The Blood Cell (novel)

The Blood Cell was one of three Twelfth Doctor novels published in September 2014.

Publisher's summary
"Release the Doctor — or the killing will start."

An asteroid in the furthest reaches of space — the most secure prison for the most dangerous of criminals. The Governor is responsible for the worst fraudsters and the cruellest murderers. So he's certainly not impressed by the arrival of the man they're calling the most dangerous criminal in the quadrant. Or, as he prefers to be known, the Doctor.

What does impress the Governor is the way the new prisoner immediately sets about trying to escape. And keeps trying. Finally, he sends for the Doctor and asks him why? But the answer surprises even the Governor. And then there's the threat — unless the Governor listens to the Doctor, a lot of people will die.

Who is the Doctor and what's he really doing here? Why does he want to help the Governor? And who is the young woman who comes every day to visit him, only to be turned away by the guards?

When the killing finally starts, the Governor begins to get his answers...

Plot
to be added

Characters

 * The Governor
 * Twelfth Doctor
 * Clara Oswald
 * Guardian Bentley
 * Marianne Globus
 * Lafcardio
 * The Oracle
 * Abesse
 * The Judge
 * Guardian Gillian Donaldson
 * Guardian Chandress
 * Helen
 * Marla

Continuity

 * Clara gives the Doctor's birthday cake to Danny Pink for being nice, and also borrows a broom off him. (TV: Into the Dalek)
 * Due to the Governor's ignorance, the sonic screwdriver is yet again destroyed. (TV: The Visitation, Smith and Jones, The Eleventh Hour, The Rebel Flesh)
 * The Doctor uses Venusian aikido to defend himself from Abesse. (TV: Inferno, Robot of Sherwood, PROSE: The Eight Doctors, AUDIO: Voyage to Venus, Faith Stealer)
 * The Doctor and Clara refer to the TARDIS's initial dislike of Clara and how the ship mostly tolerates her now. (TV: The Rings of Akhaten, Hide, The Day of the Doctor, HOMEVID: Clara and the TARDIS)
 * The Doctor alludes to his previous guilt of destroying Gallifrey. (TV: The Day of the Doctor)
 * The Twelfth Doctor maintains the dislike the Sixth and Tenth Doctors displayed for Jeffrey Archer. (PROSE: Telling Tales, COMIC: Cats and Dogs)
 * The Governor's pompous attitude reminded Clara of her headmaster. It is not clear whether this refers to W. Coburn (TV: The Day of the Doctor) or Armitage. (TV: The Caretaker)
 * The Doctor acknowledges that, for reasons unknown, his current incarnation cannot tolerate soldiers. (TV: Into the Dalek, The Caretaker)
 * The Doctor once again states his current self doesn't like hugs, suggesting that it's a good way to smell shampoo. (TV: Deep Breath, et al)
 * The Doctor is blamed for things he didn't do. (TV: Midnight, Planet of the Dead, The Pandorica Opens, Cold War, et al)
 * The Doctor has previously been imprisoned. (TV: Frontier in Space et al.)
 * The Governor suspects Clara may be infatuated with the Doctor or his wife. She had flirted with him in his eleventh incarnation and considered him her "boyfriend". (TV: The Time of the Doctor et al.)
 * Clara mentions that Danny is a fellow teacher in her school. The Governor suspects he is her boyfriend. (TV: Into the Dalek et al.)
 * Reference is made to New Earth. (TV: New Earth et al.)

Audio release

 * An audio reading by Colin McFarlane was released by BBC Physical Audio on 13 November 2014. This was the first new series audio to be released since AudioGo went into administration in 2013. Unlike other readings, there is no music or sound effects.