The Time Machine



The Time Machine was a short science fiction novel by H. G. Wells. It may have been inspired by Wells' adventure with the Sixth Doctor (TV: Timelash) and his encounter with the Tenth Doctor (COMIC: The Time Machination), or possibly by Wells' friend Theophilus Tolliver. (COMIC: The Eternal Present)

Despite this, Will Arrowsmith was fairly sure that the Victorian-esque TARDIS console room used by the Seventh Doctor towards the end of his life was inspired by The Time Machine — though more likely the film version than the original novel itself. (AUDIO: Persuasion)

The First Doctor's companion Oliver Harper had seen the film adaptation of the novel. He too connected the Doctor's ship with the time machine in the story, and initially thought that the TARDIS could move in time but not space. He expected to see Shoreditch in the "time of the dinosaurs" or the 21st century. (AUDIO: The Cold Equations)

The Fifth Doctor read a first edition of this book before visiting a peaceful planet not unlike prehistoric Earth. (PROSE: Warmonger)

The Seventh Doctor relaxed by reading a copy of this book during his aborted mission to return the Master's remains to Gallifrey. A skipping record interrupted him, followed by the escape of the Master's Deathworm and the TARDIS crash-landing in San Francisco. (TV: Doctor Who)

After his regeneration, the Eighth Doctor attempted to start the novel where his previous self had left off; again, a skipping record interrupted him. (TV: Doctor Who) He finished it some time later. (PROSE: The Eight Doctors) He tried to read the novel at least once in every regeneration and was surprised by how different it looked each time. (PROSE: Interference - Book Two) He told Forster he would recommend the book to anyone looking for "original and stimulating reading matter" and noted the concept to be "quite enthralling". (PROSE: Casualties of War)

Behind the scenes

 * Doctor Who owes a great debt to H. G. Wells in general and to The Time Machine. in particular, combined with Wells' The War of the Worlds, quite possibly inspired The Daleks.