Venusian Lullaby (novel)



Venusian Lullaby was the third novel in the Virgin Missing Adventures series. It was written by Paul Leonard. Featuring the First Doctor, Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright, it was set in the gap between The Dalek Invasion of Earth and The Rescue, before Vicki joined the crew.

Publisher's summary

 * ''"You want me to help you eat your children?" Ian said.
 * ''Jellenhut's eye-stalks twitched. "How else would we remember them?"

Venus is dying. When the First Doctor, Barbara and Ian arrive they find an ancient and utterly alien civilization on the verge of oblivion. War is brewing between those who are determined to accept death, and those desperate for salvation whatever the cost.

Then a spacefaring race arrives, offering to rescue the Venusians by moving them all to Earth - three billion years before mankind is due to evolve. Are the newcomers’ motives as pure as they appear? And will the Doctor allow them to save his oldest friends by sacrificing the future of humanity?

Plot
to be added

Characters

 * The Doctor
 * Ian Chesterton
 * Barbara Wright
 * Dharkhig
 * Trikhobu
 * Jellenhut
 * Havteg
 * Jilet Mrak-ecado
 * Jignivi
 * Professor Jofghil
 * Kontojij
 * Mrodtikdhil
 * Nefkhil
 * Ruribeg
 * Soneghil
 * Pown(ow)ri

The Doctor

 * The Doctor is still adapting to life without Susan.
 * The Doctor is an old friend of Dharkhig.

The Doctor's items

 * The Doctor uses an "unknown sonic device" (quite clearly a sonic screwdriver).
 * The Doctor carries everlasting matches.
 * When it starts to rain, the Doctor says he really must remember to carry an umbrella, possibly a reference to his sixth and seventh incarnations.

Culture

 * Ian knows of a Venusian lullaby.
 * There were various factions, known as anti-Acceptancers, who tried to find alternatives to their civilization's fate. These included the Below the Sun Believers, the Rocketeers, the Water-breathers, the Volcano People, the Magnetologists and the Cave-makers.

Foods and beverages

 * Ian eats some of Inikhut's brain, absorbing some of his memories.
 * Barbara eats some of Dharkhig's brain at his funeral, gaining some of his memories.

Individuals

 * Barbara is worried about the Doctor having so recently lost Susan.
 * Barbara becomes momentarily overwhelmed with Dharkhig's memories and attacks a Venusian death squad.
 * Barbara accuses the Doctor of treating everyone like a chess piece now that Susan is gone.
 * Trikhobu attacks the Sou(ou)shi with Venusian aikido, presumably in its pure form.

Planets

 * The Doctor has visited Venus before.

Species

 * The Doctor speculates if the Sou(ou)shi are related to the Great Vampires.

TARDIS

 * Trikhobu works out a method for piloting the TARDIS based on tracking individuals.

Continuity

 * Susan's departure in TV: The Dalek Invasion of Earth weighs heavily on the Doctor's mind.
 * The Doctor takes out an "unknown sonic device", possibly the sonic screwdriver. (TV: Fury From the Deep)