroyed in the process. They weren’t expecting the Doctor to be one of the pieces — and neither was he. He really doesn’t want to get involved.

The Doctor doesn't know who he is — but he's fast ceasing to care. Caught up in ennui, nothing seems to matter to him any more. He has no interest in the Cold War, in spies or double agents or secret documents.

But he's soon forced to take an active role. Because as far as the authorities are concerned, the Doctor is the Third Man...

Characters

 * The Eighth Doctor (John Smith)
 * Is deeply depressed about still being trapped on Earth.
 * Is fast and strong enough to break a man's ribs before he can react with a few punches.
 * Wears an old brown corduroy suit, later he changes into a brown checked sports jacket, grey flannel trousers and old cloth cap and later into a dark suit, white shirt and tie, with a bowler hat and an umbrella. He gets his hair cut too
 * Guy Burgess
 * Kim Philby
 * Donald Maclean
 * Kent Howard
 * Harry S. Truman
 * Is repeatedly said to be a "stubborn son of a bitch".
 * Joseph Stalin
 * Guy Burgess
 * Igor Timenko
 * Jim Anderson
 * Jimmy Melville
 * John Philby
 * Krychov
 * Oskar Dolinski
 * Vasili Mikoyan

The Players

 * The Adjudicator
 * Myrek
 * Axel
 * Helga Stoll
 * Countess (Madame Razetskia)

Continuity

 * The Doctor observes but does not recognise the Seventh Doctor and Ace at the Festival of Britain in 1951. His past self and his former companion were depicted visiting the Festival in PROSE: Timewyrm: Exodus.
 * The events of PROSE: The Turing Test are referenced many times in the novel.
 * T.I.G.H.T.R.O.P.E. is introduced as an organisation that were working against the machinations of the players, and have forcibly enlisted the Doctor.
 * The Doctor recalls having "some sort of screwdriver thingy" with him.
 * The Countess recalls the "funny little clown" and the "that great handsome bull of a man" from PROSE: Players.