War of the Daleks (novel)

Publisher's summary
The Doctor is repairing the TARDIS systems once again when it is swept up by a garbage ship roving through space, the Quetzel.

When another ship approaches and takes the Quetzel by force, the Doctor discovers that he and Sam are not the only unwitting travellers on board - there is a strangely familiar survival pod in the hold. Delani, the captain of the second ship, orders the pod to be opened. The Doctor is powerless to intervene as Davros is awakened once again.

But this is no out-and-out rescue of Davros. Delani and his crew are Thals, the sworn enemies of the Daleks. They intend to use Davros as a means to wipe out the Daleks, finally ridding the universe of the most aggressive, deadly race ever to exist. But the Doctor is still worried. For there is a signal beacon inside the pod, and even now a Dalek ship is closing in...

Characters

 * The Doctor


 * Sam Jones
 * Is vegetarian.
 * Cries out "I'm too young to die!" before breaking into hysterical giggles that turn into odd laughter.
 * Has been in the TARDIS for around six months.


 * Davros


 * Dalek Prime
 * Is one of the original Daleks.
 * Is leader of all the Daleks.


 * The Daleks


 * Ayaka


 * Chayn


 * Cathbad


 * Delani


 * Harmon

Story notes

 * The meaning of Dalek colours is revealed in this novel: Grey Daleks are the foot soldiers with limited intelligence, next are the Blue Daleks which serve as corporals and sergeants. The Red Daleks have some intelligence and autonomy from the Dalek command structure. Black Daleks are smarter still, the Gold Daleks are the elite at the top is the Dalek Prime.
 * This story was the first to feature a Dalek inside the TARDIS until The Parting of the Ways.
 * Counting the Interludes every single Dalek story is referenced in some way (except Death to the Daleks).
 * The Dalek Prime looks like the Dalek Emperor from The Dalek Chronicles.
 * War of the Daleks begun life as a four part TV story, but when the series was cancelled it held off, then it was put forward by John Peel as a possible Virgin New Adventures novel, but was rejected before finally becoming a Eighth Doctor Adventure. Peel noted in an interview "Another reason for the story was to bring back Skaro. I feel that its destruction in Remembrance [of the Daleks] - was a bad move, as did Terry Nation. When I sought his permission for War, he asked me to try and rectify the destruction, which I think I've done very sneakily."
 * This is the only Doctor Who novel to feature Davros as a character.

Retcon
War of the Daleks is controversial for its retconning of every Dalek story from Destiny of the Daleks to Remembrance of the Daleks, although it is not really a true retcon. The retcon also makes reference to other Dalek stories.


 * For discussion of narrative issues see War of the Daleks discontinuity and plot holes

Continuity

 * The Doctor basically retells the events of: DW: The Daleks, Genesis of the Daleks and Remembrance of the Daleks to Sam, Chayn and the others.
 * In conversation with the Dalek Prime the events of (in addition to the above stories) DW: The Dalek Invasion of Earth, Day of the Daleks, Destiny of the Daleks, Revelation of the Daleks and Remembrance of the Daleks are discussed in varying details. However, as mentioned in "Story notes" above, everything from Destiny of the Daleks onwards is retconned in some way.
 * This is set after DW: Planet of the Daleks.
 * The Dalek factory ship is suggested to be the factory ship in DW: The Power of the Daleks.
 * In PDA: Salvation it's established that the Mechanoids were sent out in early stages of space exploration...so how do they recognise the Movellans (who were from a much later period).
 * In NA: GodEngine it is shown that the Daleks were hollowing out Earth's core to make an Osiran device work, here it's so they can pilot planets.
 * Sam complains about the lack of a kitchen in the TARDIS; there is one in NA: The Room With No Doors, EDA: Autumn Mist and Escape Velocity.
 * The Doctor says the Daleks "have no interest in anything but conquest and war. Art, decoration, poetry, music - it's all irrelevant to them." (page 170), he's forgetting "The Lament of the Non-operational", mentioned in NA: The Also People.
 * In the 'Human Space' Interlude DW: The Daleks' Master Plan is briefly visited upon.
 * In the 'Draconian Space' Interlude, well, Draconians first appeared in DW: Frontier in Space.
 * In the 'Hesperus' Interlude Mechanoids appear, they first appeared in DW: The Chase.
 * The Doctor says he took a trip to Skaro for the Master's trial. (DW: Doctor Who)
 * On page 187 the Doctor comments "I was starting to get worried that you'd discovered religion.", which actually happens in DW: The Parting of the Ways.
 * In DW: Daleks in Manhattan, one of the Cult of Skaro states that its homeworld was 'destroyed in a great war', presumably the Last Great Time War. If this world is Skaro (its name is not mentioned) then this would support the idea that Antalin was destroyed in DW: Remembrance of the Daleks. It is also possible of course that this homeworld was not Skaro or that the Dalek's statement is a hyperbole, as the planet is visited post-Time War in VG: City of the Daleks.

Timeline

 * This story takes place after ST: Dead Time
 * This story takes place before EDA: Alien Bodies