DWM 173

The 173rd issue of Doctor Who Magazine was released in May 1991.

Articles

 * 'Controversy Corner' Richard Lansden on Time Lords and time paradox.
 * 'Lies Lies Lies' - Story rumours, names and stuff that could have been in stories. By Paul Cornell
 * 'The Years Tapes' - An on the spot report on the recording of the latest addition to the Doctor Who video range ... By John Freeman

Comic story

 * Party Animals
 * Comic Assassins: The Dominators by Steve Noble & Kev F 91

Fiction

 * Pathfinders by Michael E. P. Stevens illustrated by Gary Erskine.

Archives

 * Episode Guide: Sylvester McCoy Season 25

Interviews / Profiles

 * Writing Doctor Who: - First broadcast as part of Season Twenty-Five in 1988, Graeme Curry's The Happiness Patrol is often used as a weapon to support perpetual argument for, and against, the programme's all-studio recorded stories. By John B. McLay.
 * 'Enlightening' - Liam Rudden talks to director Fiona Cumming about her long association with the programme and the changes she's seen in its production...

Off the Shelf
Not content with an army of Krotons supporters on his trail, Gary Russell fast forwards his way through the latest video releases and new fanzines...
 * Fanzines:
 * Perigosto Stick
 * Celestial Toyroom
 * Private Lives
 * Audio Visuals
 * Wholine Monthly


 * VIDEO: DW: City of Death
 * VIDEO: DW: Planet of the Spiders

Page Pin-ups

 * The Doctor and K'Anpo Rimpoche from Planet of the Spiders

Also featuring

 * Continuity Queries (Questions and Answers)
 * Beyond the TARDIS (Who is doing what by Dominic May)
 * Gallifrey Guardian (News)
 * Pick of the Penguin (Letters)
 * Data Coils (now incorporating pen-pals and events listing)
 * 'Doctor Who?' by Tim Quinn and Dicky Howett (comic strip)
 * 'Nick's View' by Nick Miller (cartoon)
 * Collector’s Corner (Merchandise) (Build the TARDIS from Target Books, The Doctor Who Pattern Book from W.H. Allen & Co, Doctor Who Quiz Books from Magnet Books, The Doctor Who Cookbook from W.H. Allen & Co, The Dalek Painting Book from Souvenir Press/Panther Books, The Adventures of K9 books from Sparrow Books and Junior Doctor Who and the Brain of Morbius and Junior Doctor Who and the Giant Robot from Target Books.
 * Into The Vortex / 'That Was the Who That Was' (Times Past)
 * Competition: To write a Brief Encounter story in less than 800 words.

Random quote
“What did it mean - defence alert?" "oh the usual rubbish, I suppose - floor, trips, electronic sensors, jets of nerve gas - nothing to worry about." "Oh good. I was afraid it might mean something serious."
 * Peri Brown and the Sixth Doctor, The Two Doctors

Credits

 * Senior Editor: John Freeman
 * Design Gary Gilbert
 * So long and thanks for all the fish: Dan Abnett
 * Promotion: Jane Sumner
 * Production: Mark Irvine
 * Advertising: Jane Smale
 * Adviser: John Nathan-Turner
 * Excelsior: Stan Lee
 * Managing Director: Vincent Conran

Additional details

 * On the copyright page of the magazine (usually page 3), is a box of very small text, the end of this text reads “Exterminator guns courtesy of ACME (Skaro division)”
 * This issue was priced £1.95 (UK) and featured on the cover a photograph of Jon Pertwee at BBC Lime Grove for The Era Tapes.
 * The You on Who (letters page) reverts to Pick of the Penguin this issue, Nix cartoon also reverts to its former title Nick's View and an offshoot of Matrix Data Bank opens up continuity queries for readers to submit 'logical' responces too.